some permanent shenanigans!

I have wanted a tattoo since I was a teenager, but I was always too scared to get one. Well, after a few months of figuring out what I want, my hubby surprised me one day and took me to a tattoo shop! It's finally healing after 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier. The 5 birds represent my family, and the saying "Alis volat propriis" is latin for "she flies with her own wings," a phrase that seems very fitting for me. It hurt, really bad. I had to take a few breaks 'cause I almost passed out from holding my breath, and there are a few touch ups that need to happen, but all in all I am in love with it. A week and 2 days after I got this tattoo, I went to a shop here in town with some of my girlfriends and we each got a little heart on our ankles to represent the love and support that we have been given by each other and our families through a very hard transition in life (loss of the religion we all had growing up). I like tattoos that have meaning. I plan to get one more, but I don't know when or what yet. I've got plenty of time!





 

We're IN!!

On Saturday we officially moved into our new home! We were so thankful to have such amazing help from friends and family. Thank you to Brett, Troy, Kelly, Danny, and Preston for all of your amazing muscles, and a big thank you to Gena for taking Kenley, Hollie for taking the boys, and Stephanie for dinner, we have some amazing friends here. It was definitely our most UN-ORGANIZED move ever, and it's been driving me nuts, because I like to be organized. Yesterday I met some friends for breakfast and Mimosa's, then we headed to the rental to clean, it took us 3 hours, but I'm SO glad it's done, and I'm so thankful to Hollie, Karen and Ashley for helping me clean. I have been busting my butt ever since last night to get the house in at least a livable condition, without boxes all over the place. I'm happy with the progress we've made. We have all the things we need, and there are boxes in the garage full of the decor and extra's (I'm excited to go through those boxes, I haven't seen my pretty stuff since August). So here are yet more pictures of our house! I put the before's up again because I want to remember all the hard work we put in... speaking of hard work, I did snap some shots of my girlfriends helping me paint the kitchen last week!

Gena!

Hollie and Ashley, well Ashley's back side!

Smile Karen!! And now for the house pictures...

Living Room before.

Living room after.

Living room after, again.

Master bedroom before.

Master bedroom after (SO much I want to do with my room... just have to be patient!)

Master after, again.

1/2 bath on main floor. I didn't take a before pic of this one it was just tan, but Grant did SUCH a good job on this room, I had to show off his finish carpentry skills!

1/2 bath again

Office before.

Office after.

Kids bath before, oh the sponge paint!

Kids bath after.

Kenley's room before.

Kenley's room after... still needs a lavender chair rail where the tan stripe is, that'll happen hopefully this weekend.

She wanted me to put up two pictures of her room 'cause she loves it!

Chase's room before, green sponge painting

Chase's room after! Still have to putty and caulk the trim and paint it blue, again, hopefully it will happen this weekend.

Kade's room before.

Kade's room after. He and Chase both picked their own room colors, I think they did a pretty good job!

bonus room before.

Bonus room after, not much changed, just added toys and put our own couch up there

bonus after again

one more of the bonus

Bonus 1/2 bath, also used to be covered in sponge paint, now it's our Bronco's bathroom!

Kitchen before.

the kitchen before again.

The kitchen after! My favorite room in the house.

Some of my favorite kids!

I had the opportunity to take pictures for some of my favorite people! Grant's cousin, who is also one of my besties, trusted me enough to take pictures of her adorable kiddos. It was so much fun, the kids were great and all smiled really well for me! Thanks E, R, M and baby E, I sure love you guys!

2012 Color Run!

Last weekend I ran in my very first 5k! :) It's funny, because I technically "run" a 5k all the time, and it's ironic because I just skipped 5k's and went right to a 1/2 marathon! But, this was my first real honest to gosh 5k, it was the color run. I ran it with friends and with my cousins-in-law. The color powder they use sticks to everything, teeth, tongue, clothes, shoes, hair... everything. And it was great! I can't wait to do it next year with my entire family, I think my kids would have a blast!