HOME IMPROVEMENT part 1

So now that we know we are staying here in Denver for a while we decided to do some upgrades to the old homestead... We pulled up the carpet in the dining room and in the living room and with the help of some great guys from our Church.. we installed laminate wood floors.

Ripping up the carpet! Are you sure we know what we are doing?

There it goes.. up and...

out of here...

The install starts.

Tommy is measuring.. turns out he might not be the best guy for that task.. Just kidding Tommy!

The last of it is going in.. isn't is PURDY?

Is that Brandon using power tools? nice cut Brandon!

I think they look beautiful. Thanks to Tommy, Clint, Brandon and Clark for helping with the install and the use of tools! We are most grateful! I was surprised at how fast it all went. They started at about 9am and were done by 2. Dakota and I took a little trip to Chuck E Cheese.. I am not sure who had a harder time the guys or me running after Dakota at Chuck E Cheese. But we had a good time.

I guess I should mention that my living room was in disaray for days. My couches were in the hall way.. the dining room table in the kitchen.. the chairs and other furniture were in Dakota's room. We are slowly getting things back to a normal state. On top of that Peter got sick on Wednesday night.. we had a huge snow storm thurs... what an adventure it has been.

The second part of our home improvement project is.. PAINTING. This is more of me than for anyone else. I HATE white walls. I think walls need life! So once again I have a yellow dining room and kitchen which I had in Charleston too... Although there are no pictures of me painting I did most of the work. Peter did rescue me in doing the trim... he is great! But we are also going to be painting the living room.. so more pictures to follow. I am so happy it's getting all done!

Here is the bare white walls of my dining room...

my wonderful husband smiling while getting the trim~ The color is all off in this picture. I do not have orange walls!

There the color is much better!.. Peter blends in with the wallThere are my beautiful yellow walls! I love it!

ABC's and Colors

Dakota is learning his ABC's and Colors. Just thought I would share a video of him.. it took us like 4 tries to get him to say it all the way though. Enjoy!

Dakota Franklin

Dakota Franklin

Name & Meaning: Dakota Franklin got his name because I have always loved the name Dakota, but to me it's a total boy name. and Franklin after my dad.. we are going to try to use family names for middle names in all the children we are blessed with. We also found that Peter has Franklin in his family line too... Dakota is native american name that means Friend. and Franklin means "free man" 

Age: 2 years 11mos

Nicknames: bugga bear, Kota Bear, Kota, boy. 

Favorite Activities: Swimming( he like water), being a pirate, sword fighting (including w/ light-sabers), cars, riding his big wheel, playgrounds, playing with Tate and Vince

Favorite Foods: Hot dogs, applesauce, chocolate, chicken nuggets, 

Least Favorite Foods: That list is to long. 

Favorite Music: Primary songs, mostly daddy's music.

Favorite Toy: Cars 

Favorite Book: Where the wild things are. 

Favorite Item of Clothing: He doesn't care what he wears. 

What Makes Him Happy: bed time stories (but not bedtime), cuddle time, going to the park, playing in the snow. 

What Makes Him Sad: Getting told no. 

Funny Words or Phrases: "I can't say that word" ; or the made up words that don't really mean anything.... "easy killer" "your driving me crazy kid" 

10 days is too LONG!

Well Dakota and I made it back home yesterday afternoon. We were both very ready to home in our own beds and with daddy! We had a great time visiting Grandma, Grandpa and Pepper in Montrose. And also Aunt Margaret, Racheal, Steve and baby Ava. It was great seeing some old friends from California who now live in Utah... We didn't get to see everyone we wanted to but the mission was a success in what we went there to do.. and that was to help Racheal with the new baby. But we won't be taking a trip without daddy again for a long time.

We started the trip going to Grandma and Grandpa Burris' house. We stayed there for about 4 days.. we played with Pepper and went on walks. And I even made my very first apron. I think it turned out quite well for a first time.

We wanted to go feed the ducks. But we could only find 2 ducks and some other little boys had already been there feeding them. But we had fun throwing bread into the water. And we had a nice walk around the park.

