Alayna Lou

I'm thinking it's time for a little Alayna fill.  I feel like she's totally getting the shaft with pictures being the third.  I've done nothing but her title page for a scrapbook so this will have to do for now.  I've been trying to do better.  

 She's got Mike wrapped so tight around her fingers just like a little girl should.

And today she's two and I can hardly believe it.  Those years FLEW!

She's a very organized  little thing.

She has THE BEST wake up hair I've ever seen.

 and a pretty dang cute wake up face too.

 These two have an awesome connection.  

She jumps in bed just to lay by him.

 She's already got me playing barbies...

Love you little girl!

The one with the waggly tail

Four years ago when we lived in Colorado we got a puppy.  He was a total impulse buy.  He was adorable, fluffy and all things puppies are.  My boys loved him. He was doing really well.  Then one day he wasn't a puppy, he turned into a peeing, chewing monster!  My shoes, clean laundry, my carpet, my couches.  I couldn't take it.  I knew in a month we'd be coming home to Santa Clara with a new home with new couches and new carpet.  I couldn't bare the thought of it being ruined by the Tasmanian devil.

I had my kids go to a friends house while a cute family came to "look" at him.  They ended up loving him and took him right then.   That was the night I earned 'Mother of the Year.'  What mom sells their sons puppy without telling him? Isaiah was four okay? I did NOT think it would be a big deal.  I didn't think much of it. he was gone, and I was happy about that. My boys came home wondering where on earth there puppy was. Enter a year later.  Isaiah was having all out sobbing fests over the dog.  He missed him. Like, crazy missed him.   This started happening more times than I can count and I knew at some point we would have to do it again.  As far as I was concerned I was cured of ever wanting another one.

Meet Maisy.  She's my sister in laws dog and we get to puppy sit often when they come to visit.  She is the one that changed my opinion of dogs.  Mike and I started becoming a little more friendly to the idea of a dog in our home.   For a couple months we kept our eye out for something that would fit us.  We knew it had to be as we called it 'a Maisy dog'.  She's a Golden Doodle.  (Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle)

Look at her.  She's adorable.  This was Alayna the entire time they visited this last trip.  Melted us.

She would feed her every morning...her food.  Maisy was happy to help out.

The days before Isaiah's birthday I found this adorable girl online.  She is also a Golden Doodle.  I called and it was done.  My brother went to get her for us in a white out snow storm.  

Meet our sweet Tess.

Man, these pictures just show a black fluff ball.  There really is a little face in there.  

Stinky puppy needed a bath

 This picture cracks. me. up.

She sleeps by (on) her cow every night.  It's pretty cute.  

 Now Alayna has a new mouth to feed and Isaiah and Joshua are as happy as ever.  

It took us four years to get brave enough to go through puppyhood again.  We've had her almost a month and she's incredibly smart, very obedient and I am VERY aware and ready for problems that will arise this time around.   I'm reading books and watching how to puppy videos on youtube all too often.   

Any tips?  Send 'em my way.  

EPIC ROOM MAKEOVER

**Help me win this!!  To vote go  HERE.  After contestant #10 you'll see icons of our rooms with our names under it.  I'm #8  Click the star to VOTE** 

Vote everyday through September 24th

Need a laugh??  Watch this.

This is better than Publishers Clearing House for me, PEOPLE!!!

Mandi from Vintage Revivals (who it's no secret that I adore) is doing another EPIC ROOM MAKEOVER GIVEAWAY!!   I HAVE to enter.  

I'm pretty much dying over her sponsors, who are providing ever dime to fund this baby!  Decorating on someone else's dime is totally the way to go.

So, here's my room, in all it's bland glory.  I liked it okay for a long time... like 5 years long.  It's seriously time for a change. It needs to ooze with our style. 

We have two choices here.  I'd love this room to have a major facelift.

It has a serious case of the Beige Blahs!!

OR 

We could do this room which I'd REEEEALLY like to have done.  

It needed some Mandiliciousness like, yesterday.

It's the first room in my house.  I teach violin in here and every. stinkin. week I wish it was done.  

I have zero photography skills, and the lighting stinks, so don't judge!!

This couch is in perfect condition, it just needs a makeover of it's own.

Notice.  No light fixture.  Why did they build homes like this???

The side table is actually awesome, you can't see it well.  

You could do SO much in here!!!

Horrible picture!  Blame it on the lack of lighting :)

This window is so big and begging for a new outfit!

How do you decorate around this baby?  I know you can come up with something awesome!!

HUGE reasons to pick me!!!.............

*The biggest plus about this room is that it's HUGE!!

*It has perfect bones to be anything.

*I have a huge covered patio that is perfect for all painting projects. Out of the sun.

**Brooke is here! You, Hailey & Brooke...we'd have superhero decorating power X a gazillion!! I'm sure Summer will be in too!  She lives down the street.  My husband is a total handyman and will be here too!! See, I have this baby staffed already.  Done.

