Winchester Cemetary

We loved the cemetary in Winchester.  Our last day there, we went for a stroll in the morning around the cemetary grounds.  It was foggy and cold, and suprisingly peaceful.  I think we could have stayed there for hours had I not been in flip flops in 36 degree weather.

(Paul found this headstone above, resident born in 1776)

really big tire on a really big truck

we watched The Raminator being loaded into it's trailer down the road from our house in KY.

pretty cool stuff! 

jackpot- three bags of garbage

I found three garbage bags full of d.i. clothes/sheets in my parents basement and garage.

Jackpot!  Shirts and sheets galore.

When i finished going through all the bags, I was on a retail high.

(and I laughed because I was so happy to go through someone else's garbage....and call it retail therapy!)

There were quite a few plaid-button-up-collared shirts, so I chopped one up from arm pit to arm pit and made Ellie a new skirt.

I want to make another one...it was THAT easy.

I stitched on a cute little doily that I got on etsy.com

And made a hair clip from the bottom buttons of the shirt.

improv - trash bag

no snow pants?  no problem.

the night before we left (big long sigh)

{Ellie hugging best friend Gabby w/ Emily watching along}

the night before we left, our garage door broke (top panel crumpled in)

the night before we left, our storm door fell flat on it's face (and went to storm door heaven)

the night before we left, our flights were changed, and changed, and changed (but we got to check all of our bags for free the next day)

the night before we left, we said goodbye to so many wonderful, amazing friends (and cried)

the night before we left, we asked our neighbors to behave so that someone would buy our house (and asked them to mow our lawn in the spring....we loved our neighbors)

the night before we left, we packed 5 large suitcases and 5 carry-ons (and a purse and a diaper bag, and a lightening mcqueen backpack)

the night before we left, we bid farewell to a place we loved (and reminisced all the good and all the bad times)

the night before we left, we slept in our first house for the last time (for only a few hours)

the night before we left, our lives would never be the same again.

Brownie Points

At FHE tonight:

Paul:  "Dallin, what are some things that are important to you?"

Dallin: 

"Some sings* important to me, when my Daddy hangs out with me........some sings important to me, I take care of Ellie......some sings important to me, I love you, Mom.  I love you.......some sings are important to me, I take care of Doh-doh!"


*speech problem that is too cute to correct.  okay, we are working on it.  but it is still cute!

bonita bonita chsnark

Tonight, a suprise party was held in my honor.

The young women were in charge of planning and carrying out the last activity before I left.

Little did I know.....

The "Australia Party" was indeed, in fact, the "Kristen Party".

Secret planning, balloons, streamers, potato chips, soda.  They even tried to secretly extract "my favorites" info out of me the week before with a silly little game that they just had to play.

I was gifted a special bracelet, a very sweet piano solo, cakes, brownies, a scarf, chocolate, and a tear jerking slideshow.  Everything was tear jerking!

Special memories and reasons to be and feel loved.

Special t-shirts worn.  (made last week w/ our initials backward - using freezer paper and spray paint..it means more than it looks)

I am going to miss this!  I will most likely be released on Sunday, although the bishop did mention that I could just webcam every Wednesday and then be flown out for girls camp in June. ;)

And you better believe that I will post loads and loads of pictures of all 8-10 (depending on the day) of my girls.  If I can remember where I put them all.  hmmm.....

I think this was the best way that I could have ever relived teenage years....through their eyes!  (heaven forbid I would have to relive my own!)

Bring on the tears!

i'm in love

{aug '08}

Then I saw their face(s), now I'm a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind.

I'm in love, I'm a believer!

I couldn't leave them if I tried.

this is a good kisser

scene:  Dallin eating a frozen gogurt, putting it on like chapstick

"Oh!  This is a good kisser!!  Woo-hoo lay-days*!"

