Sooo...... We're Building a House!!

For months Jake and I have been browsing the internet to find a house for us. We decided that we didn't want to keep renting and that we wanted to get settled down for the sake of our kids. I am tired of going from temporary situation to temporary situation. I am tired of feeling so cramped. It was just time to dig our roots deeper.

We looked and looked and nothing really excited us except for one house in pleasant grove that was out of our price range and an offer was already accepted. I was pretty bummed.

I passed by a new development in pleasant grove and saw some great lots owned by a construction company I had never heard "Artisan Construction". I called and loved everything Jared had to say and then after some praying and fasting, we went for it!

So..... We are building a house! What a dream come true. I can't believe that I actually get to walk through my own half built house as it's being constructed and I get to be a part of flooring, and lighting and design and floor plans etc... We didn't find just a big cookie cutter house builder, but a custom builder who really just leaves all the decisions up to us. This is a picture of the floorplan (part 2) that I drew myself on graph paper. After loving floor plans and going to so many parade of homes, we really knew what we wanted and I loved being able to draw my floor plan!! We are really amazed that this is happening. So so humbled and grateful!

By next Spring we will be permanent pleasant grove residents!!

The Itch to Paint

I started learning about chalk paint and now I've been painting everything! With building the new house, I know we won't be able to afford all new furniture so I thought I would just give ours a make over! I've loved seeing things come to life with a fresh coat of paint!!! I even taught myself how to distress wood and make a wood top for my really really ugly gross coffee table! 

Our Lovely Ballroom Dancer

Charly just completed her first year on the Center Stage Ballroom competition team! She went in to take a hip hop class and ended up on the ballroom team. Center Stage is known for their ballroom dance program. So many famous dancers have emerged from their studio! It's been fun watching Charly learn and become so good in such a short amount of time. Since her mom was gone for the weekend I got to take her to her dress rehearsal and to be there for her recital. Great job this year!!!  We love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

How many girls can we pile into one bed?!! We love to get cozy in Karen's bed. We are so lucky to have such great family and to have so many sweet ladies in our lives! Happy Mother's Day To Us!!

Uncles and Aunts!

These guys are so sweet with my kiddies and they just adore Piper!!! So glad my kids are getting to know and love them! 

Porn Kills Love

I have learned so much this year about the dangers of pornography. It is something I have grown passionate about since I started teaching about addictions. In the past few years there has been so much research that has come through showing the effects of pornography on the heart, the brain and the world. I hope my kids will know to stay away from pornography and other harmful media as they would a poisonous snake. I never want my children to have to suffer the pains that pornography could bring into their life. 

Our Butterfly Release

Our butterflies are all grown up and ready to flee the nest!! It was so cool to watch them grow from the tiniest caterpillars to these beautiful butterflies. We were happy to let them go and see them enjoy being out in the open. 

Mom's Night Out!

I am so lucky to have these lovely ladies in my life! I can't believe Zumba brought us together 3 years ago! It's been a blessing to have some girl friends to hang out with here and there. We just love each other. For girl's night Andrea had a free room up at Snowbird. We got dolled up and had dinner at Aerie. We sat in the restaurant for 4 hours!!! Just talking and eating and eating and talking. We then went back to the room and stayed up till 4am am! We all must be getting old because we felt awful in the morning. lol. 

Piper Loves Books. Piper Loves Pop Pop.

Bry and Jenn Get Sealed

We spent the most beautiful afternoon at the Provo temple with Bry and Jenn and the family. It was so sweet to watch them and their little family be sealed together. Everyone was so so happy. I was so glad we could be there for this amazing day. It is always so great to hear the words and thoughts of a sealer. I really felt the spirit there today. The room was gorgeous with the sun pouring through the stain glass. Bry sobbed. It was so touching.