Backyard Demo

So we have a family of pyromaniacs!

We began the clearing of the acre backyard by cutting down the scrub trees and bushes.  Piled high with clipping from the front yard, including two good sized pine trees that were poorly planted, we set to burning it all the last official burn day for our area.

Glen used his chain saw, the kids hauled, and I added to the pile and played fire fighter by keeping it under control with the water hose.

Of course if I didn't keep a close eye on the crazy man he would keeping adding brush until I feared we would melt our neighbors fence.  Add to the blaze our crazy wind and you have an insane adrenaline high!

After the madness we hired someone to clear the grass and nonburnable junk, then level the land.

Now we have a clean slate!  The fence comes this week, then some concrete work.  My favorite, the orchard and garden area.  That and some additional trees around the perimeter will about cover this years projects!

Fun, fun!  The good times just keep on rolling!  If anyone has the desire to dig some holes, feel free to volunteer here!

Busy Days!

First we spotlight child #3 waiting for a crucial pass to make the play of the game!  January and February are basketball season here and lots of fun!

In February we shared a little love on Valentine's day with a meal together.  No reason the kids can't enjoy a little romantic candlelight, although the candy heart decorations were their favorites!

In March we celebrate one of our favorites holidays, even though it offends half the extended family.  We mean no harm, we just like to wear green and think of the Happy Leprechauns!

There is always the special plate of cookies!  The heart is for my one true love and the rest are shared.  There is a story here but I'll save it for another year...

Child #1 has added Track & Field to his list of athletic challenges and does quite well!  This was his first meet where his parents, siblings, and grandparents braved the frigid temperatures to cheer him on.  He competes in the 800 meter, 1600 meter, 4x400 meter relay, and long jump.

Child #4 has become the ballerina she has been dreaming of since the image first came to her.  She attends a darling class of girls age four to five that giggle and twirl with pure joy.

Does it get any cuter?!

The children continue to grow and change, and we try to keep up!

Furniture: New & Reinvented

The boys beds reinvented! 

They had bunkbeds before but due to the ceiling fan in their new room the modification to two beds was required and a new color was fun.

What Bailey is guarding here so dilligently is our master closet...okay so it doesn't look like much yet, but it will!

Working Hard!

 

First piece....and then,Ta Da!  An amazing closet.  Now to see if we can keep it organized with actual clothes!

 We found this beauty at a consignment shop.  It is called a "NoodleTable" and old or just made to look it, either way I love it!  It looks much better in person, now it just needs some other furniture and accessories to keep it company.

And Today....I finally got my Birthday/Valentine's Day present!

Yay...a real bed, I feel so grown up!  Now I need fun linens, the projects just keep coming!

Well that's a bit of what we have been up to..more to come!

Welcome Back in 2010

Due to life and numerous technological hiccups I have neglected my blog, but I'm back!

I hope everyones holidays were filled with fun times and special quiet moments.

Before the Christmas break we attended school performances for three children including singing, acting, and a combination of both.

We purchased a new 9 ft. Christmas tree for my "Christmas Tree" window

and decorated it for the animals to enjoy.

Of course I can't be left in peace to take my photos too long before the wild ones come looking!

For Christmas this year we headed to the Great White North and/or Santa's homeand/or Winter Wonderland, otherwise know as Canada.  The grandparents have sold their home and will be heading out on a mission so we went to see them off. Of course sledding, indoor wave pools, a pantry full of chocolate, and cousins had something to do with it as well!

Sledding!!!!

Our little cousin sure knows how to have fun both ways!

Our son being the oldest of all the cousins, he spends a lot of time helping out

the younger folks, and he likes it!

Taking a ride with Glen is always an adventure!

We went sledding everyday, drank lots of hot cocoa, played games,

and found a quiet moment here and there.

On December 22nd Glen and I celebrated 14 years of marriage.  We discussed going out to dinner at a local point of interest, The Calgary Tower.  We did just that and had a wonderful dinner while spinning 360 degrees (very slowly) with a clear view of a Calgary.  Then to my surprize my clever husband wisked me away to the beautiful hotel just down the street!  A wonderful anniversary memory!

