Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String...These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

So I am totally addicted to this blog called Thrifty Decor Chick http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/ and they are having a drawing/giveaway. She has found a few of her favorite things and is giving them away. We, who enter the contest, have to dedicate a post on our blog to "our favorite things." So this is mine....

#1. First off...vinyl lettering. I love it! Such an inexpensive way to decorate and personalize your home! Here are a few of mine in my house:

Master bedroom, above bed

Master bedroom, near light switch.

In guest/kids bathroom

Front room above window.

Laundry room above washer/dryer.



#2. My second favorite thing are these cloth diapers. I didn't use them on Abby (my oldest), but I found them and decided to give them a try with Carson. He has been in them since he was newborn, and he is now almost 6 months. I think they'll fit him for a few more months too!! I love to save money (although, the initial cost isn't cheep) AND do a little bit to help our world!


And they're really cute too!!


#3. My third favorite thing is my silhouettes that I did of my kids (yeah, got the idea off of TDC blog!! I'm telling ya...it's the BEST!!)


#4. My fourth favorite thing are these hand-painted growth charts that I made for the kids. Cute huh?!


#5. My fifth favorite thing...which really should have been #1...is CEREAL!! I love the stuff! If I could I'd have it for all 3 meals everyday (some days I actually do... :) ) Right now I'm really hooked on Frosted Flakes! Come on, say it with me... They're GRRRRRREAT!!!!!

Discovery Gateway

So recently I've reconnected with a long lost friend...ok, not really so lost, I knew she was living in Colorado, what I didn't know, untill a few weeks ago, was that she has now moved back to Utah and lives like 20 minutes away!!! How FABULOUS is that? Pretty darn, if you ask me! I was so stoked (yes, I just used the word stoked...) when she left a comment on my blog. Anyway, we decided to meet up and have a little play date for our kiddos. She has a little boy, William (who is adorible by the way) and he is just a month younger than Abby! So last week we meet up at the Discovery Gateway. It was SO much fun. I think Abby was beside herself with making a new friend and all the fun things there were to do. Here are some of the highlights:

Abby playing wtih the balls:



Abby and William


Carson was so mellow...what a kid!!


Abby playing in the water


Thanks again Shawna! We had a blast! Can't wait to play again!

My Hubby Tag

Where did you meet? My aunt and uncle (Brian's cousin) set us up on a blind date.
How long until you got married? 8 months
How long have you been married? 5 years
Your favorite quality of his? I would have to say physically his eyes...when we were dating I had to buy a dress that was a pale green color because it matched his eyes. Ha...I know I'm a doof!
Does he have a nickname for you? um...I'm not sure if I should put it on here... ;)
His favorite food? coke, coke, and umm oh yeah chocolate milk.
What is his favorite sport to watch? Basketball
When was your first kiss? Valentine's Day 2003. I planned and plotted with my then roomate (Thanks, Quazy!!) how to kiss him. It's not that easy when the guy you wanna kiss is 6'7"!!
What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Anything. I know it sounds cliche but I just love being with him!!
Do you have any kids? yes, 2 adorible little monsters!
Does he have a hidden talent? He plays the guitar. Not many people know that. And he is an excelent cook!!
How old is he? He's 31.
Who said I love you first? Honestly I'm not sure who...I'll have to ask him if he remembers.
What do you most admire about him? He has the patience of a saint! He has to being married to me! :) And he is never judgmental. He just kindof goes with the flow. What is his favorite type of music? He likes a lot of different varieties...one that I think is kindof funny is Barber Shop. Mostly in the car he listens to NPR...yeah I married a thinker. I guess it's true what they say..."opposites attract." :)

I tag Alisha, Shawna, Kira, Ashlee, and Melinda

Disney on Ice

This last Friday we were able to go to Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic. Brian has a friend that works at the ESA box office and calls us from time to time to see if we want free tickets to an event. Well, she called on Thursday last week and I was able to get tickets for me, Abby, some friends and my sister and nieces. It was such a fun time. Abby really enjoyed it...well, except for "Bruce" from Finding Nemo. When he came out she got really scared. Then again when "Beast" came out from Beauty and the Beast. Other than that we had a great time. Here are some photos:

Abby and Karina on the way to the ESA.


Hadley watching the show.


Bo watching the show.


Abby watching the show.


Bo, Hadley, and Abby before the show


Shauna and Me being DORKS!


Shauna and girls.


Abby and me.


The "Light Parade." I swear they had EVERYTHING! It was AWESOME!!


The princesses. When they left the ice Abby wanted them back. She would have been content to have just them. Everything of late is princesses.


The finally. The whole cast and fireworks.

Adyson

Ok, so this post has been in the making for a week now... I've just been waiting for a picture to post with it. Well, I got the picture today so here is the post. :)



(written Nov 8th)
Seven years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful little girl, and 3 days later I placed her in the loving arms of her mom and dad. Each year as November 8th rolls around I get the chance to remember that adorable little girl, and I get to learn about the previous year of her life. I feel so blessed to be a "birth mom." Adoption is such an amazing and humbling process. I am so grateful to Adyson's parents for all that they have done for me, all that they have and still do for Adyson. I can see each year how much she is blossoming. They are doing a fantastic job of raising her and I love them so much!

Adyson, I hope you have a wonderful 7th birthday. I love you!

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago we took family pictures with my side of the family. We just took them up above Midway near the golf course up there. They turned out really cute, with the exception of my mom, my sister, and my hair! It was raining just slightly and our semi-curly hair became frizzy! Anyway, here are a few of the results:

My cute mom and dad. I think they were both DIEING while having this picture taken...or at least my dad...he's not a big one for being in front of the camera.


My sister's family. Girls: Reagan, "Bo," and Hadley.


My family..gosh aren't we cute.


Us again. I love Abby and Carson in this picture.


All of us. Look at the craziness my mom and dad created. :)

Halloween

Ok, so I know I'm behind on my blogging, but in my defence I just got Breaking Dawn and everything is being neglected (blog, husband, house, kids....) :) So here is the Halloween blog...

We went trick-or-treating with Brian's sister Angie, her husband, Jared and their adorible little girl Dani.


Here they are trick-or-treating. Abby went last year and caught on quick, and this year was Dani's first and she also caught on quick. They didn't want to go home.


Carson was awake for the first few minute of the outing then...he zonked out!


When we got home we had to inspect the candy and I was very impressed with Abby's loot. I think I may dich some and replace it with a toothbrush...


We also went to our ward's trunk-or-treat. It was a good time. We started off with dinner a yummy nacho bar. Then we had a little parade of costumes and headed outside for the fun part.

Abby and Carson waiting to go. Abby (princess), Carson (frog).



Abby had a ball. After dinner she frosted a cookie and then proceded to lick all of the frosting off leaving the cookie all bare again. We contemplated taking it back for someone else to use...they'd never know the difference. :) I know EWW!


Carson had a good time too...check out that gummer!


Us heading out to the trunk-or-treat after dinner.