Sometimes, just sometimes

Yup! Ocassionally I can be creative too! It was my Sister-in-Law Alex's birthday at the end of September. I found these cute shirts a couple of weeks earlier and thought they would be great presents for her:
I decided that I would make the other part of her present. Soooo I also made a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet to match the two shirts.

I have been making jewelry for about 5 years now. I still love to make pieces and I bead whenever I can. Here is a picture of my creations created especially for her and I hope that she liked my gift! Hope your birthday was great Alex!! Love ya girl!

Some things get better in time

One of the coolest things about our new house is the lake that they built behind our house, I thought that I would show how it has progressed over time! We have had a lot of pleasant suprises along the way.

After living on a busy street for 10 years we wanted to live in a circle. We were THRILLED when we found a lot in a circle AND then even more thrilled to learn it was going to have a waterway behind it. Little did we know what it would one day look like.

To refresh your memory, these are the last pictures of the lake that I shared, taken in February 2009.
Looking back it seems like they have been working on our lake FOREVER! February 2009.

I was so excited to get the first ducks in our lake. Lauren named these ones, Louie and Sally. February 2009.

Okay, let's back up and start from the beginning before I show the TODAY pictures. Here is how it looked BEFORE construction even began August 2008, just a heap of dirt.

August 2008, you can see the light and the street.

Starting the foundation of the lake, August 2008. On a side note, I think the blue sky and the clouds in the background look really cool.

This is September 2008, they had started to build the house, this picture is taken from where the lake is now:

This tunnel has been there since way before we started building, but for months it had guck around it, as shown in this picture. September 2008.

Forming up the lake. September 2008.

A shot from inside the house, from above. September 2008.

My Mom, Dad and sisters checking out my house for one of the first times. You can see the ledge and where the water will SOON be. September 2008.

A lot can change in just a year! This was October 2008.

Another shot from where the water currently is. October 2008.

Ivory (our builders) gave us this fence..another pleasant surprise..woo-hoo! November 2008.

Seeing the lake take shape! November 2008.

What a difference a month makes! This was taken the day we closed on our loan. December 2008. Finally there is water!

Beautiful mountains in the distance. I love living in Utah. December 2008.

And that brings us to today! Another surprise along the way is to find out that there would be walking trails laced throughout our development along with many other waterways. The most recent surprise came the end of September when we looked out the window to see TREES being planted behind our house! That came shortly after the rock wall. I can't wait to see what may come next!

Here I think you can get a picture of all that they have accomplished. One day soon I think, they will pave the road over the bridge.

Oooh! Another recent surprise was the addition of windmills throughout the neighborhood. I think they may be for natural power or something. This was taken from the corner of our property. I like the three contrasting blues of the sky, the mountains and the water.

Here is our house today, lake, trees, rock-wall and all. My little slice of heaven!

I am loving our new purple tree and the baby green one, can you see it? Can't wait to watch them grow!

Matt had made the comment to me that he likes when people blog about projects, that he likes to see how things progress. So, this post is for you Matt. Like a fine wine, or our lake in the backyard....

Some things get better in time. I will try to keep you updated as things progress even more.

My Great Weekend!

Before I get to the fun pictures, I have to brag about the work I did this weekend. Matt and I got all of the sprinklers installed in the front yard. I think that I impressed Matt with all of my digging skills! Glad it is done...now we have to do the back yard and lay down sod..oh and landscaping....having a new house is a LOT of work...hopefully we will never have to do it again!
One day it will be pretty pretty! PS...Matt is amazing! He is soo good at everything he does! His perfectionism was only slightly time-consuming, but appreciated!

Okay, to the fun stuff...and I am warning you...I have lots of pics! Oh and another warning, I LOVE shots taken from behind...they seem so sweet!

Well, Matt's brother Greg and his wife Alex and us have a fun little deal. We take turns watching each other kids every other weekend so that the other couple can go out. It is win-win! Not only do I get to hang out with my cute nieces every other week, I also get to go on a date with my hubby every other week too! Here are some pics of our weekend babysitting!

Here is my niece Madeleine! She is such a good little baby! I think she is adorable!

She was a good little trooper as we took the older kids around Gardner Village to see the witches. I just love Halloween and we couldn't wait for our first trip of the year. The first of many, if I dare guess.

Here is Matt, Lauren, Jamie, and my niece Isabella checking out the lake and the witch in the boat.

The Three Muskateers! They get along so great and LOVE hanging out with each other every week. We are so lucky!

Lauren and Bella with their first witch. Jamie was a little too shy at first.

Jamie got brave enough for a pic. Cute kiddos if I do say so myself!

Like I said, I love pics from the back. My kids are great!

The red hat witch!

Kids on a swing.

Hard to get a pic with ALL the kids looking and smiling...2 outta 3 on this one!

I am looking forward to Fall!

Awww..cousins and friends.

The hula-hooping witch:

Matt offered to buy everyone a trest from "Sweet Aftons". The best candy store ever! The kids all chose Ring Pops. They were all thrilled, look at Jamie's big ol' grin!

Matt and ALL four kiddos. They all look like they have binkies!

Matt and Maddy. Matt is so good with kids, even babies. Man, I sure lucked out snagging him!

Me and my girl, Lauren.

Me and my boy Jamie:

Adventurous Jamie:

Adorable Bella!

Sweet Lauren:

Later that night, we went over to Matt's dad's house for some hot dogs cooked on the fire pit. Yum!! Jamie was more interested in playing with Maddy's carseat! He thought it was soo funny! What a silly boy!

Me and the three girls around the fire.

I don't know if you can see this or not, but Lauren and Bella are dragging around Jamie on a blanket. It was so funny. They get a kick out of the strangest things!

My cute hubby Matt, what a good sport!

Matt's dad Leo and his wife Tina enjoying the family and the fire:

The kids begged Matt to play Tag. Which he did. He used to do the same thing with my little sisters when they were little kids. He is so much fun.

Tina and Maddy.

Lauren and Bella...best little buddies!

And one final shot of the fire. I could sit around a campfire all night! It was a little bittersweet. Summer is over, and although I love the Fall..I am not a Winter fan! This weekend was full of a little bit of work, a little bit of fun and a lot of family. In other words, perfect.

PS. I love you Matt. Thanks for your example of working hard and playing hard. You are the best!