Before Pictures

This is what my house used to look like. I have actually always like the colors of my walls. I thought it was unique. But now that they are a different color, I don't think I would ever go back. My house is much brighter! I'm really loving it! I can't post those pictures yet because I don't have all my pictures back on the walls yet. But I'm working on it, so as soon as I get it all back together I will post the new look! I'm pretty excited to show you how it all turned out.

Updates

There is a possibility that this is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It's a sun dog. Native American legend says it means there will be a storm within 5 days. I've seen several in my life, but never like this one! Heidi was sleeping when we saw it, so when she woke up we told her to look at it. She looked at it and said, "I've never seen one that's actually in the sun before." Well, it's not in the sun. The sun is to the right.

This is the other side. Can you see the faint ring. That ring went all the way around the sun. I've always been amazed at Heavenly Father's creations. And when I get to see amazing things in the Heavens I am in awe. I wish you could have seen it in person because it was awe-some.

It's been awhile since I've posted, so I have a few updates to catch you up to speed on our family. The painting is coming along, I'm almost done, but I have a few touch up places to take care of. One of them I left for The Babe. I really tried to do it myself, but once I got on top of the pot-shelf I realized that I am WAY more claustrophobic than I realized. I painted as much as I could as fast as I could before I really started to panic. I finally gave up, but when I crawled back to the edge to get down, I looked down and realized that I am just as afraid of heights as I always have been. So then I panicked even more because the ladder was farther below me than I thought. What was I thinking climbing up on the pot-shelf anyway. I called The Babe in a total panic and he talked me through it. He offered to call a neighbor to come help me down, but I was too embarrassed, so I sucked it up and climbed down myself. But there is a small corner above the pot-shelf that is not painted green.

Leighna is attending the Little Scholars Preschool. Ms. Shawna is so creative. Last month they learned about Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes and they got to have a princess party at the end of the month. All the girls got to dress up in their favorite princess costumes (just a fluke, but there are no boys in her class this year.) I think she's the most beautiful princess! This month they got passports and they got to visit different countries around the world. When they visited France, Leighna came home and showed me a picture, she pointed at it and said, "Remember this Mom, it's the Aweful Tower."

Addie grabbed Port the other day and said, "Come on, Port, I'll do your hair." So with a little water and a lot of product, she put him right in style. I don't know about you, but I see teenage boys with this hair-do all the time! My baby is sportin' some style!

And Addie was quite proud of herself for her hair creations! I thought it was adorable of both of them!

Here's a big one.... My little sister is getting married!!! I went with her last weekend to find a dress. It's pretty scary when your little sister who is supposed to be little is actually big enough to be getting married. It makes me feel really old. She was nine when I got married. I don't think it's really fair to feel so old! She looked so beautiful in all the dresses. It was kind of hard to pick because they all looked so good on her. This isn't the dress she picked, but I didn't think it would be fair for me to be the one to post the actual picture. She doesn't want her fiance to see it until the wedding day. So using my discretion, I posted the picture of my favorite one. Still just a little bit creepy to see her in a wedding dress!

We had a lot of fun together that day. I was actually sick, but held it together most of the day so I could be a part of her day. I did have a major explosion of the vomiting nature, right in the middle of a grocery store though. Sorry maintenance man who had to clean up after me. So with no more detail than that, I can only say, at least it wasn't in the dress shop!

This will creep you out... at least it did me. When we got home, we made Kate try on her dress, we decided we needed a big fluffy slip to go under it, so we got in the cedar chest to find one. We didn't find one, but we found some other treasures! Heidi's wedding dress was there, so we pulled it out and made her try it on. And, we found the dresses that Katie and Sarah wore at my wedding! How fun is that! The coolest thing, Sarah can still fit in Katie's dress....sort of!!! If that's not crazy, I don't know what is! Kate tried to try Sarah's but she got stuck, it was a pretty funny moment.

And last but certainly not least, my newest nephew...Nathan. He's Mandy and Kevin's little guy. He's a cutie and looks just like his dad. But a fussy little guy. Poor thing. But he loves his Aunt Na so that's all that matters, right!

I also found out yesterday that I am getting a new niece. Can't wait to meet her!

Love you already Issabella!

Makeover

I'm giving my home a makeover! Yeah! I'm pretty excited about it. We bought new paint on Saturday. It's olive branch green. I need a cheery change, so this will help...I hope. Our kids got new bunk beds, which they love. It has really helped them stay in their own beds all night, except last night Leighn came in cause she wasn't feeling well. But it has been a little miracle not to have all three of them in bed with us. We can actually snuggle, and move a little bit. It's nice! I also bought everyone new pillows. Since we have been married for 10 years and I haven't ever bought new pillows it was way past time. When we pulled out the old ones they didn't seem too bad, until we put them next to the new ones! EEWW! Disgusting! I can't believe we haven't died from some strange disease. It was pretty disgusting. But now they are nice and new and white and fluffy! I love it!

It's Still February

To welcome in our second month of the year 2011, The Babe went out and broke his finger! That's right. It's really broken. When he texted me (is that correct terminology?? I'm not sure but you get it. Right?) my first thought was, I'm sure it's not really broken. But when he texted again and said the doctor was taking forever, I was sure it was really broken. It would have to really be broken for The Babe to waltz through those doors, although, I'm pretty sure he wasn't waltzing.
He was trying to help his boss move a compressor out of the back of a truck. It got stuck, and his boss pushed really hard. The compressor moved strategically to smash The Babe's ring finger in between it and the back edge of the truck. OUCH! I can't imagine how bad that hurt. But the thing is, it broke the tip of the bone OFF! A smashed finger enough to break a bone...painful. A smashed finger enough to break the tip of the bone off...indescribable! Yikes!
The Babe is handling it very well though. His finger is black and swollen, but I haven't heard too many complaints. He's such a trooper. Porter woke up this morning and said, "Daddy, hims finger huwts." I'm sure it does. I'm very sure it does!
Poor Babe. I love you honey! Thanks for sacrificing body and limb to provide the comforts of life for us!

It's February...

Finally. I thought we would never make it through the depressing, bleak, dreary January. It's the worst month of the year. And this January was particularly bad. It was right up there with January 2009. Good riddance January 2011. I'm glad you are in my past. Today it's February and I'm hopeful. Although February brings fierce winds in our country. It didn't let us down today. Addie opened the door this morning and asked if we were in a twister. It sure felt like one. I can't wait for spring. Spring is so happy and vibrant. Full of life! I have been thinking for days about planting my Grandma's flowers and watching them come to life. I have a few new spots I want to try planting flowers in to beautify and add variety to my life. I think it will help lift my sorrowing spirit. 2 more months. Just 2 more months and we will have blossoms on the trees and the leaves will start to fill the trees with life again. The tulips and daffodils will spring up and make life happier. I need Spring! I just do. I hope I can survive that long.