Midway!

A few weeks ago we took a little family trip up to Midway with Isaiah's friends. It was so nice to get away and relax together! Midway is absolutely beautiful and the fall weather was fantastic!

Addison loved looking out the balcony at the horses and goats behind the condo. We could also see the leaves changing colors on the mountains too.

We brought our bikes up at rode to Wasatch State Park to see the ducks and play on the playground. I think this is my new favorite picture of the 3 of us.

Addison eventually got brave enough to go down the little slide all by herself. It's so fun to watch her learn new things :)

Our friends Chris and Karen.

We absolutely love our bike trailer. Best $25 KSL buy of the summer!

We stopped to check out a the crater at the entrance to the condo. There are craters all over Midway.

A sign for the Harry Potter enthusiast ;)

The boys got up and went golfing in the mornings then when they came home they watched the kids and the girls went out. It was really fun!

Sandy Hot Air Balloon Festival

Don't you just love free family outings? We went to the Sandy Hot Air Balloon festival last night and it was so awesome. I've always wanted to take a ride in one of these things. Since a storm was coming they didn't launch any of the balloons but it was cool to see the balloons getting filled.

If we're really ambitious next year we'll go to one of the morning launches!

Happy 4th of July!

I have some mixed emotions on aerial fireworks being legal now. I was burned pretty bad by them a few years ago so they are definitely not on my Christmas card list - that being said we enjoyed quite a spectacular fireworks display from our drive way this year. We have a great view of the neighborhood and the Salt Lake valley and could see the fireworks from miles around. It was awesome! Addison even loved them! Sadly I was more scared of them than she was! LOL.

I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and safe 4th of July.

Bike Ride to Daybreak

Isaiah and I recently bought this bike trailer off KSL for only $25! Last Thursday we hooked it up to Isaiah's bike and took Addison out for a bike ride to Daybreak.


It was pretty hot so we introduced Addison to the splash pad. These things are awesome! How come they didn't have these when we were kids?

I have a feeling that we will be frequenting this spot many more times in the months to come. Happy Summer!

Skeleton Key Wall Collage

I bought these keys from a website called Pick Your Plum. They have one really awesome deal every day. It took me a few weeks to decide what to do with them.

I gathered up all the odd photo frames we had in boxes that I was trying to decide what to do with. My kitchen and great room are decorated with green so I spray painted the frames green and also did a few in yellow and gray just to add a little variety to the room.

I positioned all the frames where I wanted them then used some tiny nails to nail the keys in place.

It turned out something like this!



I loved the texture and rivets that a few of the empty frames had. I made a stencil and spray painted a Pp in this one.

Still deciding what to do in this one. Any suggestions?

One of my favorite frames is the Party of 3 :) I used my Silhouette machine and cut some vinyl for that frame. I got the idea from Shelly of House of Smiths - She is pretty much a decorating genius!

This wall adds so much personality to the room. I'm hoping to find a really great chair or old cabinet to repaint and put below the collage.

I can't wait until Addison is older and we tell her those keys are our spares for the burried treasure chest, our stage coach, and our gringott's vault ;)

Before and After! TV Stand

I'm finally getting around to decorating our house. (Hooray!)

I've become addicting to DIY decorating blogs (see side bar for links ;). It's so fun to see these crafty amazing bloggers turn something drab into something amazing. I figured it was time to try my hand at it. I started frequenting the local DI's and eventually found this baby!


Isaiah was a little nervous when he went to pick it up. I think he got a little hung up on its 1970's style and couldn't quite see the vision I had for it. That's the thing about shopping at the DI. You have to see past what it is and envision what it can become.

I sanded it down then gave it a few coats of paint.

I also added some vinyl numbers on it to give it an apothecary table feel. I wanted to get some new handles for it since the original gold ones really weren't my style but they no longer make 4" handles. Since I was too impatient to fill the old holes and drill new ones I bought some brush nickel spray paint and just painted the old ones silver. They look great!

We now have the perfect TV stand. I use the top drawer for our DVD player and the bottom drawers fit DVD. The middle drawers I use to stash some of Addison's toys in.

...and occassionally Addison and I like to play "Boxcar Children" and she sleeps in the drawers ;) JK.

Isaiah loves it too :) Nothing made me feel better than we he told me it looks like it was always meant to be green.

How much did the dresser cost you ask? I got it for only $50! It's solid wood too. Much better quality and a much cheaper price than buying any old TV stand at RC Willey.

I'll post some pictures in another year when we finally get the TV mounted and the rest of the wall done ;)

No Ponies Please!

Last week Addison and I went to Thanksgiving Point with some friends. Addison and Bailey started having fun before we even left the driveway! They crack me up :)


We loved seeing all the farm animals - especially all the babies. So cute!

After we saw all the animals we decided to have the girls ride the ponies. I wasn't sure how Addison would do but figured I would give it a try since she got so excited watching the ponies go round and round.

Bailey went first and showed Addison how to do it...

Let's just say Addison was not a fan when it came her turn. We didn't even make it to the "ride" part. Addison instantly started crying as soon as I started to put her on!

Addison and Bailey talked things over afterwards...

Bailey: Addison, it's ok. The ponies are really fun. I had a good time.

Addison: Ooooh! I don't like those ponies :)