The 1970 China Cabinet Re-do!

About 13 years ago Mike's Aunt gave us a china cabinet that she was getting rid of. I was so excited to get it so I could store my valuables in it. It wasn't the best looking thing, but when you're just starting out you'll take anything that's free and be thrilled about it. As the years went by the more this china cabinet bugged me. It was so out dated, but I knew Mike would never go for buying a new one. For years I thought maybe I could just paint it and it would look better, but the project just felt too big to me. Then awhile back my sister told me about this blog that had all these cute ideas to refinish "ugly" furniture. I loved looking at the blog and the more time I spent I kept thinking how I could maybe make that ugly china cabinet look better. So one day after Katy got back from College we tore it apart and the journey began. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture before I took it apart so you could see the brass criss cross metal in the sides of the glass on the top cabinet. They were very 1970's. The more we painted the better I felt about our adventure. It took a lot of time, but with Katy helping me it went faster than I thought. I only broke one piece of glass (cost 8.00 to replace) and almost needed stitches when I took off a chunk of skin cleaning the glass pieces. All in all I think the project cost me about 50.00 to complete. It took primer, paint and new hardware and walla I got myself I pretty hip china cabinet. The picture doesn't do it justice, but I am in love with my very old up to date hand me down. I took all of the cream china my Mom gave me and put it on display with one pop of green in the center. Every time I walk in my dining room I smile with glee because I saved us some money and feel great about it.

Goodbye to Polly!

A couple of weeks ago we had to put our cat Polly to sleep. She was 12 years old and had gotten sick. We tried a few different things to help her, but finally decided that putting her to sleep was probably the best thing to do.

I am not really a huge cat fan, but she really was a good cat. The thing that made her even more special was the fact she was one of Mike's parents kittens. When their cat had kittens there were 4 of them. The kids were little when they were born so they loved to look at the baby kittens. One day Katy came home from her visit with Grandma and Grandpa and told me all the names that her and Grandpa had come up with for the kittens. They were some pretty silly names (Grandpa Frank was always good for a laugh). Then Katy told me that her Dad told her she could have one of the orange cats since it had the same color of hair as her. Thus we ended up with Polly. Mike actually named her Pollyester from a character on some show. We lovingly referred to her as Polly.

We have never lost a pet before and it was a very difficult decision. I took these pictures of the kids with her the day before she died. Eric's picture kind-of tells how he felt about it. It was a very sad day for our whole family. Pets really are a big part of your family. We are grateful that Polly was a part of our family for so many years!

Our Anniversary trip!

Mike and I headed to Logan on Thursday night for a few days to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We had originally thought we would try to get to Hawaii for our anniversary, but with me being in school and other financial obligations we decided this wasn't the year for that. I told Mike as long as we are together that's all that mattered. My friend Miriam is from Logan and refers to it as "Gods Country" so what better place to spend your anniversary then in "Gods Country". Mike went to a year at Utah State and he has always loved it there. I have to agree with Miriam it is so beautiful! Just driving into Cache Valley is so breath taking. So green and lush. On Friday morning we headed to Bear Lake before the rain started and rented this cute little bike made for two and hit the bike trail. When I saw the bike I knew that was the one for me. I knew riding side by side and getting to chat with Mike would be a great way to go. The whole time we were riding we laughed at how ridiculous we probably looked and knew our kids would be humiliated, but we loved it. We made it all the way around the bike trail it took us 1 1/2 hours and our legs were a little tired, but what a thrill. We have always loved Bear Lake. We've spent a few summer vacations there with Mike's family so lots of good memories for us. Of course after our ride we celebrated our accomplishment with a raspberry shake, hamburger and fries....yum!

On Saturday we headed to the Pepperidge Farms thrift store, Gossner cheese factory, Ross (I love that store), and off to Idaho for Mike's lottery ticket. Every time we are close to the Idaho border we stop at LaTinda for one. Now I was pleasantly surprised that LaTinda has remodeled. The last time we stopped there I was so horrified by the hanging fly paper in the store I couldn't even purchase a bottled drink. So when Mike said he wanted to go I thought oh boy where's the hand sanitizer. When we pulled up the outside looked fresh and new so I went in with him and was very happy to see that the inside was much better. I am sorry to say that Mike only won 4.00 minus the 20.00 he spent on the tickets, but the adventure made for a good picture.

We mostly just relaxed and ate way too much food (back on Weight Watchers we go)but it was so nice to be together just the two of us. It is so important to make time to be alone. Ours kids are great, but before we had them it was just the two of us and someday it will that way again. I am so blessed to have such a great husband and friend!

Women's Conference 2010!