Before the Christmas rush we had a special visitor.

On Christmas Eve we followed the McBride family traditions of freezing at the Nativity Pagent, reading the story of Our Savior's birth from the bible, and opening a present of new pajamas.  The next moring the youngest children awoke first and we all soon followed.

With the presents all opened and our time almost gone we played more games, called

family members abroad, and enjoyed our new treats.

Summary:

Calgary was cold, but beautiful.  Our drive was long, but smooth. 

The holiday was over in a flash, but enjoyed!

Happy Halloween!

The 2009 Theme: BYU!

The oldest represents the crazy BYU fan!

Next we have our Cheerleader!

Followed by an impressive football player!

And last, but never least, our Cougar!

Each year our family picks a theme and designate whom will represent each character. This year was easy as we all love to support our favorite college, Brigham Young University! Being close to campus provides for many fun experiences and good times!

Discussion has already begun on next years theme, will it be cowboys and Indians, medieval royalty, endangered animals or something beyond our imaginations as of yet? You'll just have to check back next year!

Finally... Moving Day!

We know the people in our new neighborhood were excited for our long awaited arrival ( because the house had been vacant for years and they were eager to have someone caring for it), almost as excited as our old neighbor hood was to see us make good on our promise to leave. Hee, Hee. I'm sure a couple of people will miss us, but we were ready to live in one house, not two.

We had excellent help from family and friends moving the big stuff and continue to make trips back and forth for the small stuff. Our home is still in a state of disarray while we wait for mom to paint dressers, organize and construct a new master closet and fill in missing furnishing, but it is fun to be home!

Besides, the cats don't seem to notice the lack of traditional furniture, Glen works just fine!

Thank you to all of those wonderful people out there that have helped to make this possible!

What's Been keeping us Busy...

We have been making progress, though I have failed to take many pictures. When we returned from Florida we had a new stair rail, which has been sealed, but awaits stain and it's final coat.

We have painted all the upstairs bedrooms, bathrooms, and hall, plus the family room, office, and kitchen on the main floor. Only the formal living room and old dining room remain of the main living area, plus the laundry room and bonus area, but we can live with the ugly brown there for a time.
The hardwood floors have been stripped, added to, and re stained a darker color. They wait for their last two layers to be completed. That project sure did make a world of difference!

We haven't had television for five months, but with General Conference being broadcast we needed it back. There are two weekends a year with the perk of going to church in your jammies, we had to do it!

After conference my good friend and talented designer, Sonja came for a visit. We planned out the new furniture arrangement for my front rooms. It looks like a furniture crime scene!

We are still working, nut we have almost completed phase 1.75!

Random fun times!

School started, the renovation continues, life goes on, what a blessing it is to through some good old fun in there too!

One of the first Mondays back to school we took advantage of our "early-out"days and went tubing and water skiing with friends. They were kind enough to invite our family out for some cold, wet, entertainment. The best part was the kids getting cold and wet for the parents entertainment!

A little Ward girls night out! We made these lovely hats, ate delicious food, and played silly games divulging the mysterious contents of our purses for prizes. Such a fun mom and daughter bonding experience!

Back to School

Okay, so school started in August and I'm blogging in October, but at least I took the pictures on the actual first days of school! I did say days because we had three official first days of school this year, starting with Mr. Junior High! He is the first off everyday with an 8:15am start time plus the lovely 15 minute carpool since we haven't moved yet. So far, so good! The the next two set off the next day to their new elementary. The girl child put up a real ruckus about leaving behind her friends but seems to be settling in well. It is a beautiful new school with enthusiastic teachers!

Finally, a week later, the last one was off! My baby off to kindergarten, wow! Her new school has a special entrance, bathroom and play yard just for the kindergartners. She loves it. The best part is Thursdays when their 3rd grade buddies come in for stories and activities, she is lucky enough to have her brother for a buddy! They both think that is pretty neat!

The results of her first day at school...she put herself to bed.

Two new school, three different schedules, but lots of fun and blessings!