I Need Your Help!!!

I'm really good at waiting until the last minute to figure something out - and I've done it again ;] Tomorrow is picture day for Madison and I'm not sure which outfit I like the best...we're talking about a girl that would wear pink from head to toe and not think twice, so I snuck in a complimentary color and of course all the choices are with skirts. Such a girly-girl :D

Here are the three combinations:

#1

#2#3

The background will be white, and I'm not sure what the props will be -- which one do you like??

Projects, always more projects

Here is a little something I refinished -- I had been looking for a sewing desk after seeing a fabulous one online that I fell in love with and I would have taken it right away, but it belonged to someone else ;] After searching on my favorite go-to place [Craigslist...what would I do without you?] I found this solid wood little lovely. Those 8 drawers will make for great storage too.

Here's what she looked like before I gave her a makeover:
I love all the space that is created when she opens her wings :D

After a little sanding/priming/painting/distressing and protecting, here she is in all her glory:
With Halloween fast approaching, she's already getting broken in :D I love the way she turned out and look forward to creating fun things with her.

I also gave this desk a makeover -- she was a boring gray work desk, and now she's a fiery cherry red with a wedgewood gray trim. This is my crafting area and it didn't take me long to start creating in this space.

Fourth Grade and Preschool

The first day of school has already come and gone....Corben is a 4th grader and Madison is in her last year of Preschool. Here are their first day pics:

It was kind of sad we couldn't stay at our old school when we moved, but Corben's new school is even closer and he has already made lots of new friends. The bus stop in the mornings is also a fun place to be - scooters, bikes and balls everywhere!

Please Summer, don't go yet...

And yet another extended break from my blog -- I guess moving will do that to you. Yup, we moved, again...make that two summers in a row, and boy howdy, does it take up valuable fun summer playing time. We love our new home, and having a pool right down the street was amazing. We went at least 3 times a week, and I finished 3 or 4 books I had been wanting to read. Here's our new home:
It's taking a while to get settled, figuring out where to put things and hang pictures. Having a party a couple weeks ago actually helped me make the downstairs look like we live in it. :D Oh well, it come with time. I just finished working on two desks I needed for the bonus room - I'll post pictures of those soon, one was wood; the other an old metal drafting desk.

So back to the summer that is now fast leaving this area - we were pretty busy, moving took the better part of June, and then July was a blur unpacking boxes and swimming, August we went to visit family in Massachusetts, then school started after Labor Day. It flew by. Some adventures:

Utah friends came to visit right before we moved.

End of school bonfire/hot dog roast in our park-like back yard before we moved. We truly miss that amazing space, but just thinking of mowing it again is exhausting. I was grateful to finally get rid our Christmas tree...it made an amazing fire.

Daddy and the kids on his "causeway" during his annual field training exercise. His Army unit builds portable piers wherever they are needed -- go 331st Causeway!! "Causeway or no way!

Corben and one of the [four] fish he caught at Cub Scout day camp. This boy loves to fish -- too bad his parents can't stand it! ;]

One of our favorite stops in New England, Hot Dog Annie's. I highly recommend going there if you are ever in the area. Mmmm.

The whole family at another favorite eatery -- Wright's Chicken Farm. Going on vacation is about hitting all the favorite food stops, right?

We spent a few days on Cape Cod, and had fun playing in the sand and riding bikes. We tried to catch the ferry out to Martha's Vineyard but we'll have to save that for another time.













After returning from up north, we ventured down to one of the beaches near us - Madison jumped the waves, and Corben "boogied."

The Summer of 2010 was a great one, even though it flew by. I'm enjoying the fleeting moments we have left especially with the cooler weather - when I can throw open the windows and revel in the fresh air. I guess after Thursday it will be time to drag out the fall decorations and start thinking of costumes. Wow, time really marches on! See you soon.....[much sooner than last time] ;D

Don't Remind Me

Yes, please don't remind me of how long it's been since my last post. Lots has happened including finding out we have to move, again! The owners of the house we're living in are selling, so we are out. We are so VERY blessed though, and already have a great home to move into right when we needed to. Our Heavenly Father is so mindful of our family and we are very grateful!!

So let's catch up then, okay? :D First, Spring arrived here on the Peninsula...


Spring for us means adventure walks and taking all the beauty that the flowers bring.

Second, Corben's happenings:




Corben won the big prize at a recent pack meeting, earned several belt loops, competed in the Pinewood Derby with his Nasa Spacerocket Car, and again realized how much he loves to ride dirt bikes and eat dust! :D He has also been playing soccer and is taking a boys gymnastics class. (and yes, that crazy excited look Corben has in the first picture was before we told him he couldn't eat all those M&M's....)

Third Madison's excitement:

Maddie took ballet, swimming, gymnastics and got to wear a beautiful pink cast for 3 weeks. Watch out for those piggy back rides ;) The third picture shows her very dirty foot after getting her cast off. Eeew!

Fourth, I've been busy:
I finally made a quilt for Madison - it's really a duvet cover with a sheet on the bottom so when it's cold in the winter I can slip in a down comforter. She loves it!

Fifth, we traveled and spent time with FAMILY doing what we love :D :
...which is just being together! We had a great time at the desert, playing together and going to JPL in Pasadena.


Lester has been busy with work as he will be taking command of a Causeway company here at Fort Eustis - they work on the water building portable piers. Once he changes command next week, he'll be even busier! We're so thankful for him and his hard work!

Okay, so now I'm pretty up-to-date with our "busyness" and as we head into late spring/early summer I'm sure we'll have more adventures to write about. Watch for new posts :P