Jason's project...

When we moved in we saved enough money to pay someone to do our yard. Well, let's just say we didn't get what we paid for!!! First of all we were unaware of drainage issues in the subdivision, and second, we trused a "professional" to do our yard and grade it accordingly. We OBVIOUSLY sit lower than the surrounding homes to the north and back of us, unfortunately, the "professional" we hired decided not to take that fact into consideration when grading our yard....did I say he graded our yard? I take that back, the LACK of grading our yard and the LACK of leveling, smoothing or even using enough top soil for the grass to grow decently!! Okay, I have vented now. We are very sad we have to start all over!

Don't worry Cam...daddy will fix it right and chase all the buggies away!

We had some major low spots in our yard and everytime it rained or at the end of winter our yard was a pond from the back fence, about halfway to the house. At the end of last summer we put in a drain that runs along the back fence then down the side of our yard to the curb. It works great, except one BIG problem, we have to now direct the water to the drain it likes to pool up in the yard away from the drain. Here is an example of the yard after the rain this week. There is no more grass because we have decided the only way to fix our problems is to start completely over.

Jason has been really happy about doing all this work. He is excited to hopefully have a back yard that we can use that hasn't been overtaken by swamp smell, frogs, mosquitos, and MILLIONS of spiders! Yes, that is how bad the back half of our yard was. A constant wet swamp!

On a brighter note, the kids have had a BLAST during the demolition! There have been MANY trips to the dump (a kid favorite of mine too though I'm not sure exactly why). A big bobcat with fun rides.


Kaysia got a ride when I was at the store. I'm sad I didn't get a picture.

Then there was Kyson's favorite part about the whole weekend.....

A GREAT, BIG, GIANT pile of DIRT!! That kid LOVES dirt. He rolled in it, slid in it and yes, even attempted to cartwheel in it!!



Camden wasn't as interested, thank goodness. I think I can only handle on dirt lover! He just decided to pose for me and look adorable as always for the camera.

We are excited to have a clean slate and hopefully that excitement will drive us to get it done FAST!

We have lot's of ideas on how to make our yard not only beautiful but also make the water flow to the appropriate places to keep it stink free and like a park instead of a SWAMP!

All in a days work...

On Friday I started and finished project #2 on my list of things I would like to improve in our house. I am now LOVING my laundry room. It got a well needed face lift and is now completely organized! Our laundry room is off the garage entrance to the house so that is where EVERYTHING gets dumped. I am embarrassed to show the before picture. Instead of cleaning it all up I decided to keep it real...so here is to keeping it real...
BEFORE...


As you can see there are coats, backpacks and shoes all over the floor (aside from a laundry basket of clothes, but after all it is a laundry room). This is how it ALWAYS looks. We really don't have a great place to store those things aside from a coat closet that is on the other side of the house where the front door is that we NEVER use. Not to mention the kids are still too little to hang their own coats. Mommy solved a few of our problems...
AFTER...




I painted the room 'Heavenly Blue'. With a name like that I couldn't refuse, after all, who doesn't need their laundry room to be a little more 'heavenly'? I painted the ceiling and the shelving white. I also added some baskets to put the cleaners and stuff in that was on the shelf to make it look a little less cluttered. Also if you look at the picture closely you can see a shelf with wire drawers. I fold my clothes straight out of the dryer and this awesome little thing has made my life a ton easier! Each kid has their own drawer and they are responsible for putting their own clothes away. The basket is manageable for them to carry up the stairs even when it is full. The colors really brightened the room up which was one of my goals. Then I added the hooks on the walls, now coats and backpacks have a place! As for all the shoes...


I found this shoe storage cabinet at IKEA. I wasn't sure on how modern it looked so I went to home depot and bought some different knobs. That made a TON of difference! It fits perfectly behind the door and fits a ton of shoes for it's size!

I am very happy with the room which is a good thing because I spend a lot of time in there!

Projects...

