SVU BBQ, Last Saturday!

On Saturday we went to a Southern Virginia Alumni BBQ... we had a really really fabulous time... A good friend of ours took some amazing pictures... esp of Will and Caitin, so i thougth you'd like to see them! What cute kids we have, Just! OK Enjoy!

Trent, David, and Justin

Can you find us? we are sitting on the Left side! Yippy!

These are two buddies from acting class to the right of my head... some of my FAVORITE people in the world!

Tag! I've never seen this one before...

20 years ago.... 1988

6 years old

1. I was in Kinder garden, and my teacher was pregnant and she said i was always very talkative... it says it right on my report card!

2. I had long blond curly hair! (i wish i had a scanner so i could post pictures! Hint Justin!)

3. for Halloween i was a cat, and to this day i can remember the smell of the plastic cat nose i wore all day long! strange... the things you remember.

4. I was a Daisy Scout! my favorite thing about it was the treats!

10 years ago... 1998

16 years old

1. Worked at CVS as a check out girl! (later moved to one hour photo.)

2. Had my wisdom teeth out, and found out the hard way i was allergic to Hydrocodone. but i lost 10 lbs, and learned that Jello is they only food that tastes the same going down and coming back up!

3.Got my licence on Friday the 13th!

4. Was in an Acting group called WAC (Warwick Acting Company, the reason behind Will's initials!)

5 years ago... 2003

23 years old

1. Justin and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary!

2. Justin and I were both in the young men's and Young Women's... and we went to St. George and went repelling... my first time! YEAH, i was freaked... but it was SO AWESOME!

3. I tried out for Savior of the World, at the Conference Center and made it!! Best Performing arts experience to date!

4. Justin and I traveled a lot that year:

March: Las Vegas

June: St. George

July: PA,CA

Aug: AZ

5. Justin and I house sat and watched the kids for some people in our ward for 4 days, and they let me drive their Mercedes!! YES!

3 years ago... 2005

23 years old

1. Became a Mommy!

2. bought first home, Layton Utah

3. Found out I was having another Baby!

1 year ago... 2007

25 years old

1. Moved from Layton to Salt Lake!

2. Ran first 5K, Centerville Fourth of July, Freedom Run! LOVED IT!

3. Lost about 15 lbs! good stuff!

So far this year... 2008

26 years old

1. Took a 8 week Tap Dancing class... :) my new passion!

2. Met Author Stephenie Meyer!

3. Wake up before the kids 3 times a week to exercise!

Yesterday... June 16th

1. Woke up at 5:45 am to go walking with my AWESOME buddie Dani

2. Tended Jack and Elle for Yung! My kids' favorite little friends!

3. Took the Kids (and Justin) to the swimming pool for FHE... They are like little fish! They love the water! which means, we made a sweet exit!

Today... June 17th

1. Did the laundry, boo!

2. made Chocolate mike and Juice cups like 800 times.

3. Actually was able to get both kids down for a nap, so i worked out to The Firm, DVD... i was working so hard my ear lobes were sweating! it was AWESOME!

Tomorrow... June 18th

1. Getting up early to go walking again, with Dani and Yung! love the early morning fresh air!

2. My car needs gas, so first I'll head over to the bank and take out a loan!

3. Take Caitlin over to Nana Great's house for a play date! and return part of Justin's Father's day gift... it has a 'stain' yellow ties are just so prone...

Next year... 2009

1. I would love to re-do the basement!

2. Justin GRADUATES from Grad school! YES!

3. Sing more!

I tag Justin, Amy, B, Kevin, Emily, Muranda, Cristi, Katey and anyone who wants to!

Fun Apron Swap!!

My sister Amy sent me this link a few months ago. Abby is the name of the gal who manages the blog... and there are a lot of cute ideas for family fun activities and summer projects...

She started an 'Apron Swap' as a fun way to get the summer off to a fun start! I was so excited to enter, how fun to get something in the mail... and get to know someone across the country... or world!!