Then we packed up and headed to Utah. We were so excited to see baby Ava and Racheal (and Steve too). Ava is so beautiful. When you asked Dakota what the baby's name is he will so EVAAA( like on Wall-E).. if I said no it's AVA.. he would say.. "I CAN'T SAY THAT WORD" So to Dakota she is baby EVA. But we had a good time in Provo. We are grateful to Aunt Margaret for letting us stay at her house. We weren't really there much, except to sleep and shower. We did all go to IKEA while we were there.. I bought a few things.... and we also had lunch there too.

We took a nice walk to the Provo Temple which was beautiful. It was a Monday afternoon and there was a wedding group taking pictures. But we were able to get a few. That was a fun thing to do with Racheal and Ava.

Dakota and I went to visit my brother which was fun. He and I talked a lot... after that we went downtown to see Temple Square and hang out with some friends that moved from Colorado out there. Dakota had so much fun with Navi... we are glad we got to hang out. Here are some pictures from that trip. We did ride trax downtown which was fun. Dakota played MC and let us know who was getting on and off.. and why did that man have that.. or why was that lady standing there. (and Dakota doesn't say anything in a quite voice).. I am sad I didn't get any pictures of us on Trax or with our friends.

Dakota looks good in this one, but I am making a funny face... So I also posted ...

This one. I look good, but Dakota is not looking. But he enjoyed seeing Jesus there.

On Wednesday we went back downtown so we could so see the Conference center and go to the Distribution center. We had a very nice tour guide that got us though the important parts of the conference center and up on the roof. What a beautiful building. I want to go back and do the whole tour. (But I am taking Peter with me next time). Then over to the Joseph Smith Building to get a few things. Then back down to Provo to have dinner with Katie and Ryan, and Laural and her family. Laural's husband Ronaie ( I don't think I spelled that right) and become a citizen of the US that day.. so we were all very happy for them. We had a great dinner until Dakota started running a fever... I think all the traveling had gotten to him. But we went to the BYU creamery which was fun. I had never been there. (and again I didn't get any pictures). But it was a fun night.

The morning we got up to go.. Dakota threw up like 4 times before 9. I didn't know what to do. He couldn't keep anything down.... But he took a nap and when we woke up he drank a little and ate a little.. and we headed to Grandma's. I think all the traveling and stress of being away really got to him. He is so happy to be home and be with his daddy.

Peter took us out to dinner last night to Texas Roadhouse, then we came home and watched Australia. Good movie. Sad.. but good. I am so happy to be home!

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

HOMEMADE just for you!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1 - I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2 - What I create will be just for you.

3 - It'll be done this year (might take a little while).

4 - You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article. I may crochet or quilt something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5 - I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch?

Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Good luck!

Jumpin' Fun

My Family of 3.

Yesterday we enjoyed a day out in Loveland at Jumpin Fun. We met some friends up there. It was a great day. Dakota had a great time. Jumpin fun is a place that has Jump castles set up and you pay only for the kids and they can jump all day. Dakota loves playing with TJ and this was a great place to go. We went to Red Robin for lunch! (my favorite!) We also met some new friends the Westbos. Such a fun family. It was a great way to spend a Saturday! Thanks Maria. Dakota liked the jump castles but had even a better time on the play equipment.. but it was great day overall!

Best BuddiesJumpin fun!

Enjoy lunch at Red Robin

Lesson Learnded ( I hope)

The other day I was home and helping Dakota do something when I noticed writing on the wall. I said "Dakota did you do this" he said "yes mom" I said (maybe in voice louder then needed) "we don't write on walls! What do we write on?" though the tears you hear "Paper".. he knows better. We have taught him for a long time.. we only write on paper. So this is Dakota cleaning the writing on the wall. It was only one little line, but I hope the lesson is learned.

Injury in Nursery

So last week Jared the Nursey leader came and got me from Relief Society (which never happens), when I looked back to see him standing at the door with Dakota, Dakota wasn't crying or anything so I thought we would need to change his diaper... but as soon as I walked out Dakota started crying. I was like "what's wrong" I didn't see any injuries at first, then I saw the side of head. He had a big bruise and a little cut. I was like "what happened?" Dakota had climbed into one of the closets and then laid down and pushed the shlef up with his feet which made the other side of the shelf fall on him. But it wasn't a big deal.. after a little lovin' from mom and a wash of the face and hands, he went right back. When we got him for a few days after that he insisted on a bandaid. Funny kid. Here are a few pictures of the injury.