Fab Find.

The other day I found this little treasure! I am SO excited about it and so I had to share. I have been looking for a display piece for my jewelry for sometime now. I have seen many in craft stores but most are too victorian looking for me. The other day I had a few minutes without the boys so I stopped at this little boutique in Kingwood I have been wanting to go to for a while but certainly wouldn't attempt with the boys in tow. I am SO glad I did! When I went in the owner was rearranging the entire store and had pulled this out of the back and I saw it! I talked her into selling it to me and wha-lah! It was the only one she had. (insert happy dance here)

You can also take it off the stand and display it table top.

Isn't it simply perfect?

1 2 3 Magic...(Take 1)

It has been just over a year since we moved into our house. We moved in Aug 1 when I was 9 months pregnant, scheduled to deliver Ben on August 15th. We knew when we bought this house it would be in need of some renovations and we have been very busy the last year doing just that.

Since I knew I would be practically changing everything, I took awesome "before" pictures when we bought the house but I lost them when my computer crashed last Thanksgiving. I scrounged up these pictures from the realtor. They were the ones used when it was listed on the MLS.

Our first project started just 3 days after we moved in when we paid a crew to come rip out all of the old flooring downstairs: white carpet and glued down wood (orangy oak) floors. Many have asked for pictures and I have been reluctant to post any because I wanted to have it ALL put together before I did. However, finding the "perfect" art, chairs and money to do it all doesn't always come together as quickly as I'd like! So, here is the first area we tackled, thus far:

Dining room before:

White.white.white. They are invisible here but before the base boards were 2.5 inch off white.

Dining after: Weston & his brother Dustin installed the floors, during his paternity leave I must add. ;) Five inch hand scraped maple. I installed & painted the 6 inch square baseboards all throughout, curtain rods, hemmed linen curtains & painted all the walls.

Here is another view.

Sitting/Office area before.

After:

I have big plans to turn this into a mini library, adding more bookcases (we have like 10 boxes of unpacked books still), some comfy reading chairs and a love seat in this room but we are still working on the money tree thing & the energy to do it all. ;) Notice my bare walls. I have been searching for that perfect art for over a year now.

The lighting in this picture shows the true paint color a little better.

This is the best picture of the entry way before that I could find. This was taken at the YW Christmas party held at my house (they were performing the nativity). To orient yourself....here you see the piano (behind the girl wearing the blue sheet) and the front door entrance.

Front entrance after. (The piano is behind the pillar)

Another angle. The door you see is the entry to the powder room which is currently under construction but getting close to being done. Pictures to come soon. We replaced all the doorknobs, light sockets/panels, plug sockets/panels & painted all the doors. I plan to paint the stair railing all white like the rest of the trim. I have found my new console table but I am waiting to purchase......"oh money tree, oh money tree!" :)

Now this here... is a (insert Uncle Eddie accent) "fine piece of art". ;) I have also been searching for the perfect chandalier for the past year and I think I just found it but I am waiting for the darn thing to go on sale! Therefore, I am stuck with this one a little longer. For the time being, I am going to paint it junk chic style. Anything will look better than this. I will post pics after I do.

We have been working hard in other rooms as well (kitchen, family & powder room). Soon to be starting the master bedroom & bath. I will post pics of those when I can too. :)

We are pleased to introduce......

Esther.

Sweet. Spunky. Submissive and fearless.

The lowdown: For the last month we have been actively looking for a kitten. We had checked out various pet stores and after being interrogated by the NAZI Kitten agency at Petco I was happy to leave them behind as I was SURE they would all go to PERRRRFECT homes. *ehem*. Subsequently, I started to check around for free kittens in the area and found an online ad for free kittens at a farm & feed off the feeder road headed toward Porter, a neighboring city. If you are not familiar, Porter is a much more....how should I say?....."Country" city. ;) Well, I don't have a farm so, I wasn't sure where that was but thought perhaps they were referring to the Tractor Supply Company, also off the feeder road.

When I walked in the store the cashier was with a customer and as they were finishing up I asked her if this was where they had free kittens. The cashier said, "We don't have any here." Then, both the cashier & the customer said simultaneously with eager eyes....."You want a kitten?" We all chuckled and started to chat. They both described their kittens, I exchanged phone numbers and called one of the girls.

