Extreme Makeover

One man, one week, one very big project!

This past week I put Mark to work building cabinets, bookcases and a new mantle for our fire place. He worked like a maniac! Pulling all-nighters and skipping meals to get it done. His boss (a.k.a. his dad) was out of town for the week so it was the perfect time to do it, and then I gave him a Friday-night deadline, because I was hosting a jewelry party. Luckily Mark works well under pressure, and it turned out beautifully!
Things did get pretty messy around here for a while, but it was so worth it! Now I just need to pick out knobs for the drawers and doors, and get busy filling them!
Thanks Mark, you're amazing!

Sunshine

I'm not even going to mention how bummed I am that it has been snowing all day. Instead I am going to tell about my wonderful sunny weekend!
Saturday morning Mark and I took the girls to breakfast at Crumb Brothers Bakery (291 S. 300 West in Logan). Mmm, the pastries there are superb! And I love the atmosphere--very European. Unfortunately credit and debit cards are not accepted there so make sure you bring cash or check or you'll be making an unexpected return trip home to get it (like Mark). I'll have to remember my camera next time we go; and we will definitely be going again!
Mark spent the rest of the day working on a little remodel project (that I should be posting about sometime next week) and the girls and I took a walk around town and then played in the backyard. I knew the snow was coming so I took a picture of my daffodils and tulips in case they never look like this again!

Now that's a wrap.

Ivy is following in the footsteps of her big sister . . . she loves dress ups! Each day she can be found with something new around her neck. Like this:
and this:
and this:

Millie Habla Español.

As some of you may remember, I studied Spanish in school and always really enjoyed it. So much so, that I am trying to teach it to Millie.
I got this great children's picture book, "First Hundred Words in Spanish" and corresponding DVD from Usborne Books last summer and have enjoyed teaching her the vocabulary.
At first she could only recognize the words. I would say them in Spanish and she would tell me the English translation. (And I thought that was pretty neat.) But this week she has started to recall! I say a word in English and she tells me what it is in Spanish! Words like airplane - avión, doll - muñeca, teddy bear - osito. I was jumping up and down clapping; I was so excited. I'd guess she can recall around a dozen words and recognize even more.
It's neat because it has come so easily. We don't read the book everyday or anything, just casually whenever she shows interest or when she asks to watch the DVD. I'm sure any 3 year old could do it, but I'm still a super proud mama.

Fabulous Five Fun

OK! So here's how this works...the first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me. My choice. Made especially for her. Of course there are some restrictions and limitations:


1 I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2 What I create will be just for you.

3 It will be done sometime this year (hopefully sooner than later).

4 You have no clue what it will be. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure. ;-)

5 I reserve the right to do something extremely strange (but I'm not that creative).

The catch? The catch is that you must repost this on your own blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog.The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did, will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me!! Hurry fast, this is a limited time offer.

Oh! And be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!

PB & Ivy

I don't know why, but Ivy loves to rub peanut butter in her eyes! I'm unsure how she did it this time. But today I gave her a bite of my sandwich and although I never saw peanut butter on her hands, after rubbing her eyes the lids began to swell.
It happened once before and a little Benadryl cleared it right up, but not this time. After I gave her the medicine I laid her down for a nap and she woke up looking like this:
Poor baby. She's fine when she just eats the stuff, but once it's in/on her eyes . . . it's scary.
Millie also broke out in a rash the first time she ate peanut butter and then I wouldn't let her eat if for 6 months. I wonder if it's just a skin allergy.

Girls' Night Out

Some girls from my ward went out to dinner and a movie Friday night. Margie (far left) is expecting her third baby girl this week and organized the get-together. We ate at Café Sabor then went to "Confessions of a Shopoholic." It was loads of fun. Thanks Margie!

And I can't write a post without including a picture of one of my girls: So here's Millie trying on my heels before church yesterday.