From molting rooster to white rooster.

When you start out with a rooster like this, it's almost impossible to go down hill from here.  The above rooster isn't even the original paint.  I purchased this for fifteen dollars years ago from a swap meet.  The gentleman who sold this to me purchased it down in Mexico and it came covered in red and green colors, and it had a strong stench of gasoline attached to it.  This was the finished product back in the early 2000s.  That was so last decade.  I kind of still liked it but felt it needed some updating.  So I got some spray paint primer and glossy white paint and took it to town.

This is after one light dusting of the primer. 

From old lady to Hello Lady!

Remember this?

 And this?

I do.  

This precious piece was practically loved to death.  But, with a little CPR (Crafty Paint Recycling), I ended up with this.    

It's a sign.

This 2'x3' sign is the latest addition to my living room.  It was easy, cheap and fun to do.  Just how I like it.  Go here for directions.  You'll be happy you did.

Pick a pumpkin.

I made another copied project with regular decorative pumpkins, fabric and mod podge.  That stuff can get under your fingernails forever.  F.Y.I. 

Go here Tater Tots and Jello for a tutorial on how to make them.

My feet hurt.

I am a master of copying other people's stuff.  Recently we went up to Prescott for my nephew's baptism.  His mom, my sister-in-law, had painted this wall treatment on her fireplace surround.  Then, I found out my other sister-in-law had just painted the same thing on her entry way and dining room.  I had to try it.  Below are the results.

It got quite wonky in places but the pattern is forgiving and hopefully only I can tell.

Climbing up and down the ladder to reach the 10 foot high walls kind of killed my feet, a lot.  I'm pretty sure my neck and back will never be the same.  Pretty sure.

But, it turned out nice and only cost me $3 for a special 1/4 inch paint brush from Hobby Lobby.  If I had been more patient, I could have found a coupon and gotten it even cheaper!  I used old paint that was gummy and dried almost before I could put it on the wall.  That wasn't fun.  I had grand ideas of going around the corner to the left of the picture over the den but once I got started, I nixed that crazy idea real fast!

Shrinky Dinks

Quinn and a friend making Shrinky Dinks....I don't have any pictures of the actual "dinks" because they got really small when they shrunk.  Go figure.  I loved making Shrinky Dinks with my childhood best friend, Kristine, when we were kids.  I keep trying to make my kids love it as much as I did.  Today's fun lasted maybe a total of 15 minutes, hopefully the memory will last a lot longer than that!

Tradition!

Through the years we've had a pretty big tradition with birthdays.  We celebrate them for at least a week with multiple cakes and parties.  We have a family party, friends party and usually some type of acknowledgement at school.  Really, the celebrations seem to go on forever, at least for me!

One tradition we have that can never be missed is my husband's birthday drawings.  Usually they come to life late at night ergo the bizarre look of some.  However, I don't think we can blame the late hour solely on the strange content of the well wishing pages.  Rick, my husband, could possibly be more in control of the content than he admits. 

It's tradition to hang the fliers from our kitchen chandelier of the morning of the birthday for all to behold for the rest of the birthday week, sometimes even longer.  I've saved each and every one through the years for each child thinking that maybe someday I'll put a special birthday book together for the kids. 

Not only are the drawings, special, the written content is, well, special too.  I'm pretty sure the creator of these gets as much, if not more, joy out of them when re-reading them.

What's your birthday tradition?

Exploration of the sea.

Cole painted this last year in response to NASA's announcement that they're scrapping their shuttle program.  Seeing as though the last flight is coming up, I thought I'd show Cole's idea of the last frontier, entitled  "Ocean Exploration".  You see it there?  Well, I did after he explained it to me.  Besides, just the colors alone are good enough for me.  This hangs in my little alcove above a sweet refurbished desk.  I think it's awesome!

Showered!

On December 28th, 6 days after Mr. Winston was born, Emily was showered with gifts!

Her theme & colors for the baby's room is taken, "The Giving Tree" which is an adorable book.  If you haven't read it yet, do so.  It's quick reading, honest.  I tried to hold to that theme at least color wise.  So if you're wondering, "Where are the traditional baby shower colors?"  There aren't any!

Steven's mom and sister Kaylen attended.  We were so happy they could come!

Friends from Mesquite Canyon Ward came to wish Em & Winston well. 

A ba ba ba, a.k.a. Cherisse, shows off one of her multi talents with the baby quilt she made for Winston.  She had us write a special message to the babe in one of the white squares.  After the shower she put Winston's name in the middle of the quilt.

Here is Bama and Great Aunt Jody.

Our watering/laundry hole.

This is where you could stop by and quench your thirst and check out the cute clothes for Winston.

Tiffany, Heather & her daughter, Chelsea.

Heather & Chelsea drove from Prescott just for the shower.

Thanks for the support!!

Tiffany made a delicious potato soup that we placed in bread bowls.

Perfect four our wintry weather.

Proof that Emily bears no resemblance to me.

Nothing.

Nope.

Nothing alike.

Steven's mom, Kennan & the rest of us.

The great G-mas on Emily's side.

Cole came home before the shower was completely over and talked Paige into giving him a

 missionary haircut. 

What?

It's weird, I know.

That's my son for you.

Thanks, Paige!

Thanks for the delicious

Creme Brule

Cherisse!

Heather's boys were brought over at the end of the shower with Jay to see Winston.  Look at Jake's (blond) body language......

super cute.

Cousin, Chelsea and Winston.

He's making a silly face.

Isn't this a precious picture?  The happy family.

Senior-itis . . . . or See my Pillow

School is exhausting.

(Actually, doing all the stuff after school is the real kicker.)

Cole caught up on some good zzzzs yesterday before dinner.

The boy needs his beauty sleep.

What's up with those hands?

Actually, I took this picture to show how my lovely new pillow looks under Cole's arm.

It's doing its job.

So comfy & cute.

I made two and another is on its way.

A home full of boys drove me to the girly type fabric.

I felt bad for a half a second and then reveled in the beauty of the flowery fabric.

It's my home too.

Gotta love spring.