Scarlett turns 2, Memorial Day, and a finished project.

I know I cram too much into a single post, but it's the best I can do. Who knows when/if I will ever find time to post again, so to keep as current as possible, I cram it in.

We spent the weekend in Utah, celebrating Wonderful Sweet Scarlett's second birthday. I am so so glad we could be there! She was absolutely adorable all weekend long, but especially on her big day.

I won't go into too many details, since I know Scarlett's mama will {someday} do a beautiful post about it (Britt's blog here), but I wanted to share a few of my favorite pics I snapped that day.

Scarlett woke up to balloons and decorations... what a fun way to start the day. She was so happy, demonstrated by her squeals of joy mingled with random bursts of running, jumping, and kicking balloons.

 In this adorable pic, she is looking at her Grandpa, requesting he sit with her to color on her chalkboard. She LOVES her Grandpa!!

Birthday morning cuddles and hugs with mom.

(This is the typical look Scarlett gives her Gigi... in contrast to Grandpa's adoring looks haha)

After Scarlett was ready for church (everybody loves church on their birthday, right??), Britt and Austin gave her their gift:

 Again, Scarlett had the most adorable reaction.

She invited her BFF {Aunt Lynnea} to play along with her.

(Sweet Lynnea was invited All. Day. Long. to play with Scarlett. Too too cute.)

Then she unwrapped her gift from Gigi, Grandpa, and Auntie M... play food and kitchen accessories.

Once again, pure joy and happiness. I wish I could bottle that!!

After making it through all of nursery (thanks mostly to Aunt Lynnea the first half, and Grandpa every-nursery-child's-favorite-playmate the second half, we went home and got ready for Scarlett's party. The only unhappy part of the day was when Britt and Austin tried to get her down for a nap. She just wasn't having it... this day was way too exciting to sleep through.

No worries about a meltdown, though. Once her puffy tear-filled eyes cleared after the final nap attempt, she was ON for the rest of the evening.

Her reaction as she opened her gifts was, again, adorable. She was so thrilled and happy with each one.

Even down to the last event of the party... cake and ice cream... that girl had a smile on her face.

Oh my goodness. I'm so grateful we were there to share in her joy.

Love that sweet girl!! I can't believe she's two!

The extra bonus this weekend was being able to visit Brian and Jana's graves on Memorial Day.

We decided to walk to the cemetery by Bill's parent's house to visit Brian's grave.

Along the way we spotted a bunny (thanks to Aunt Angela). 

Scarlett's reaction was {you got it} adorable.

Then we headed over to Bountiful to stop by Jana's grave before our drive back to CO.

As we drove away from the cemetery, Bill and I reflected on the difference of a single year. It goes so fast, but so many things can change. We determined once again to make the most of each day. 

We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa G's for a quick Memorial Day lunch.

It was so fun to spend a little time with family, and to work on endearing Wonderful Sweet Scarlett to her Gigi. I may never be on the same affection level as Grandpa and Aunt Lynnea, but Scarlett DID give me three kisses before we parted ways. Ahhhhhhh... being a granny is the best!

A huge thank you to Austin and Britt for the entire weekend. They are such gracious hosts, and so generous with their time. It was wonderful to spend a little time with all of our UT kids... we love you guys!!

A quick pictorial of my latest finished project:

I love it. (Hoping to soon switch out that tile around the fireplace, though.)

I've started on the kitchen cabinets... tested my color (sort of)... waiting for another gallon of paint to arrive today. They will be green. I've had a little anxiety over the color, but in the end I've decided to just go for it. I've told all those interested in my little project that I will have a come-see-my-cabinets party if I like the end result. If not, they will just have to see them when they see them as they think "wow, those are some green cabinets."  

Taylor and Lynnea will be here Saturday, and Tay starts his 10-week internship with EKS&H a week from Monday. I'm so excited to have them here this summer! 

Life is so so good.

Even if I shattered my phone glass the day we left for UT. Bummer.

Life Lately.