Every couple of months I get in 'Project Mode'. My husband HATES it and to be quite frank so do I. I get my wheels turning and all I can think about is getting a project done. We did this bathroom a couple months ago and today I just fininshed it by painting the ceiling white and hanging the towel holder. Now I am back in project mode and decided that I can't start the next thing on my list (which is a VERY long list) until this bathroom was completed.

BEFORE....

I hated the pedistal sink. Although it is simple and beautiful, it really has/had no function other than a sink.

AFTER....

We replaced the pedistal sink, with this BEAUTIFUL cabinet/sink. I painted the walls a color called 'dusty olive' and changed out the light fixture and faucet to an oil rubbed bronze finish. I love that bathroom now and especially love the storage space under the sink!

One project down, a million more to go!! NEXT....dun, dun, dun, the LAUNDRY ROOM!

Finally pictures to go with the last post...

Here is a couple pictures of my poor van. I miss it so much. I am greatful that I have had Jason's truck to drive around, but it isn't my minivan! I never thought I would appreciate a minivan so much! I will hopefully be getting it back from the shop soon, I can't wait!

Car Accident....

On Friday March, 19th I was in my first ever car crash. I was driving along on Redwood Road and the traffic was flowing great. One of the kids in the back was talking to me so I looked in my "kid view mirror" then when I looked forward again traffic was at a complete stop. Now I would say that I was probably driving at a speed of 45 mph, give or take a few miles. The car in front of me was close and I was full speed ahead. I slammed on my brakes and swerved to the left into the emergency middle lane but it wasn't enough. Next thing I know I am looking around the white smoke filled van trying to register what had happened. I looked back at the kids, who were all crying then felt a horrible pain in my arm. When I looked at my arm I realized the air bag deployed and had burned my arm from wrist to elbow with skinned raw wounds. I am trying to calm the kids down when my own stability was completely comprimised. All I knew was, my kids were upset and I CANNOT cry or be upset either. My brain is so confused I probably sat in my car for almost 10 minutes before I picked up my cell phone in a watery mess on the floor and called Jason. I told him I had been in an accident and I don't know what to do. He asked me if me and the kids were okay and I told him I thought we were fine then he said I needed to call the cops. I told him I don't know the number and he said, 911, yes you can all laugh at me now, but at the time I wasn't thinking it was an emergency, life or death emergency like I have been taught to only use that number in those types of situations. I noticed the woman whose car I hit was on her cell phone so I finally made my way from the driver's seat to the passenger side and got out of the van. Now I know I hit hard but I didn't realize how serious it was. When I stepped out of my van I looked at the ground it literally looked like a bomb went off. There was debris EVERYWHERE. Small pieces of what used to be my head light and the silver metallic sage fender of my van. I looked at my van and NOTHING was left on the front passenger side. My beautiful van was bare to the frame in that area. WOW, I really crashed hard. I asked the lady if she was alright and apologized for hitting her. When I asked how she was doing she dramatically said "I don't know, I think I need to go to the hospital, my head, I really hit it hard", meanwhile, her kid who sat bouncing in the front seat who could not have been older but 10, is telling me oh we are okay, we are fine. Her son then noticed my arm and said , "your arm are you okay?" His mom heard her son then quickly asked, "how about you?" Now I am not passing any judgement and I do feel HORRIBLY for hitting her. But really? Yes, she needed to be checked out, yes I am sure she is injured and I am sure it hurt like the dickins, but I put myself in that situation and I think the appropriate response would be "I will be okay, but I really think I should be checked out." I don't know, maybe I don't think the same as other people, but when you are a mother and you have scared children relying on you to reasure them things are okay, there is no need for drama. Anyway, next thing I know there are 4 cop cars 2 ambulances a paramedic and a fire truck. I looked around and thought to myself, "Is this really necessary?" I think I underestimated the seriousness of it. When I look back at the accident and the 'could have beens', I realized that even though it was a horrible experience God was there, he protected me, my kids and all that were involved and everything worked out EXACTLY as it needed to to keep everyone as safe as possible. Had I not swerved the injuries would have been worse I am sure. Had I swerved too much, I would have went into oncoming traffic and collided head on with another car, and that I am POSITIVE would have had major injuries! I am happy to say that other than some sore muscles and a scraped up arm, I am doing great physically, most importantly the kids all walked away with not a scratch. Mentally I am having a hard time. I would like to think of myself as strong person that things like this wouldn't have an effect on. Like riding a horse, you fall and you get back on. The next day I was a passenger in my mom's car and there were a few times I had to hold back the tears. I felt like I was having an anxiety attack! Now I haven't been in a car for an entire day and I need to be driving to Salt Lake tomorrow and I am scared to death. I think about it and I just wail up in tears. Is this normal???? I know it isn't the end of driving for me, but I hope the anxiety goes away quickly because driving is a HUGE part of my life!

