Fall cravings

First of all I just have to say that there's not much else that I love more than new Fall clothes. I know it's weird and I don't care. I think it dates back to starting a new school year and getting new school clothes or something. And unfortunately, where I live, there's not much need for new things when Fall arrives because it never really does. It just gradually stops being too hot & humid to leave the house (unless you're heading to the pool) sometime in November. Seriously, the past two Halloweens here were too hot and humid for costumes and trick-or-treating and the mosquitos were a nightmare. But I digress... back to Fall things. I got my Fall catalog from Boden a few days ago and spent a really long time poring over the pages and dog-earing everything I loved and by the time I finished it, I had folded down almost half of the pages in the magazine. Now, I've liked Boden stuff since I got my first catalog from them years ago but I am so in love with so many things from the catalog I hardly know where to start. So I decided I would have to post a few of my favorites (along with their prices) to talk myself out of a major shopping and spending spree. Prepare yourselves to "Fall" in love...

This is called, appropriately, the "fun skirt." I covet it. It would go with almost anything!

$98

The "good mood" tee

$58

The Hamptons Cardigan - it's wool, so totally impractical but I love it. Check out the kiwi melange color here.

$108

I have to give Emily credit here. She pointed this outfit out to me while we were on the phone yesterday and I think I like it almost as much as she does. Orange and navy? I wouldn't have thought to put them together, but I love this and I want it! Especially the Dotty Flower Skirt. It also comes in a really pretty violet color.

$68These navy boots are also in the above picture. Love the suede cuff at the top.

$268

I'm not usually one to yearn after a denim dress but I love this one.

$88

Oddly enough, I have always wanted a pair of wellies and it rains here enough to almost justify getting some. I've even seen some that I liked before, but I think these take the cake.

$48

I love the layered look but hate actually wearing a lot of layers, so I really like things like this that look layered but are just one simple shirt. Lots of cute color options at their website. Go see!

$48

Isn't this cute? I posted this because I really like the polka-dot shirt she's wearing. It also comes in green (see here).

$88

Last but not least, this cute little dress.

$118

Bringing my grand total to a mere $990. With my 10% off coupon (and free shipping!) I would only have to shell out $891 for my new fall wardrobe. None of which will fit me by this fall - or winter - anyway due to the fact that I'm 14 weeks pregnant. Really though, check out Boden's website. There are so many cute things and jackets and stuff that I didn't even include. Let me know what you think. And if you know a quick, easy way for me to earn $891 - there's always next fall right?

Have y'all seen this yet?

Breaking Dawn

In anticipation of the 4th installment of the famous "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer (due out THIS SATURDAY) I've have spent the last few days re-reading the first 3 books. I had originally decided to just skim through and review them, but once I picked them up, I just couldn't help myself and I read all 3. I'd forgotten how good they are and how much I enjoy reading them - although I think my family hates it when I get that into a book (or three). Anyway, I have A LOT of things I want to post about and I even marked pages in my books that I wanted to quote on my blog, but I've decided not to (mainly in the interest of time...) Anyway, I just have to wonder about a few things...

• Why is Jacob described as being so good for Bella? Bella frequently refers to him as her sun - he equals warmth and comfort for her. Like Jacob tells Bella at the end of "Eclipse" they would have been totally natural together. He would be like sun or air for her whereas Edward is her "drug." Is that a good thing? That Bella CAN'T live without Edward? Is it healthy? Don't get me wrong - I really like Edward and I know how happy he makes Bella, but after this reading (my third) I just have some doubts I guess...
• Is Bella really going to give up the human world and everything that goes with it to become a vampire? I think this is the last book in the series and I keep thinking this question has to be answered, but she's been able to put it off so far... Plus, maybe I'm just old but I can't help but think that I'm so glad I didn't get most of the things I desperately wished for when I was 18. Things change as we get older and the things we want and dream evolve. 18 is pretty young to make a decision with such lasting consequences.
• Does it bug anyone else that Edward flat out LIES to Bella in the third book? If he loves her so much, why isn't he honest with her? He convinces her to go to FL to visit her mom after telling her that Alice's vision in the lunchroom had to do with Jasper (a flat out lie) when it was actually about the return of Victoria. Why the deception? I think Jacob has every right to be mad that Edward kept the truth from Bella and I wonder why it didn't bother Bella more to know that her true love was deceitful and dishonest. It bugged me.
• I know things work out, but it also bugged me more this time around that Edward leaves in book 2. I understand why he left and what his intentions were, but how could he let Bella suffer like that? If he could read anyone's thoughts (Charlie's, Jessica's, anyone who knew or spent time with Bella) he would know how much she was suffering. It seems cruel.

I guess those are just a few of my thoughts. I know not everyone sees things my way and I'm not looking to start an argument or anything. I'm just excited for the 4th book to come out and hopefully answer a few of my questions. I'm always a little sad when a series that I like is over and I'm just wondering how I'm going to feel after this story ends... I just want a happy ending but I wonder what exactly that would mean for these characters.

