They're Gone

While Mike was at the Boy Scout Camporee this weekend (he is in charge of the 11 year old scouts, and is not super excited about it), I decided to surprise him by removing the flourescent lights in our kitchen. I was afraid he would be a little mad, but the fact that he didn't even notice they were gone until he happened to find the lights on the ground in our sun room, made me think it was ok. It looks better (we are still waiting for the air conditioning guy to bring the vent covers), just don't look too closely at my drywall patches. It was harder than I thought it would be!

Mabel's Room

before

stripping the wallpaper


after

We finally finished Mabel's room. Well, we almost finished it. We just need the shutters on her windows so we can finish the top of her beadboard. At first she was a little bummed that her walls weren't pink all over, but I think she is coming around to it. It might just be my favorite room in our house. I couldn't quite fit all of it in the picture, but you get the idea.

Easter, Part 2

The joy of Easter continued today at our house with an after lunch snack. At least this time he was strapped into his seat and had a bib on.

Easter

Here is Mabel before church not wearing her Easter dress.
She refused, even though she is the one who picked
the dress out at the store in the first place.
She is so picky!

We had an Easter egg hunt at Nana's house.


Oliver had a lot of fun finding the eggs,
but once he realized they opened and there was candy inside, it was all over.

Happy Easter!

Jooj

I would like to pay tribute to my sister, Julianne, who has more passion in her little finger than I do in my entire body. She is an artist, a writer, a humanitarian, a world traveler, a linguist, a student, and someone whom I greatly admire. She is single-handedly bringing awareness of the situation in Sudan to the entire BYU student body. I am constantly in awe of her many accomplishments. I love you, Jooj.

My Secret

Mike is the secret to my paint color selection success. I bring home samples of the colors I think I want and when those don't work, Mike goes back to the Home Depot and brings home the perfect color everytime. He has never failed me. He has an eye for things like that. I was a little nervous about the color he picked for our bedroom, but I think it works. I am beginning to love it.


Also, have I mentioned that he is a master carpenter? All of the baseboards and paneling in our new house were installed by him and they all look awesome. I will have to post pictures of Mabel's room as soon as we finish painting it. It is another example of his amazing woodworking abilities. Am I lucky, or what?

Our Kitchen

before

the lowered ceiling before

the chandelier before

after

The previous owners had decided to redo the kitchen before they decided to move, so we were the lucky recipients of a brand new kitchen and appliances. All we had to do was raise the ceilings, replace the light fixtures, put in pot lights, and paint the walls, doors, and trims. I love it. Mike and I don't agree about the light situation, though. I want to get rid of the two flourescents in the middle (They aren't even hooked up. Our electrician took the power from them and used it for the pot lights.) but Mike doesn't think the pot lights lend enough light to the space. Who's on my side?

Next on the agenda is to replace the very old and worn parque floors with tile. But first we need to finish moving in. We love our new house. It feels so huge! I feel very blessed and very spoiled to be here, but I am truly grateful. There is nothing like owning a home, especially a home that you have fixed up yourself. Renting last year in Ladera Ranch totally makes me appreciate the fact that this home is ours. Now I can't imagine ever living anywhere else.

A Tease

We moved in on Saturday. It was very exciting. Sunday felt like Christmas. We aren't quite organized or decorated yet, but here is a quick look at the family room in the basement before and after. I think the change is quite dramatic. I will post more pictures as soon as we have an internet connection at our house and are more fully moved-in.

before (obviously)

after