Back Posting

For those who actually come to the blog page. There are 4 + 3 new back posts before the "Wedding Pics?" post.

We've had a busy week and will try to get caught up next week, with a few more posts.

Elder Kolb, you will probably need to print them off to be able to read them all. . .sorry it took so long to post. I hope you are getting over the flu quickly! We love you!!

Wedding Pics?

I am taking a break in the chronology here. I have like 6 posts waiting, the pictures are uploaded i just need to write.

So this Saturday Jon and I got dressed up in our wedding attire and had the funnest time getting some Bride and Groom shots! Seriously, it was sooo fun! Way more fun than the first time! And I love the pictures!! My friend Raquel took them. She also did Rachel's wedding pictures. Here are a few that she posted on her blog. And her website: Remember When by Raquel. She has a vintage feel to her photos, it is awesome!

Thanks again, Raquel!!

Before and After

This has been a fairly productive summer for improving things around the house. Although, there is still much to do!

This was in our laundry room around the ceiling . . .

Before:

Since it was done with a stencil I knew if I painted over it the shape would still show through, so I went and scraped all the edges of the the stars and primed them. Also notice all the storage: baby, Christmas and craft stuff.



Its hard to tell in these pictures, but this is the new paint. Its the same color as most of the rest of the house (that we already painted last summer, here, here, and here). It is a lighter color so the room doesn't feel so small.

And all the storage made its way into the new attic storage space.

After:

Then a couple weeks ago, while I was at Home Depot getting a few things to finish up decorating Zac's room (which probably won't be done for another month or so . . .) I decided I was going to get some light fixtures. We have been wanting to replace them since we moved in, and just kept putting it off. The dining room fixture was especially outdated (I couldn't thing of another word that wasn't so . . .rude).

Before:


After:

The best part about this is I surprised Jon! He didn't even know I was buying it. I installed it all by myself!! It took me about 2 hrs and a bit of stress praying that I had turned off the right breaker! He was so excited about it! And I am sure the best part for him was that he didn't have to install it! (Sorry about all the "!" it was just so awesome.)

Then I replaced the one over the kitchen. It had a dome on it, but I forgot to take a picture, so this is half way through



After:

This is a bigger fixture too, so it has another light bulb. The lighting is sooooo much better in these 2 rooms! Although the family room is still pretty bad . . .still trying to figure out what to do there. . .

Then I replace the one in the guest bathroom. I don't have a before pic of these either. But it was bad too!! This one was more tricky because the previous fixture was a large wooden rectangle. So I had to paint under the old fixture. And notice the stripes? That is different paint, same color, different sheen. And then the hole for the wiring was not centered so that was a trick to mount the fixture-but it all worked out. Again, I did this while Jon was at work and surprised him again. He was pretty impressed. It was something he was definitely NOT looking forward to having to do.

After:


Then I stained and water sealed the picnic table that my dad made for us when we moved in.

Before:


After:
It looks sooo much better!!

I did all those light fixtures and table in one week. I was on a roll and it felt so good to accomplish all that! And since it was "out of my realm" it felt even better!

Last weekend we did even more improvement . . .which I will include on a different post.

Tailoring My Wedding Dress

In order to get our Bride and Groom shots I had to tailor my wedding dress-It has an empire waist and is pretty figure friendly. I have lost all my baby weight, but my ribs have expanded a couple inches, so the zipper would only go half way up.

(Jon has his own tux, from high school when he sang with the A Cappella and Madrigals, and he STILL fits it perfectly!)

I didn't have much time and didn't know what to do. Luckily, my dress was simple. I asked some friends and my mom for advice on what to do. My mom suggested a lace up back. So I went and bought materials, and then looked online to see how in the heck I would actually do it.

I found this blog that made things so easy: http://couturesmith.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
Inspired by this picture, I knew exactly what I would do:


This is what she did, so I followed her:
Draw a grid (2 cm wide, 1 cm high) to keep all the loops uniform and pin the cord.



This becomes my work space,until my craft room gets finished. Zac is playing "Playhouse Disney" computer games with headphones on, while max naps and I listen to pandora

Then fold back the extra fabric and sew the loops to the only workspace on the dress, the back of the invisible zipper. (I wasn't going to deal with taking the zipper out and putting lace up in its place, plus it was easier to use the zipper for as far as it would go and then just put the lace up in where I needed-did I mention I had very little time, and skill . . .this is just a makeshift way to fix it without it looking horrendous!)



And WAH LA! It really was that easy. Then I stitched a modesty panel on to the interfacing and re-basted the interfacing to the zipper.


The hardest part is lacing it up!

This was initially laced up too tight so the ribbon doesn't look very pretty, and I didn't have time to fix it. But this is basically the effect. What do ya think?




A sufficient fix for a non-seamstress, with very little time, and my husband making the measurements while I was wearing the dress . . .

The Owlz Game

Jon has started to take the boys on father/son outings and he was going to take Zac to the Orem Owlz game, but I was so jealous that he let me and Max come along. It was a really good time. This was the first time we took the boys to a non-youth sporting event. It was fun to teach Zac about baseball and the different things on the field.

He got to take his mitt and ball. But of course he was more excited about eating popcorn.

The boys (Zac didn't want to be in the picture)



Zac got to high-five the Owl and thought he was pretty cool!



We had a hot dog, popcorn, frozen strawberry lemonade, and 2 churros-gotta love game food! We even stayed til the 8th inning! Way to go boys. The Owlz won. It was a shut out-but I have to admit I go for the environment, not so much the game. I don't even remember who they were playing, but I do know the other team wore blue . . .

My Birthday, 27

Jon was awesome as usual and hosted a family party.

He got me these beautiful red roses. Roses are my favorite.


And he made his own concoction of jambalaya. It is really good. My parents and Lexie and Adam came over.


Made a yummy chocolate-chocolate cake-my favorite!

He got me this printer, scanner, copier too. I have been wanting one of these for years. We haven't had a printer for probably 4 years. It is so frustrating when I need copies of SS cards, to print tickets, confirmation records, to prepare primary lessons, and especially to do crafty things that I like to do so much. Me heavily complaining about having to prepare part of my lesson in the library using their copier and paper cutter, between all the other patrons, and having to hand write word strips is what convinced him to get this for my birthday. And I love it! I have already got to use it and enjoy it for fun things.


And a couple months ago I got to buy all these containers when they were on sale, 40% off, to organize and store all my craft and sewing stuff.


Then a couple days later, Jon took me on a date to a new italian restaurant, that was pretty good, and we window shopped at the mall. I love going on dates. It is so relaxing and carefree. I love going out with my best friend, and with no interruptions!

Backyard Fun

The first fruits of our garden


The boys willingly getting ready for the tickle monster



Now the boys trying to get daddy


Daddy's in control again

Had to get one of Max mowing with daddy