Parachutes not included

The boys got to go on an adventure - a discovery flight around Cache Valley.  There was only room for 3 passengers so I let Ryan experience it with Ethan and Stockton.  Our first scheduled flight had to be cancelled because of fog.  The pilot felt bad sending us away without an experience so he let the boys tour the hanger and showed them the planes.  Ethan and Stock were thrilled with sitting in the pilot seats and checking out all the buttons. 

Two weeks later they got to go on their flight.  Oh the excitement!  I was worried that Ethan would get scared since he wouldn't dare ride the rides at Lagoon. I tried to explain take off and landing but he didn't want to hear it.  He said this wasn't anything like Lagoon.

They geared up with their headsets.

And loaded the plane.  Stockton and Ethan had had a discussion about skydiving and jumping out of the plane.  We asked the pilot about this and he said parachutes aren't even on board!  The plane just crash lands if necessary.  {He assured me it was safer this way.}

Ethan sat in the pilots seat and the real pilot was the "co-pilot" for this flight.  Ryan and Stock sat in the back. 

 Taking off...

 A safe landing...

Here is what Ethan wrote about the experience:

The tricks Ethan refered to let them feel what zero gravity feels like.  The pilot's clip board floated in front of their eyes.  Ryan said they were lifted out of their seats for about 6 seconds.  The boys thought it was fun but Ryan got a little sick.  Feeling up for a little adventure yourself?  Go see the guys at Leading Edge Aviation. 

Have Kids? You need this Deal!

My kids are tired of winter.  They keep asking, "when will it be Summer?".  We keep our eyes on the mountains to see if the snow has melted yet. 

With our cabin fever setting in my kids have been earning rewards.  One of them is the Fun Park.  I also gave them coupons for Valentines day for bowling with a friend. 

This deal couldn't have come at a better time!

Follow this link:  http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUOTgzNDA

You can purchase gift certificates to the Fun Park for 50% off!  Plus, use coupon code CVFP20 to save an additional 20%. 

I was able to get $88 in gift certificates for only $35.20!

The gift certificates are mailed to you for only 99cents and they arrive in about 2 days.

Now, here is the fine print:  Only one gift certificate can be redeemed at a time and they cannot be used towards tokens.  No cash back will be given either. 

Have fun at the Fun Park as we patiently wait for warmer weather!

more progress...

I still can't find the right paint color for my bedroom so the wall now looks like this:

The only thing Ryan and I can agree on is to disagree.  Ryan wants something bold while I am going for more subtle elegance.  He hated the lighter blue (middle) until I decided to go with more of a grey blue and now he claims the light blue is the best.  I am getting tired of trying out paint samples.  Do you have the perfect color for me?
Good news is, I found a rug!  While waiting for my latest paint sample to be mixed at Home Depot, I wandered over to the rugs.  They had a stack of assorted rugs that they get shipped and offer for an incredibly low price.  I had a rug in mind online here but by the time I got the larger size I wanted and pay for shipping I was looking at over $300 on the low end and I cringed at the thought of paying upwards of $600!

This rug was actually 2 feet bigger in each direction than the ones I looked at online and was priced at only $197.  I think it works nicely.  Now if my fabric would hurry and get here!  Here is what I ordered: 

My brother says it looks like a grandmas house.  I don't care because I like it!

I went through a little drama over my fabric.  I had picked out a totally different print and had coordinating prints to match but when I went to place the order, JoAnn's  JoAnn Fabrics sadly let me know that my coordinating print that was tying the entire look together was no longer available.  I had already drug my kids to the store on 3 different occasions to pick out samples and their 50% off sale was ending within days.  I was determined to get this job done so I searched and searched fabric options.  2 hours later I was able to make a totally new decision that was completely different from my original idea. 

I found some coordinating blue on clearance to accent the first fabric for my valances.  The second print will be used as throw pillows along with some green fabric and gold fabric that I inherited from my Grandmother when she died. 

Well, there is the update...

 

a special invitation

My Aunt Susan invited her sisters and their daughters to a Quilting Retreat.  Aunt Susan has been involved with many quilting groups and wanted to share something she loved with us.  Me, a beginner was excited to learn a new skill. 

The invitation included a whole bunch of delightful things:

a light dinner

a make and take (with all the supplies in cute gift bags)

quilt project instructions

all night quilting fun

breakfast the next morning

and lunch

I learned all sorts of new things...how to stitch in the ditch, cathedral windows, how to safely use a rotary cutter, plus had great conversations with some wonderful women.

