Updated Interior

I am in heaven decorating our home! I know I already shared shots of our family room, but those were just to give you an idea of what it looks like. Now we are actually doing more decorating. I don't know that I have a particular style of decorating. Though, I will admit that I have always tried to copy Pottery Barn catalogs. Of course, I go for Pottery the Barn look, but scoop up my stuff at Target and HomeGoods. My color scheme is red, khaki, and cream (with some green accents). I have both a golden-color oak for the armoire and "window seat" and a dark mohagony colored desk. I have used bamboo blinds, wickers baskets, wood balls, and a leather trunk to add texture.


I started out with a lot more on top of this armoire-- but I had to cut back. I want the look to be clean, not cluttered.

There is a great striped pillow that is hiding behind the florals that really was the inspiration for this room. We bought these pillows for our bedroom when we were first married. They are a classic Waverly prints that I fell in love with. FUN FACT: In one of my fav movies, You've Got Mail, Meg Ryan's character has a sofa covered with the same large Waverly print.

I have been hunting for that leather trunk for about a month. I wanted something beautiful to hold the girls' dress-up clothes in. Plus, the trunk plays an important role because it balances out the dark color of our desk and it adds texture.

The "window seat" is actually my old coffee table. I wanted extra seating and a good spot to store the girls' toys. Hallie hides larger toys behind the wicker baskets and smaller toys are organized in the individual baskets. I love that she has easy access to her toys and clothes but it still looks sharp, clean, and aesthetically pleasing.

I was "hemming and hawing" for some time on this wall. Chris and I both wanted a display that had a good "weight" to it. It just needed more substance than one big frame. I thought I wanted a shelf and I told Chris I would love an "H." We found a gold one at Hobby Lobby and Chris painted it for me. Then, we just set out a bunch of our black frames and accessories and created the collection on the floor before eventually hanging it. We love how it turned out!

Here is where I want YOUR suggestions. What should we do with the pictures in these frames? We may keep some of them but we wanted fresh pictures since we have displayed the same ones for awhile. Plus, we recently added Claire to the mix so she deserves some representation. Should we do all black and white? All sepia-toned? Should they just be close-ups of faces? Or a theme for each collage frame? HELP! Please add your suggestions in the comments and then we can vote for the best if necessary.

THE BIG REVEAL!

Here are some exterior shots of our first home! Chris has been hard at working getting our grass green. When we moved in it was a lovely shade of tan. Enjoy! And let us know what you think (unless you hate it-- then keep it to yourself)!

Road Trip!

Chris and I decided last-minute to take a road trip to see my grandparents in Vernal, UT for the holiday weekend. (I love being spontaneous!) I was nervous with how our two little girls would do with a seven-hour drive. One two and a half year old and one two and a half month old could add up to two crying parents. Much to our happiness, they were angels! And the drive was incredible. We live in one of the most incredibly beautiful states in the nation! As I was on the road I realized just how "summer" a road trip is to me. I am so glad we had a little one to make our summer complete. In fact, our travels went so well we are even considering one more road trip before the summer is over. Here are some of our photos taken from my view in the passenger seat.

hallie loving claire at a stop along the way

The Fourth of July

our "girl's tradition" every year-- painting patriotic toe nails

When I considered spending the fourth with my grandparents I was so excited because I knew it would be a true-blue, all-American, heartland kind of day. And it was! We started the day with what my grandma called a "simple breakfast." After downing cereal, an assortment of fresh fruit, toast with a variety of homemade jellies, and banana bread, we cleaned up for the day. I loved getting dressed in our red, white, and blue because of what they represent-- our incredible country. Hallie had four bows in her hair-- all of which were made by talented friends. Emily made the firecracker bows and Jennifer made the red ones. When we were all showered and in our patriotic best, we left for the Vernal parade. Grandpa brought us all chairs and even though we showed up minutes before the parade started we were able to score great seats. After the parade we had sandwiches, chips, and salad for lunch and then had a lazy afternoon spent on the porch, inside reading, and running around on the grass. Grandma made an incredible and festive meal-- all the good ol' traditional BBQ fare. I was a huge fan of her hamburgers and baked beans. And for dessert we could choose between her strawberry trifle or pink lemonade pie . . . so I chose both. :) Late that night, after it finally got dark, my cousin Mason eagerly lit fireworks for us as we watched on the lawn. My right foot was eaten alive by mosquitoes but you know I am a sucker (no pun intended) for tradition. Even though Hallie had gone to bed earlier, Chris and I thought it would be fun to wake her up to show her the pretty fireworks. She evidently thought we were crazy. She sat wrapped in a blanket in our arms in a total worried daze. Chris saved her and took her back to bed and laid down with her. When I came to say good night to her she said "Mommy did you take me to scary?" Poor thing! I think next year when we prep her a little more and don't wake her up from a dead sleep the fireworks will be a bigger hit.

The older I get, the more I love the "fourth!" It's likely because the older I get the more I appreciate this country. I am so glad that we could celebrate our Independence Day with family the way it should be.

My Cute Grandparents

It was so refreshing to be back at my grandparents farm again! Hallie loved running around their land. As always, Grandma cooked us incredible meals. Being with them just made me wish that we lived closer so that we could see them more often. Hallie loved Grandpa and followed him like she was his loyal puppy. When she didn't know where he was, she was always asking for him. Whenever Claire was fussy for me, she would be an angel for my grandma (who obviously has the magic touch). These are my mom's parents and one of the reasons Hallie has the middle name "Laine" is for my grandma "Elaine." And the reason Claire has the middle name "Caron" is for my grandpa's grandma Pheobe Caron and her mother Caron Happoch. We were so lucky to spend the weekend with them. I can't think of a way it could have been any better. Looking at these pictures makes me miss them a lot already! Thank goodness we have these fun pictures though.
on the front porch on the fourth

drying dishes with grandpa

the girls

the parade

just hanging out

Grandpa and Hal

reading together

be still my heart <3

I am taking an online Photoshop class about special effects. Here are my two projects so far . . .
Ha! Ha! This one cracks me up!

Sweet!

And by the way, even though I complained last Wednesday . . . I really have to get my root canal today. It starts in forty minutes. Please send gift cards so I can get through this trying time. Just kidding-- seriously.

The Zoo

We finally made it to the zoo last Monday. We are so happy to have passes because we can just do quick trips. For this visit, we visited the animals we don't always get around too. That meant we saw hippos, penguins, orangutans, gorillas, lions, and more. Since the giraffes are at the beginning (and because they are so cool) we had to stop by and say hello to them as well. Hallie's favorite part was likely the little spray park. Chris and I loved the gorillas. One gorilla put his hand on Chris's hand and looked straight into his eyes . . . the only thing that separated them was glass. It was so magnificent to watch. After about two hours, we headed over to Culver's for some lunch. Chris and I posed with Claire at the restaurant since we didn't have any pictures of her at the zoo. Hopefully we will get to the zoo again this week too.

I have to get another emergancy root canal today (this is my third in life). I am feeling a little bit sorry for myself. :( Thank goodness I have a supportive husband to watch the kids while I mope.