How we're Surviving Summer + Lessons Learned

Every once in a while I'll get scrolling through my photos and quickly realize that I have GOBS of awesome pictures to share, and rarely ever update our little blog anymore with day to day happenings!

I know that that's what Instagram is probably now for, but for those of you who don't follow along with us over there, here's a quick recap of how we've been surviving the Summer so far.

Playing with Friends

Cabin weekends, late-night movies and dance parties with some of our favorite little people.

Hiking and Exploring

Enjoying the view from higher up.

Oh, and visiting some of the best dairy farms around for ice cream too... of course.

:)

Water, water, water, WATER!

What I love about Utah is that it usually doesn't get that warm in the Summer, but for some reason, THIS Summer has been REALLY hot! This means we've been finding lots of creative ways to keep the kids nice and cool (and entertained).

Gettin' Patriotic

This July we attended the Stadium of Fire in Provo and it was AWESOME! The girls were totally stoked because Carly Rae Jepsen and Kelly Clarkson were both performing.

If you live in Utah and haven't experienced this amazing event for yourself... you MUST! I felt like a kid again watching each of the breathtaking acts and presenters (and yes, I'm even giggling like a little pre-teen in this video. ack!).

This definitely went down on my list as one of the coolest things I've seen/done in a long time.

Talkin' Stripes & Girly Room Ideas!

I have a confession to make...I am obsessed with stripes.

Stripes of ALL kinds! Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, bursting, zigzag (chevron), backwards, forwards, upside down...
You get the idea, right?

I know, I know. Stripes have been around for ever, they're totally "in", they're SO yesterday... blah, blah, blah. EVERYONE has their take on "stripes." Particularly in home decor, and ESPECIALLY when you're painting them on a wall.

Personally, I feel that it's something that will never go out... just continue to be altered one way or another, to fit the current trend. I painted the first nursery we ever had with green stripes years ago, and remember thinking then... I LOVE this! Fast forward 6+ years later and I'm STILL obsessing about painting stripes on the walls in my basement! They won't be vertical OR green, but they WILL happen
:)

That being said, diving into our main area basement remodel is pretty much the last thing on our list right now. Even though it's totally empty (literally not ONE piece of furniture remains) and ready for a fresh coat of bright, beautiful paint, we just have more pressing matters on our hands.

What you ask?...

Our oldest, the twins.

A Busy Home Project Weekend

Yup... this is happening. My house was officially OUT OF CONTROL this weekend, and today it's not lookin' much better.

From the Mouth of Babes

What I love about being a Mom:

Kid Questions:

Aubrielle: (thoughts on her new Princess underwear from Costco) "Mom? My princesses 'prolly don't get scared in the dark when I have my jeans on, cuz they gets to be all together in the same picture, right?"

Emberly: "Today during the assembly at school, there was this lady who had a ka-tar (guitar) and she called it Big Bertha. It was SO funny Mom!.... (silence)... "Mom? It's okay to call a ka-tar fat, but just not people, pets or teachers... huh...?"

Jocelynn: "Mom? I know you're getting skinnier, but where did your other NOT skinnier parts go?"

My Kids Ate Spinach!!!

This post has no rhyme or reason and not a single picture, so bear with me.

 I am just SO excited that I can't even contain myself.

Yes... it's true.

MY KIDS ATE SPINACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like, the actual green, leafy, VEGETABLE!

They didn't really 'eat' it, but they DID drink it!

What does...

1 cup of skim milk

10 fresh strawberries

1 banana

1 spoonful of Stevia

10 ice cubes

and

A sneaky handful of raw spinach, in a blender make?

3 very happy kids and 1 equally as happy Mom

:)

Birthday wishes from Africa, Outlet shopping & Mini wedding dresses

Birthday wishes from Africa, Outlet Shopping and Wedding dresses...

Yup. That's what we have either done, or have in store for today...

How to talk to Mom's, Dad's and Girls

Need a good laugh today? 

Check out these videos from Alec Greven on "How to talk to Mom's, Dad's, and Girls"

These little nuggets of funny-ness just made my entire morning...
:)

The House of Smiths Vinyl Designs Shop

*** Sit down and grab a drink... this might take a while***

Alright, so I've started the first sentence of this post about 20 times. If you know me, then you KNOW that I'm never at a loss for words, but this post has me really going in circles! I think it's because I feel so connected to what I'm about to write, that anything that I start with... just sounds so minimal or "played-down" compared to everything that we've been through in the past few years.

Polka Dot Balloons, The Perfect Lip Gloss and More.