I learned 2 things that day. I learned that God does watch over us and protects us from harm if it is his will. I also learned a very important lesson of motherhood...
No matter how scared you are, or how much pain you are in, when your little ones need you to be strong you have no choice but to be. I have NEVER been in a situation like this where I just wanted to crumble and I suprised myself at the strength that I had to hold back ALL tears, not one was shed (by myself). My cry was there in my throat, but my voice did not shake, my tears where in my eyes but never came over my lids. All I wanted in that moment was for my husband to get there so I could get in his truck turn my head and let the tears flow that so desperately wanted to for well over an hour!

Tomorrow I will make my way to the tow yard to pay my sweet van a visit (yes I suddenly feel like my van has feeling and that I really hurt them!) I will get some pictures of the poor thing and post them soon.

Growing up....

Over the past couple of days I have had a ton of bricks just fall and hit me in the head. I have realized all of my responsibilities at once. Now I know this isn't new, I mean, I HAVE been a mother for over SIX years. I think reality just slapped me in the face. As I got off the couch from watching American Idol tonight, I looked in the kitchen and was so relieved that the dishes were done and the kitchen was clean. I DID THAT. I remember when I was living at home and my mom would do that, oh how I loved when our home was clean. Now I am the mom, the housekeeper, the chef and the baker, the launderer, the taxi driver, the grocery shopper, the piano teachers assistant for practices, the listener of little readers, the discipliner, the slave driver, the singer of lullaby's, the kisser of owies, an activities planner, the hair dresser, a playmate, a life lessons teacher, a Sunday school teacher, an etticiut teacher, a payer of bills, a walking calendar, a friend helping friends through grown up stuff, a gym rat (trying to take care of myself), a car detailer and the list just goes on and on and on! WHEN DID THIS ALL HAPPEN?? Maybe I am just feeling a little overwhelmed with life, and all the 'To Do's' that come with it that are making me feel a little more grown up lately. Maybe it is because I am rapidly approaching 30, an age that I didn't think would be hard to hit. What I do know is, even though I get overwhelmed at times, and I am not the best at any of the above listed duties, I am SO GRATEFUL for the 3 little rugrats that brought on 90% of them! God has truly blessed my life with beautiful children a hard working husband and health all around. I have a quote in my house that I look at everyday that reads, "Grant me patience to deal with my blessings!" Amen to that and maybe a little granting of energy too!

Button, Button, who's got the BUTTONS?

I decided to come up with a reward system for the kids. I have tried many things and I think this one just might work. I proposed this plan to them and they were SO EXCITED! I am hoping the excitement lasts.


Each kid has their own jar to keep their buttons in.


This jar is the 'Bank of Buttons'. They can earn these buttons by doing jobs around the house, good listening, being kind and just going anything good. They use these buttons to play the WII or computer games. They can also save up their buttons and get bigger things like a fun activity and such.


This is our 'Job Jar'...


Each stick has a job on it and the kids have to pick 2 sticks a day. They will of course earn buttons upon completing the task on the stick.



I am hoping that this little idea works. I am pretty excited to get started and so are they! Wish us luck!