I'm in love

Now, I don't usually come right out and boast about something but I just had to share with the world our latest time sucker and the reason I haven't parked in my garage for 2 months. I'm in love with it and couldn't be more excited with how it turned out. I've had my eye on this Pottery Barn knock-off bed for almost 2 years now. It's a plan from a girl name Anna White who makes furniture and gives tutorials that make it seem like anybody can do it. She's seriously a genius! We finally decided to take it on. And here is what our finished product looks like.


Du dududuuuuuuu

So Cameron built the whole thing so the credit shall go to him. I did the easy part- the finishing. Check out Anna White's website. She has plans for just about anything you'd need and/or want. I promise, you'll be inspired to get out your jigsaw and build yourself something awesome. And can I just say that Cameron's handy-man skills continue to boggle my mind? Had no idea he had it in him and I love it.

HAPPY 2012!

We had such a fun New Years this year thanks to fabulous Houston weather. It was 60s all the way until midnight! It was awesome. People went nuts with fireworks around here and we also set up the projector outside and watched Elf on the driveway with the neighbors. Without blankets. Did I mention it was 60's?



Thanks Channing for the photos!

Resolutions and a 2011 best-of coming up!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To believe or not to believe

Here is what Santa found under the tree tonight as he conspicuously left presents for the kids.

In case you can't read it (and because blogger keeps wanting to flip it on it's side), I'll translate...

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Can I get a 3DS

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Can I get a DSI

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Can you get Kara a puffle

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Can you get me a laptop please

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Can Ty get a dinosaur movie

To Santa

From Colby 12/24/11

Dear Santa, Will is at his Grands home. Can you deliver this present to Will.



First of all. So sweet that he took the time to think about his brother and sister. And I love that he was hoping Santa could do him a favor and deliver his duct tape wallet to his friend that is spending Christmas at his grandparents.

Second of all. This just may be the year that Colby starts suspecting something's up. Why?

3DS: not check

DSI: not check

Laptop: not check

puffle: not check

dinosaur movie: not check

delivering gift to San Antonio Texas: not check

I think we can fake our way through delivering the wallet. It's currently in my purse and I will make a special delivery to Will's house and then let Will's mom handle the rest of this "fabrication" of the truth.

And, Kara just decided a few days ago that what she wants more than anything in the world from Santa is a puffle. What is a puffle? Anybody? And the last few days, Ty's been going around saying that for his birthday, he wants a dinosaur movie. His birthday. When my kid asks for something for a specific event, I'm not about to just give it to them early. What kind of mother would that make me? And for the 3DS and DSI and laptop- these are all pipe dreams that have surfaced after asking for legos and a remote control helicopter, both of which Santa did manage to pull through on. Of course we've had the conversation with the kids about how Santa's elves have to have time to make the toys, and that Santa doesn't have unlimited funds and resources and has to draw the line somewhere and that Santa is a conspiracy theory made up by the government to ruin our lives. But the kid wrote a post-it note and stuck it under the tree for heaven's sake. That trumps everything, right? What dude in a big red suit, or humble mother in her bathrobe and striped fuzzy socks with cookie crumbs in the corner of her mouth, is going to deny the poor child his desires? 

Every year I go back and forth on this Santa thing. It's sweet and fun to see the kids get excited about the impossible and a little ridiculous, heartbreaking, and a downright pain in my backside, all at the same time.

What's your take on Santa? 

Colby's First Piano Recital

I am one proud mama. Way to go Colby!!

The True Meaning

I think Colby is finally catching the spirit of Christmas, don'tya think?

 

The winters here...

I've recently resigned myself to the fact that Houston weather...sucks...for lack of a better word. I've already mentioned how miserably devilish the summer is and without hardly any 60's and 70's in which to frolic in the fields, it turned to 30s and 20s. And 30s with humidity is COLD. Like sweater wearing, coat wearing, hat wearing, mittens wearing cold. But I think it feels colder mentally because I was expecting this wonderfully 60 degree winter and I'm bitter that I endured triple digit heat because "the winters are so nice."  But, I've accepted it. I'm pretty good at making the best of a situation when I really don't have a choice in it anyway. (Not that I don't have a choice in living in Houston. I just don't have a choice in how the weather's gonna be).  I can officially say, "I like it here but the weather sucks." But then, one December day, I go outside to get in my car and think, wow. It feels warm. I get out my phone and look up the weather. It is 69 degrees. 69 degrees in the middle of December. That's "nice." That's better than "nice." So. I did a little frolicking in the field and I've now decided that the jury is still out on the weather in Houston.

Everyone told me how much I'd miss the season changes and when I went back to Utah in October for a visit and saw the beautiful leaves, I realized I would miss that more than I thought. And then this morning, I look outside from our dining table and here is what I discoveedr in my own backyard.

Pretty, huh? And those trees in the back will stay green all year long. And as far as season changes, going from the 20's to the 70's in one week is all the change I need. And I thought Utah weather was unpredictable...