An Early Birthday Present

We have lived in our house for a year and a half now. As we moved in, we really didn't have any money to decorate right away because we had lost money on the sale of our North Salt Lake house, and had to save up while we lived with Keith and Jo to make the down payment to get into this house. Things were a bit tight for awhile, and so I lived with bare walls, or put things up just to fill the spaces, knowing that I would eventually make my house everything I wanted it to be.

A few weeks ago, I was indulging my latest time wasting obsession, Pinterest, and showed Travis a pin I made on my 'For The Home' board. He told me that he liked it, which for him to even state his opinion, is huge, and then he said, do you want to do it for your birthday...What? I was shocked and surprised by his response, but of course thought that it was a great idea. So, I got to work, searching through my photo albums, finding my favorite photos, looking at frames on websites, and finding the vinyl lettering. Finally, last week, everything was ready to put up on the wall. I spent lots of time laying everything out on the floor, arranging, and rearranging, making sure the layout was what I wanted it to be.

On Friday night, Travis and I started putting everything up on the wall. I'm not sure what I was thinking, because I thought it would be quick and simple, but I took much longer than either of us expected. I have never applied vinyl on my walls, and neither had Trav, so it was definitely a learning process for both of us! It took lots of time measuring, leveling, and practicing patience, which if you know Travis, you know is a HARD thing for him. He usually rushes through things so quickly, but he really took his time, focused, and tried hard to make it perfect for me. I think that the time and effort he took, and the love and precision he showed as he installed it, makes me love it even more! We really worked hard...and I love the results!! It's not totally 100% perfect, but it's really close, and we worked so well as a team, so that's all that matters to me!!





This picture hardly does it justice. I think it looks so great, and I'm so pleased with it! I keep staring at it, and can't keep my eyes off of it. Addison woke up the next day, and told us that we both did a great job, and that she LOOOOVES it! I do too!!

Things That Make Me Smile...

First and foremost, these sweet babies make me smile. I love my girls and I'm grateful for their smiles, giggles, and love because it makes me smile more than anything else!

The other morning, I went to get Hailey from bed and found her in her bed with the sleeve in her jammies on her leg. She had wiggled out of them, and must have tried to put them back on herself. What a silly!



On Wednesday, we had our New Beginnings for Young Women's. I volunteered to head up organize and oversee this event. It took lots planning and deciding, thinking of ideas, scraping ideas, shopping, crafting, baking, praying, and finally enjoying! Everything went so well, and at the end of the night, I was just full of smiles. I was proud of the girls, and so happy with the way the night went.

I serve with six amazing women, and they each worked hard to help me make the night a success. I missed taking a picture of Gina and Suzanne, but got pictures of Heidi, Christine, Erin, and Jennifer helping in the kitchen.



These are the decorations in the Relief Society room where we actually had the program. My Mom and I made the cute crepe paper streamers. I love the they they turned out. I sewed the scraps of scrapbook paper together to make the value colored banner.




Suzanne was in charge of the "candy bar". She did a fantastic job finding value colored candies, and displaying them in such a cute way!


This is the dessert room with the tables and centerpieces. Each of the girls were able to take one of the candles home, each with this year's theme and value colored ribbons.



The dessert...delicious sugar cookies with value colored frosting


Individual veggie trays...


Colored Kool-Aide


The whole spread


This is the "There's No Placce Like An Eternal Home" Wizard of Oz Themed Reader's Theater, that some of the girl's performed, which explained the importance and value of Personal Progress in our journey towards our eternal home.


Scarecrow- Beehive President, Marissa Badham, Tin Woman - Mia Maid President, Brittney Sears, Lioness- Laurel President, Sidney Allen


The entire cast: Dorothy - Elizabeth Barnett, Tin Woman - Brittney Sears, Lioness - Sidney Allen, Narrator - Jordan Thornblad, Scarecrow - Marissa Badham, Glenda The Good Witch - Breanne Erikson


Darlings...Ashlyn Erikson, and Samantha Sears


New incoming Beehive Danielle Rice with Ashlyn and Samantha


Alana Portzline, who composed, and performed an amazing muscial piece, and new incoming beehive Heidi Weiler


Ashlyn and Samantha again, with cute Olivia Clemons


Alana and Sid, and Ashlyn (below) being crazy...



These girls are a blessing in my life and I'm so grateful to serve with them on a weekly basis!! I love them and learn so much from them and from their examples!