Updated At Last!

After being reminded from family and friends (several times) that I needed to update my blog, I FINALLY did it! I don't know where the time goes. We've gone on a few camping trips, but the camera was accidentally left at home.... oops. Kelsey is doing great right now and goes in for a check up next month. Both the girls start school on Monday and I think they are pretty excited. (I know I am!) I have loved having them home for summer, but they are growing restless and are ready for something new. I am really going to try harder to keep my blogging up to date, not only for friends and family, but for my girls and their future families, as this has become my journal and scrapbook!

Aly's 13th Birthday Bash

My sweet Aly turned into a teenager this year! She has grown into such a beautiful young woman with amazing qualities and talents. To list a few: her laughter is contagious - especially her giggle. She is helpful and hardworking, which I am so grateful for! She is fashionable and expensive (look out future husband!). She is responsible and loves to try new things. She is social - VERY social, and has many friends. ALL of this, plus - she is modest, holds her morals and values above all else (another blessing!), and has a beautiful self-esteem about herself (something I like to tease her about, but really couldn't be more grateful!) Aly, I hope you never take yourself too serious, don't be afraid to try new things, don't give up when the going gets tough, never compromise your beliefs for someone else, and always be yourself. Dad and I love you so much and we are so proud of you!

Aly wanted to go with the youth to the temple that night, so, she opened her present when she got home.

The next day, she had a few friends over for a sleepover.

I surprised her with a very cool cake - that she wasn't expecting. (Thanks Becca!)

Thanks Kylie, Bailey, and Chance!

We had family and friends over that Friday night to finish off the festivities.

The wind was picking up, and when you live in the country, there's no wind block. So, we moved our party to the garage just to be safe.

After dinner, the wind let up and we moved to the back patio. The kids jumped in the pool while the rest of us just relaxed and enjoyed each others company. We brought out the kareoke machine and got a few laughs out of our "exquisite" performers.





I made Aly's favorite cake - white velvet. It wasn't as fancy as Becca's cake, but Aly liked it.

After almost everyone else went home, Steve and my cousin McKell teamed up to perform "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". It was so funny! The sad part is that they were really good...

Big ThAnKs to all of our family and friends who came out to help us celebrate Aly - We LoVe you so much!

Summer Projects

I've been a bit of a procrastinator lately, and have wanted to "make new" some old things. For instance, our kitchen table. Steve and I bought the table BEFORE we were married. It has been in both homes we've lived in, AND survived a nearly fatal road rash incident on the move to our current home. I did refinish the table top about 3 years ago with another coat of oak stain, and it was holding up until my sweet Kelsey decided to carve her precious little name into it. So, with lots of hope that we are past the name carving stage, I dove in and took the whole thing apart. And yes, this was another project in which Steve gave me that "you wanna do what? - are you crazy??" look. Bless his heart, he helped me take all the chairs apart. It took me a few weeks working on it after I got off work at night, but it turned out so cool! I was very proud of myself!

I had to find a photo with the table in it so I could have a before/after photo.

LoVe It!

The other project I've been putting off for almost a year now, was re-finishing Kelsey's room. She wanted something a little more grown up, and not quite so purple. This was a birthday present from last year that she's been so patient with, only asking about her "new room" every now and then. I guess subconsciously, I was making sure she was past the carving stage.

(the "old" room)

Kelsey was so excited to see her room all finished! It turned out really pretty. I just need to find a few more things to accent and girly it up a bit. Happy Birthday last year Kelsey!

The BiG 15th Anniversary!

On June 24, Steve and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. It's amazing to me to think of all the things we've been through and all of the things we've accomplished together to get to where we are. Steve is my best friend, an incredible husband, and an amazing dad. I can't imagine our life any other way.

This year, I wanted to give Steve something a little different to let him know just how much he means to me. So, I made a candybar storyboard which not only was full of candy, but included a new pair of shoes, and a GPS. The girls and I spent half a day (literally) going from gas stations to grocery stores in search of the candy I needed. It turned out really cute, and was worth all the effort!

Steve, being the thoughtful man he is, gave me (with a little help from me) a beautiful custom designed anniversary band. And, yes babe, we can now be done with diamonds for a while :) ....

I love you with all my heart - here's to the next 15, and the next, and the next......