HELP!?!?!?!

Terra asked me if I would come up with a craft of some kind for April's homemaking. Does anyone have any suggestions or something they want to do AND that you think I could handle? I need some help (in learning how to say "no" -- I'm KIDDING). Thanks everyone!

My Jake

I thought I'd take Terri's idea - and post pictures of my birthday boy at different ages. I thought it was a great idea!! Happy Birthday Jake!!

Here is Jake in the hospital when he was born. He ended up being c-section because he had an irregular heart rate - but he came out perfect and beautiful! He was my only baby with lots of dark hair (and ended up being my only "blonde" blue-eyed boy). I couldn't have asked for a better third child...he was very mellow!! Thanks Jake!!

Here's Jake at 6 months old. This is the age he was when I was seriously asked by two women if he was a doll. Once when he was in a double stroller with Kyle. I wondered what this lady thought of me if she thought I was pushing a doll around in a stroller... He was pretty cute!

Here he is at 18 months old and with 5 stitches on his cheek. We were visiting my sister in Rexburg and he was fighting Kyle for my lap and ended up falling off and hitting the coffee table right on the corner. Thank goodness my sister and brother-in-law were there. I made them look first and they calmly told me he'd need stitches. I don't do good with blood. The nurse asked me to leave the room while they stitched him up (I guess I looked faint) and my sister had to help hold him down for me. I'm so thankful he hasn't needed another trip to the hospital!

Here's Jake on his birthday! I can't believe he's 7. He said this was his best birthday ever! I'm sure it was because we did sooooo much on his birthday. And he was even spotlighted at church on his birthday (notice his badge he got - he wore it ALL day)!

I love you and your happy smile Jake!

Little Bird Told Me...

I just had to share this funny story real quick... When Jake was opening his birthday present from his Grandparents yesterday, Grandma said, "A little birdie told me you wanted that." Jake turned to me and said, "I didn't know Grandma could speak bird." And he was totally serious. Then he asked, "How did the little bird know it was my birthday?" I thought it was too cute! Shows you how innocent and sweet he is. :)

Our Egg Famliy

My mom gave all of us "kids" a package of plastic eggs to decorate and try to resemble them to ourselves. Mick and I had some fun with the pictures we took for our family blog...

Here we are at the summit of the rock wall we just climbed!!! WHEW!!

We thought it'd be fun to climb a tree like the VonTrap family (you won't hear us singing though)!

Here we are jumping on our trampoline. Look at how high Davis got. I bounced him GOOD!

Here we are playing a little friendly game of soccer in the backyard (10 seconds after this picture was taken I scored a goal).

Happy Easter

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter Sunday. It's been a full one for us and we still have time to go. We went to church this morning and enjoyed hearing the choir sing and listening to our speakers (Brent and Debie you did a great job). And I'm always so happy that the Primary teaches an Easter lesson. I think it's so important for our kids to remember the reason we celebrate Easter. Which today they got to hear a couple of times - once in class and then again during Sharing Time. I didn't know Bennett was supposed to give a talk - so we just read the Easter story that was on today's handout. But that's how kids learn, right? Repetition. When we got home from church, Mick's parents were here setting up an Easter scavenger hunt for our boys. Then my parents showed up and we had a BBQ. When we were done eating, the boys went on the scavenger hunt. Then when that was over Mick hid the eggs the Easter Bunny left us and the boys had their Easter egg hunt. Then when that was over we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jake (I can't believe he's 7!) and he opened his presents and we ate MUD PIE. Phew! I think I'm getting old because I'm worn out!!!! Jake wants to color Easter eggs for his birthday too, but I'm really hoping he forgets... HAPPY EASTER!