Wed night I went to check "him" out. He sounded cute but I had really wanted a girl so I almost didn't go. When I got there, not only was he SUPER cute, "he" jumped up on my lap, cuddled up and started purring instantly. I decided to double check the sex and to my surprise "he" was actually a "she" and well...after that I just new it was meant to be. (Hey that rhymed!) So... I brought her home and so far she has been the BEST natured little girl. Really submissive but also quite spunky. She has NO FEAR. The night I picked her up she walked right under the belly of a 100 pound Rottweiler and stopped for a little rest, until he tried to EAT her! She hardly flinched! While I could see the owner loved her, I couldn't leave her there with that freak show dog, so I snatched her up and brought her home. So, that is how we got her....and I knew instantly what her name would be.....and it suites her quite perfectly I think. ;)

Warren was SOOOOOO surprised the next morning and has not let her alone for one minute.....except for a few mandatory "Kitty Quiet Times" enforced by mom. He just love love LOVES her and she is so content to let him cart her around, shove food & water, toys & stuffed animals in her face, comb her, kiss her, hug her, bath her (with her watering tank) and constantly put her in and out of her bed.
This morning he carted her upstairs and was educating her about his trains. It was SO funny, she just sat there and watched with the most curious & attentive face.

Warren & Esther. Best Friends Forever. ;) We sure do love her too. :)

Benjamin's 1st Birthday!

I can hardly believe it has been a year but last Saturday we celebrated Benjamin's 1st Birthday! Words cannot express how much joy this happy little boy brings into our lives. We love him so!

You must watch the birthday cake video below to get the full effect but this little guy gave this cake quite the run for its icing! He licked, then sucked, the picked the entire piece up and tried to swallow it entirely and then squished it and continued to scarf it and smash it all over his face. Afterwards, he exhibited signs of a serious chocolate buzz! It was hilarious!

Can you feel the buzz?

The kids waiting for the birthday cake to arrive and to serenade the birthday boy!

Simultaneously, we had a mini reunion with some of our favorite Michigan friends. The Anderson's, Fowles, Millwards & Us all met in Austin. The Fowles were so kind to host the party consisting of 8 adults and 17 kids! It was so wonderful to see everyone!

I just love these ladies! Andrea Fowles, moi, April Millward & Cheri Anderson.

Thanks for celebrating with us my friends and Happy Birthday Ben! :)

Duh.

Saturday night we were winding down for the evening. Weston had gone to the church for a priesthood meeting and I was getting ready to feed the boys and tidy up a bit before we sat down to eat. Earlier, Warren had loaded my desk chair with toys and pushed it into the kitchen.

E: Warren will you please put your toys away and push my chair back to my desk?

W: (whining)

E: We are just about ready to eat....come on....quick like a fox.

W: Oh mom. I can't carry all that stuff. There is too much.

E: Well, you seemed to be able to carry it just fine and put it all on the chair. Don't you think you can use the same two arms & legs to put it away?

W: I can't carry everything mom, I am NOT an octopus!

AMAZING.

Wed & Thursday was the finale of SYTYCD and the performaces were incredible! This season has had the best choreography to say the least! This piece by Jeanine & Kayla is Amazing! It was just for me.... all the way!! :) Loved it! Probably my favorite piece of all time on the show. I also loved how the skirts/"layers" were different colors. Perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjUnNzMlcdY

Also, Jeanine's solo was so dang awesome! I cannot believe the pirouettes she did! She is incredible! I am so glad she won!!! Her talent matches Brandon but she grew the most this season by far! I love to see that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ3Pc8HtrIo

This ones for the boys! I LOVE when they guys dance together and it just so happens they did....to one of my old time favorite songs! Nast-ay! (this is for Jacob)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYnAlT8DvAo&feature=related

This one was NOT on the finale but it is one of my favorites also. Definately #2 if not tied with my #1. If you have ever known cancer then you can appreciate it. The movement and story is SO perfect & beautiful. It also reminds me of my Heavenly Father & how he is always there for us and how you can always trust him. Get out your tissues!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj7_syjbGDs

Enjoy! On to the first fall season! Woot!

Beach Boys

We had a fabulous day of sunshine, sandcastles, boogie boarding & collecting seashells on Saturday at the beach! We have been talking about going for a while and we finally organized ourselves and did it! It was Ben's first time and he LOVED every minute....along with Warren! (I love that his belly is sticking out here)

He loved sitting in the "waves".