We started the night with this fun make and take - snap bags.  A tape measure is cut apart and sewed into the top edge to give the bag a fun "snap" closure. 

Then onto the big project - a pieced rag quilt. 

I opted to make my project into a table runner. 

My first task was to cut out a bagillion 137 of these petal thingies

and 60 squares.  Aunt Susan had some helpful tips to get it done faster, thank goodness!

Next was sewing the squares together.  This is where you found out how "square" your cutting was.

 We pressed our seams and got the top laid out over the batting and back.

Then we pinned a row of petals in place. 

Our cozy sewing room. 

 Then onto sewing the petals in place.  You have a continuous figure 8 stitch all the way down each row to attach the petals on both sides.  Then you turn the project the other direction and repeat sewing rows of petals so that all four sides of each square has a "cathedral window" around it. 

This project took me a total of 10 hours to complete - just enough to mark off a personal progress goal!

After it is washed you get the rag effect.

Ta-Da!  Not too shabby for my first quilt.  - Thanks to a great teacher!

Let's do it again!

a {SNEAK} Peak

I have had an itch.  An itch for something new.  This always happens after Christmas decor gets put away and the house just seems blah.  I anticipate Spring and get tired of "hibernating" day after day in my old spaces of my house.  This time the itch was worse than years past.  Then it hit me.  I was truly BORED.  Bored of my house completely.  I realized this was the longest time we have stayed put in one place since we where married 13 1/2 years ago.  6 years in one place really isn't a long time is it? 

When we bought our current house we never intended to stay very long. We thought we would have moved on by now.  However, things change and life happens.  For the time being we are staying put and not going anywhere anytime soon.  So how to relieve the itch?  Redecorate!

I was tired of the old so down came everything!  Every wall was bare, every cabinet top cleared and it was quite refreshing.  It made the space look so clean and new.  I had a blank canvas for a week as I contemplated what I wanted to do. 

I knew I wanted to remove all the dark decor and brighten things up, adding a splash of color.  I knew I did not want to paint my living room and kitchen/dining. So I asked for some help.  Isn't it good to have fabulous friends?  Katie, the interior decor enthusiast and previous owner of my home recently started her own decorating blog.  Check out all her fabulous ideas.  Laura, owns Lemon Tree Interior Design and luckily moved in behind me. 

Katie helped with great tips to brighten a space with accessories.  I learned from Laura to just buy things I like and then figure out how to put all the pieces together.  Also, don't shop for something to go in a specific place.  So with that in mind I really enjoyed my recent shopping trips.  The first trip I brought everything home and decided I didn't like any of it - so back to the store it went.  My next store visits went dreamily.  Ahhh... the treasures I found!

I am still waiting on my special order fabric to come in from JoAnn Fabrics to make my box pleat valances and throw pillows.  I am still saving my pennies for the new rug and art work but I am giddy with delight over the progress that has been made so far!

The end table will be painted cream and I am also debating painting the black chairs and table legs too. 

Working with some old pieces I moved my entry table to be used as my new side table.  I love having the lighter colors incorporated with my black sofas.

 I am still letting everything settle before I officially decide on the final look. Therefore, price tags are still attached. 

I replaced the empty space in my entry with this re purposed dresser.  I was happy to be able to incorporate some of my Valentine decor too.

While I wait for my fabric to arrive I am moving on to the bedroom.  Now to decide on the perfect blue to replace my red walls. 

Jazz date

Ryan scored some super great seats (22nd row) to the Jazz game against the Cavaliers.  He had 4 tickets and I was lucky enough to be one of the people he chose to join him. 
It was a fun game to watch in person and the Jazz killed the Cavaliers, which I guess isn't saying much but hey it was a win.

 Ryan and Nick went and talked to Thurl Bailey during half time.  Nick had promised Thurl he would bring him some old school pictures of him.  Melanie and I watch the half time show where a lady rode a 15 ft. unicycle while tossing bowls onto her head with her feet.  She ended up catching all 15 bowls it was amazing!   Here Ryan is telling us all about touching Thurl Bailey's nipple.  (ask Ryan for more details)

Here is a baby Gee for my niece Lucy's collection.

Our Diva

Ready for church.  (please ignore the bottle, we are working on that).

Pey has a love of makeup.  She is always getting into my bathroom drawers and experimenting.  Wow! 
what a beauty!

This girl definately has attitude.  The other day we were in a store being followed by another shopping cart and Peyton didn't like it.  She kept yelling at them, saying "No!, No!"

Eating Competition

The top pear was eaten by Stockton

The bottom pear (yes, that was a pear) was eaten by Peyton.

I think we have a clear winner.