The sconces.

So when we made the love sign...we always kind of thought we would make some sort of sconce or wall hanging to go on either side of the piece. So here is what we found...also on the shanty2chic.blog.
 
The hardest part about this project was running all over town trying to find the finial on the bottom and the little decorative piece for the.  The rest was super easy.  Just a 2by6 cut and glued and screwed together.  Paint...distress...done. I have no idea how to distress so that was stressful...and I kind of over did it...but all in all; I LOVE them!  I am going to add a candle or flowers to the MASON jars.  Haven't decided yet...what do you think???

 

 

 

 

Ward Camp Out 2012



Spencer and his buddy Noah

 The ward camp out was supposed to be a few weeks ago when Jake was in India.  I debated going then, but finally decided I didn't have it in me.  Then it got rained out!  I was excited to go as a family...although last minute I did need "talked into it" by my friend Shelly.  I wanted to go, but knew I would be exhausted later.  Truthfully...I was totally wiped out later, but it was so much fun!  The kids had lots of friends there.  They played great and the weather was gorgeous!  Jake and I had lots of friends and ward members to talk to and be with.  Brother McKay brought a zip line...and the kids kept busy by gathering firewood and playing with flashlights.  We even let Aubrey and Weston stay up till 11pm.  What a treat! I never got out my camera; but sweet Shelly got a few pics of us to remember the trip.
 



Spencer taking special care of Callie

 

The next morning we hiked up to a small cave in the mountain.  It was kind of a long hike for me and the kids...but fun.  You had to squat down super low to get in the cave and I still am hobbling around because of it.  That is the thing about being pregnant.  I can still DO everything like I did before...I just have to PAY for it later!

 

 

 

 

Here is Shelly and I.  I love this girl... we have  a lot of fun together and I could talk to her for days. 

Pinterest Fun!

So I saw this on another ladies blog... www.shanty-2-chic.com/2012/06/diy-wall-art-love.html and I fell in love with it.   She has a great tutorial there...so I won't do one here. I just copied her and it turned out soooooo cute!  I was nervous the whole time.  I am always bad with stencils and measuring things...so this wasn't really up my alley.  It turned out fairly straight and Jake helped me cut the wood and hang it!  I LOVE it!  I love that is says love and it makes me smile when I see it.  The only thing that was a mistake was how dark it turned out...but that is what happens in this heat in AZ...you gotta wipe stain like a crazy lady and I didn't.  It just dried too fast. Oh well.  It is still totally fun and I am thrilled with my inexpensive center piece for the living room. 

The flowers take a while!

 

 

 

Las Palomas, Mexico: Labor Day Weekend

So we just got back from a WONDERFUL 3 day trip to Rocky Point Mexico!  A while back Jacob helped his dad DJ a wedding and they were paid/traded for this trip.  So we headed out on Friday and came back yesterday.  We went with Norm and Sue (aka Grammy-pa) Weston's new name for them.  The drive there was quite nice.  Only took about 5 hours or so.  Then we were off swimming...and we didn't stop until Monday. 

Here is the beautiful beach .  It was soooo warm, that we spent most of our days in the cooler pool.
But when we were at the beach...we loved to find shells. 

 

The times we weren't swimming...we were either eating (delicious meals cooked mostly by Grandma) or playing "hide an go seek" or watching cable. 

Here is Spencer hiding...as well as Jake.  Can you find them? 

 

The hotel.

 

The Lazy River was our favorite.  Day and Night.

 

Spencer learned to put his face in the water and break in his new goggles. 

 

Early morning the tide was far out and you could find more shells.

 

 

 

We stayed at the resort most of the time...but one day we went into the town and bought a few trinkets and enjoyed a different view. 

 

 

I actually got WAY too hot and seriously blacked out in one of the merchants stores.  I luckily was close to Jake and he got me sat down so I didn't make too much of a scene. Needless to say...not the best part of the trip for me.  Aubrey loves her hat that Grandma bought her though...so it was worth it.

The condo we stayed at was really wonderful and I hope we get to go again in the next few years or so.  I loved the warm water and clear skies.  I loved the mango on a stick and the break from everyday life.  Thanks so much for taking us Grammy-pa!

