Peter and Janae just moved into their new home in Oregon. The home has really good bones and a lot of fun features that Janae will be able to play with. It sits on a darling tree lined street - of course with a street called TREEHAVEN it had better have trees,right? Peter has yet to work his magic (and he will) on the yard, so I didn't post a complete color picture of the entire house and yard. But here is their cute little family on their first day in their first home.

While Ron and Jonathan were taking over one of the last big loads to the new house, I stayed at the apt. with Annabelle and baby Daniel. We played red light-green light, we played hide and seek (although Daniel kept giving our hiding spots away with his cooing and giggles), and we did the hokey pokey- and ya know what? That's NOT what it's all about! I had the most fun just playing grandma with those yummy babies!

My alphabet wall is done. I've collected letters over time and I finally got it up. One or two I might change sometime in the future if I find cuter letters. A couple of my favorites are the the "Z" with the ampersan attached to it, and the "R", which I found at Watson Kennedy (my favorite store in the whole wide world) in Seattle. ..... I am soooo tired. (this has nothing to do with the wall) Have I mentioned why I'm so tired? It's because of this medicine the Dr. gave me. I had a reaction to a tetanus shot I got on Friday. Only it wasn't the tetanus part of the shot, it was the pertussis part that they slipped in there that I reacted to. My arm swelled up HUGE! Seriously, I looked like Popeye after he eats his spinach on one arm and Olive Oyl on my other arm. So attractive. And it itched and was fevered, and it hurt like a sonuvagun to even touch it, or not touch it. It just hurt. But it's getting better. But I'm still tired. I'm going to stop talking now. The end.

...and it's a MISS!

I was going through my closet this morning and I found a fun, fresh, colorful tank that I got on clearance last fall. I hadn't had the chance (or weather) to wear it, so today being a beautiful spring day, I thought I'd give it a go! What I realized after putting it on was - IT had to GO! Some things just shouldn't be worn on a figure like mine. I know better. But occassionally I just have to learn the hard way. Here are a few examples:


See? Fun. Fresh. Happy colors. However the stripes that I loved so much accentuated places on my body that don't need the attention-if ya know what I mean ;(

next:

This little number cost me $6. SIX DOLLARS! How fun for spring...and SEIS DOLARES! I wore it to church, and yikes! Anything that comes just above my knee I feel like that dream we've all had where you go to school and forgot to put your pants on. Oh well, I'll keep the belt. It was worth six dollars. next:

Again, this basic black skirt isn't immodest, just short enough to be unflattering. *grrr!* I have since replaced it with a longer pencil skirt, so out it goes. next:

OK, really?? It's purple with big white polka dots. Need I say more? And lastly:

I really wanted to like this shirt. It's gauzy and has sweet little buttons and just a touch of a ruffle around the neckline. But I feel like a sack-o-spuds when I put it on. Oh trust me, I've put it on about a dozen times. I just can't bring myself to wear it. *sniff sniff* Goodbye gauzy. These are just a few of my misses. Now I'm off to deliver them to G.W. and hopefully someone will find them a hit!

While I was in Utah, Shannon and I went to a little shop in Fruit Heights looking for a dwarf Japanese Maple tree. Ok, I knew they didn't carry trees at this shop, but we were so close we had to stop in for a little creative inspiration. The girls at Secret Haven are always changing things up and that's what I like. In fact, the day we were there, they had boxes and boxes of fun new inventory they were unpacking and it felt like Christmas! Anyone who's been in the decorating/retail world knows what I'm talking about. We found some lazy susan's that weren't quite out of their packing yet, but I just had to look and see what they were.

This little girl came in two sizes and each had a different theme. This one was on table manners, and it was darling, but a little too busy for my kitchen table. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo, but I snapped it with my phone when no one was looking. I remembered buying a black wooden lazy susan for $2 at Good Will, on my first trip to WA. Hmm did I still have it, or did I give it back to Good Will because I hadn't done anything with it? I came home and checked my crap closet craft closet and there she was! Just waiting to be turned into something fabulous!I used the over-priced very cute Secret Haven "susan" as my inspiration for this little girl.

Not nearly as detailed, but I like her. Now I think I'll go put her on my breakfast table.

A couple quick DIY projects!

Shannon and I found time in between being a human jungle gym for a couple little projects while I was there this month. An old piano bench Ella use to have in her room...

Got a fresh coat of paint (it looks almost royal blue, but it's really more turquoisy), and some fresh new coppery-orange fabric on top...

It now adds a pop of color to Shannon's living room! ******************************************************************** Then, goodbye bee's, hello handsome! ...this little fella got a new makeover with a can of orb and some elbow grease.

Looks pretty good, eh? They have 3 of these babies on their property. One down, two to go!

Took the goofy little eagle off the top and cleaned the glass. The gas is disconnected from the lights, so adding an LED candle in the lantern is just what it needs for a pretty glow to the front entry. I love doing DIY projects, and these were quick and super easy!

Some of my favorite pic's of this trip to Utah

I'm not sure I'm a fan of the collage look. But you can click on the pic to get a better view. From top left to right: Shannon & Dave's 4 kids Cole,Grandpa-holding Cooper,Grandma-holding Hudson & Ella. Grandpa watching a video with the 3 boys. "H." Three sister's @ DeeDee's birthday dinner. Middle: Shannon lovin' up Cooper. Cooper doing a super cute natural pose. Cooper's sweet hair (looks like corn silk). Grandpa with Gracie and me with William. Third: Sky with latex gloves she got at the Dr.s office when Heather cut her finger while making D.D.'s B-day dinner. Jake & Holli. Ella having a great time with Nathan & Tyler. Ella crashing after having fun with the Abram's boys!

And of course my sweet little Gracie...those little creases on her thighs are so ca-ute! (Why oh why don't they look that cute on ME??) She is such a yummy little chunky monkey! I could just eat her with a spoon!

Happy Sunday

p.s. I found him