Barbie's New House

So, Barbie has a new house around these parts. Well, I should say more like a renovated house. It's been a long time coming. Back in August, ( or was it September?) I was given this doll house by my sister. Her two girls had outgrown it. Luckily it was given to me during garage sale season so I was able to sell our old slightly flimsy doll house. Ally and I had great hopes of getting this house fixed up quickly. However, the most that happened was that the wallpaper got steamed off and it got a thorough cleaning. Then it sat, and Ally impatiently waited.

Finally around the week before Christmas it got my attention. Suddenly I had a ticking clock over my head. I had to do 4 coats of primer. It had been painted multiple times, with both oil based paint and water based paint. It had been scraped off, drawn on with permanent marker and nail polish. I had just painted the roof pink and was starting on the actual white paint for the base of it when Ally saw it. She immediately wanted "pink carpet". So off I went, taping, painting, taping, painting, you get the idea. I was working down in the unfinished basement and it was cold, so the drying time in between coats was forever long. But I had it ready Christmas day when the girls opened up all of their new Barbie furniture. The house was ready to move into.

As you can see it was a hit. The only thing this house needs is a little artwork on the walls. Ally and I are keeping our eyes out for something cool, and Barbie worthy.

Flashback Friday: Ice Skating January 2004

Flashback Friday today is from way back in January 2004. It was the first, and now come to think of it, last time, we ever took our kids ice skating. Ryland was just an infant, about 2 months old. I left him in my mother's care while Nate and I braved the ice with a 2 and 4 year old. We went with my Dad and my sister Jen's family to the Ice Sheet in Ogden. It was a definite adventure, especially considering that the only way Nate and I know how to stop on ice skates is to either wipe out or just plain run into the wall! We survived with our bodies in tact though, so I guess that is something.

Nate and Ally

Grandpa Burke and Ethan

Jen and Sawyer

Nate and Ethan

Me and Ally

Nate, Ethan, Me, Shaylen and Ally

Shaylen, Ethan, Me, and Ally

Flashback Friday: 503 Leona Ave

I thought it would be fun to dedicate today's Flashback Friday to mine and Nate's first newlywed apartment. Thirteen years ago we were just home from our weekend honeymoon. We were trying to set up our little home and decide how badly we really wanted to leave it, (or rather each other!) and go to school and work!

503 Leona Ave

We lived in the basement of this little home for the first 3 months of our marriage. It was quite an experience. We didn't have our own entrance to the basement so we went through this door and then went immediately down the stairs. Our door at the bottom of the stairs didn't lock since the communal laundry room was downstairs. Our "roommate" was this sweet little old lady named Jenny. She would knock lightly as a "warning" and then proceed into our apartment. It always kept us on our toes. The one and only time I ever convinced my husband to go running with me. Since we only lived there a short time we don't have many photos of this place. I found a few odds and ends to show you. It was NOT a large place so the tour won't last very long!

We bought those couches, the coffee, end tables, lamps were from La Quinta Inn in Layton when they were remodeling. They were our couches for about a year when we received my Grandma Sargent's navy blue and maroon couches as an upgrade. :) The Lazyboy was given to us from my Aunt LaRue I believe. It stayed with us for around 5 years.

I remember taking this photo. We were setting up house, we had just gotten home from waiting tables at Garcia's in Layton, where we both worked the first 3 months we were married.

I remember being terrified of our furnace. It was gas and really old. I was completely unused to it and lived in fear that it would blow up on us whenever Nate touched it.
This photo is looking from the Living Room into the kitchen. I guess I don't have any other photos of the kitchen. Didn't spend a lot of time there, I guess. Although I think Nate remembers, quite vividly, eating quite a few of my "homemade bean burritos" in there. I'd like to think my cooking has improved dramatically since those early days.

Unfortunately this photo of the shower doesn't show the bare light bulb hanging dangerously low inside the shower. I thought for sure we were gonna be electrocuted every time we used it!

We had a lot of good times in this place, even though we didn't live there all that long. For $175.00 a month it was AWESOME! Of course our next place was FREE! Can't beat that! Keep your eye on an upcoming Flashback Friday to get a looksie at that sweet Home Sweet Home!

Wordless Wednesday: On Your Mark, Get Set......

(christmas morning 2010)

Ward Christmas Party 2010

Brace yourselves. Just when you thought the Christmas season was truly over you are about to be smacked right along side your head with many Little Mills Kingdom Christmas posts. Because

once again I am so far behind in my blogging. I all but took the entire month of December off. I was too busy Decking the Halls and being Merry and Bright with my kids to sit down and blog. My apologies. So for the next week-ish, I will be catching up with the great month O'December.

The Friday before Christmas we had our Ward Christmas Party. Here are some of the photo highlights of that awesome night.

Tess L., Kai M., and Evelyn, they are cute little Primary buddies.

Ethan was asked to play Joseph in the Primary program. So sweet. Ally is just to the right of Mary.

This night brought to the foreground a bit of emotion for me. As I sat visiting with some friends while the kids were in line to sit on Santa's lap I noticed that Ethan was no where to be found. He was at the other end of the gym hanging with his friends. I was a little taken aback that he wasn't anxious to sit on Santa's lap. What?? When did this happen? My friend was feeling the same way about her son so we hunted them down and all but begged them to PUHLEEASE go sit on Santa's lap so we could get a picture. I have a feeling this will be the last time I get one. I'm so not ready for this. He asked Santa for a laptop with internet connection. Totally not ready.

Ally was sure that if she asked Santa for a Bratz doll she would finally get one. She had been denied for years because I think they look like, well, Brats.

Ryland was more than eager to sit on Santa's lap. He asked for an Obi Wan Star Fighter.

Evelyn at first wasn't too sure about sitting on Ol' Saint Nick's lap, but the promise of a candy cane swayed her. If she had had any idea he was gonna give her a "hot" one (peppermint) she probably still would have refused. She asked him for Princess Dollies.

At the party they had a photo booth. It was a riot to watch the kids experience this and have fun getting their pictures taken with their friends.

Mondays with Marjorie

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling." - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

It's been a while since I have posted a quote from Sister Hinckley. When I came across this one again I thought it would be a great time, what with the new year and resolutions and all, to post it. It is a great reminder to me to put my shoulder to the wheel. Or like my friend Mary likes to say, "Time to pull my big girl panties up" and get to work. But not only that, but to get to work on the things I am supposed to be doing. Not necessarily the stuff I think I am supposed to be doing. There is a difference.

Photo Shoot Sunday: Thirteen

Today's Photo Shoot Sunday is being dedicated to January 9th, 1998. Thirteen years ago Nate and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple. Time sure goes by fast. As I look at our wedding photos I can't help think that we looked thirteen! So much has happened since this photo was taken. I am forever grateful that he chose me to spend his forever with. We have had our share of ups and downs and I know for a fact we will be in for some more the next thirteen years, and the thirteen after that. I look forward to having him by my side as we navigate our way through them. So today I wanted to tell my Mr. that I love him dearly and thank him again for choosing me.