2 or 3 years ago my mom got me a sewing machine for my birthday, and I've just LOVED making cute things... bags, and this is the apron I made for the swap (Below)... I fell so in love with it while I was making it... I sent it and a folder of my favorite recipes to a gal in Missouri. What fun!

This is the darling apron I got in the mail TODAY from TN! I just love it, and so does Caitlin, she wanted to try it on and when i put it on her she said..."Oh, I'm a Princess... quick, in need lipstick!" I just laughed!

I thought it was also so sweet, the lady who made this for me sent this and some 'tea party' themed recipes... 2 punch recipes, and pie recipe which just sounds amazing!! I'm really looking forward to using them! I'll share, of course! SEW FUN!!

WILL-is-ums...

There is never a dull moment with a 2 and 3 year old... even when you think you are safe... and 'off the clock' per say.... when they take a nap or go to sleep for the night... You never know what kind of crazy ideas are lurking around in their heads after you shut the door and say goodnight...

Take last week for instance... Justin and I were in our basement rearranging our craft and office spaces... we had been down there for a few hours... when i thought... i should go check the kids... make sure every thing is alright...

When i opened their bedroom door... Caitlin was sleeping peacefully. (Yes! One positive thing about her refusing to take naps during the day... she's out as soon as her head hits the pillow!!)... Then i looked in Will's direction... and see that his pillow, blankets, pj's AND DIAPER are all laying on the floor next to his crib. AND inside... a naked-sleeping-version of our son snuggled into the corner of his crib... with pee, pretty much all over the place. Whoopy! Another fun parenting experience! I can honestly say... that I laughed; I thought it was so funny! Hooray for plastic liners on toddler beds!

After 3 or 4 nights in a row of Will doing this, it stopped being funny... That's when i called for reinforcement! Something that would put this 2 year old in his place... teach him the ropes... lay down the law...yeah that's right... Duct Tape! We didn't do anything too extream... but it works it keeps the diaper on, or at least now, he really has to work at it to get it off...and he has! Don't ask me how!! (and as I'm typing this... I looked out he window, just now... and there goes Will with no diaper, and sand all over his butt! Perfect!

OK, I'm back... what a job... i hope they pay me overtime for this one... I can't believe it... i actually had to use the duct tape during the day.. first time... this is serious!)

ANYWAY! This picture was taken last night... He was so excited for this new routine... and cool stylish belt!! He was actually modeling for the camera! Wow, that says a lot... usually i only get the back of his head as he's running away.

FRONT:

SIDE: this is my favorite! J Crew look out!

BACK:

A FEW MONTHS AGO:

I got pictures of another time when the kids didn't go to sleep when they were supposed to... I laughed at this as well... Justin not so much... Will shredded a book that Justin brought back form Portugal... Sad... but i said... "Now you really have to take me there, so we can replace that book!" that made him smile!!

Caitlin took all her bedding, books, stuffed animals and put them in Will's crib and then climbed in... all by herself... i think she used the stuffed Elephant on the ground as a 'stepping stool'! This is how i found them...
YES, Caitlin is a sleep!

I love being a mommy!

What $35 dollars can do...MAGIC!

5 hundred 25 thousand 600 minutes...

WOHA! OK, we've been in our little Salt Lake home for a year now!! Time has just flown by and it's been awesome! We've really loved this area and being close to Justin's parents and grand patents and our neighbors are just the best neighbors in the world!

Anyway, we've still got a long way to go on our little 'sugar' house...making it our own, etc. etc. But we thought it would be fun to show little changes that we have made, that we haven't blogged about yet... you know a little 'before and after' goodness!

Hope you enjoy the ride... (time warp, more like it... ha!)

FRONT ROOM: Before, I hate to say it, but this white carpet didn't even last one week! Between our kids and the cat... it was doomed the minute we walked in...

