Highchair Makeover

I bought this highchair at a yard sale for $2 or $3, I can't remember for sure.  The wood matched perfectly with our table and chairs and I had in mind to give it a little makeover.

Here is the before:

Kind of gross looking!

Here is the after:

Lacey loves it!  There is a tray that goes on it and she will sit in that chair for a good 30 minutes or so while I'm making dinner and then continue to stay there while we eat.  It has been one of the best purchases!  Red is one of my favorite colors and it goes perfectly with my kitchen!

Jared's Graduation

My youngest brother, Jared, graduated from high school in May.  It was a pretty long graduation.  Especially when you are trying to entertain so many young ones!  Here are just a few pictures of the night...

Bobcat!

Calvin received his Bobcat a few months ago.  He was so excited to get his award and now he is even more excited to get started on all his other achievements!

Kindergarten Graduation

Ashton graduated from Kindergarten!  He had the best year!  Mrs. Adolph was a great teacher and did a fantastic job!  She always commented that he was well-behaved and had great manners.  He would always complete his math papers so fast!  I call him my mental math boy.  We are so proud of him!

The Peg Board

Caleb and Carson recently "graduated" from their elementary school and moved on to Middle School.  Before the end of the year, all the students in their grade were challenged to climb the peg board to the top.  A hard challenge, I know!  Only five students from the whole school did it!  Caleb and Carson being two of them!  What an accomplishment!  We are so proud of them!

Calvin's Birthday

Calvin turned 8 in May.  I know that I'm a little behind in posting, but that's life I guess.

All Calvin wanted for his birthday was a pair of boots.  He was so excited when he opened them.  He loves wearing his boots, almost every day!  

When I asked him what he wanted for a cake, he decided that he wanted lemon truffles.  He heard me talk about them before and they are fun and easy to make.  Calvin wanted to help make them, so we made a lemon cake,  baked it and then crumbled into the mixer and mixed it up with the frosting.  We rolled them into balls, froze them and then dipped them into white chocolate.  It was a little time consuming, but we had fun!

We love Calvin!  He is very talented!  Loves to play the piano and recently started on the viola (upon his request).  He collects many things and loves to draw!  He is a great son and brother!

Fun weekend

Lacey-13 months

I'm trying to catch up on all of my pictures.

This is one that I found of Lacey when all the boys went on a Fathers and Sons Outing.  So it was just Lacey and I.  We went to my Grandma Bears house with all of my Aunts and cousins that could go.  We had dinner, went to a movie, had a slumber party, made quilts, painted toenails and fingernails, went on a little hike, ate yummy food and went swimming.  We all had a lot of fun!  The boys had fun too.

This all happened our Anniversary.  Can you believe that it's been 11 years!?  Crazy!  We've enjoyed everyday, with many more to come.

Lucky

There are those days that you just feel lucky and then there are those days that you are lucky!  I just had one of those lucky days! 

I just won $50 worth of product from Banner Boutique.  I entered a contest  here and I won!  Yea!

So go and check out http://2momstalk.blogspot.com/  They are always having fun giveaways!  They are from the makers of Cutest Blog on the Block.  They are super nice ladies that live in my neighborhood! 

Motherhood

I love being a mother.  I know how hard it can be at times, but it's all those "other times" that make it so rewarding.  Here are a few of my favorite times...

I love how my boys give me a hug as they walk out the door and tell me that they love me as they go to school. 

I love how they get excited as I read to them at night.

I love how they jump up and down when I unintentionally make their favorite meal.

I love listening to them practice their piano, violin and cello.  

 I love listening to them play nicely together.

I love how they help each other when they know that someone needs help.

I love having movie night with them and that they actually want me to stay and watch it with them.

I love listening to them tell me of their latest accomplishment.

I love rocking my babies to sleep.

I love it when they wake up smiling and happy to see me.

I love teaching them something new and seeing that light sparkle in their eyes when they realize that they understand it.

I love how much they love their dad and how much they miss him when he gone.

I love listening to them talk about when they get older and the goals they want to accomplish.

I love it when they get their chores done without me asking.

I love watching them grow each day, even though at times I want the time to stand still.

I love it when they want to mow the neighbors yard just because they see that it needs to be done and they don't expect anything in return.

I love walking into their rooms early in the morning or late at night and seeing them kneel by their bedside saying their prayers or reading their scriptures.

I love watching them sleep when the long day is done and they look so content and angelic.

I know that the list can go on and on, but it is the simple things everyday that may go unnoticed that makes me happy that I am a mother.

Gila River

A few months ago, after we went to the Gila Valley Temple Open House.  We stopped by Uncle James and Aunt Larissa's  (my brother) house in Safford.  They have a really nice place and it is close to the River.  So we drove down to it.  There is something neat that boys find with rocks, sticks, frogs and water.  All the boys, including the grown ups ones loved throwing rocks and sticks and catching frogs.  James even threw his dog, Dally, in!  Larissa and I just stood back and laughed at how much fun they were all having.  We don't need much to keep these kiddos occupied!

Calvin searched and searched for that frog!

Carson and Caleb loved having contests to see who could skip the rocks the furthest.

Calvin finally caught that poor frog!

Lovin the rocks and water!

Apparently, Devin dressed himself, but he still looks cute!

I don't know if James had more fun or all the boys...

The Gila Valley Temple

We took a quick trip and went to the Gila Valley Temple Open House.  The boys all loved it!  It is definitely a beautiful temple!  Here are a few pictures we took.  We took more of the boys, but they didn't turn out very good.  I think they were trying to fly or something in the pictures!  Boys will be boys...

Calvin-all grown up

Calvin was recently baptized.  Here are a few pictures taken before the big day.  I can't believe how big he is.  He is such a good boy and so helpful.  Everyone loves Calvin!