What the?

Yeah! I can post again! For a long time, I would write something and then go to publish the post and it just... wouldn't. I don't know why, but now it will let me so here we are! That's why the previous two posts seem so random... they were written months ago! So here are a few things to catch up on. My Dad broke his femur a couple of days before christmas and was in the hospital so we couldn't go to my parents house to celebrate christmas like we had planned. It was really disapointing but we had a good christmas here. Unfortunately, my Dad's christmas could have been better.

Fallon loved drawing on Clare's art easel that she got from santa

Clare had tons of fun playing the guitar from Santa.

Hyrum loved riding the electric Hummer that Santa found on Craigslist for super cheap. Esther enjoyed stuffing her face full of delicious goodies. And David had fun playing with all of the kids' fun toys.

Now we are just waiting out the winter so that David can start work again and I can start working in the yard. It is snowing for the first time this winter. Yaaaaah! Hopefully we will be able to go sledding before it is all rained away tomorrow.

Random

Here are just a few of the things we've been up to: Loving on our baby. Making and decorating for fall. This is a GREAT time to decorate and craft! I love fall and christmas decorating!

I made this hurricane candle holder from a bunch of stuff that I had on hand and bought from a dollar store. It costed a total of about 4.00. It would have been cheaper but I got the base from walmart rather than a thrift or dollar store. I'm loving the possibilites.

The banner I made with burlap because when I saw Denise's things she had crafted with burlap, I just had to try it. Love it.

Fallon's new thing is finding any open drawer ANYWHERE and completely emptying it. This morning I left my pj drawer open and came back to find this. She was even wearing my bra! Sigh....they want to grow up so fast.

A Perfect Union

My youngest brother Michael got married to his Sweetheart; September in the Twin Falls, Idaho temple last month. September is an amazing girl and we are so excited to have her in the family. I didn't get any pictures of them (Denise did an awesome job at that) but I did get some of the nieces and nephews. They (nieces and nephews) are all so adorable and it was such a beautiful day.

The Fountain outside of the temple was a big hit

Hyrum and Vince a great buds......but don't get too close man.

The terrific trio of girls plus a couple of boys.

More Prayers Needed

David's sister Becky developed leukemia last year while we were still living in Utah. She went through several rounds of chemo, hoping it would eliminate the disease. After finishing her 5th round in October she was declared cancer free. However, they found out in August that it has returned and she will need a bone marrow transplant after which she has a 50% chance of survival.
I ache for Becky, her incredibly faithful husband Garon, and their 3 wonderful kids. I know that most of you don't know her, but I am asking for your prayers anyway. I don't know if quantity of prayers sways Heavenly Father's decisions, I wish I knew how it worked, I just know that praying is the only thing that any of US can do. Thanks

More Projects- DONE!

We have been in need of a new dining room table for a very long time. Finally my Mom found one for free that a friend was giving away. It was a good, sturdy table I just wasn't a big fan of the color. It was that out of date golden oak color with a wood looking laminate top so, we decided to paint it. It should be easy right? This thing was a pain in the butt! I decided to use spray pain because the legs were turned and it would be easier to get good coverage without any drips. They did great, but the table top was a pain. Bad coverage, the spray clear coat sealer went on blotchy and was rough and would scrape right off so we had to sand it down again and use a brush on polyurethane sealer. It worked better though it left brush marks and small bubbles. If I had to do it again I would add floetrol. It's supposed to minimize brush strokes and bubbles. Anyway, I liked how it turned out and it is Much bigger than our old one. Love it.

This was the waterfall dresser that Carla gave me that I decided to re-do. BEFORE Here is the After-I think I really like it. I got the hardware at a garage sale for super cheap but I didn't get enough to have them all be the same. I think I like it kind of mixed up like that though. Anyway. I've learned a lot about painting from these two projects and would do some things differently like: I'd use an oil based paint on this dresser instead of a latex water based. The latex stays rubbery and a little bit sticky but oil based doesn't and is easier to scuff. Also, using a paint condition helps minimize brush strokes and covers evenly. Penetrol added to oil based paint helps eliminate brush strokes as well.