the holloways

My cousin, Nicole and her love, Pat, were married in Salt Lake at Log Haven on May 23rd. We were fortunate enough to attend. I was going to go with Adam or without Adam, I didn't want to miss it! Luckily, Adam was able to join us for the journey, which thanks for our lovely Ford Flex, was a very comfortable ride! The kids did well, considering the hours spent in the car! We were able to borrow a DVD player with not just one, but TWO screens from our good friends, the Rosenlof's {thanks, Beth...you are a DEFINATE lifesaver, we owe you BIG!}. Jacob is a pretty good little traveler, as well. We were a tad late to the wedding, but we made it! And BEFORE it started! My uncle, Eric is a judge, he performed the wedding. It was a great ceremony. Nicole looked amazing. Her dress was gorgeous. Her flowers were pretty, everything looked so good.



Nicole and I were roomates at BYUI. We always saw each other on their visits to Idaho, and usually clicked really well. We used to chat online a bit in high school. But, it wasn't until I decided to go to school and I roomed with her that our friendship bloomed. She is one of my best friends. That year that we lived together was unforgettable! Was it only a year? Goodness, it really seems like forever! We had so many good times, so many laughs, and many cries as well. We bonded in a way that I'll never forget. I am so happy for her. Her and Pat seem So happy together. I was so glad that we were able to go and witness the unity of this couple as they joined together in marriage. I hope that you guys are very happy together, you seem to be now, don't change that! WE LOVE YOU! CONGRATULATIONS, MR AND MRS. HOLLOWAY!

Dining chairs.

So, I have been wanting to re-cover my dining chairs for quite some time now. We bought the chairs off craigslist in Palmdale for $40 bucks for all 6 chairs. It was a killer deal, and I have intended to sand and stain and then put different fabric on with vinyl of the top so they can be easily cleaned. It's been about a year, and I haven't gotten very far yet! One chair is sanded. I'm a slacker. One thing that is holding me back is the fabric. I can't decided on what I want. I thought I was decided. I wanted this:

But, I couldn't find it anywhere. Not online or in stores, no where! And it's about 10 bucks a yard. It's an Amy Butler print. But I loved it. It matched my pictures in the dining room, and I thought it was look good contrasting with the dark espresso on the chairs. But, since I'm having a hard time finding it, and I kind of want to see it in person before I pay that much to recover the chairs...I'm cheap.

And then I saw this:It is a laminated cotton. Not quite oil cloth, a little softer and not as stiff, so I thought that would be a pretty good alternative, and then I wouldn't have to hassel with the vinyl. But I don't know, which looks better? I also found this on clearance for half off:

Kind of different, kind of fun. What do you think? I need someone to just tell me what to do when it comes to things like this. I hate picking out fabric. I just cry in fabric stores because there is so much to choose from!
This is the dining room and the pictures on the wall. The pictures are a deep chocolate with ivory flowers and one limeish green on each one. The table will get replaced as well and stained with the dark espresso like the chairs, too. Just so you know.

If it were YOUR dining room, what would you do?

5 months

Wow. 5 months already? Jeesh...where did the time go, really?? Noah still looks so little compared to his siblings! Jacob just keeps getting bigger and bigger! He's a whopping 22 pounds 7 ounces! Yes. I'm seroius. He really only is 5 months old. I found an old e-mail that I had written in July 05, when Noah was 8 months old. I was "complaining" that Noah was so heavy, and I could barely lift him. At 19 pounds, he was quite the work out. Yeah, he was 8 months old. Little did I know just 4 short years later I would have a 22 pound 5 month old!! Funny how things change! I don't know what it is with Jacob and Macie, however. They are just two giant kids!

Jedi

Noah really likes Star Wars. He thinks the movies are the coolest thing ever! He loves wearing his Star Wars shirts. He had discovered the Star Wars Clone Wars cartoon, and that's pretty cool, too. His favorite ride at Disneyland is Star Tours. He has his light sabers, and he knows most of the characters. But, I think he may be a bit confused. He had been telling everyone that he was a Jedi. So I asked him if he was a Jedi Knight. He replied {with a look of confusion}, "No, I'm a Jedi Morning."

Madsen Bike

So, I found this on a friend's blog. It looks like such a fun bike! My kids would totally love it. And that is why I am going to win it. You could also try, but I'm sure that it will be me. No sense trying, really! {and no, I didn't win the stroller from THIS post. I graciously just let some one else! ;-) } So, now is my time! It's mine!

If you click on the above picture or look on the sidebar, there is a button for you to click to get more information about this bike and the giveaway. Happy wishing.

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, our Star Wars "Cwazy" niece, Madeline May!! I hope that your birthday party was the best! You are great, and getting so old, TOO fast! I hope that all of your 100 husbands were good to your for your birthday! We love you, four year old!

Happy Birthday, Beth

My friend, Beth, had a birthday yesterday. We were getting together for a "Crafternoon" {an afternoon where we do "crafts" or just projects that we have been putting off forever, it gives us incentive!} and decided that we should have a birthday party for her. I mean, really, when was the last time you had a birthday party with hats, a sign, cake and all? And, since we all have little kids, I thought they would LOVE it! And they did! It was fun. Birthday parties are fun! Everyone needs one. Happy Birthday, Beth!

