Peace on Earth, "Good-will" rocks!

Problem: When you walk in my front door, if my bedroom door is open you can see my bed. (Side note: One of my neighbors with the same floorplan has a mirror on the wall above her bed. She was in the shower and her kids opened the front door. Let's just say she made eye contact with the person at the door while in the shower. Yikes!) No mirror for us and we've gotten in the habit of making it, but really.... it's annoying. The other day at Goodwill I saw this hutch and I couldn't get it out of my head... "where could I use that?!?" I couldn't figure it out and I didn't buy it. When I got home I saw the half wall and it hit me... That's where I could put it! It's two sided so it would look good on both sides. I went back and got it. A couple of coats of paint by me and some trim work by my handy brother David later... built in shelf. Cost $20, plus about $30 in supplies. Not being able to see my bed from the front door... Priceless!

In my pretty garden...

Ok... I'll admit it. I'm addicted to gardening. (and Goodwill and maybe Diet Coke, but that's another post) I love my garden. I drag my family outside to see it and tell them about each of the plants. (To their credit they try to seem interested.) I love being able to go outside and get everything I need for a salad. I love seeing my kids pick veggies and eat them right out of the garden. Most of all I love the quiet, peace and beauty of being outside and puttering in my garden.

All the whos down in whoville...

Haley and 23 of her closest friends (yikes, right?... nearly all of them are in our ward) had quite the party. We did the Grinch thing, Cindy-lou hair and all the green food I could think of. (Carmel popcorn turned green looks pretty gross if you ask me...) They had fun and I was amazed how much teenage girls can eat :) Haley is no longer one of my Beehives... but I am so proud of the great young woman she is!

Yay! The Ornament Exchange!

My friend and I hosted an ornament exchange for the YW Board. It was great to get that tradition going again. It sure made me remember all the many years of ornament exchanges and the good times with good women.

Some things never change...

It's been a few years since the Yankees won the World Series. When we were first married I figured they just always won, because they always won. Jeff was a happy man this year, his Yankees won it again. Haley looks a little older this time though, right?

It's that time of year again....

Ok, so for the past several years my good friend has taken pictures of my kids each fall. She always did a great job. This year I had to do it myself. Group shots were not my favorite. (see picture above) but the ones of them by themselves turned out ok. I don't know how to do the fun actions that make them look cool (I miss you Amy!) but at least they are done!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween. Haley and some of her friends were the villains from Disney movies (I remember when she wanted to be the princess, but that was a long time ago :)

Dallin and Grant were nerds. A couple of their friends ended up being nerds too. It was fun and they really got into character.

Jeff was.....drum roll please..... A Yankee! Can you believe it? OK... that was a little sarcasm, Jeff has been a Yankee just about every year that we've been married. Tyler was Darth Vader and the best part was when we were taking pictures he (with mask on) would always say "Cheeeeeeeese". Very funny. I was a busy mom, but I wore an orange shirt (with a black shirt underneath even... very spirited) Halloween is pretty hectic but it was fun to have the kids bring all their friends over.