Refinished hard wood floors... Oooo!

New Paint... Ahhhh! I love watching a man work! (but we are a good team... i do around the corners and edges... J does the walls!) Mmmm. like bread and butter!

...and new painted trim! Panda's work at it's finest!
New windows and new (to us, Thanks to Nana and Papa Williams!!) couch and chairs!! LOVE THEM! The table is from Justin's parents!
Don't mind the blue tape, actually i don't even notice it any more... It's like part of the house! (this picture was taken about a month ago... and now I've got the first coat of window trim done... and I'll finish that on up this coming week. I hope!)

Were also going to get plantation shutters put in (eventually...) and we'll get a nice rug, frame the mirror, quarter round on baseboards, and a few pictures up on the walls... I'd love a piano in this room too... (not sure where I'd put it... or how to play it...) but guess I'll just have to hope, pray and wait till one drops from the sky... or just shows up on my door step. :)

New front window and chairs... Sorry, this is so dark... but you get what you pay for, "What reading my blog is free???... Oh, yeah... there you go!"

"Excellent!"

"Ex-cell-ent!"

"Wait... did you just say Excellent because i said Excellent?"

"Uhh... (thinking)...No!"

(bragging rights... if you can name that movie!!!)

ANYWAY...

THE KITCHEN: Before: decked out in blue,yellow and white pansies!

After:
We still have the back room to show... but the fire place is having another 'bad hair day' so we'll catch that another time... However... here's the latest addition to the family... :)

Love it! Happy Anniversary to us... Whoopee 1 year!

St. George Trip!

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know i posted about our trip to St. George... but i started it a few days ago... and posted it today... so you have to scroll down to see it! Enjoy!

J & A

Our week in review!

Thursday:

Caitlin's friend Isabelle came over today... We played dress up, had a tea-party and watched a little bit of Enchanted (till it started skipping) and a little bit of Peter Pan!! Then they played 'keep away' from Will for a little bit!! We had so much fun!

Cinderella:
Tinkerbell:

Wednesday: Justin took me on a date to go see IRON MAN, our Friends Yung and Damon watched the kids... we had a great time! Awesome movie!!
Tuesday:

Caitlin came to me and said she wanted to carry her piggy around in her shirt. Instead...I showed her how to make a baby sling so she could carry "Wilbur" around... So cute to see her play with this little piggy!

she wasn't really ready when i took this picture... but i liked how it displayed the sling!
That's better! I think even the pig is smiling!

Caitlin left the piggy out on the table... with the baby bottle it came with. Will found it, and started feeding him... He will make a great daddy some day! SOME DAY! (woah!)

Monday:

We spent Monday night FHE taking care of the yard! Justin mowed the lawn, I took care of weeds and trimmings. Then we took the kids get tomato plants and then to 'Shivers' for dinner (burger and ice cream joint that has a cute toy train where the kids could eat their dinner... with a 'Candy Land' theme, real cute!)

My Peony bush was overflowing with beautiful fluffy-ness... i cut some and gave them to the neighbor and also made this bouquet... they are my favorite and they smell just heavenly!!

This just made me laugh! i said smile... and she smiled! she must get the 'make a goofy smile' face from Justin... this was right after he planted the garden!

Our Strawberries have made a strong return this year!! Whoopy! back off snails!

Yea! Our little garden is finally planted!! We hope this spot works for growing our veggies. For years it was covered by concrete, as part of the driveway... but we took it out so we could put in the rest of the fence. Instead of covering it with sod, we thought we'd make a garden out of it... it's half the size of our garden we had in Layton... but we are still excited to have a garden of our own... 'a bit of earth.'!!!

Planted: from Left to right, Pumpkin, Red Bell Peppers, Tomatoes- grape and Big Boy, Sugar snap peas and that brown stick thing (right hand corner) is a raspberry or blackberry plant...

There you have it! Our week so far.