Graffiti

We've got the painting bug around here. As of tonight we've (I should say Rex - I've done lots of taping) painted three bedrooms, a stairwell, landing area and hall.

It got late one night and I was trying to use up some paint so I got this great idea to write a message to Rex. Here is what a painted in the hallway.

Michael was still awake and he said, "Why didn't you write, I love Michael?" My reply - Michael is too long to fit on the wall. So Michael got out the paint and painted on the other wall the left half of this picture. Jacob came upstairs and added the right side.

Realizing how much fun it is to graffiti the walls Rex finished off the paint with this. Boy, were the girls surprised when they woke up in the morning. I sure hope Brooke can remember that it's only okay to paint on the walls if you plan to paint over it the next day.

PS When we did paint over "BEK IS HOT" you could still see it through the paint. Rex went over it three times to get it covered completely.

Sharing a Room

Either you did or didn't growing up.

I did share a bedroom with my sister Lisa for a period of time growing up. I have vivid memories of our shared bedroom in our house on Poplar Circle in Centerville, Utah. I remember playing a game (when we were supposed to be sleeping) with Lisa where I would pretend to be falling asleep and I would start to fall of my bed and Lisa would have to jump out of bed and catch me. I know it sounds a little odd, but it sure was fun - for ME. I don't think Lisa ever got to be the person who fell. Those darn big sisters.

We had matching pink bedspreads on our twin beds. I also have a very distinct memory of spilling dark purple fingernail polish on my bedspread. I don't think my mom was ever able to get it out.

Once we moved to Chelsea Cove in Bountiful I graduated to my OWN ROOM. It was like a rite of passage - a badge that I could wear to show that I was all was grown up. How I loved having my own room with an attached bathroom. And what a great surprise to find out that I had a phone jack in my room. It doesn't seem like much now with the advent of cordless phones, but back then it was a BIG DEAL because I could talk on the phone in the privacy of my own room. All of our phones at that time were connected to the wall.

All of these thoughts have come to mind because of some moving around we will be doing at our house in the next week. I got a great idea a month or so ago to get an estimate on new carpet. I can't stand the carpet we have. It's much too light for a family with kids and it is in desperate need of a good stretching. There are several large ripples throughout the house. When I went to look at samples I fell in love with some carpet called "dried flowers." I also got an estimate on the removal of our carpet in our bathroom with tile as the replacement. After some thought we decided to go for it.

Then I got this great idea to move Erin and Brooke into Michael and Jacob's room and give the boys each their own room. They were thrilled to say the least. Except for a few months after they were born they have shared a room. That's over thirteen years of never having their own space. So in addition to getting the new carpet we have also been painting A LOT and I'll be sure to post some pictures soon.

Congrats Michael and Jacob you're all grown up now!

Five Things about ME!

Here's some info about me!

Five things I was doing ten years ago:

1. Spending my first summer in HOT Minnesota
2. Working out at Lifetime Fitness with my all time favorite teacher, Mary
3. Dealing with a miscarriage
4. Enjoying 5 year old twin boys
5. Wondering where we would finally settle after the Orthodontic Program

Five Things on my To-Do List Today:

1. Put the whites in the dryer
2. Go to the park with friends
3. List a purse on Ebay for a friend
4. Paint the baseboards in Brooke's room
5. Workout

Five Snacks I Enjoy:

1. nuts
2. oreos
3. chips and queso
4. cheese sticks
5. diet coke

Five Songs I Know The Lyrics To:

1. I am a Child of God
2. The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
3. Mamma Mia
4. I Love to See the Temple
5. Forever's as Far as I'll Go - Alabama

Five Things I'd Do If I Were A Millionaire:

1. Buy land and build a dream home
2. Be debt free
3. Donate lots to my kids' schools
4. Travel
5. Pay lots to get my hair done right

Five Bad Habits:

1. Biting my nails
2. Never closing cupboard doors
3. Procrastinating
4. Letting my car get disgusting before cleaning it
5. Picking at my face

Five Things I'd Never Wear Again:

1. A neon yellow "Guess" sweatshirt
2. Shiny lycra workout pants with geometric shapes - I made them no less
3. Stretch pants tucked into my socks - Rex will be happy about this one
4. Empire-waisted dresses - unless I'm pregnant which I'm not
5. A mini skirt

Five Things I Like to Do:

1. Talk on the phone
2. Shop for good deals
3. Laugh out loud
4. Get kisses from my kids
5. Go out to eat

Five Favorite Toys:

1. Computer
2. Camera
3. IPOD
4. Vitamixer
5. ???

Five People I'm Tagging:

1. Stephen and Rebecca
2. Darby
3. Dad
4. Liz, post it on the family blog :)
5. everyone else who may be reading

Thanks Lucy, this was fun!!

Mini Shrek

Brooke dressed herself one Sunday morning after her bath and this is what she came up with! She said, "Look Mom, I'm like Shrek!"

Do you see any resemblance?

It also reminds me of the that "oh, so famous" scene in Better Off Dead when John Cusack sticks all of those Q-tips in his nose, ears and mouth.

And Sparks Flew...

What is it about fire that boys love? Michael and Jacob love to light matches and I think Rex does, too. The last three years Rex has made it a tradition to visit one of the local firework stands to buy a lot of fireworks. We stick with the legal ones even though we were tempted to stop in Wyoming as we headed home from Utah last week.

The kids love it! We had a BBQ just with the Normans this year because Erin and Brooke had contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth disease in Utah at the Family Reunion. We lit some sparklers before it was dark and then moved on to some of the the bigger fountains. Two of our favorites were Pink Diamonds and Shooting Star.

What was most pleasing this year was to see that Brooke IS afraid of something. Many times I saw her cover eyes and turn her head. It actually surprised me. I thought she would be pestering Rex to light the fireworks HERSELF. She was careful as she held the sparklers and no one got burnt this year - yes, I think every year previously someone has received a burn.

As we waited for the Brighton Fireworks to start the wind began to blow and it started to sprinkle. We thought for sure that they would have to cancel the Brighton Fireworks because of the wind, so we took the girls in and started getting them ready for bed. After they were both tucked in we heard the first firework go off. We decided against getting them up to watch the show. Brooke could hear the explosions from her window, but we convinced her to fall asleep.

Happy Birthday America!

Brooke, Erin and Kourtney

Brooke showing us how to be careful with sparklers.

Joshua Norman - cute, cute, cute

Mom and the girls - a little out of focus but had to include it!

Master Firemaker

That was loud!

I can't find my shoes!

Do you ever hear your kids say this? I know I do. I also remember growing up and it seemed to always happen on Sunday morning. Either that or suddenly in one week the Sunday shoes didn't fit anymore.

On Tuesday I went to airport with Erin to pick up my sister-in-law. While I was gone Rex decided to go to Herb's for lunch (super yummy BBQ place here in Brighton). He couldn't find any of Brooke's shoes, so they took a quick trip to Payless for a new pair of sandals. I have to say the pair Rex picked out were adorable - see below picture. THEN Jacob decided to show Brooke a pair he knew she'd love. She, of course, did love them and when they got home I was a little shocked to see what she was wearing. Please, please, I hope she doesn't ask to wear them on Sunday to church.

PS If you can't tell from the picture Shrek's face in on the fake crocs.





Are these cute or what?!




Wow, are these cute or WHAT?!