Back from the dead.

So we have had some major computer issues lately :(

I have not been able to upload ANY pictures from my camera and I have had to try to get thousands of pictures off Ike's work computer and onto internet photo storage sites. It has been a horrible process. Long story short, I haven't posted in a while and there is a lot of stuff that I am not going to get to talk about. Oh well. I am starting fresh. I'm not going to back track and talk about my summer. So pretty much we are going to pick up in the here and now. My parents were in town last weekend and we went to the BYU/NEBRASKA game! It was really awesome. Joanna and Katherine stayed with us for a few days after and that was really awesome too. Today is the first Saturday we have had since early July where we were not on vacation, didn't have visitors and don't have to go anywhere. I am pumped!!! So here are some pics of my parents trip to the good ol' state of Nebraska!

It was an awesome game!

Crafty C-A-R-R

I've been a craftin' lately. Kind of cross stitched out right now so I decided to try my hand at some other things. We had pizza the other night and I decided to make some big letters for our living room. I have been thinking about doing something like this for a while but I figured I would just buy the letters. Anyway, here is a (not so great) tutorial on how to make giant letters:


I started by cutting out my letters from the pizza boxes. You need two identical cardboard letters for each big letter you want to make.

d

Then I glued 1" tall (varying widths) pieces of cardboard all the way around one of the pieces from each letter.

Then I glued the top part to each one. Making a thick letter.

I then cut several strips of 1" wide fabric and wrapped each letter. I didn't have to use very much hot glue in this step. I pretty much only hot glued when I had to start a new fabric strip.

I really am sorry these pictures are a little fuzzy. My camera really struggles with indoor pictures.

And there you have it! All done!

Ike's Adventure

Ike went to Youth Conference this week in Kansas City, MO. He had an AMAZING time!!! He got to see tons of cool church history sights and he said the best part was that he was able to work in the temple for 8 HOURS!!! He didn't take my camera with him but luckily, the youth in our Branch were nice and took some great pictures and video of him.

In case some of you didn't know, Ike is a very good dancer. But his blessing of being a sweet dancer is sometimes a curse, because sometimes, when certain songs come on, he cannot control his dancing urge and he just has to bust a move...

 

Independence Day!

We had a really nice July 4th this year. Central City had a lot of cool family things to do.
We went to the Teddy Bear Parade in the morning. This is a kid's parade where kids line up with their teddy bears and march around the block. It was really cute and at the end all the kids got ice cream and balloons. When we got there all the kids got cowboy hats too. Jackson wore his all day. Brady won a giant bear in the raffle. 

Ike and Jackson walking in the Teddy Bear parade!

 Me holding Brady because he refused to walk.

 Jackson and THE TEDDY BEAR!

 Enjoying some ice creams compliments of Dairy Queen!

 Brady won a bear that was bigger than him.

Next we moved on to the petting zoo at the park. By this point Brady was not really into the whole "having to walk around town" and eventually he pooped his pants and Ike took him  home.
Jackson enjoyed some quality time with some goats.

 He was really fascinated by the turtles even though they were neither teenage nor mutant jinjas.

 He was very brave and decided he wanted to ride the horse! He went all the way down this little path and back with them. I was really actually surprised he wasn't scared.

After the petting zoo we went home and had lunch then the boys took a nap and we killed time until the parade.

After the parade we threw about a thousand off our front steps. Brady (who was in a better mood by this point) was really into them. Then we let our kids stay up until 10pm so they could watch all the fireworks and I have to say, for a small town there were some awesome ones. Overall it was a great 4th of July.

Workin' hard or hardly workin'?

Ok first...I have kind of a confession. Not really anything bad, just a little old lady-ish. So here it is: I am a closet cross stitcher. Yes. I cross stitch. I really like it. No, I love it. In fact, I think about it all the time. I look up funny things to cross stitch on Pinterest. Every time I hear an inspiring quote, I think about putting it into a cross stitch. HELP ME!!!!! I can't stop. So anyway. I finally did a cross stitch of Ike and I. I have been wanting to do one forever to put on the mantel and I finally did.

Aren't we cute?!?!?!? I am really into doing couple and family pictures recently. I am working on a few for Christmas.
This is one I did for my sister and her husband for last Christmas:

                                            
 On a side note, this is another project I have been working on. I have had this old dresser in my garage for a while and was even, at one point, thinking about throwing it away. But I had a vision and I decided to go for it!

 It was in pretty bad shape. Especially the top.

 But now it is  beautiful!!!! I painted it with some sky blue paint the previous owners left. I also spray painted the hardware a nice shiny black. I absolutely love it.

Right now it lives at the bottom of the stairs in our entryway but it might movie it to a new spot eventually. I will take some more pictures in the next day or two when I have some good lighting. The entryway has bad lighting most of the day so even in this picture it is kind of grainy.

Anyway, between insane amounts of yard work (that is another post) and taking care of all my boys (Ike included) I have had a very busy summer so far.




PS: Pretty sure I am making this at some point.

Father Son Time

Ike is a great dad. Like really great.  He is a better dad than I am a mom. In fact, Ike is pretty much the most amazing husband and father ever. Here is why is he so awesome. In the summer, when I want to do the yard work and go do things by myself, Ike transfers into mom mode. He makes breakfast for the kids, gets them dressed, helps them do their chores and pretty much does everything around the house for me. I was gone from 6:50am to 5pm on Saturday.  I was helping my friend with her yard sale then drove to Fullerton to help a girl sew her own homecoming dress. When I got home Ike was making dinner and had done all the laundry.  He is just really amazing at letting me do my own thing and he is completely willing to step up and do (all) the housework for me. He is awesome.


Anyway, this post is actually about the Father Son Camp-out but I got side tracked there for a minute. Anyway, about two weeks ago Ike and the boys went on the father son camp out together and had a blast.  Warning. These pics are not great and some may have actually been taken by Jackson.

 I don't know if these next few were taken with a self timer or what but obviously, one of my children did not want to stand still for a photo...

Happy Birthday Brady!

 Brady had an awesome birthday today! We celebrated with a dinner of Mac and Cheese and hot dogs. He specifically asked for a Thomas Cake and luckily, we had enough random Thomas toys laying around that I didn't need to try and draw one or anything.

I really can't believe how fast time has gone by with these kids.