We think it would be fun to go sometime with couples and NO kids...so here is a pic of the condo to entice my dear friends to Mexico!

THE BIG SUPRISE!

So this is going to be a long post about my obsessive "NESTING" as they call it.  There will be lots of pics and before and afters.  I am so excited for Jake to get home and see my big surprise reveal.  Jake went to India and will return this Sunday.  He will have been gone for a day past 2 weeks.  With him leaving I knew I wanted something to keep me occupied and busy in the evenings.  I had planned to do a blog book, but that lasted about 2 days...so I then decided to tackle my worst fear....

 

The office.  Our office was going to be made into the nursery, but I had NO idea how to do it.  There was soooo much stuff in there and toys and 2 computers and so on.  This is what it looked like before our first makeover.

Last year I painted it and set it up for home school and office type stuff.

 

So I had to really think on how to keep the curtains and the toys and the computer and still make it into a nursery....on a limited...(teeny weenie) budget!!

 

So after two days I came up with this arrangement.  I ended up changing it a bit...but you'll see that soon enough.

 

 

The main thing I did was totally re-organize the closet.  I got rid of half the toys/ crafts and such...then I moved the computer desk into the closet.  I was so excited when it fit.  I also moved the electric piano..2nd computer and moved the tv/vcr to Aubrey's room.  (She was thrilled.)  I found new places for things and downsized.  I was going to stop here...since this was what was keeping me up at nights.  But I was just having too much fun.  I never told Jake about any of it...and I was liking doing things on my own. 

So then I started doing some budget shopping.  Here is my lamp re-do for $2.99 from goodwill.

Fabric from the bedding I had previously made. 

Another HUGE project was this chair.  I found it at Goodwill for $15.99 and thought I could just clean it.  After hours of scrubbing...I made it worse and decided to recover it.  So here is my slip covered chair...which I love.  I think it took me a good 8 hours or so to sew...but I LOVE it!!!  I got the fabric from my neighbor for free...(it was 2 tablecloths.)  Can't beat that! Thank you Elisabeth Brown.

 

The lamp turned out cute! 

 

Here is another pic of the chair and the pillow that I made to match. 

 

Ok...this pillow was such a pain to do, but it turned out in the end.
 

So....after hours of repainting furniture...sewing, spray painting...hanging lightbulbs, making crafts, dejunking and hanging pictures (drywall hooks and all).... Here is the NURSERY!  I can't believe how much I actually like it.  I usually feel so deflated and depressed after I attempt to decorate.  Also, when I think of how little money was spent...YAY I get even more excited! I hope Jake likes it.  Honestly, he will probably just smile and be glad he wasn't here to do it...but I am thrilled none the less.

 

 

 

Chinese lanterns and tissue paper pom poms.  I think this costs about $18.00 dollars when it was all said and done.

 

These pics are just colored pencil drawings I made...then they also have fabric from the bedding.

 

$10.00 dresser from Goodwill...repainted. Super cute!

 

 

Re-purposed shelf..from Spencer and Weston's nursery.

 

Remember my Valentine Day decor?  I thought it fit in here too.

The ruffled bed skirt...my Nemesis...but oh so GIRLY!

The bedding.  I have since bought a crib sheet...but didn't want to take new pics.  Also...the crib finally got painted white.  When we bought it for Aubrey (how many years ago) we said we would paint it and never did.  Thanks to my AWESOME hometeacher...it is now done.  He had a paint sprayer and did it for me.

The desk turned changing table.  Not my fave...but it will do. 

 My view from the "nursing chair."  It makes me smile. :)

Another custom art piece.  Mari says they look like Aubrey drew them...I guess they kind of do. Aubrey said "they look upside down..."  haha

I can't post this blog until Jake gets home.  In case he decides to look.  But just know...I am one excited Momma.  I even washed the little clothes and blankets I have and stocked the drawers.  I really don't have much more to do before the baby gets here...and I still have 8 weeks left.  Heaven help me!!! I can't wait to meet our little sweetie pie. I felt her move so much recently.  Maybe it is because I wanted her for so long...but I am sooooo happy to be having another little Watkins' girl.  I hope she likes it here.