To the Rescue

I just finished reading this biography on Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and our prophet on the earth today.

He is an amazing, charismatic man. I would love to know him on a personal level. Did you know that he still breeds and keeps show pigeons in his backyard, a hobby that began when he was a boy?

His secretary says that he has given away an average of 10 suits a year over the last 40 years. He would give them spontaneously to men he had just called or interviewed, who either had threadbare suits or no suit at all. A story tells of President Monson interviewing a young missionary and being told that the suit he was wearing was one that President Monson had given his father years ago.


"[President Monson] has this energy, this liveliness and bounce. He goes through the halls like a whirlwind; sometimes the paintings have to be straightened after he has gone by."
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Don't you just love this man?

Peter and Anne, Sitting in a Tree

"I'm going to be Peter in the play of Diary of Anne Frank we're doing in English class," Ethan announced to us the other night at dinner.

That sounds fun," I say.

Then, grinning ear to ear, he says, "Peter has to kiss Anne in the play."



"You mean you're really going to kiss her in class?"

"Yep." Did I say grinning ear to ear?

"What!!?" This is Dalton. "Mom, you can't let him do that! He's not supposed to kiss anyone until after his mission!"

I'll admit, we have always told Dalton this small fib. But only because he's been girl crazy since kindergarden. And we're just joking, for heaven's sake. Although I'm fine with him believing it a while longer.

Girls' Room After

I'm tired. I posted the before pictures yesterday, making it look like I did this in one day. Then I really would be tired. It took a week.



The hardest parts were the canopy and those self-covering fabric buttons on the headboard. The headboard itself was super easy - 15 minutes. The funnest part was the salt and pepper collage art over the bed. Get it? S and P for Sicily and Piper.

Piper in her rocking chair. You can see the edge of the roman shade. I used Little Green Notebook's tutorial. Easy.

This bulletin board is actually enormous, 86" x 48". It was hanging behind a dart board in the house when we bought it; I just recovered it. It's pink; my camera makes it look brown.

I love the polka-dot lining on the curtains.

I thought I would be done with projects for a while, but remember that bulletin board that I took down. Now there is a 86" x 48" area next to our TV that is covered with dart holes.

Think Pink

This is my first attempt at a whole room makeover. I'm playing it safe: it's the little girls' room in the far corner of the basement.


This is my inspiration picture:

This is the room before, half torn apart:

These are the fabrics I'm using:

I have nothing pink in my house, so this is a big leap for me. But the carpet is dark pink, so I thought I'd stick with it.

Abie, Where Are You?

At approximately 2:30 this morning, Piper stood up in bed and called, "Abie?....Abie?....Abie?"

Piper, Abe, Amanda

Then she sat down and jabbered earnestly for a few minutes, punctuating her comments occasionally with "Abie." She had important things to say to you, Abe.

Abe, Piper, Holly

You may ask how I know this. I was lying beside her in her newly-acquired Big Girl Bed [translation: a twin mattress on the floor].

Note: Abe is Piper's cousin; son to my sister, Amanda.

New Home

Here are some before and afters of our new home. [The before pics were taken while the previous owners were still living here.]

View from Entry:


Living Room:

(no before pic, just before decorating)




Dining Room from Kitchen:

there was a wall separating the two rooms before

during


after



Kitchen from Dining:

before - there's that wall again


almost done


Kitchen:

before and during


after


Family Room Bookcases:

before and during


after

Family Room:

before


after




A few concerns:
-How do I accessorize the dining room? It's a little cold and bland.
-What in the world do I do with the built-in planter in the living room?

Summer Highlights

Annie, Erin and Sicily on the Fourth of July


Bronwen and Erin. No, we're not in Alaska; it is Logan on the Fourth!


Rachel, Bronwen, BrinDee on their 4th year Girls' Camp hike to White Pine Lake


Riding a Mule in Island Park: Bronwen, Ethan, Dalton, and Carter


Jason looking scruffy after backpacking three days in the Sawtooths with Scott


Sicily finally lost a front tooth!


Jason and Piper at Bruno Sand Dunes State Park


Dalton cooling off in Boise


Crimson Trail, Logan Canyon


Dalton and Ethan "stuck" in a crevice, Crimson Trail


Piper loves to listen to Bronwen practice the piano; it's very soothing.