He LOVED the sand. Sticking his fingers in was a very interesting and captured a good part of his attention. :)
Warren spent most of his time hunting for seashells and other treasures! Boogie boarding was his next fav. I think we will be going again soon for sure!

I can't get this video to post for the life of me but click on this link for a live show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyfR1EPQ2s

LUCKY!!

Tonight things were crazy around the house. It was the dinnertime hour and I had been painting most of the day and therefore had paint supplies scattered about the kitchen and still had not made any dinner. Weston was working from home as well. Ben started to fuss and I knew he was hungry. I was in the middle of painting the pantry door and couldn't stop until I had finished the area I was a currently working on without totally messing up it up. I continued on for a few more minutes. Weston walked in in the nick of time.... I told him Ben was hungry and asked him to put him in his high chair and give him some dinner. He saved the day, immediately grabbed him and put him in his high chair. Next thing I know Ben is fussing again and I glanced down at his tray. No food. Hmmmmm. Weston had disappeared.

I go into the Bedroom to find him working again. I reminded him that Ben needed some food and asked if he could please take care of it as I was still covered in paint. He stood up and walked back into the kitchen to get his dinner on the tray. I went back to painting. I saw him come over and grab something out of the pantry and just as he was pulling it out I turned to dip my brush and therefore did not see what he got out. Ben became mute instantly. A few minutes later, I turned around and saw Benjamin eating this... for dinner.

LUCKY!!!!

It was his first taste of Lucky Charms and this happy little clam enjoyed every morsel!

Dads! Gotta love em!

And then there was four. Family Pics 2009.

We finally got new family pictures! Here is a preview of my favorites. Which ones are your fav? Let me know and I will do my best to send you what you want! Enjoy!

Color or Sepia?

Lovebugs. ;)

The "shoe" pic. Shoes what shoes?

My happy happy Ben.

I love it when I capture classic Warren expressions and home so I was thrilled she was able to as well. Two of my favorite for sure!

Ham. Turkey. Its all the same.

Ben LOVED playing on the tracks (yes they were inactive). Here he SO proudly displays his treasure.

The brother pictures where a little tougher to capture. Warren was either too lovey or out came the anaconda squeeze! But...she did get some cute ones!

This was a total fluke. We did not purposly pose them this way but it turned out super cute.

My happy and oh so handsome little men.

Best of Utah

We just got back from another trip to visit the fam in Utah. Here are some pictures from our adventures. We were very busy as always but this time we went in the summer which was SO much fun. We don't get many vacations so we were determined to have fun and we did!

Second day there my little sister Rach and my nephews treated me to some good old fashioned fun and took me to their best kept secret. A GREAT swimming hole tucked away in a hillside....equipt with a super fun rope swing! Yes.....I did it too! About 9 times! My arms started giving way after that! ;) (Video at the bottom of this post)

My brother Brian has a mini farm at his house and Warren loves going there. Here he and Marshall are in the chicken coop collecting the eggs for the day. They found about 14. He also has a pig & the hugest garden you have ever seen!

Weston & his brother Dustin at temple square. It's all love there.

This one just makes me feel good. :)

Playing in the reflection pond at temple sqaure with Auntie Natalie & Cousin Henry.

Ben's first Ute hat! Wa wa wa wa wa!

A trip to Utah would not be complete without a visit to our favorite....The Pie. THE BEST PIZZA..........EVER.

Me, Ben and my girls Angie (neice) and Rach (sister).

Swimming and BBQ at uncle Blake's house!

Another Hall Family Tradition.....Nielsen's frozen custard at 10pm. YUM.

Weston's mom & step dad threw a HUGE summer party which they entitled Fiesta Grande. Over 300 people attended! The rented a bouncy house for kids, carnival games, mini golf, pinata, fajitas, mariachi band & door prizes! It was great!

Weston in a cage in the dinosaur park in Ogden. I still can't believe I got him to do this picture!

Riding the carosel with Ya Ya at Liberty Park.

Four generations of the Hall Family Line.

We planned a little family reunion for my family and we held it up at Pine View. We had a really fun time hanging out in the beautiful mountains. Warren's best of Utah would most definately have to include this sprinkle cookie. He ate four of them. :)

Fourth of July kisses from "my kids" Tyler & Braden (nephews).

This is a video of Tyler on the rope swing. Good times. :)