Changing and Re-arranging

You should all realize by now that I get restless if the decor in my house stays the same for too long. Well it's been 7 years since we painted our bedroom, and one day I got the itch. Something else you should realize about me, is that once I get something in my head, I can't get things done soon enough! Whether it's buying a car, cutting my hair, or painting a room. So before Ryan new what was happening I was looking at swatches and taking the room apart.
I decided on a pale blue, and I LOVE IT! I actually completed it a few months ago, but after getting some new bedding for Christmas, the room is finally complete.

Here is the bedroom before

And now

I also painted the art on the wall, and let Andrea join in on the fun too. She didn't want her painting in her room, she wanted in Mommy and Daddy's room, like mine, so you can see, it is now proudly displayed above my nightstand.

This week we also re-arranged Andrea's room. I was started to feel bad that this big 3 year old girl was still squeezing into a toddler bed. So Ryan and I were debating whether to buy a new twin bed, or use the full size mattress and frame we've been storing downstairs. Turns out her crib turns into a full size headboard, problem solved!

Andrea and I picked out some bedding online.. can't tell you how happy I am that she didn't pick Dora or Princess. The design she picked actually matches really well with her ceiling fan and the stencil I did on the wall years ago.

I'm still trying to figure out where to put the rest of the stuff in her room now. She loves her new big bed, she couldn't wait to go to sleep the first night, and has sleep the whole night through every night since. Part of me wonders if the extra effort for her to get out of the bed convinces her to hold her bathroom breaks til morning, but no accidents so far, so no complaints from me!

Girl's Night Out

This month we had another girl's night out. Of course, I planned, I always do :( Kristi and I had given Tara a girl's night out coupon for her birthday, so I had been on the lookout for something fun and different. I saw a groupon deal one day that was "$10 for a group of 5 to Color Me Mine". Color Me Mine is a store that allows you to choose and glaze ceramics. I hadn't been there before, and neither had any of the girls, so I was excited to check it out.
We went to dinner before hand at Desert Edge Brewery at Trolley Square, which was also new for all of us, and I think we were all pleased with our meals. After dinner our timing was perfect for our 7:00 appointment. I chose a spoon rest to glaze since I knew that would eliminate one of mine and Ryan's ongoing arguments (me laying dirty spoons on the stove). Chelsie also picked a spoon rest, Tara a picture frame, Dyana a plate, and Kristi a bowl.

It was a fun night filled with a lot of great memories. Like Kristi regretting picking such a large item, my squiggles taking detours because of table bumps, and being discriminated against because it was date night, and we were all girls.

Five days later we got to pick up our items and I think they all turned out great, it is difficult to glaze, hoping the colors turn out how you planned, but they are all so much brighter now and shiny. And yes I have already put my spoon rest to good use!

The Big 3

Last week Andrea turned 3 years old. On her actually birthday, Thursday, we decided to take her out to dinner at the place of her choice. She wanted to go to the "astaraunt where the ceiling opens and the balloons fly up". For those of you who don't know, the Garden, at the Joseph Smith Building, lets you release a balloon on your birthday. Andrea discovered this in December when we ate there before we saw the Temple Lights.

Before we went to dinner we gave her one present, a jewelry box with a spinning ballerina on top. She also asked to open her package from my parents, and who are we to argue when it's her day. Grandma Joan and Grandpa Jim gave her a Cinderella doll that sings "Happy Birthday" along with some dresses for the doll, and the movie Cinderella. So on the way to dinner she got to watch the movie and bring the doll. She felt she needed to make the doll sing everytime there was a song in the movie.

At dinner we came to learn that the roof was actually broken, but they gave her a balloon anyway and we asked if she wanted to go release it outside, but she just wanted to keep it. I was worried she would be upset, but she seemed to understand.

Andrea had asked for a Princess Birthday party, so Friday night we invited some family and friends over for some cake and ice cream. I knew the cake I had planned wouldn't feed too many people, so we baked some cupcakes as well. A lot of our guests weren't able to make it, because of sickness or family needs, so we ended up not even cutting into the cake that night, but Ryan and I have enjoyed most of it since.

Andrea got some very nice gifts, some cash, a bubble gum machine, a cabbage patch doll, a new dress and outfit. A couple of books, a puzzle, the movie "Up", and a new game for her mobigo.

Her crown from Aunt Amy

The biggest hit has been a bag of balls that Amy had sewn for Andrea. These balls make an appearance everyday, and are hers and Daddy's favorite thing to play with. Bracken and Andrea also play with them all the time.