Demolition Update II

no pillars or big box thing in the middle of the floor!

Demolition Update...

Here is a good picture I should have added last time, right before the final blow that made them come crashing down...there was a good thump!-oops :)


Update: not quite done, but the holes in the walls are patched



need to patch the hole with the carpet! I tried to match it but don't think it does now that I am home, it seemed to match my sample when I was at the store...hmmm
perhaps as it gets as dirty as the rest of the carpet it will blend!! It is temporary so I don't really care too much if truth be told!

One more box thing to get out!
As per past post "now you see it"
Now you don't!

And, I like it! :)

Uh Oh! What did Pam do this time?!

What is a girl to do when she gets bored at home?

#1. Sand the bathroom cupboards in prep for paint (picture to come out of batteries!)

#2. Plaster the bathroom, first coat is up, tomorrow sand and do the next layer- paint next week...stay tuned!


Blame this one on my aunt...I have been waiting all week for her to email me the paint color so I could paint the cupboards and since I am "still waiting!" AND I had to wait for the walls to dry I was getting a little bored, so that brought about #3. We have looked and thought about what to do with these pillars for 6.5 years now...I mean look, they're right in the middle of the room, what is one suppose to do with them? Don't say paint or put ivy down them...
Who knew a sledge hammer could relieve boredom?!

#3. Pillars Before...

The first swing is always the scariest!


Then after a few hits and dust flying around...


There's no stopping now...




My captive audience....they even told me they needed snacks and treats as they sat and watched, and cheered with each swing


After....
Oh no! The camera ran out of batteries and I have none left, come back tomorrow!!!!
Oh the suspense!

Good-Bye Good Friend

Well we did it, we sold our big comfy sectional couch. We loved this couch. We bought it right when we moved in. It was our first actual furniture buy of being married. We were buying something that was not second hand or "student living" furniture. We wanted something nice for the purchase of our first house! We loved the reclining chairs and the hide-a-bed did come in handy for guest since all our rooms are full to the max! The people who bought it seemed really nice and I hope they enjoy it as much as we did!






We have decided to get rid of some of our living room space to make more kitchen and therefore will get two smaller couches to rearrange things a bit. It will be hard to find something as comfy as the first, but hopefully with perseverance we will find the right set!

Changes all around

Alex had to get glasses! Doesn't he look cute?!



Rachel got a hair cut! :) Doesn't she look cute?! Totally a new person and look from 6 months ago...!!!


Don't you think uniforms are the cutest?!


Aubrey wanted in on the action!!

A New Anika

while getting her bangs trimmed,

"I look like a new Anika!"
"Don't worry mom, I will look like me tomorrow"

I guess it's time to Go Private

I have been watching my 'visitors' and I have got two I am concerned about...
This is not a "I'm saying I'm going private to see who reads my blog" I really think it is time.
The pain of going private is that you can no longer tell when someone updates their blog but, it is fun to get your comments and feed back. So, if you would like let me know if you want me to invite you and if you don't think I have your email address send this to me as well.
Good times!

Firm and Steadfast

I like to take the child who is getting baptized to get their picture taken with a background that goes with a scripture, so they will hopefully remember when things are hard what it is they need to do and stand for. I also hope that when they read or hear the scripture it will also help them to remember their baptism and the sweet spirit felt that day. For Andrew, I used the valley and mountains for his background. After we do the picture I sit with them and read the scripture verse and discuss it for just a few minutes and express my love and happiness for this child. It is a moment that will be forever be etched in my memory and if you know me I don't remember things well!!
For Andrew I chose:

1 Nephi 2:10 "O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"




Andrew was baptised last Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Stake Center or otherwise known as, by my kids, "The Spanish Branch." That is what happens when they hear their dad say for the last (almost) 5 years that he has to go to the Spanish Branch and they see him go into this building!
We were lucky again to have it be our Ward's turn to be in charge, so Grandpa Allen and Aunt Chantel sang, "Oh Thou Fount" and did a beautiful job, Uncle Kennedy gave a great testimony talk. Dad baptised and confirmed Andrew. While we were waiting our cute Primary President, Denise Smith handed out little cards for everyone to write a little note to Andrew, and after the baptism our Bishopric member, Brother Paul Holbrook gave a short welcome talk to Andrew. Then another favorite, Grandma Allen makes number 8 cookies for the baptism child to hand out to everyone. They always turn out cute and yummy!

Andrew was very excited to have his turn in the family to be baptised. After it was done and he was getting out of the water he had the biggest smile on his face and left with a silly little Andrew giggle! It was so cute! It really is true there is a certain glow that people get after they are baptised and Andrew really had this in his eyes and on his face.


Dad and Andrew

Andrew's favorite Primary Teachers of all time (Sunbeam) Brother and Sister Loosli

Almost everyone that was there

The Family!