I'm sure you all know by now that I'm a sucker for appreciating the simple things. And lately I've been noticing a few more things that make life just THAT much more enjoyable. I even started jotting down a list. Is that weird? LOL. Well, I want to share with you some of my faves, in this completely random post
:)

When I attended Kim's class at TCCE we got some of these adorable spotted balloons in our swag bag from Polka Dot Market. I couldn't help but love them immediately, because they were so cute! I wanted to save them for a special occasion, but these little chicks found them yesterday before church.

Master Bathroom Finishing Touches ... kind of

I feel like if I subtitle this post with "finishing touches" that it will make me feel like we're thaaaat much closer to finishing this bathroom redo, that money will automatically appear out of thin air, and all of the perfect decor for my bathroom will magically be nicely stocked in ONE store, at the same time... in a convenient location near my home.

.

.

.

PS: It's not working.

:(

Reality is. Enough is never enough for us! First we were just going to paint some walls and slap up a few hooks. Now, besides ripping out the actual shower and tub ... we've basically undergone a full bathroom remodel. Electrical, trim, granite counter tops, new fabulous toilet and sink, and now...built-ins. gah! 

Really, it's all Cason's fault. While laying in bed one night he sketched up this baby.

Built in's? Whaaa? How can a girl say NO to built-ins?

Well, I don't know about YOU... but I can't. So we're Cason's going to build some built-ins!

:)

We've got most of it assembled, except for the doors, and then we'll move onto painting and installation. That will probably take another good month or so... what do ya think?

(rolling my eyes) juuuust kidding.

A Trampoline Sleepover... Lasts about 30 minutes.

TRAMPOLINE CHAT

Today Cason g-chatted me at work and informed me he was going to sleep out on the trampoline with the girls tonight.

I rolled my eyes and replied with a simple:

"Really? I'm thinking that won't be such a good idea."

He then said:

"What!? You're crazy! It will be so fun! I used to do it all the time, as a kid!"

He then tried to persuade me to join them... Uh. No thanks.

.

.

.

All four of them waddled into the back yard with sleeping bags in tow at 9:10pm.

This is the g-chat that I just had with him at around 9:35pm...

When you're the Mom of "THAT" kid, during the dance recital...

I don't Feel like Cleaning...

{Today I don't feel like doin' Anything...}

Mad Lib Monday @ Is this Really my Life?

So one of my cutest bloggy friends, Emily Hill from Is this Really my Life 

does this really great post each Monday called, Mad Lib Monday.  I totally spaced posting about yesterday, so here it is today :)

It was a Master Bathroom Week: Video Update!

We got SO much done this week in our bathroom, that I didn't know where to start!  So I'll let this crazy video sum it all up for ya.

 :)

I love you THIS much

Shelley.... Thanks for being SO AMAZING!

  (this was posted w/o permission... I hope I can still sleep in the same bed with her tonight...)

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

View video on the blog if you're in a reader.

Wednesday Thoughts: Spring Fever + Funnies

eh, I don't know about lust... but you get the idea... LOL

Today, it looks like this:

The Colors of Easter 2011

I shared our family picture a few days back, that we took with our tripod for Easter, but I wanted to also share a few other pictures of the day, and how we celebrated it!

First...we MUST address the explosion of color, that was Our Family, that day. ha!  Normally I'm a soft pink, and white fan... but this year I wanted to go a little crazy with some bright, fun colors.

I had a few questions about where I got the girls's dresses.  I found them at Carters for 50% off :)

The tulips weren't a planned prop ...

They were actually just our pretty flowers out in the front of our house, but I guess they are, no more... Since they were abruptly picked by three curious kiddos, while waiting for their Mommy to get her camera... gah!

lol.

Real Time Weekend

{Real Time Weekend}

Remember that one time, when I started a blog called "The House of Smiths" and I had all these cool finished projects to post on it!?

And then... remember how after about a year or so, I started running out of

"pre-done" projects to post about and how "REAL TIME" caught up? ... And now my readers have to wait patiently for us to get our booty's into gear, so that they can see the newest fun things we've been working on?

You do?  You remember?... And you're cool with it?

Oh good... whew.

:)

Thanks for being patient with us.  We've actually been working hard on things today.

See...!

I Wish I was a Barbie Today

It's days like today, when I'm rushing around like a crazy person to get things done, that I wish I were a dollar store mermaid Barbie doll.

.

.

.

Life seems so carefree...

Swim in the sink

...

Sleep

...

Swim in the tub

...

Sleep

Looks like I would fit right in, with their "thin hair" issues too.

hee hee