Not Much to Say

I just feel like I need to post. Although, I don't feel like I have much to say. I'll list a few updates.

• Benson is getting over a nasty cold
• I caught Benson's nasty cold, that's how I know that it was nasty
• Mitch will be riding Lotaja in ONE week-YAY!!!
• Have a new calling teaching Relief Society-how fun/intimidating
• I learned that I have a hole between the chambers of my heart, surgery will be coming soon
• School started-it will be an interesting year (already had to have a "please shower before you come to school" discussion)
• I signed up to run Ragnar-what was I thinking?
• Held another pants party, my last (got a WAY CUTE purse)
• My sister-in-law is expecting and my little sister is due in only a couple months-JEALOUS (I may or may not have shared my wish for another baby with the entire ward. Sorry Mitch)

I've learned that I really like that I have a simple life. Anything more may be unmanageable. We stay SO busy here just doing the basics. We are simple, but simply happy.

Benson eating his super cool treat at Gardner Village

Benson just hanging out by the stream waiting for Mitch to be done with his bike race.

Mitch, done with the bike race. Good job!

Benson has found his nose, the holes in his nose. He also found a girlfriend. She lives next door, owns a car, and a really big bottle of bubbles. What could be better!?

Inspired by Enos

Recently Benson has been picking up on everything. No, not quite everything, but we need to be careful. He's now says "no, no" "me" "mine" and can point out any photo or statue of Jesus. If I don't watch myself he may start throwing toilet paper into the toilet, or trying to put on mommy's makeup, or use a cheese grater on the new kitchen rug. (Although, I've never used a cheese grater in that way)
Oh, wait. . . that was today

After renewing our efforts to keep prayer a common and visible practice, Benson quickly caught on. In the middle of dinner (after dinner prayer) he will be found squinting his eyes and folding his arms. After the bath, and before I can tackle him down and don some clothes on his cute little self, he will peek around his rocking horse and have his arms folded and coax me to pray.
Sorry buddy, I just don't feel right praying with nakedness present

We now pray over breakfast; the beginning, middle and sometimes the end of it.
The same goes with the other meals.

Tonight, at Olive Garden, Benson made sure our food was blessed before it was even ordered.
Bless you my child, bless you.

Thank you for helping us remember

I took a class

I recently took a class through the school district. It was by far the most fun class I've attended. Now, I just need to find the money to buy for the new Photoshop Elements program. This stuff is SWEET!!! Please call if you would like to donate to my cause. . .
Now for my assignment. This one is school related and I hope to have it printed as a poster to hang in my classroom.

THERE!

For now . . .

Here are the updated photos of our kitchen. These projects take a bit longer to complete when you have a little one running loose. Thanks to wonderful family for watching him during the messy parts of the project. Benson's all together TOO helpful! Let me know what you think of the (semi) finished kitchen. Oh, and imagine it with dark gray or black granite counter tops and white subway tile back splash. That's what the "for now" is about. Those tax rebates should come more than one time per year. Don't you think?For now. . .don't you think it looks awesome? I love it and I'm so glad that Mitchell is amazing at almost everything!!!

Not there yet

The title of this post could mean a lot of things:

• Not to my ideal PERFECT weight
• Not yet made it back to my pre-pregnancy fitness level (yes, I know it's been 1.5 years)
  
• Not yet ready to have another child (It's only been 1.5 years)
  
• Not yet the wife/mother/teacher/friend/daughter/sister that I'd like to be
• I've not yet figured out how to fit a full day of laundry, dishes, dinner prep, lesson planning, discipline, cleaning, mommy-ing, reading, praying, running, teaching, and sleeping into 24 hours.

But what i really wanted to let you all know that's "not there yet" is our home remodel. I didn't forget to update the status of our kitchen. It's really great. I'm loving it, but I admit, it's not quite there yet. Once it's painted the pictures will be up. . .

Coming SOON

I have the MOST FABULOUS husband who has been working endlessly on our kitchen (more like HOME) remodel. It's looking great, but still not 100% finished. The "after" photos will be coming soon.

Please address any comments to Mitch and don't forget to mention how absolutely, amazingly wonderful (and/or talented) he is!

Tornado - Still blowing

After years of planning and research (Mitch's researching) we finally started our kitchen renovation. How it ended up invading our front room and spilling into the hallway, I'm not sure. It's been more work than we knew it would be. I have to give tons and gobs of thanks to our parents! Thank you Dave for working far too late into the night. Benson thanks his Grandma's for playing with him and loving him!

You may want to check out the pictures, just in case you might be considering to attempt this craziness.BEFORE

This is when everything started feeling a little chaotic.

Mitch worked so hard that first day while I was at work! So much filling and sanding and filling and sanding and . . .

The amazing stuff that filled in the ugly oak grain.

Taping off the inside of the cabinets was one of the hardest parts.

Benson's contribution.

Halfway painted. The smell wasn't as bad as we expected.

All white, all right?

Taking a break.

Now on to the floor

We figured that the linoleum installer thought he was a shoot 'em up cowboy with the nail gun. Is it really necessary to have 25 nails per square foot?

By this point Mitchell's knees were bright red and sore from all of the kneeling and nailing.

What do you think?

Now if we can only muster up the energy and motivation to finish down the hall. . .

Not your typical "Party Girl"

I really don't like to host parties of any kind, but I have to admit, I'm excited for Tuesday! Yes folks, I buckled and I'm hosting a party. I blame designer jeans. I love them and I love how they make me feel when I wear them. Vain, I know. What I don't love is the cost. (Have you ever visited Buckle or tried on a pair of True Religion jeans then checked the tag? DEPRESSING) So, I'll be cleaning my house and making a treat to share with any guest that would like to join me. (There will be shirts, jewelry, hats, purses and other stuff too.)

If you didn't get an invite in the mail or via Facebook and would like to come, please do.
Plus, as a bonus you can laugh at my new "BRACE FACE." Yet another thing I've decided to break down and do. It'll all be worth it right? Even more of a reason to have hot jeans, it distracts from the braces.