Couch Makeover

We bought our couches on craigslist not long after we were married.  We've really loved them, but I've always wanted them to be dark.  When we moved into our new house the couches were so close to the wall color that I finally decided to research what it would take to dye a leather couch.  I found "Rub N' Restore" from the Vinyl Ladies and bought it!

 Here is my couch before (the love seat looked just like this).  You can't tell, but they were pretty weathered.  We bought them from a family who had lots of kids and Evie has done her fair share of drooling on them!

Here is the finished product.  I am so happy with how they turned out.  (Once again, the love seat looks the same...I just didn't get very good pictures).  

Thank you Vinyl Ladies for making my couch dreams come true.  

Life until Christmas

Here's a brief run down of our lives since I last blogged!

Halloween came and went.  It was one of the most enjoyable Halloween's for me...mostly because of Evie.  She had so much fun...and I had fun watching her!

She was "Little Red Riding Hood" this year.  I knit the hood for her.  I started making it for her for last Halloween and quickly realized it was going to take me a LONG time to make.  I persevered and hoped that it would fit in a year....luckily it did!

She ran around and around our yard.  The real fun came with Trick or Treating.  She was in heaven.  We walked around our neighborhood and then went to our ward Trunk or Treat.  Evie helped me pass out the candy at our house before we left.  When she finally got to go, she kept trying to give her candy to the people at the houses where we were trick or treating.  When she finally caught on that she got to keep her candy, she was thrilled.  She didn't like candy much before, but she loves it now...dang it!

Cute little sisters waiting for the fun to begin.

Penny was a little mermaid.  I did not make her tail...April, the master, knit that for her.  I loved it.  She's the cutest little mermaid I ever saw.

NACHO!

Our first Placerville trip in the snow.  We had a little sled that my parents got at a yard sale and Evie loved it.  We pulled her around until she got too cold.  When she warmed up, she wanted to go again.  She still talks about "the cabin".

The Jorgensen's went with us.  Their little girls are so cute.  I sure am glad they are in Boise.  Hilary has been my saving grace.  It's always nice to move someplace where you have a friend.

We love the quads!

Our FHE activity the other night was decorating graham crackers.  (I haven't even tried to tackle the gingerbread houses)  Evie loved the M&M's.  It was fun to watch her place them on the frosting and then quickly take them off and eat them.  She was proud of her creation.

So, I guess our big news is...We Bought a HOUSE!   Here she is!  We really love this house.  It was built in the late 70's and is cedar.  The back lot is .42 acres.  We love our back yard, and will love it even more in the summer when we can enjoy it.  We signed our lives away on November 15th and moved in on the 17th.  It was a whirlwind.  I still get a little homesick for our place in Meridian.  I loved that house, and that neighborhood, and our neighbors and our ward....but I love it here too.  We get to have Adam home for almost an hour more a day because we cut off his commute time.  It makes it all worth it!

Oh...and the house came with a hot tub!  We're loving it...but aren't convinced that we will keep it.  We got our first electric bill and Evie may not be able to go to college now.  We'll enjoy it while we have it, though!  Evie loves it and always asks for the "hot tub".

I had to add this little gem.  This was the sunrise on my Dad's birthday...12.21.12  I wasn't quite sure if it was fire and the end of the world, or just a pretty sunrise.  Thank goodness it was the latter!

***DISCLAIMER...there is nudity in this video (cute little buns that I couldn't resist!)***

Evie has learned how to sing.  We caught her first whole song on video.  It could be one of my favorite videos yet!  I sure feel blessed to have the family that I do!

Long Time Coming

This post has been a long time in coming.  Here are a few snippets of the happenings around here for the last 4 months.

The next few pictures were supposed to be at the bottom, so forgive me for them being out of order.  My sister came to visit last week and got this cute little one of Penny...who has recently started rolling over!  She is such a smiley baby.

Evie got sick on the way to the corn maze, but was a trooper.  She threw up all over her shirt and jacket.  All I had was one of Penny's onesies.  We put in on Evie and tucked it in and put her vest on over that.

