There is Beauty All Around

...when there's love at home.

The boys and I sat on the front porch to watch the rain. I love watching the rain with them.

These little moments are important, says me. Especially when our house is torn up and nothing is where it should be. But we are on our way to a kitchen! Behold! The paint color!

It's called 'Grape Leaves', but does that color look like grape leaves to you? It's more of an...avocado mint, or something (which in reality would be nasty, but in a paint color it's divine). When I put on the first coat I was pretty scared, it was so lime-y and bright. "We've made a horrible error!". It changes intensity during the day, being pretty bright and 'Granny Smith Apple' in the morning, drab olive when it's cloudy, ripe avocado in the evening.

It looks so crisp, I love it. And it looks like a room!

We are putting together some cabinets (!), finished the drywall in the living room that needs to be mudded and taped...it's actually coming together, we're getting our home back.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

What am I loving?

These boots. Don't get mad.

I know. Cowboy boots. Rootie, tootie, aim-n-shootie, get along lil' doggies, cowboys boots. I am sorry, but I dig 'em. I mean, with a skirt? In the Fall? I'm a fan, ya hear?

BK Update

We have had some time to work on the kitchen this past week and we've been making it count! We also cleaned out the garage, took a load of sheet rock and kitchen debris to the dump and worked in the yard. I love it when we can get so much done! I want to ride this wave for a while, goodness knows we have a lot to tackle.

After we had textured the ceiling and were getting ready to prime everything, we noticed some hairline cracks along some of the seams of the drywall. UGH. We repaired 4 of them on the ceiling (by 'we' I mean mostly Cody) only to discover 3 more on the wall. UGH. Cody took care of those quick, even though it felt like the mud was taking longer to dry the second time around. We finally got everything plumb and put some primer on the walls and the ceiling. It was so weird, it actually looked like a room. It's like we could finally see the whole space.

I'm getting so excited!! It's really coming together! Cody finished up some wiring and hopefully this week we'll finish up the drywall in the living room. Today however, I'm working on getting this on the kitchen walls.

Fish Lake

Last week we met up with Cody's parents to spend a few days at Fish Lake. It was SO much fun! They have a sweet trailer which has now ruined me for camping forever. Not that I was ever primed for camping, but that dreamy trailer cinched it - no more tents. We found a cherry spot and set up...trailer.

Cole LOVES 4-wheelers. If he heard one start up he would start running and panting, desperate for a ride. Before dinner, Gary and Cody took the boys on a quick run.

How handsome is my family?

We had a delish dinner (Kathy fed us so well) and watched a few movies. The next day we loaded up the 4-wheelers to ride some trails.
Gary was very patient with me while I tried to master the skill of 4-wheeling...now I'm awesome at it. Meh, sort of. It's so pretty up there, I took so many pictures and we saw some amazing things!

Stopping at a high overlook for some snacks (or, as my sister-in-law Jess would say, "Sneeyacks!").

On the way back we ran into some hail and rain, but what kind of master 4-wheeler would I be if I let that stop me? Look at those dark clouds!

We got back just before a huge thunderstorm hit. Kathy and I kicked back to watch a few movies while the boys went shooting. After dinner we built a fire and roasted some marshmallows. The sunset was beautiful.

Gary and Cole were sporting matching hairstyles after the rain...

The next morning we started out on the 4-wheelers again and hit some more trails. The boys loved riding and Cache even drove for a while. Cole drove, too, if you count him grabbing the throttle and pressing it all the way down. Good times.

The trip ended too early and we were sad to leave. We're hoping to go back next month and see Fish Lake in the Fall. I love Cody's parents, it was so awesome to spend that time with them and my little family. Maybe next time we go back, we'll actually fish!

Amber Sky

It's August! What the what? Where is my Summer going? We were quite busy this weekend with fun goings on...

CrossFit Kids! Cody has started training kids at his gym. It was so cute seeing all the kids get into it, Cache and Cole loved it. The class is only 30 minutes or so - get your little ones signed up! (click on the link on my sidebar).

Friday we hung out with Marc and Jessica which is always a good time. Love them. We had dinner and did a bit of shopping before going to see '110 In The Shade' at the Hale. I knew nothing about this show - not the story or the music, but it was SO good. If you haven't seen it yet, go!

Saturday I was a judge for the Miss American Fork Pageant. That marked the second pageant-affiliated event I have been to this year and I'm still curious as to why I'm asked. Don't get me wrong, I have a blast doing it and I get to meet some great people, but I don't have a pageant past. The other judges have judged like 5-10 pageants and were old pros. Me? No clue. Nevertheless, it was a good time and the cutest of girls won - she was fantastic. I was told that I would be used as a judge again...so I better amp up my supply of evening wear.

The sunset last night was amazing. Did you see it? Cody and I were outside just staring at the sky with our mouths open. I can't even explain the light...everything was gold and yellow...almost like we were in a tent, does that make sense? It was like a Maxfield Parrish painting. I took loads of pictures but none of them really captured the light. It was beautiful - a gorgeous August sunset.

This week? Well, this week holds lots of goings on, too. We are still working on the kitchen and have some fun family things planned...got to squeeze it all in before Summer leaves!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

What am I loving?

Colored glassware.

A very broad love. I am SO loving milky glass...in a light, sky blue color. Could you die? It's so pretty!

And Depression glass, those beautiful pieces from the 40's that are super detailed in a soft, pretty color...be still my yet-to-be-hooked-up-kitchen-sink.

A Pink Smeg Refridgerator.

What, like you're surprised? How lovely is this! Trust me - I have searched for a reason to justify this rosy purchase and I've come up empty-handed. Where would I display such a treasure? Other than my art room, I can't think of a place...but I do get thirsty when I am creating things and this would be perfect to house cool beverages. Did I mention in comes in a plethora of colors? Orange, mint green, blue, red...

These little owl bookends.

I am in love with them. I may not even use them for bookends, I may place one my piano to keep and eye on things and one in my art room to...keep an eye on things.

Oh..I also love that Halloween is only three months away!! Shh!

BK Update

It's been forever since I've posted our kitchen progress!...due in large part to the fact that progress is slow. Summer is crazy, friends. We simply can't get enough of this gorgeous weather and family vacations. Blast this Summer fun! It's all too tempting! Away with excuses, here's what we've been up to...

Our ceiling! Our ceiling is taped and mudded and textured...isn't she pretty?

The sheetrock in the kitchen is done. I did the first round of taping and mudding...not my favorite.

Construction is a beautiful thing. 10 points to who spots the Hot Wheels Car! My poor children...

Who's a pretty pony wall!

I am currently shirking my kitchen responsibilities while Cody is in the kitchen right now working on final mud and sanding and texturing our walls... I need to get back. Our plans are to prime and do some painting this week! I hope Summer fun stops interfering.