A Room for Champions

Most of you probably don't know that I like to pretend I'm an artist and do a little painting now and again. But some do and have been asking when I was going to get around to posting pictures of my newest project. Especially since I have had a side bar list of "Things I Love" on my blog for the past year and a half with the statement "-painting murals, newest one coming soon". Not too "soon", but better late than never. This hasn't been my only project, but it is the most recent. With limited space and a new baby boy due in a short while, we have been switching around sleeping arrangements. Our playroom now has more purpose (as it is Cade and Ty's bedroom as well) and it also got this football stadium face-lift to make the transition all the more fun. The room already had different blocked out areas, so this back block became the beds/desk space. The desk cabinet is made of 2 throw-out filing cabinets that I spraypainted and the desk top is a solid core door turned on it's side. Bart secured it all together and bracketed it to the wall, I threw in a couple IKEA chairs and lamps - and Wha...la!

A view of each of their "sides" - I'm sure I'll walk in some day to see a chalk line down the middle of the room where each other is not allowed to cross!

Close-up of the crowd (yes, it took a while. Especially since I only get a chance to work on it an hour or two at time.) The black areas of the scoreboard are chalkboard paint, so the boys can easily change it when they like.

There's still an area for the "upstairs toys", a long hall way perfect for practicting jump shots and field goals, and their new make-shift closet area thats awaiting some finishing touches.

Well, the crowd painted on the wall may be cheering, but what do you think? Really, it was a lot of fun to do and the boys think it's great - so, I guess that makes it a score for the home team!

Here's a few quick shots (might I add, very unprofessional shots - I'm more of a painter than a photographer, that's for sure) of the "locker room"(bathroom) that I did a long time ago.




As you can see, it's still not finished. Poor Cole, his locker is going to be soccer gear. I guess it's a good thing after all since I have to figure out how I'm going to add a 5th locker now anyways!

I promise these are the only rooms in my house done in sports! But when you have a house full of boys, it just works.

Everyone Needs a Get-A-Way

It's true - It really doesn't matter when or where, sometimes you just need a Get-A-Way. And for Bart and I this past weekend, our old stomping grounds of college years in Provo, Utah did the trick. While far from exotic or original, we had a wonderful time visiting family, old friends and fond, familiar memories. With our 10 year anniversary just a couple of months away - and Provo being the place that Bart and I started this wild ride togheter - it seemed all the more fitting. It always takes a little juggling to leave the kids, but with Bart's truly wonderful parents who came all the way from Florida to stay with our kids for part of the time, and my amazing and always willing parents who handled the 2nd half - we went "kidless".
Being in an airport and on a flight without packing and hauling 4 energetic boys was relaxing enough, I could have called it a "vacation" right there. Good meals out, always leaving room for dessert, watching movies, & shopping for unessentials were just the icing on the cake! My sister and her husband let us stay with them in their darling college condo, which is always a blast. We also fit in time to visit old friends, catch a BYU basketball game, meander through the bookstore, and reminisce about how simple life was 10 years ago. One of our favorite memory-lane experiences was going with my sister and her hubby to church on Sunday in the exact same builing and BYU Married Student Ward we attended while finishing up school. Bart and I kept asking ourselves - "where did the time go?" While Bart guest lectured at BYU, and then had a business meeting, I finished the trip by enjoying the last day revisiting the amazing sites of Temple Square in Salt Lake.
We had so much fun and enjoyed ourselves so much, I forgot to take my camera out of my purse! But even without pictures to prove it, it was a great weekend. Everything a Get-A-Way needs to be. Now I just need to know...

When is the next Get-A-Way I can start looking forward to?!

New Years at Black Butte

After making it through the busy time of year, and feeling snowed-in for much of the Christmas break, we decided to slip in a little family get-away for the New Years holiday. We loaded up and headed through the snow to one of our favorite places in all the world - my parent's house at Black Butte Ranch.

Most of the weekend was spent RELAXING. Hard to believe with 4 boys, but our guys love it there so much that they can keep themselves entertained for hours. We read, watched a lot of football, played even more Monopoly, swam and hot-tubbed, and fit in a couple of fun outings as well.

This is a quick family picture taken at Hoodoo's snow-tube park only minutes after we got there and only minutes before I left with the 2 little ones to head home. Since there was really no warm lodge close by for me and Cole to watch from and Bo (as the picture would portray if closer) was finished after only 1 time down, we decided that the tubing was going to have to be a "big boy" activity.

And more sledding took place throughout the weekend right out the back door. Golf courses make for good sledding runs in the winter-time. The boys spent a lot of time together enjoying the fun of the snow.

Lots of fun, quality family time, beauty all around with no one else in sight - you can see why we love it here! Happy 2009.

A Very Merry Christmas

We enjoyed the beauty of a White Christmas this year as well as enjoyed all staying the night at grammy and papas house so we didn't have to travel back and forth in the snow and ice. We told the kids they couldn't wake up before 7am...they did pretty good, making it all the way to 6:15 before us adults caved and let the festivities begin.

