Backyard Makeover

This spring I decided to do a major makeover to our backyard. It all started with the fact that Vic promised me a gazebo with outdoor couches, but I was trying to figure out how to have that, an area to BBQ, & a table in the shade... so this is what we wound up with!

Here is an upclose shot of our wall that took a million loads of dirts, bushes, & plants. You can hardly see the bushes because my flowers are growing so well!

Here is the BEFORE PICTURE taken from the existing deck.

And here is the AFTER PICTURE

Here is how ugly & plain the back of our house looked...
...and the much improved back of the house!
I couldn't play with the backyard & not touch the front so here is the BEFORE

...and here is the AFTER picture.

And last, but not least.... I am so proud to say that the only thing I did for this garden was cut up the grass & put in the retaining wall around the outside. Vic did all of the tilling, planting, & weeding. He loves vegetable gardens & I told him it was all his. I didn't think he'd really do it & he had a late planting start, but it's growing good & I'm so proud of him!

My Pride & Joy

I feel like I've been the busiest bee ever lately trying to finish up a zillion projects & here are a few of them. I started this blanket for Vic's anniversary gift last year & figured I'd better finish it before our next anniversary! It took so much time that I think it will be my first & last pieced together quilt, but Vic was DYING to have a huge levi quilt so I couldn't help but spoil him ;) It's huge & covers my entire front room floor!

This project took MUCH less time & was so much more gratifying! I hated the color of our fireplace so I dyed it the same color as the wood on our couches & it tied the room together nicely. Here is a before & after.

...and here are the little joys in my life. We went to Idaho Falls for the 4th so here I am holding baby Kiersten & Kara is sitting next to me. They were so much fun to be with! (Katie, Becky, & Mom in the background are joys too!)

Here we are doing sparklers. This picture would be perfect if you could see all of tiny Kiersten (on the left) holding a firework! It was so adorable until she set it on her head!

Baby Party

Okay, so I FINALLY got pictures from my mom from the party we had to announce our little baby on the way. Here is the big banner we had hanging up on the back of our house.


Then we ordered this shirt for Vic & he wore it with GREAT pride! He wouldn't even wait for anyone to read the banner... he would just thud his chest & tell people to read it the instant they got to our house! I was wearing a little mommy-to-be button that you can't really see here :)

The theme of our party was watermelon & lady bugs... I guess I should have taken a picture of our invite, they turned out pretty cute... anyway, here is what a cute decorative table I had under our banner.

On the top layer all of the lady bugs had binkys to tie in the baby theme too :)

I had a zillion watermelon dishes thanks to my mom collecting them over the years, but then I made this watermelon jell-o that the kids ate up instantly! There was a bunch of cute smaller slices, but my mom couldn't get a picture of them before they got eaten!

I had a few more creations to put up before the party, but all of the kids were so excited to come (because they knew we were renting a bouncy house) ..so everyone came early & I didn't have time to get all of the decorations up! Oh well, it was still really fun & everyone's side dishes they brought to share were super yummy :)

805 Days later....

We sent this card out on scrapbook paper to all of our family members that couldn't make it to our party last Saturday. Check it out!

And on the inside of the card was this...



We are both SO EXCITED!!!! If you can't tell from this small picture that is our baby's 1st ultrasound picture hanging in that stork bag!

Triathalon Accomplished!

I'm getting lazy in my uploading, but here are a few pictures!
SWIM (as the race was starting)....

BIKE... (Vic entering transition area....to the right of the cones is me pushing my bike too, look very close!)
RUN: Here is Vic's nice long stride

FINISH: 17 miles! It was a fun little mini tri :) Vic is hooked & doing the 33 mile one in August. I'd so do it with him if I could! Last weekend I did my first triathalon!!! Vic did it with me & my main goal was to finish without walking & to pass Vic on the bike part (even though I knew he'd pass me on the running!)
Anyway, I came out of the lake 7 people after Vic, but I could see him so I just kept on going... I passed him on the bike part, which was SO exciting for me! I couldn't wait to get back to the transition area and see the look on my family's face when I strolled in before him, but there is a 200 yard run from where you have to dismount you bike to wear you park it... so Vic having the same idea that I had, wanted to beat me to my fam. I got off my bike & had jello legs & he got off his bike & SPRINTED past me just in time for the transition area! My family was busy cheering him on & taking pictures watching him run away so they barely turned and saw me as I was running past them, but still shocked that I was on his heals! He of course beat me, but I accomplished my goal.... finishing without getting sore muscles & passing him at one point. It was so much fun... I HOPE that I can talk more of you into doing it with me next year! All of our triathalon fans & my aunt are determined to do it next year now that they saw Vic & I do it so I'm glad I've inspired others & can't wait to do it with them next year :)