*I'm not too shabby with a can of Krylon myself.  I'm crazy about the stuff!

*I'm quite handy with a sewing machine and my serger will come in darn handy too, I'm sure.

*Plus, we have the BEST HOMEGOODS ever!!!

****Oh ya, one more GIANT point...I'M A HUGE, DEDICATED FAN!!!

Mandi, need I remind you about this??  You love me :)

Which reminds me, my silhouette is dying to meet you too!

Oh yes, don't forget Halloween.  There's NOTHING like having CRaZY fans show up at your door with freaking awesome costumes.
(Thanks Brooke from All Things Thrifty for the pics)

BEFORE

AFTER

COME TO MY HOUSE!! You know you want to  :)

Go HERE to VOTE FOR ME!!!!
You can vote once everyday until September 24th.  Below contestant #10 you'll see icon pictures of our rooms with our names under it.  Click on the star to vote! Easy as that!!
Once you vote, the star will disappear but will reset the next day.  THANK YOU!!

Passion

Do you ever get stuck in a mommy rut? I can't complain one bit about never getting time away. Mike has always let me have plenty of 'me' time. But lately I find myself thinking about what makes me me and not just a 'mom'. Ya know? Everyone has something that is uniquely 'them'. I feel lucky enough to have discovered my passions in life early. Although I am just realizing how much passion was behind what I did. It came so naturally to do what I did that I never questioned my motive. I am realizing that not everyone knows what that passion or drive is in their life.

So humor me while I share with you what I love most...besides my family of course.

Anyone who knows me knows my love for this...

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I'm thinking I should have pictures like this taken some time...isn't it beautiful? Maybe not the wedding dress though :)


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And Vanessa Mae was my first violin idol. Her music still ignites my passion and often is all I need to get my instrument out and play from my soul. This sounds crazy to be writing but it is all too true. Where did she go anyway? It is still a dream of mine to hear her play live.


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My love for these came very early. I remember when I was six walking with my best friend to the fields down the road with horses in them. We would spend hours in their fields. I realize now that I was totally trespassing...oops! I used to knock on the door of another family down the street that had a Shetland pony and beg to ride. I also realize how annoying that must have been to them...oops again.

When my we moved to St. George my mom had a friend who had horses and taught riding lessons. Once I started I was at the stable every day. Most days until dark. When I had the chance to buy a little bay colt I begged and begged my parents. It actually didn't take much convincing because my step dad was raised on a farm and had a love for horses too. Lucky me! I bought him, trained him, showed him and spent almost every waking hour (after school, and basketball practice) with him. I would often spend the night (am I really telling you this?) in the huge arena, horses loose, in a tent with my two best friends and their horses. We loved it!

I am convinced the Arabian horse is the most beautiful creature in existence.


Maybe these picture will help convince you...


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English Pleasure is what I rode when I showed horses. I rode a gorgeous bay stallion named Legend.
I miss this like CRAZY!!!


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This is what I've always wanted to do. Dressage on a Friesian. Doesn't it look magical?

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This is what I did in Mexico once and is on my bucket list once again but this time I really want to do it in Italy. Hey, why not?

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What makes you YOU???

Grannyween

I bought the boys matching ninja costumes thinking I'd be right on the money...that they'd love them. Well Isaiah humored me and wore it.


Joshua refused and insisted on, not Mario (like we did last year) but FIRE Mario.


Miss pumpkin Alayna loved trick or treating. Her little feet just kicked the whole time as we strolled along. The even weight distribution of her fat pumpkin suit aided her well for walking.


I even got into the fun for our primary party this year. As a presidency we normally go as a theme but we ran out of ideas. This is what I came up with.



Complete with knee highs, my moms orthopedic shoes (they were really comfy :)) some pillows in the rear and ALOT of stuffing up top.





The boys laughed all night at me and kept bringing their friends to see their 'Grandma.' Poor Alayna hated me in it. I had to hand her off to our neighbor girl for the rest of the party...she was not a fan.

Fishin'

For Mike's birthday the boys wanted to get him a license so he could take them. Remind you I actually bought him a pole for Father's Day. It has sat for 4+ years all the while the boys have been begging to go. So we got the boys fishing poles for Mike's birthday haha and Mike a tackle box and we were set for the day. We headed to Pine Valley and made a day of it.







Some incredibly beautiful scenery and I just sat with little Alayna and enjoyed the whole time.




Joshua was actually the first one to catch a fish and DANG I didn't get it on camera. When he realized there was a fish on the end he all out chucked his pole back in the water and screamed like a little girl "It's gonna eat me" I was dying laughing so hard I was crying. Even now its making me chuckle thinking about it.









At one point Isaiah found a crazy huge grasshopper he was determined to get it on the end of his hook.
Grasshopper guts.
Gross.


We've been 5 times in 3 weeks. I say 'we' which means I fully support them leaving me at the house alone for a few hours. It's the newest hobby of theirs (ours) :)