82.

My Grandpa Ludlow is 82 today! Happy Birthday, Grandpa. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you! There isn't a day that goes by that Noah and Macie don't talk about their Great Grandpa. They LOVE their Great Grandpa! We hope that your day is great! We love you and will see you soon!!

Happy Mother's Day

I'm always late on this. Sorry. But, like I've said before, Mother's Day should really be everyday! ;-) Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers. But especially to my Mother, Kris, my Mother-in-law, Carol and my Grandmother, Myrt. I really admire all of you. You are such a blessing in my life. My mother is probably my best friend, I talk to her everyday. My day isn't complete until I talk to her at least once. And she lets me just ramble about nothing, really. And doesn't get mad when I call her time an time again with a random question. She's great. Carol is a great lady as well. I watch her as she takes care of Bryan, and she is so patient with him and loves him. She really keeps herself together well, I'm sure that I would have been admitted by now! And Myrt is very great as well. {yes...I call my Grandma, Myrt. It's her first name. No, she is not my Grandpa's second wife or anything like that. I just have called her that forever.} She is always so happy. She is probably the best cook ever. A lot of people will say that about their own grandmas, but mine definately IS, hands down! She makes the most amazing Chocolate Cake, Sugar cookies, mashed potatoes...everything is just SO good. I haven't had a "Myrt dinner" in the longest time, but I can still taste all of the goodness!! I'm so grateful that they are all in my life as well as in my children's lives. WE LOVE YOU!!

Oh, Macie.

We were in the car this afternoon, and the kids were laughing hysterically in the back. I asked Macie what they were laughing about and she responded, "I'm just funny!"

Yes, Macie, you are the funniest girl ever!

Week of firsts.

A lot of "firsts" have happened this week. I don't have pictures, however. My camera is dumb. We need a new one. Case closed. BUT, instead of the boring life, we usually lead, we have added a little excitement to the daily routine. Thought it was time for a little spice, I guess! Are ya ready for the recap??

MONDAY:
Noah started preschool. Okay, it's not really "preschool", it's play school put on by the local high school students, but hey, it works for us. We call it preschool anyway! {I know. I know. I'm probably a bad mother for not having my 4 year old in preschool. But ya know what? I just can't justify paying someone else to teach my child what I took classes for in college. Yes, my minor was Child Studies, which required the PreSchool teacher curriculum. I have the preschool lesson plans, and the works...I just need to do it more often.} But, he goes to "school" Tuesday thru Friday, 8:30 until 11:30. It's a good chunk of time. He LOVES it. His good friend, Summer is there with him. He loves Summer, but that's another story for another post. The first day, I teared up dropping him off. My baby was going to school. Noah...my baby. I did have a little cry about it as soon as I got in the car, I'm old, it's sad. Macie really missed him the first few days, but now I think she enjoys the time "alone" with me and Jacob!

TUESDAY:
On a park day with our friends, I inflicted my fasted sunburn ever on myself! Seriously, I think it developed within minutes of exposure. Not too exciting of a first, but it was a first!!

WEDNESDAY:
We loaded up the car and went to Avila Beach with our friend, Kristyn and her son, Thacker. I haven't been brave enough to go just with the kids before, so it was a first for us! It was way too windy for enjoyment, but it was still fun! And, the seagulls stole our sandwiches, and I got completely FRIED, but we had a good laugh about it all!

FRIDAY:
Noah went on his first Father/Son Campout. Yes, I cried. I was sending my son away...overnight. Yes, he was with my husband, but if you know Adam well enough, you may know why I was a little nervous! {TOTALLY kidding, dear! It was just nervous about it all!} Noah is a livewire, you never know what he'll do. That scared me. I wasn't there to give him his medicine. That scared me. I couldn't call him to check up on him. That scared me. But, he had a blast, and returned safely. He LOVED camping with his Daddy. Macie had a first as well. It was the first time I left my daughter with a 10 year old babysitter. Yes, 10. I may be crazy. No, actually, she is a really good babysitter. She is a friend's daughter, she had a cell phone in case of emergencies, and we were very close and not gone very long! Thanks, Tori! However, I was worried about her the entire meal!

SATURDAY:
One of Adam's coworkers invited us to his Wine & Cheese party. We hadn't ever been to such an event. But, heck...I LOVE cheese. AND, my kids are whiners...so I thought we'd fit right in. {yeah, cheesy, right?} Anyway, it was fun. We got to taste lots and lots of cheese, that I'm told tastes better with the wine, but I'll just stick to liking the cheese without the wine! I didn't realize there were so many cheeses, there is even dessert cheese. Crazy.

We did a lot this week. A lot of firsts. We'll see what next week brings us!

cinco de mayo

The tooth.

Jacob is the best baby. He cries occasionally, but nothing too major. Usually just in the car when he's not getting the full attention he's grown to expect! But, last week, his first tooth made it debut! Noah got his first two at 2 months...so we weren't at all surprised to see a little tooth at 4 months! Poor little guy. He loves to feel it though, and it and is ALWAYS sticking his tongue out. He is such a cute little guy! We love you, Jakey!