Easter Weekend

We went to Salt Lake this year for Easter & EVERYONE was there! Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, cousins, & and neices... 19 of us all together! It is crazy how fast a family grows! I can't imagine how it would be in a big family! Here is a picture of me, my neice Kara, sister Katie, Uncle Danny, Cousin Colter & Abby. We ended up with some really pretty eggs this year with foils, beads, and sand!

My grandma always has LOADS of decorations & silly things to play with like this pair of bunny ears. Kiersten filled them out nicely :)

Vic and I love going downtown. We ate at the Garden & walked around Temple square. The tulips & trees were all in perfect bloom. It was SO pretty!
Kara was SO adorable in her Easter hat & gloves. She loves posing for pictures. I love it! haha!

During the little kid hunt. We split it up into 3 categories. Vic & I scored $27 together!

After dinner & our family picture the little kids had this cute pinata to knock out.

Then we played games outside until it was time to leave. The kids, big & little love to play motorboat!

Spring Golfing

Last weekend we went up to Boise & did the usual, lots of shopping & a round of golf... except this time golfing was a bit more breezy than last time! It started off a perfect day, then it started to sprinkle, but I was still good until we finished the first nine & went into the club for a quick bite to eat... that's when I realized how cold it had gotten! Vic was having so much fun that we finished all 18, but I was more of a driver than a golfer... but here is my good news: I improved on the first nine holes by 34 strokes!!! I went on this course last time with Katie (my sis) and yes, we were being a little silly, but still, not 34 strokes worth! Golfing is a lot more fun when it's not a "swing & a miss" every other time! haha!

Hosting HeidiLou

This last weekend I got to have one of my very best friends come visit & it was so much fun! Miss Heidi & her husband Will came up from Preston. If you don't know Heidi, you have to know that she is one of those friends that you search your whole life for. Conversation is always 100% easy, she's 100% unselfish, and every time you get done hanging out with her you feel good about yourself plus you get plenty of laughs in. (Will's a big help on that part :)
One of their better features is that... they are easily impressed with my hosting skills :) Heidi had to have a picture of my dessert Friday night so here we are!


We taught them how to play pinochle & got them addicted... YAY! I am excited to have another couple we can play way too many rounds with!!! We did however make it out to the park to play some badmitton & show off our mad skills! However, Will showed us all in ping pong later!


We went to visit the "Twin Falls" in Twin Falls & I was very disappointed to find out that there aren't really twin falls here! A really long time ago there was a flood that created another fall to the right of these rocks & that is what they named it after. BOOoo!

Saturday night, Will was impressed with my stuffed manicotti shells & got picture happy. We had fun acting out an "action shot", but as you can tell, Vic was not amused... he was way more into eating his cheese bread... which REMINDS me... I bought asparagus for this dinner & totally forgot to make it... PLUS, I went in our guest bathroom today only to realize that I had only one towel in there & I don't even know if it was clean. SORRY Heidi & Will! You'd think I would have thought of giving my guests fresh towels!!!! I promise I'll have clean ones out next time!

Relief Society Dinner

For Relief Society this last week they asked me to decorate a table. I didn't know what I was going to do, but luckily I already had bamboo plates & placemats so I didn't have to do too much! It turned out much cuter than I planned!

New Job!!!

Yipee!!! I am getting a payraise!!! Here are the best parts:
*Steady hours (salary pay)
*Increase in pay
*Only ONE mile from my house!... I totally plan on biking & walking to work!
*Only 2 hygienists for 2 doctors... hopefully this means not being permanently behind!

I am EXCITED! I am sad to leave my current doctor & crew as they are so sweet & have been so good to me, but..... money is money, right?! Wouldn't you want $1200-$2,000 more a month?!?! PLUS... I already know one of the hygienists that works there & my in-laws know both doctors & say they are great!