Happy Halloween!

hmmm. Pumpkins, I guess?
Before the Ward Party on Friday

A bunch of the Gang

Brandon (the alien) and Logan

My cute little Raven

The 3 Amigas Mackenzie, Ainsley and Rebecca

The spooks came over to carve pumpkins...

Butt Prints - an art project

Warning - this art project is not for those with a Butt self esteem problem.
While we were working on the swingset (the previous post) the kids were keeping themselves busy with butt art. Now, you may need to click on the images for a larger view, but here's how it works.
1. You stick your hiney in the freezing cold swimming pool.
2. You sit down on the warm cement and make a butt print.
3. Outline the print with chalk.
4. Turn it into a beautiful design. The print will quickly evaporate.

Yes, my kids are strangely creative. And our driveway is now filled with aliens, "butt"erflies, and all other sorts of buns.

My question is this. Where do they get it from? Seriously! Ryan must have been a strange child.

The Swingset - Project of the day!

See our yard? Pretty and pretty small, too. But I was REALLY wanting a swingset. Our old neighbors across the street were in a bad predicament. They were losing their house. They told me I could have the swingset before it went up for auction, so I had my hopes up. Really high.

Well, oops! They had the day wrong, so we had like 1 evening notice to get the sucker. Luckily it was my birthday, so how could my honey say no? I wish I had a picture of my neighbor Jim, our friend Kevin, Ryan and we three wives with that HUGE structure on two furniture dollies, wheeling across the street. In the dark. And we parked it on the side of the house because it wouldn't fit through the pool gate.

Taking it apart and putting it back together was no picnic! I was tired of being snapped at, so I went and got out friend Jim, again. He is quite handy. Ryan is handy, but let's be realistic. He is a banker. His hands are lilly white and smooth. There are no callouses there. (sorry honey!)

A few hours later (with the promise of a thank you dinner) here is our finished product! It does take up the majority of our lawn, but the kids are LOVING it. That is what our yard is for. The kids! I am a little nervous that Alexa will never stop swinging, though. I will have to make time for lots of outdoor projects!

One Project Finished and off my list!

How many of you have too many unfinished projects? I do!!!

I really wanted to start painting my kitchen cabinets, but Ryan wants me to finish my other wood projects first. Who me? Other wood projects?
Well, there IS that cabinet from my grandma that is taking up way too much room in the garage. Oh, and did I mention the swingset we got from our neighbors when they moved that is sitting on the side of my house waiting to be fixed up? How about the picture frames taking up the vacuum closet?

Okay, Okay, I get it. So here is a project my friend Sara and I did in just a few minutes to get it off my list!

I bought this bench at a garage sale for $20 a few weeks ago.

Lots of potential, but I couldn't stand the green-washed wood or the snake skin - pleather fabric.
Time for a redo!


2 98 cent cans of wal-mart black spray paint and a $5 piece of clearance fabric from JoAnns later, here we go! Not bad for $27 and less than an hour! What's next?

18 MONTHS OLD! Nursery here we come!

Today is the day Alexa turns 18 months! This is a big day because she can now join the nursery at church and not have to make mommy hang out in the halls! Yay!

Alexa is the cutest thing in the world.

She loves to play, hates the TV.

She speaks Africanized French, not English. She says azja da bome ALL THE TIME. Don't know what it means, but it's sure cute!

She calls all ladies Mom and all men Dad.

She loves to laugh!

She has no fear.

She makes a lot of messes, but loves to clean up.

Screams DON"T anytime she hears me sing.

She has yet to hit 20 pounds. Just a tiny little thing!

She is my little buddy and I love having her with me all day!

Stolen Zoo photos

Today Alexa and I went to the zoo with Amy and Kiah. Alexa loved being able to take her time and enjoy it without the older kids dashing off to the next animal, hurrying her along. Alexa and Kiah are almost the same age and were so cute to watch interact.

Anyway, my battery was dead on my camera, so I stole these shots from Amy's blog. Thanks Amy!

Don't you just love those giraffe pictures? Totally worth $3 to get licked by an 18 inch tongue!