Helmet Heads

Surrounded by Friends

Today at church, during Sacrament meeting, Hannah said to me, "I'm surrounded by friends." And sure enough behind us, to the side of us, in front of us, a couple rows in front, diagonal to us... were families that had one of her friends. I love our ward and I felt the same way - surrounded by friends!

I hope Hannah and the rest of my kids will always be surrounded by friends, especially at church! (And Nic and I too!)

PJs, Neighbors, and Tears

 

Garrett D, Bryson, Mav R

Yes, Bry is in his pajamas. He had a runny nose and it was just one of those days we weren't going to be going anywhere! In fact I'd taken a shower, even washed my hair... but did nothing with it... which is scary. I also had no makeup on. But when our next door neighbors and really good friends came over who would be moving later in the week... we just couldn't resist heading out to play and visit!

My very next door neighbor Emily D. has become one of my very best friends. She moved last week... and I'll admit... I've cried a couple times. She moved like... 7 minutes away! Not far at all. But its those spontaneous front lawn visits and play parties that I'm really going to miss. Emily has a girl Hannah's age and a boy Bry's age. They LOVE playing together. So I'm not the only one that is going to miss them!

Another fabulous friend - Megan R, Em, and I all love to talk design and decorating! We call each other over to see our latest ideas or pillows or to get each others advise. I love it.

This picture of our boys playing together was taken that beautiful afternoon last week taken on Emily's phone. (I'm glad there's not a picture of me!) We love you D. family and miss you already.

Family History and my 5 year old

Since this seems to be my journal at the time I had to get this recorded here. Marj, my mother-in-law, sent an inspiring email about genealogy, so I sent this back.

January 29th, 2012
Since you shared so much about genealogy I had to share my little experience. We are planning a youth Family History/Temple Work month in March. Where we are dedicating the entire month of lessons and activities to center around that topic. Our goal is to have the youth take a name they have prepared to the temple at the end of the month.

So the last couple days I have been looking at this site https://www.lds.org/youth/family-history?lang=eng (which is geared toward youth and family history - it has some great little tutorial videos) and looking up my own family line. I noticed my own grandmother isn't listed as a child of my great-grandparents... Well, to get to the point, I'm sitting at the computer, talking to my mom about what I'd discovered and down comes Hannah with this old calendar workbook that my mom had given her. She kept interrupting me saying, "Mom, I want to do this... Mom will you help me do this..." I finally looked to see what she was talking about and it was a "family tree" worksheet! I don't know why that was in a workbook about calendars or why Hannah wanted to do it. But I had to think that maybe it wasn't just a coincidence... nor is the email that Marj just sent! It was fun to help Hannah fill it out and to get involved. Like Marj said, family history is for all of us even now. Elder Bednar said this last conference, "We are here to participate in the work of salvation. That’s who we are, that’s why we’re here on the earth. ... You were prepared for this day. The time is now.”

Sure love you all. I'm sure glad to be a part of your family.
Love,
Nat

I am so impressed by the tender mercies of the Lord. I know He speaks to us and is aware of day to day. I am impressed that my 5 year old was aware of His whisperings. Family history is for everyone. For the youth. For me. And even for my children.

Board & Batton

Hannah's Room

Before

This was just an extra room before, mostly just storage... it took a lot of work to get it cleared out!

After

 We didn't replace the existing baseboards, so we cut a 45 degree angle at the bottom of our boards to but into the baseboards.

Hannah chose the pink. We tried to pick one that wouldn't be too over powering and that would match her bedspread I'd made her.

Basement Family Room

Before

Nic started moving furniture out before I got my "before" pictures. He was nice enough to move most of it back in. The love seat didn't make it back. It sat perpendicular to the coach, next to the end table.

Note the blue tape on the wall... that was Nic's dream of his big flat screen TV. The one he's been dreaming about for the last 7 years!

 

After

  Hannah's room is a much simpler look, while in the family room I choose a more detailed molding. I love the look! I especially love the details and the "rounded" edges (thanks to my brother-in-law, Shae, who helped Nic hang the top molding piece).

There you have it! I'll post pictures of the process and of it finished with furniture in the rooms later, but had to at least get these up. I love the look and am so glad we did it.

What we've been up to...

Show and Teach: Hannah taught her class about music: notes, rhythm and some songs. This was all from her Lets Play Music class. They did Tambourine Train and Can't Bug Me.

100 Day:  There are 100 safty pins on her shirt!

Super Heros: I made these capes for Christmas.

 Painting:

Nic

Bry

Family History Month: Our whole focus for the youth this month is family history. Here's our point keeping poster I made. We are trying to make it not only very spiritual but fun too! the youth earn points by indexing, attending activities, finding family names, journaling, etc. And if they reach certain points the leaders have to sing, kiss an animal, have an egg cracked on their head (me!), color their hair, shave their head, etc! 

Box Tops: I helped cut box tops for the elementary school. Really I just thought it was a cool picture.

Sitting! Isn't he so cute! He's been working on it for a while, but he's really getting it now. Love that cute little face!

Board and Batten Inspiration

So the internet on my computer hasn't been working, which is where all my pictures are downloaded. (I'm using Nic's laptop now.) But I can't wait to show you our board and batten! I really, really love it! We did our downstairs family room area and "the brown room" downstairs (as we have called it - an extra room that has been used to collect stuff) which is now Hannah's new room!

There are a million and one tutorials out there... I thought I'd share a couple of my inspirations and then hopefully I'll be able to share my pictures soon!


My Blessed Life

Nesting Place


Brown Paper Packages


Love it! I really love design. Do you have any favorite home decor, design type blogs or websites?
Can't wait to show you ours!