Cinderella

Davis was in the McGee musical of Cinderella this last week. He played Richard (a gentleman) and had two lines. I didn't know what to expect from him. He's the one that chewed his fingers and looked shy during the school's choir performance, so I was a little nervous. The first run through was very mild and he did a great job. But then I guess he didn't feel that just saying his lines was enough - because during the last two performances he "danced" and really tried hamming it up. It was pretty funny. Maybe he got a little too comfortable in front of a crowd... He was especially anxious for his Dad to see him. After the second performance he asked me if I saw this other boy's Dad and how he was laughing at his son. Davis told me he wants Dad to laugh at him like that. Mick said Davis was very entertaining. Actually, after hearing about it - makes me think Davis is a lot like his Dad -- Mick's quite the entertainer. Anyway, I wanted to put some of his play on my blog, but my video camera doesn't have a USB connection. Just a DV connection. Does anyone have that connection on their computer that I could "borrow?" It would just take a second - I promise!! :)

My Husband's Other Love...

Mick was in a two-man golf tournament this last weekend at Columbia Point and came in FIRST place (won $100)!! He also won two KPs (closest to the pin). I guess golf is paying off...now he'll think I'll "let" him go all the time. I guess I need to practice on my "game" so we can enjoy golf together. Because him going all the time alone -- I'm not enjoying so much. But I am very proud of how good he is!! Great job Mick!! I'm ready for lessons.

Summertime Fun

Now that I posted those freezing cold pictures -- I thought I'd warm things up a bit. I'm sooooo excited for Spring and Summer (although I'm not ready for short sleeves and capris). I love the heat and can't wait to read books poolside. I'll probably be reading the "Twighlight" series for the third time preparing for the fourth book to come out in August (YEAH!).

Snow Days!

I didn't get my blog started before the beautiful snow days, so bear with me. I wanted to share some of my pictures - I just love the way snow makes everything look. All the white is so peaceful!! And the boys LOVE playing in it. The day after the BIG snow, Kyle kept asking me to come join them, so after I videoed a little I put my "play clothes" on and joined them. The first thing I did was snow angels with them and Kyle politely told me, "Your snow angel is BIG!" I told him he better watch it if he didn't want white-washed. Anyway, it was a lot of fun going back in time like that - being like a kid again. I'm so glad my kids keep me youthful and want to play - because most days I just notice the wrinkles, the aches, the weight gain, etc. I love my BOYS!!

Fence with wreath - change with the season

Shabby Chic Child's Rocking Chair For Sale

Shabby Chic Coffee Table SOLD

"Not Too Shabby"

The reason behind my blog name - "Not Too Shabby" is because that's the name I use at my bazaars for the crafts I make and the furniture that I refurbish to sell. So, I figured that if I'm doing a blog, maybe I should post some of my things and someone may be interested in them and it would help me to clean out my dining room. :) I hope no one minds...

LINK

I tried taking a picture of the table (the model is Bennett), but the color didn't really work, so here's the link to a picture of my table online: http://www.emeraldhome.com/gallery.php/c76/meridian_dining_d670_.php The picture doesn't do my table justice. It's a lot wider and "thicker" in real life, but it'll give you an idea. :)

AUCTION

I don't know if any of you have been to an auction - let me tell you, I found it to be a huge adrenalin rush! Thursday night Monica and I journeyed to a furniture auction that was nearby in search of the perfect dining room table for me and my family. And I'm happy to report, I found one AND won the bid within the first half hour. It was so exciting! I was shaking for awhile after and couldn't really concentrate on anything else. But then there was the question of getting it home. It's HUGE! (86" without the two leaves and weighs almost 250 lbs). You should have seen Monica and I measuring the table and the size of my van with the seats folded down trying to figure out if it would fit or not (and the men working there watching us girls). We realized I would have to leave it and borrow someone's truck to pick it up. So, Friday with Monica's company, my very generous sister's truck and my loving mother's help with the kids I got it back home (phew!). But then there was the question of how to get it IN the house (I'm telling you, it's HUGE). We ended up having to take the front door off the hinges to get it through. But it's done! YEAH! Now I just need to clean out our dining room of all my bazaar stuff, find some dining room chairs and sell our "original" dining room table so we can get back to family dinners around the table instead of the kids at the counter and Mick and I on the couch. Anyone up to a trip to the next auction in search of chairs??