Here's the whole group...minus me.  Erika and Chris got the tickets for us.  It was fun while it lasted.

Evie's new favorite thing in the whole world is ELMO!!  She loves him.  She would watch that video all day and night if I let her.  She loves to sing and dance to the theme song for Elmo's world!  (Videos are below!)

We go on a walk almost every day.  When Penny was really little I'd put her in the sling and she'd fall right asleep.  When we would get home, Evie would wear it and carry around her baby!  She's a cute little Mama!

This picture was taken just the other morning.  She is a big fan of head bands these days...at least for a few minutes and if she is the one who puts it on.

Evie is a little dare devil.  She LOVES going skateboarding with Adam!

Look at that smile!

Adam's grandma passed away this summer.  We were able to go to the funeral.  Here the girls are with their aunts, Erika and Whitney.

After the funeral everyone headed up to Placerville for a 4th of July celebration.  The fireworks were set of right across the street from the cabin.  It was really fun...and loud!

Adam and his girls on the 4th of July!  God Bless America!

Evie likes to share with Penny.  She shared her baby with her.  I love my little baby...or babies!

My parents came to visit us.  Evie sure LOVES her grandma!  She loves grandpa too.  Penny really loved my dad.  She would sit and smile and talk to him.   He helped carry her home from church for me.

Aunt Whitney got married this summer!  We went up to her wedding at Soldier Mountain.  Evie was a little flower girl.  They were adorable...and so is their dad!

Penny and the perpetual flower eye patch!

The bride and groom and their parents!  Congrats, Gabe and Whittles!

Evie has learned how to smile on demand.  This is one of the first ones!  Thats a smile...I promise.  She loves her spaghetti....somedays.

Penny graduates to the stroller!  (Look close at Evie's tan line on her feet!  We spent a lot of time outside this summer)

Erika got them these adorable sailor dresses!

Evie learned how to color on the wall...and then she learned how to clean it off!

Penny can go in the bike trailer now!  (We love her little witch pj's from Alona!)  Evie likes having her in there with her.

The fall colors are here.  Last Sunday we tried to take a few pictures in our back yard.  

She's trying to fly!

I like these people!

Penny learned to roll over.  Evie is very grumpy in this video because I am filming Penny with the iPad and Evie wanted it really bad!   The second video is Evie and Penny dancing to Elmo's World!

Evie is a scooter pro!  Evie and Penny both love love love it when Penny chases Evie!  

Halloween Party

Don't think that I'm a bad mother because I haven't posted on my kids in a while.  It's been busy around here!  I'm trying to get all of the little videos in order and then I'll do a little girl post!  In the meantime you get our Halloween Party!

Adam wanted to have a Halloween party for the kids that he teaches in primary.  I was all for it.  Any chance I get to make fun food and dress up I'll take!  I made the kids these Harry Potter wands.  We had the kids cast a spell on their drink to change it a different color with their wand.  I just put a drop or two of food coloring in the bottom of their cup and let it dry and then put ice over that.  When they cast the spell and poured the Sprite it came out different colors.  It's easy to impress kids!

Here are some of the treats.  Monster apples and cheese fingers.

We had squid eyeballs too.

Whats a party without the mummies?

These pretty little blood worms were my favorites!  They looked so real.  They are made out of jello.

Mummy chocolate for our party favors.

When the kids got here we had them paint their pumpkins.

Then it was time for the food.  Here the kids are watching me eat a worm.  They thought they were real!

Delicious!

Those cute little girls refused to try them!

The boys were brave.  One of them said "Those were actually pretty good, but that after taste will get you"!

Adam being gross!

I dressed up as a pirate, but ended up looking more like a gypsy with bad teeth.  Fun, none the less!

After the food we had a marshmallow gun target shooting game that they liked too.  I just forgot to take pictures of that.  I think there was a good time had by all...but especially me!  I do like a good Halloween party!