It's been awhile.

Maybe because life's been a bit dull lately,

or maybe it's been a little too hectic.

Maybe it's a mix of both.

Here's the low-down:

Bill finally FINALLY purchased his Birthday gift. At last.

 Do you think he likes it?
Now he just needs to get some ammo haha.


Amidst the random bouts of snow around here, my tulips bloomed. All four of them.

 With the threat of more snow, we cut those babies and brought them in the house to truly appreciate their beauty. They made me so so happy.


I almost forgot I had offered to help a friend with a service project called Days for Girls.
You can find out more about this worthy cause here.

I madly went to work on these liners (to be included in hygiene kits)... and knocked them out in the "free time" of two days (about 4 hours total).

I loved working on them (plus I got to sit while I sewed... good for my feet), and hope to do more.


I got irritated enough at the Pyrex company to email in a complaint.

These two measuring cups are only a year old, and have rendered themselves good for nothing as their measuring marks have disappeared. I heard back from the company several days later, and apparently have two more measuring cups on their way (yay, Pyrex!).
I just hope they have improved their durability.


We got to talk to Shi on Mother's Day... hoorah for Israel!
You can read about how Sister Syddall is doing here.

That's all I have to say about Mother's Day {wink}.


Mar had her final choir concert for the year.
This was my favorite performance of the whole evening:

Afterwards we went with our friends, the Hawleys, to Kneaders.

It's been our tradition since 8th grade.

I can't believe these two girls are almost sophomores. Where does the time go?


On a work-at-the-salon day, I had 15 minutes before I had to leave and figured I could get my pots planted.
Sometimes I dream big like that.

I should mention that we've had these pots for YEARS, and they've been pretty ugly for a long time. I decided to spray them with a textured spray to look a little more like stone. After 8 CANS of paint ($6 a can btw), they were finally covered enough to be usable (and they are a bit darker than I would have liked).
Things I've learned: next time just buy new pots.

Add that to the price of the flowers and foliage... again, for future reference...
just buy the entire planter at Costco.
Live and learn.

I'm feeling these pots still look a bit outdated,

but I'm giving myself a pat on the back for actually putting flowers in them this year. I think it's been about 5 years (or more) since I've tried make my front step more inviting and lovely. We ARE north facing, and get just a couple of hours of sun on the porch, so we'll see how these beauties fare.


The other project I've been working on...

I've decided to try and get rid of the old outdated orange oak cabinets that are all over my house. 
(I'll bet you're thinking that not only are they oak, they are the cheapest of the cheap oak cabinets... let it be known that I did not CHOOSE them. I have, however, loved my home. I've loved the layout, the neighbors, and especially the peeps that live and have lived here. I can live with cheap oak cabinets... and after over 14 years, can try to improve them. I don't think anyone will walk into my house and think, "A natural orange-y oak would look better." haha)

I'm starting small... to see if it's doable.
I've learned a lot on this little bathroom.

 What do you think??

I think it's awesome.
I bought knobs for the cabinets, but after realizing FOR THE FIRST TIME that this particular sink is off-center due to the asymmetrical shape of the counter, Bill and I decided the knobs would look a little funky.

(On a side note: once I get all the cabinets done on our main level, I hope to have the floors refinished. I'm considering a medium gray/brown stain... just to cover the blasted orange...)

Next up: the built-in in the family room (with plenty of room for those big box televisions...)
Yes, that's so 90's/Y2K, too.


I was asked to do a 10-minute cupcake class for a Relief Society activity.

I haven't made cupcakes for a long, long time, and, although I gave most of my day to baking and preparing, it may not have been my best work.
Things I've learned: next time just make the darn-good-chocolate cupcakes with the whipped cream cheese frosting. No need to make 3 different kinds of cupcakes with 3 different kinds of frosting. Stick to the basics that everybody loves.

That's it.
Life lately.

Have I mentioned that I'm quitting work? 
I am so so excited. Just have to make it through the next two weeks.