Mom and Dad and Andrew
Andrew was so excited he called his little frined Noah to come as well, but my camera was 'acting up' and I never got a picture....maybe to come...!

scary and cute

Could people in Utah ask for a better night for trick-or-treating? It was perfect we didn't even wear a jacket in the full moon night sky!


ducky-Anika

wrestler guy- Andrew

bunny-Aubrey

Dracula- Alex

bad hair/make-up day- Rachel

The funny Halloween story: I'm sorry they all have to do with the same child but that's what you get with a dramatic one!
someone told me sarcastically my grey hair was scary
Anika was offended and quite 'in their face' said, "no she's not, she's beautiful!" and then turned to me like I was suppose to be offended or something and says, "Mom, you're beautiful"
Then a few houses later the people gave out 'eyeball candy' She sees it dropped in the bag and again the no fear child tells them, "I can't eat eyeballs, that will poison my body and then I will die! Eyeballs are Not good for my body!" Yikes what does one say to that? I am sure it is, I hope that little girl doesn't come back next year!

Fun night for all. Some trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and then off to Grandma and Grandpa Allen's house to see Maddy and Chewy in their Halloween costume, Grandma's friend came dressed up as a witch, which the kid's were not too sure about her...Papa Murphy pizza (garlic chicken for me) and graveyard dessert followed by a fun bingo type game. Jared got to watch the last half of the U. of U. blackout game in stress yelling at the t.v.!! Good Times!

Last one of the Year!

Andrew feels so hard done by in July when practically everyone else in our family is getting birthday presents and cards in the mail! I keep telling him he is lucky he doesn't have to share his month for a birthday with anyone else and now here we are and he is happy!

Another child turns 8, how fun and exciting!
Andrew is not one that likes a lot of attention diverted towards him unless he pretty much okays it and on his birthday he okays it!

Uncle Kennedy and Andrew

Grandma Allen and Maddy
not sure why we didn't get a picture of Chan or John and Denise!

We had a family dinner the night of his birthday where he chose what he wanted. In a million years I would never have guessed what he picked...Spinach Ravioli from Costco! I also made pork for tortilla's with all the toppings, of beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole, etc. Our cute neighbors John and Denise came over and brought little pepperoni pockets that were very tasty. Mom Allen made Chinese Lettuce Wraps and rice, so you can see we had quite the arrangement of food!

The kids all love reminding Grandpa about birthday spankings...until it is their turn!

Family Picture- always a favorite...!

silly picture...the real favorite for the kids and Jared!


The birthday cake

Andrew for sure wanted a number 8 race track cake- thank goodness for 'google' and creative people that make cute things that can be followed easily for people like me who wish they were naturally creative but are not!

mom and dad with Andrew

Andrew leading everyone in "Happy Birthday"

Andrew is very outgoing and loves to make friends, everywhere we go he has a new 'BFF'! He is very kind to kids younger than him and loves patting baby's softly on the head. He always wants to invite other families over for dinner or take someone a plate of cookies. He enjoys going to wrestling practices, but I am not sure what he likes better, wrestling or the treats they hand out after...well maybe I do know what he likes better...!
His favorite thing at school is recess and playing with friends outside at home!
Andrew likes to tease, but like most, does not take teasing back very well! He is a big jokester and silly head as you can see in most of his pictures he has a silly face. (the nonsilly ones are the ones I have had to put a threat of some sort on him so that I can have one with his nice smile!) Speaking of smiles, Andrew has a very nice one that lights up the room.
He loves to draw and tells me he is an artist and that all his friends tell him he is an artist too.
When Andrew puts his mind to it he can accomplish many things in his school work and at home. He is a level above grade level in math, reading, and spelling. He is one smart cookie. He is loved by his teacher for his great story telling.
Andrew has a special spirit about him and is very tender hearted. At times this may be hard, but I know it will benefit him in his future endeavors.
We are so happy to have Andrew in our family and for all that he helps us learn to be better as well.

Life can be so confusing at times!

Anika had a field trip to the fire station yesterday but she was very admit that it was just for her teachers. Once there and seeing all the kids she realized maybe it was for her! Half way through the presentation the preschool teachers came up to the front to help with the presentation where upon Anika with much confusion, points up to her teachers and yells, "What? There's my teacher! What is she doing here?"
Life can be so confusing at times!

Aubrey loses teeth finally! 2 in 2 days

Aubrey waited all of kindergarten for a loose tooth to come and it never did. Then right before school started again she discovered a wiggle!
Aubrey insisted I pull her tooth out so she wasn't the only one in her class who hadn't lost a tooth in first grade! (it was very loose!) I think it startled her as she didn't want me to do the second one.
The next day she showed me how loose #2 was so as I wiggled it I just "popped" it out. She went to feel it and had a little shocked look on her face as she couldn't find it! I handed her a kleenex in one hand and her tooth in the other! She was very proud to walk around toothless!