Women's Conference this year was wonderful as usual. I love the time I get to spend with my family and friends. This year we had my Mom, my sister Kari, my step sister Neisha, and my best friend Colleen. The picture I am in is of me and Colleen. I always feel so spiritually fed when I attend the conference and leave wanting to be a better Mother and Wife. For the past couple of years we've started attending the concert they have in the evening. It is so much fun and we get to act like silly teenage girls again. Who wouldn't act silly when cute Alex Boye comes out on the stage?

I really enjoyed Sister Julie Beck's talk on prioritizing our lives. I really need to work harder on doing the essential things in my life. I have become way too casual about the way I strengthen my testimony. There were so many good messages and I wish I had more time to write them down, but for now this will have to be good enough.

I can't wait for next year and the time that I get to spend with some of the people I adore the most!

Eric's Ordination!

Last Sunday Eric was ordained a Priest. I of course have no pictures from the occasion. I seem to be a bad Mom when it comes to capturing memorable moments on camera. So the picture up above is of Eric and the Hughes boys at Disneyland a few years back. The Hughes have been our friends for many years. The Hughes have three boys. Alex is their oldest (5 months younger then Katy). Curtis is 1 week younger then Eric and Parker is 12. So our kids have grown up together.

When it came time for Eric to be ordained I asked him who he wanted to do it and he said he'd like Alex to do it. I was so impressed that Eric thought so much of Alex to ask him. He's always looked up to Alex. In the circle that day was Alex, Curtis (he had just been ordained right before our meeting), Terry, Don, Bishop Rueckert, Bro. Newhouse, and Pedro Fajardo. There have been many great men in Eric's life to step in and perform priesthood duties on his behalf. I have always been so grateful to all of those men. I am thankful to Alex to be such a great example to my son. He was worthy to be able to perform this special ordinance. His example of preparing to serve a mission in the near future is a blessing to his family and ours. Once again great friends and family blessing our life!

Friends!

This past week I went out to dinner with most of the ladies that served in my first Young Womens Presidency. Of course I forgot my camera so no picture. It was so nice to get see so many of them. Since my ward split a while back I don't even get to see them at church. As we sat there talking for hours I realized how much I have missed spending time just being with good friends. That is not to say that I don't ever get together with friends, but recently I have felt such a void in my life. In the ward I am currently in I don't really spend a lot of time hanging out with the women there. I think a lot of it is due to the stage of life I am in right now. I don't have small children anymore and I work full time along with going to school. It's not anyone's fault it's just the way things are. It was so nice to just be with ladies and catch up on each of our lives. It made me think about how much I need interaction with good friends. I need to be able to share my feelings, go over the struggles and triumphs in my life. We as women need to take time for ourselves and nourish our friendships. In a couple of weeks I will head off to my annual 2 days at BYU Womens Conference. It is such a great time to spend with family and friends. Another chance to spend time with great friends. Just as our kids need good friends in their life, we as women need the same. I am so grateful for wonderful friends in my life that make me laugh, cry with me, and inspire me to be a little better.

I have an Eagle Scout!

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Eric had his Eagle Court of Honor. I was such a proud Mom. I have two brothers that are Eagle Scouts and i don't think I ever realized what exactly they had to do to achieve this great accomplishment. I can now truly appreciate their perseverance.

I think of the people that have influenced Eric in achieving this great accomplishment and the first person I think of is my sweet husband Mike. He has supported our kids in everything they are involved in. Now Mike was not much of a scout himself, but as soon as Eric got involved, there Mike was too. I remember him spending hours with Eric helping him make his first pine wood derby car (which took first I might say). Anyone that knows Mike knows that he really doesn't enjoy camping, but that didn't stop him from going to scout campouts with Eric. Yesterday the Scout Master said that if he asked who Eric's best friends are he would bet that his Dad would be on the top of the list and I have to agree.

I also think of Keith Stewart. Keith has been in Scouts with Eric more years than I can count. Keith himself is an Eagle Scout and he had it in his head he was going to help these boys achieve the same goal he had. Keith is one of those men that never stops giving. Always devoting hours, money, and encouragement to help young boys grow into men. If it weren't for Keith I am not sure Eric would have been able to achieve this goal. Keith is one of those guys that remembers all the Scout leaders in his life that gave their time to him and is giving back to show his appreciation. What a great man!

I also think of Eric's friends that have already gotten their Eagle and have encouraged him to do the same. They also helped him with his project and that made his project that much easier.

It was a great day. Eric so appreciated all the friends and family that came to support him. I think the program went well and he enjoyed his day. I hope Eric will give back to other young men and help them accomplish the same goal of Eagle Scout.