One room makeover

Since November, when we had to get my daughter a new bed, we've been planning to paint her room and redo some things. Then easily enough she got many items for Christmas to help make that possible.

Sidney picked out the color of paint to go in her room and with just a little bit of suggestions from me she even decided how it should be painted on the wall. I completely emptied her room of furtniture before I painted and decided that some of her inexpensive, but still useful furniture just need a little "make-up", so it got spray-painted dark brown. Her furniture was rearranged and we'll see if it stays put.

I've tried to put in order the transformation of how her room took its evolution. Enjoy!




I guess my little girl has grown out of the "pink" phase.












The circles on the wall are vinyl stickers, easy peasy.

Now, my son is asking when he turns 10, can his room get a makeover? Phew, that gives me some time.

Synchronized swimming

I am posting this quite a bit late, but I've wanted to see if I could post movies from our flip video to blogger. Cross your fingers because this is going on almost the second hour...



If you know anything about synchronized swimming, you will recognize the dolphin, sommersault back tuck, ballet leg single and a shrimp. If you know nothing about synchro, don't worry, it's a world unto itself. Just like how ice skating has figures, so does synchronized swimming. These swimmers compete with others in their age group and level of ability. Sidney has competed in the City's summer synchro program, but this was her first time competing on a team. She got to compete at the novice range since this was her first competition, but her coaches told her she would have to start competing the next time at the intermediate level. Anyhoo, she finished 3rd in her age group at the novice level, and we couldn't be happier.

Now she is learning a team routine and will shortly learn a trio or duet routine for future competitions. That's the fun stuff! Colorful suits and hairpieces. Good stuff. Hopefully I'll remember to post those videos sooner after the event.

Favorites of Last year

Here are just some of my favorite pictures from this last year.  And it's not that the pictures are that great, but the memories that go with them are some of my favorite.  So I guess I should actually say here are some of my favorite moments captured on film.  They are not in any particular order.  Just random....like Life.

Our family loves to play games, it's good bonding time.

Our family worked together on our first garden and amazingly, we all loved it.  So much that we decide to make the next one bigger.

My sister and her husband came to Sidney's 10th birthday party, we all had a blast!

Hayden took this awesome picture in the garden!

John and I in front of one of my favorite temples, Mt Timpanogos.  LOVE the tulips on the grounds.  So glad John's brother got married there.

We reaped these veggies from the garden, they were so yummy!

Love some cousin playing time!!!!

Schwan's mint flavored chocolate cones, a new family addiction.  (I'm drooling just thinking about them!)

The beach in Cabo, we couldn't swim there, too dangerous.  Loved snorkeling at a beach farther away and the beautiful resort there.

My sister came to visit in the Spring, so glad we got to spend time together!

Sidney was her team's volleyball star.  Girl after my own heart!

My two oldest brothers and my mom on Christmas Day.  Feeling blest.

Our game playing gets invaded by yummy mint flavored candy.

The last time I got to see my sister in person.  Miss her.

Face time with the kids.  Gosh, they are such good kids!

Me and the honey.  It's probably just me, but he is getting funnier the older we get, and he was pretty funny when we met. 

What a full year!  And looking forward to having more of ....Life.  Bring it all on!!!