Love

these two.

Change

We finally moved into our home after an intense remodel. Cole & I are now extreme home makeovers, only it took us nine weeks longer than it would have the real deal. No worries though because now we know how to do it all! From plumbing, to staying together! :) I was told if you can survive doing a remodel together (and really being the ones doing the work) you can make it through anything. So here's to many years of happiness!!

Before:

After:

Dec 1st

I saw this and decided it must be done in our home this year.

We are making our list today, and pulling out our advent calendar asap!

I love you...

... this much!!!



because it's so her:



and because I feel like this project I'm swimming in is more like prison bars:

Cleaning Up Gotham

... Ba*man & Ba*girl at their best right here!




Happy Trick or Treating!

Timber

... and down came the tree.

Stiched

I was out the door to Parent Literacy Night for Tate while Cole was at a soccer game. On the way I got a call from his Gram rushing me home. He had tripped while playing football and hit his head against the brick. Like the good Mom I am, I held him while I hushed him and ever so sweetly said "Now let's go get stitches."

I know what you are thinking: what were you thinking!? ;)

He took of running.

I stood there and watched him - thinking he wouldn't go far, he was bleeding after all. Once he got across the lawn and half way into the street I realized he wasn't stopping. About as quickly as the realization set in, my body was sprinting after him. I caught him down the street, carried him back, & put him in the car (at least five times - he kept jumping back out).

In the mean time Ella had gotten into the truck and was sitting quietly in the front seat ready to go. In her little two year old way, she was showing her concern by coming along. I had told her to stay in the house with Grandma. We all ended up going, and the 20 minute car ride went a little something like this: "I AM NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT!!!!! TURN AROUND!!!!!!! I WILL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TOO!!! I WILL STOP CRYING, JUST TURN AROUND!!!!!!!!! MOM, I'M NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE TO STOP!!!!!!

He never let up and screamed the whole time we were there. The nurse came in to clean it up. She put this gel in a sealed bandaid on his head. Then we waited at least 15 minutes while he sat there and screamed a little more. I was annoyed. Turns out that gel stuff is what numbs the wound and they were waiting for it to work it's magic. Opps, guess I should be more patient. :) They came back, stitched him up - which he actually shut up for.

I guess it was just the anticipation! Poor guy.

Seven stitches later with a Jamba Juice & he was as good as gold.

Let's just say I shouldn't have told him he needed stitches from the start. I have a hunch the whole thing would have been a little smoother.

Today.

Today we set down some roots.

No more dreaming about picking up and starting life on the other side of the world.

Utah is officially where we have a home to call our own! (For now)

Sibling Rivalry

Tate was digging a hole on one side of the sandbox and it was all fun until along came little crewella devil. The problem? She kept rolling down the hill and pushing the sand back into his hole. If you can't tell by the expressions on his face, he wasn't too happy about it.

So he dished it out and dumped sand all over her.

To which she responded to in true Ella fashion: defiance

(Her smirk in the second picture - what a little butt. She sat there trying not to smile - and I was trying even harder).

Emotions

Today was a big day over at the O'Neals house.

A monumental day. One that is talked about five years prior to.

Kindergarten.

The anticipation started early this morning, 3 am to be exact.

He climbed into bed with me and was wide awake, full of excitement.

There, we whispered back and forth to each other.

Morning came it was time to start the process of getting ready.

Then we were out the door.

My little boy, all grown up.

DId You Know

... that if you don't want to bother scrubbing burned on food from the pan, you simply fill the pan with water and a couple of drops of fabric softener and let it soak for an hour.

... that if you have a stinky odor and your not sure how to get ride of it you just need to stuff a fabric softener sheet in. I'll be trying that out on my little guys running shoes asap. The fabric sheets also repel bees and mosquitos, just stuff one in you pocket or around the outdoors at your next party.

... that grease cutting dishwasher soap can take grease out of clothes? Apply the soap on the grease spots before dropping into the washing machine.

... that by mixing 1 capful of fabric softener with 1 quart water you can remove wallpaper? Using a sponge, wipe the solution onto the wallpaper. Let it soak for 20 to 30 minutes, then easily scrape the paper from the walls.

... that all you have to do to clean the measuring cap of your liquid laundry detergent is drop it in the washing machine? When the cycle is through, the cap will be nice and clean, ready to be put back on the bottle.

E.

enough said.

Cabin Part...

Day Four.

A visit to Provo River Waterfalls and a ride home.

Back to reality.

Cabin Part 3

Day Three.

The lake.

Time for fishing, swimming, and rafting.

With the help from his Dad, Tate reeled in his first fish.

He picked it up, showed it off, and then I yelled "throw it back in!" See that poor little fish just leaving Tate's hand... about to smack the water and have his life knocked out. Poor Guy.

(note to self: next time advice to gently let the fish go).

Yep, sad story.

Only the little fishy really was only knocked out and when Trev stepped in it scared him back to life.

I may have been a little overly obsessed with my camera and taking pictures this trip.

See another little session that took place that night, here.

Cabin Part 2

Day Two.

Devoted to crafts, Park City, long walks, good food, and more pictures.

Cabin Part 1

We spent the 24th of July weekend up in what we think is a little haven right here in our neck of the woods.

Don't believe me, let the pictures prove you wrong...

(Our first evening there. I took a couple of outfits to photograph Ella in that my little sister and I used to wear when we were this age. You know what that means, more pictures)!

BBall

Tate loves Basketball. He opens the closet door upstairs and pretends like its a hoop and plays for hours. He runs around acting like he is someone on the Ja*z and even keeps score.

I was a little hesitant to get him a basketball hoop for his birthday because I was worried it would be too tall for him. He proved me wrong. Now we spend those hours outside playing pig or horse... or if your lucky you just may see a game of Ja*z against La*ers taking place in our own driveway!

(I love his little bright red face, and the sweat literally dripping down it).

Bday Party

We celebrated #5 this year with Tate's little friends. I decided to get a little crafty for the first time in a long time... and made the party decorations this year.

The theme:

We watched The Little Rascals and ate lots of treats.

It was fun to watch our boy feel loved from his family and friends.

Thanks everyone!