Sentimental Value

I was thinking the other day that I wish my blog was more like the ones that didn't just post pictures with short little descriptions. I enjoy reading the blogs by people who can write about the normal mundane things we all do and make it enjoyable and funny. After writing this post, I realize that I am a multitasking, distracted, mother that gladly gets up to help her kids several times while trying to post on the blog. It would take an lot more effort and way too much time for someone with limited writing skills, like me, to make this sound interesting, let alone organized. So I apologize that this sounds like ramblings instead of a well thought out piece of work.

I have finally started to decorate my house the way I like it. When I was first married I thought we were too poor to decorate. HA! I didn't know what poor was. So, I always thought that decorating was a want and not a necessity. I still do to some extent. I refuse to pay money for things just because they look nice. I know I've said that more than once on here. I want my home to be filled with things that have meaning. When you're home is filled with hand-me-downs (other peoples junk), you don't really love being there. I know that sounds shallow, but it really is annoying for artistically minded people to live in a clashing environment. Lately, my moods seem to be more sensitive then normal and I find myself seeking calm and peaceful places. If this wasn't true, the temples would be simple buildings. So anyway, I've been trying to make our home environment a more homey and peaceful place that we love to be. We have no extra money for this. So, I started by getting sewing supplies from my mom and making nursing covers to sell on ebay. My plan was to do projects that would generate more and more money to keep me going on more projects. This was also fulfilling my need for creativity. I have thoroughly enjoyed this. It is so much cheaper and satisfying when you make things and redo furniture yourself. You get what you love without the hefty price tag. Those things have a lot more sentimental value to you as well. This is where my birthday and Christmas money go. Even Jared has gotten involved and contributed his gift money. Our home is sloooooooooowly evolving. I'm finally deciding what styles I like and don't like. I find myself drawn toward the antiqued-white, farmhouse style furniture. I love natural light. If it were up to me I would live in a house full of windows. In the little home we live in now, there is a serious lack of windows. I'm pretty sure I'm claustrophobic after living here, but don't get me wrong, I love this place for many reasons. We used have two really dark green old couches. I reupholstered one of them and although it didn't turn out like I thought it would, it changes the mood in the room to a more tolerable one. Some day, I may be brave enough to post a picture of it. As we were reupholstering it Kendi was mad. She talked about how she liked the dark green and she told us not to do it to the other one. For a moment, I wanted to do exactly what she wanted so she would feel better. But I knew that this is just a small change in relation to how life changes and it is something we all need to get used to coping with. I don't want to shelter her from lessons she will have to eventually learn anyway. To a three year old this was traumatizing. We gave away the other sofa that was in front of the window. I can't believe how much of a difference it made. I didn't realize how much light it was blocking and seemed to be absorbing. Our living room is a whole new place. I'm enjoying just sitting here watching the snow fall calmly outside the big window. I could never just sit here before. It always felt like it needed to be cleaner in here even when it wasn't messy. As my parents were driving off with the couch in the back of their truck, Kendi watched out the window. As I was thinking, "Good riddance," she sighed, "I'm really going to miss that thing."

Artwork for Sale

Checkout some really nice frames on Jared's Blog.

First Ballet Lesson

Believe it or not January is a crazy month for me business-wise. I'm looking forward to things slowing down in February. I hope I have all my Christmas decor put away before valentines.

Usually Kendi and Aydri bathe together, but for some reason I wasn't going to put Aydri in. She kept putting her leg up like she was going to climb in herself. My camera battery was dying so it wouldn't take the picture fast enough to get her leg, but it was funny anyway.
Kendi got a tea set from Gma and Gpa "D" for Christmas. We have tea parties everyday.

Kendi is such a big helper and Aydri absolutely loves to have her attention.

Kendi went to her first ballet lesson today. Some of us moms in the neighborhood got together with our kids to form a class. A couple of the mom's dance and teach and they are so cute with the kids. Kendi had so much fun and did very well. They traced their feet in first position.

This little girl loved Kendi's necklace so much she wouldn't leave her alone. Kendi finally took it off and brought it to me.

Here is Kendi's little friend, Emma. They are in sunbeams together. Aren't they cute?

So adorable. We're going to try to put together a little dance outfit for Kendi. Any suggestions are welcome. I don't know much about Ballet.

Much of December

I decided that I better post about December because I know that I will want to come back and read it someday. As I'm sure it is for most families December is a crazy month for us. Next year I would rather have November be the crazy month and enjoy the Christmas Season more.

I was trying to get a picture of both of the girls. Aydri wanted a closer look at the camera and Kendi wasn't done yet. Kendi not only dresses herself these days, she also likes to put clothes on Aydri as well. For some reason Kendi likes winter clothes in the summer and summer clothes in the winter.
A memory I have of my childhood is that every Saturday night we would take bathes and have our hair put in sponge rollers. We would dry our hair by sitting by the fireplace while the other sisters were getting their hair done. We would watch the Lawernce Welk Show on tv. Kendi loves digging out my moms gigantic stash of curlers and having her hair curled. Another funny thing is that my mom always has frozen yogurt in her freezer just for Kendi. Kendi calls it "sucky yogurt."

Sweet Aunt Cari was nice enough to wait in line for Santa with Kendi.

This is the first year that Kendi hasn't been terrified of Santa. She asked him for a Scooter and a Barbie with sleeves and shoes.

Here is Jared and Aydri watching the BYU game. She zonked.

Kendi and Aydri play together all the time now.

I've been trying to figure out how to take better pictures with my camera so that I don't have to photoshop so much. Lazy, I know. I got bunch of cute shots in the process.

Kendi got to decorate my mom's tree on Christmas Eve. A tradition that my dad's family has every Christmas Eve is dinner at my parents house. This year was bittersweet. Last year, we kind of knew that it might by my Aunt's last Christmas, but we were not expecting my 14 year old cousin, Shawn, to not be with us anymore either. I have a lot of cousins his age so it's easy to think about how he wasn't there. His little brother had asked if Shawn was coming back and they had told him that he was. Then he asked if he would be here before it snowed because Shawn had promised to teach him to snowboard. Sad, huh.

This was the first year since I've been married that my whole family has been together on Christmas morning. Everyone had arrived on Christmas Eve. We did the dinner, worked on a couple puzzles and Jared and Adrian stayed up all night playing computer games. Kendi had a hard time getting to sleep and I was struggling to stay awake to make sure Santa came.

Aydri enjoyed the boxes more than anything. Jared got me a paint sprayer because I have so many "projects" that I want to paint. This will be really fun.

Here is Christmas from Gpa Darryl, of coarse.

Cari got some presents from Chad that were wrapped in "Redneck Wrapping Paper" and "Hillbilly Deluxe." Very funny, Chad!

Kendi couldn't wait to dress up in her Princess Dresses and ride her Scooter.

Aydri is going to be a climber, something I never had to worry about with Kendi. Funny how different kids can be.