Stockings are one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning. They always have been, even as a kid. Our stockings were hand knitted and personalized when we were kids and my mom has continued the tradition for each of our children with their own, special knitted sock. Plus, I guess I just love all the small, wonderful treasures and surprises. Cade was immediately in love with his U of O cap.

Tyler sports his new Portland Trailblazer hat as he digs in his sock for more treasures

While Bo was impressed with his blue spiderman watch, he was focused in on the candy right away. It didn't take him long to get his m&m candycane open.

While we always try to remind the kids that Christmas isn't all about presents, it is always still such a joy to see them so excited over their gifts. Tyler loves games - this one was top on his list. He was also thrilled with his new bakugans, baseball bat and pogo stick.

Cade is fun to give clothes to, because he really does appreciate them, even at age 8. He loved his new winter coat. Especially since he'd been layering up under his raincoat for the past week in all the snow because he had grown out of his old heavy jacket. It was hard to not break open the gift for him early...but all worked out, no frostbite was suffered, and he was very excited with the gift. Other favorites of Cade were his motorized scooter and new bakugans.

Bo can now watch Blazer games like a true fan and scrimmage his brothers as Brandon Roy. He also loved his cowboy gear, pop-up dinosaur book and Kung Fu Panda movie.

From books, to puzzles to boxes and bows - Cole was interested and overwhelmed with all of it.

I guard the camera closely Christmas morning so that I don't end up in any of the shots. I think that may have to become a long enforced Christmas tradition. But even without pictures to prove it, it is easy to believe that my heart was full of joy this Christmas day. I feel like the luckiest and most blessed woman and mom alive. I am surrounded by fabulous family, I have 4 almost 5 beautiful boys that warm my heart, an incredible husband that I love and adore, and a deep love of my Savior and all he is to me and my family. Life, like this wonderful holiday, is truly magical.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

...and all through Grammy and Papa's house...

Our crew and the Cowarts joined to celebrate with my parents. We made our way through the snow for the "big" dinner that always happens on Christmas Eve. The kids looked so great all dressed in their Christmas best. The food was wonderful, as always and the usual thrill and excitement filled the air on this night before Christmas.

Cole helping out with the dishes

(he is in his "dishwasher phase" that all my kids have seemed to go through - when the appliance is open or in use, he will be there, removing soiled silverware or scaling his way to the top rack!)

Our Christmas Eve traditions of course include the narration and acting of the Nativity Story. The kids are really beginning to learn the parts and are getting a little posessive of certain casting positions. Cade as Joseph, Madi as Mary.

Brinley as the angel. Bo (very serious about his role) as a shepperd. (As long as his part could include a staff, which is close enough to a "sword", he was game to participate)

Tyler and Drew as Wise Men, our little crawling Cole with the sheep sign on his back, and Baby J as Jesus

The whole cast after the show

This is the only night of the year that the kids are anxious to get pajamas on (since pajamas mean bedtime and bedtime means Santa will be coming) and we wind them down with Grammy reading a Christmas Story and singing Christmas carols. Cade took his turn behind the piano accompanying us with Jingle Bells.

As the kids are all tucked into bed with faces beaming with anticipation, and the house grows quiet after a wonderfully busy day, we are reminded that the MAGIC of Christmas is children. The JOY of Christmas is family. And the PEACE of Christmas is in our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let it Snow...more

In the last post I said that we would enjoy the snow as long as the power didn't go out. Well...later that same night we were in darkness! Luckily not for too long. The boys were thinking it was fun. I was a little nervous as we approached bed time and worried about how cold the house would get without any heat. Not too long after all the lanterns, flashlights, candles and of course headlamps were all rounded up and we played some games by the light of Bo's "sword" (flashlight) we were back in the wonderful world of electricity.

Monday's official measurement was 15-16 inches. And don't worry, more is still expected. It just keeps coming!

These branches from a tree in our yard are normally so high up that we never notice them, but with the weight of the snow and ice, they are only feet from the ground!

Trampline jumping has been put on hold for now! But we are finding this December snow amazing and beautiful. Come on over to play in it with us!

BRRRRR

This picture explains the canceled school, the constant heap of snow clothes drying out in the laundry room and the huge quantities of boardgames played and movies watched this past week. And who wants to talk about global warming?? We have had one of the worst winter storms and coldest weather in the past decade here in the great Northwest for the last 7 days. As long as our power doesn't go out, we will continue to enjoy the beauty, extra family time together and fun!

A few shots in the blustry snow before Bart and the boys headed out to the BIG hill to sled. As you can tell, Bo wasn't too into it (the lack of naps the past few days hasn't helped).

Official measurement from this am -Sunday morning, Dec 21st - was between 8 and 9 inches (once I could break the 1/2 inch layer of ice on top of the snow to get the ruler down into the pile). Snow, freezing rain, sleet...we've been getting it all and it just keeps piling up!

Apologies for the pajamas...Bart thought that my stompped out footprints through the snow/ice on the way out the the patio table for snow measurements were worthy of a picture too.


We're dreaming of a white Christmas!