Anyone who wants to read a "spoiler" announced by Stephenie Meyer herself can find it here.

Happy reading!

July 24th

Happy 24th of July!

Since this really isn't a holiday here in Texas, as it commemorates the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley, we aren't doing anything to celebrate. But I thought I would post a few pictures from our recent trip to Utah. We visited "Heritage Square" where you can tour a pioneer-era settlement. Here are my kids in front of the "This is the [right] place" momument. They didn't care much about it.

Here, a "pioneer" woman is teaching the kids how to play a game the pioneer kids used to play. If you're interested, all the "pioneers" here are volunteers and this nice lady had her kids with her (even a baby on her hip part of the time) while she talked to and helped our kids find their way around. I was amazed that this sweet lady would bring her kids along in the heat and do this for free!
Here's cousin Isaac trying his hand. You have to catch the fabric loop on your two sticks and then "throw" it back to the other person by sort of flicking your sticks apart. It's harder than it looks!
Hannah got to wash some laundry on an old-fashioned wash board. My mom suggested I buy one and put her to work on it when she misbehaves. Not a bad idea actually, except she seemed to think this was pretty fun. I wonder if the pioneers felt the same way...(hooray, it's laundry day!)
And she got to hang her clean laundry in the sun to dry.
Here, another friendly volunteer is teaching my kids how to make crickets out of combs and pipe cleaners. If you don't know the story about the pioneers and the crickets, I could probably find you a link to a story about it or something, but I'm much too lazy (and posting way too late in the day) to worry about it right at the moment.
The kids also got to ride a pony. Here's Charlie!
And Hannah!
We also got a ride a train through town. Then, we traded some money in at the bank for "Deseret Dollars" which we promptly spent at the store... on candy.
The highlight of the day though HAD to be during lunch when I lost Rachel and my sister Emily lost her son, Noah. We were searching for them everywhere and couldn't find them inside or outside of the building where we were eating lunch. I was starting to get a little panicked when Emily heard a ringing noise. We walked over to the elevator and when the doors opened up, sure enough, there they both were - all alone and having the time of their lives. Little Noah was pushing the fire alarm button or we might not have ever found them. Yikes! I do things like this so often, I'm just waiting for my "Mother of the Year" award.

Urgent

So, if any of you are McDonald's fans, my son has been collecting the Transformer toys from his Happy Meals in recent weeks. It is completely taking over his (and my) life. Anyway, we made yet another trip today to get the last one he needs to complete the collection: Lugnut (shown above) only to be told that today is the last day of the promotion and ~gasp~ they are out of Lugnuts. So if any of you have an extra, we would happily pay the shipping AND throw in an Optimus Prime to boot (we have an extra). Let me know. Otherwise, I may not get ANY peace for the next few days...

Our latest happenings...

With the arrival of Hurricane Dolly, we are staying home for the next day or two. We had major thunderstorms during the night and everything will be wet for the next few days, so I have a (lame) excuse to stay home and putter around. So it's 9:53 am and I'm feeling pretty good about my day so far: I've showered, the kids are all fed and dressed, the dishwasher is running, the washer and dryer are also running and everyone is occupied enough for me to post. Hooray!
So, yesterday was a big day. We had painters come to paint our office and entry way. We've never hired someone to paint before - we've always done it ourselves, but with these high ceilings, I was pretty sure we needed to call in a professional. And it was awesome! Here's a picture of the entry way on Monday night. (See the pretty dining room through the archway? Last summer's project...)
And here it is this morning! We still have a lot of work to do, mostly in the office. But it's really exciting to finally have the painting done. I've been waiting over 2 years to do this. And I was very nervous about the color - mostly because it's a little bit darker than I would've normally chosen but I love the way it turned out. Hannah and I had to run to Home Depot last night at 8:00 too because the color we picked for the art niche looked exactly the same as the main color and I really wanted a contrast, but we found something else I liked (Hannah was a GREAT helper) and I really like the way that turned out as well.
We also got our new sofa table delivered yesterday. I'm still not completely decided about the "stuff" on it but it's another thing I've been waiting a long time for. So yesterday was almost as good as Christmas for me (maybe even better...) and now I've got to go start putting things back in their places. Hooray for the hurricane.

We're FINALLY back...

Fortunately, we're home safe and sound from our long trip to Utah. We had a blast!
Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera cord on the trip so I couldn't upload pictures and thus the five week interval from my last blog post.
Fortunately, the computer is working great after an 8 day stay at our local Best Buy.
Unfortunately, it had over 70 viruses on it when we got home and we had just paid $200 for our anti-virus software. (We are currently seeking a refund).
Fortunately, I have lots of pictures on the camera and ideas for posts.
Unfortunately, I also have over 1300 emails that I need to read and/or delete. It's gonna take HOURS! 5 weeks with no computer is a pain!

Anyway, I'm glad to be back and settling into our summer routine. The carpet cleaners were here today and tomorrow, we're finally getting our entry way and office painted. I can't wait. Hopefully, I'll get through some of those emails so I'll have time to post some pictures...