*ladies

weather forecast

MEET THE METEOROLOGIST

{  hello.  my name is kristen.  i clean.  that is all i do.  because, if by some miracle someone wants to come through our house, and buy it, the house has to be clean.  hello.  my name is kristen.  i clean.  that is all i do.  deja vu.  all the time.  i fit in some snuggle time, too.}

---------------

with less attention paid on the kids and a precocious 2 year old, we have had horrible weather conditions inside.

(maybe Ellie is just in tune w/ the fact that we are trying to use up food that's already open, or closed, as not to waste things that we can't pack...maybe)

The Weather Report

a full box of potato flakes a blustery SNOW STORM!

an alternative to making snow angels

two seperate boxes of rice hail storms hit hard just the day before.

not to be out done by snow and hail, ripping out plugs and poking fingers in electrical outlets lightening has threatened a couple times, but thankfully, has been replaced with tears from running to grab little stinker while yelling DANGER! DANGER!  rain.
*this just in: reports of spraying Lysol all over her tummy misty fog in the area at noon.

Free Canvas Photo at Canvas People

Paul took this photo when we first moved to Kentucky.  We were still living in a hotel room, and had gone for a Sunday drive to kill time.  This was taken in an field full of rusty metal pipes and bright yellow sunflowers.

I have always wanted to make it into a large canvas photo.
It seems fitting, that as we approach our move date, I found this link to the Canvas People website. 
A free 8x10 canvas, or $55 off a bigger canvas.
I edited the photo to be black and white and ordered a 16x20.
(And shipped it to my parents house, so be on the lookout, please.)

 Go pick out your favorite photo and order one, too!

Drooling more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go here!  Go here!

http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/

THANKS for the link, Renee!  It's probably a good thing I am moving, or else I would be filling up my (now) empty garage with reclaimed wood!

Farmhouse Table

Along with this, someday I want a long skinny farmhouse table, made by Paul, in my kitchen.
You can find some of my drool here at houzz.

name that movie

****ding ding ding ding

we have a winner

Monsters vs. Aliens

"SUUUUSSAAANN! Ooh, I just scared myself! That is scary!' -B.O.B.

good job guys! 

and yes, Kodi, yes.

but I secretly like to put it back together in different color patterns, and play with the tracks, and get a little irritated when Dallin doesn't want me to play with it.....i really should get a life.

Christmas in KY 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.

I think that we all stayed in our pajamas for 36 straight hours.

HEAVEN!

Christmas Eve

Who needs Cafe Rio around the corner when you can make it at home??

say cheese!!!!

if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?!

Dallin doing his best to make snow and drive his father crazy (who hates styrofoam...hehehe)

We watched Joy to the World and talked about our Savior Jesus Christ.  Dallin was so cute to say that he loves Jesus.  We have felt His love this year, and are so grateful for His atonement!

This year, we started a couple new traditions.  Along with getting their sibling a regular present, each child picked out an ornament for them as well.  We opened them up on Christmas eve and hung them on the tree.  (Although, Ellie tried to rip hers apart before it made it to the tree.) 

We also decided that Christmas morning would be the day we marked our height on our new growth chart.  The kids loved this and I am excited to do this again for years to come.

We made sure to have a toast (w/ sparkling apple juice), just like Papa Steele does every year. 

Even though we didn't get to hear any of our parents/grandparents give their annual Christmas speeches, which we missed greatly, Paul gave a wonderful one!

We set out cookies and carrots, and Dallin reminded us to get the milk out, too.

Santa took the bait and left the kids a note to boot!

We were so blessed this Christmas and had a wonderful day watching the kids play with their toys.

Santa also brought something fun for Paul and I this year which has kept us Wii-ly entertained.

We also made sure to have ham and funeral potatoes just like the Duncan's.

Ate well

Played well

Loved well

Blessed well

ppppppfffffththththththt

;./.;./;.brain cells/./;./;.malfuctioning/./;,/;./.to.much.cleaning/./;,/./;,/.

{jars head}

/;./;./;./;think of something/;.;/..;/;.creative to say/./;././;.

{hits head}

/;./;.'/;./;.can't/.;/;./;.do/.;/;.it././;./.