Rough Morning

So I scheduled a post for today and hate to post twice but I just had to share my morning with you, this is DEFINITELY getting labeled under trouble!

I guess when I typed this on the picture I was refering to STRAIT rather than STRAIGHT as in

STRAIT: (strāt) A position of difficulty, perplexity, distress, or need. 

The best part was when I called Erik and he brilliantly told me "you can't leave them alone even for a minute". 
Good thing he wasn't standing in front of me.

Claire must be following trends!
She has seen a lot of tinker bell
as she's on a big Peter Pan kick lately.

House Plans - 1st Draft

So we have the first draft of the plans.

To see the plans click below...

House 1st draft

I love feedback:

it's much cheaper to make changes on paper right now.

• Need to add a sink to the laundry.
• We will probably remove the closet by the stairway on the main level and open that area into the mud room and then put a landing station counter and cupboard with homework/mail slots over head right by the kitchen and the lockers will be L shape in closet area in the mud room - MAKE ANY SENSE?
• The basement "theater" room will be a dance/exercises room - the architect just labeled it that way.
• I don't think we will have such a large kitchen in the basement, maybe put craft/computer stations along the exercise room wall for the kids with some overhead cabinets for storage and maybe some two doored closet storage in the kitchen area so there isn't so much counter/kitchen space.
• And still debating if we want to have two sinks in one of the girls bathroom or go with one for more counter space.
• We are also going to have a standing shower in one of the two girl bathrooms and not a tub - but haven't decided which. At first I thought the one with the two sinks cause I think that bath will get used more but the one without a window would be ideal for a large shower.
• My walk in closet is simply ridiculous but secretly I love it.
• I think I'll throw in a linen closet in the master bath cause the sink side is something like six feet long I think, plenty of counter space so maybe make a closet by the master closet?
• I wish the upstairs bedroom which will be an office/craft room was more open to the house. I'd love to be able to see what's going on in the house but I don't want doors off the entry into it cause let's face it...it's always going to be kind of a mess!
• Still working on the exterior style. If I had my dream house it would be modern or at least contemporary, it would be in the foothills with a fabulous view and I wouldn't need blinds, just floor to ceiling windows (we'll maybe some window coverings in bedrooms but you get what I mean). But I like lots of other styles like that uber tall home on the south west corner from the AF Temple going down Mary Pulley Drive(900 East). Love that one.

Kitchen Inspirations:

As you can see I love white cabinets but I can't decide if I want all white or if I want to go with a wood color island to break it up. What do you think?

You can click on the picture to show the full size.

Master Bathroom:





This floor is gorgeous!

I haven't decided on the towers flanking each sink or one in the center. Problem is this: We share our toothbrush charger and it would be nice in the center so we can both access it but I like the openness of having the towers to the sides. I guess if I do the side ones I could just get another base or charger thing for the toothbrushes - it would probably help our marriage as I never clean mine off well enough and Erik thinks it's gross when a little pool of water and paste drips onto the base of the charger from my toothbrush. 

(I do rinse mine off after brushing but unless you remove the little brush end and rinse it thoroughly, some of the paste and dare I say saliva, gets caught up inside and slowly drips down the side of the electric brush forming a happy little half circle smile of residue on the counter or more regretfully the base of the charger.) 

Now, Erik on the other hand removes his end, rinses it THOROUGHLY, wipes the whole entire thing towel dry, then places it back in the little storage container in the charger base. WAY to much work I say.


Wow! I really should just buy another base as I've already got myself all worked up about this.


COOL STORAGE:
Check out all these cool under stairway uses. Like I said Erik better hurry up and build because the longer it takes the more "cool ideas" I get = "expensive" it gets.

Mud Room:

Exactly what I want for the mudroom, LOVE the drawers for shoes.

Can't decide if we should have doors or not on the lockers.

Entry Flooring:

L-O-V-E this!!!

I wonder how much marble tiles are?

Niagara Falls - June 2011

So I am going to play catch up for things I've missed over the last year. One was our amazing trip to NY with my family. The girls loved Niagara Fall. It was such a beautiful day and I just love seeing the girls face light up at each wonder and new thing we got to see.

Man I love that smile!

Just like my Claire - she wants to enjoy life with the hood down!



The Maid of the Mist was awesome! You really get to feel the power of the falls as you pass by.

Daughters in My Kingdom

I am loving reading Daughters in My Kingdom. I am slowly chewing over one chapter a day. My instinct is to eat up the book as fast as I can but I am holding back taking one chapter at a time so I can really think and study it.
Yesterday I read this and it really got me thinking...

Joseph Smith Jr. "warned against a disposition to consider the lower offices in the Church dishonorable and to look with jealous eyes upon the standing of others" This he said, "was the nonsense of the human heart, for a person to be aspiring to other stations than appointed of God."

When I read this I thought about two extremes I've observed. Some who seem to hold their personal value and worth in the status of a church calling. Constantly speaking about their position, letting all know of their good works, and assuming their calling makes them more worthy, or means they are more loved or respected by the Lord - inadvertantly telling anyone in a "lower" office they are inferior. On the other side of the spectrum there are those who think they are inferior because they have not held a "high" calling. Who feel useless as a teacher and fail to see the contribution or the worth because it is not seen by "all".

When I though of this I thought of the Savior and His service. What was He doing? What would He be doing?  I think He would be in the nursery, on the floor loving and cuddling those sweet babes. He would be in primary teaching a child on his lap, kissing the cheek and showing them love. He would be in the home as a teacher, lifting a burden and caring for a family.

Of all the callings in the church, I think I respect the unseen ones the most. Don't get me wrong I completely sustain and love the leadership of the church, i have great respect for those who lead us...local and general. I just wonder if when we stand before the Lord to account, if the positions He will hold in highest esteem and will be the most pleased with, will be the ones that no sees, for the one's that are seen, well, they have their reward.

I hope I can do a better job of being the one behind the scene, helping, getting on the floor, doing what is needed. I so love this book and how it is helping me evaluate my life.

Blogging

So I have mixed feelings about blogging.

Often as bloggers we show pictures of kids at their cutest, we describe life at it's best, and we cut out the real life struggles and hardships we face. Someone reading it could think life is rosy with no perceivable problems in the bloggers life. As women we judge ourselves and compare ourselves with others and it pushes away true discernment of where we are and our standing with God (which is all that matters).

Then there is the time. We can spend an hour looking at the lives of others and that hour is gone, never to return.

As I look back on my blog I fall in love with the stages our family was at. I delight in the things my children did or said and it reminds me (sadly) how fast time has gone. Yet through that sadness I recommit to do more to take advantage of this time with my children. I love the way the blog journals my thoughts and feeling. How I see my growth. OR in hindsight see how I could have done different. This is what I love about blogging.

So after a few weeks - dare I say months - of feeling like I should take a moment to blog I am going to follow that prompting up and start to devote a bit of time to blogging. I will not be a once a day-er; I just don't have that time to sacrifice. I am really trying to make sure I get my personal scripture study in each morning (I did horrible this summer) and right now I have set a chapter a day goal for "Daughters in My Kingdom" M-F so I can read and study it in the next two weeks. So after I accomplish the things I need to do I will try to jot down life and what is happening and how I feel.

For those who want to read along I enjoy the company, the thoughts, the support and kind comments!