THE BEGINNINGS OF DECORATING/ORGANIZATION...MOSTLY ORGANIZATION

So, we are ALL moved in and love, love, LOVE the new apartment. It is just so nice to be in a quiet area, and up high enough that we can have our windows open all the time and not worry about the people walking by and the noise from the cars. I think I am probably making our last apartment sound like a dump, which it wasn't. It worked. It was fine. This one is much better though! I think I was supposed to move into those ones though, for two reasons. So that Skyler and Logan Moore (Amanda Summerhays'husband) could become friends and we could all be close friends and second so that I could meet and become great friends with my friend Karen Wynder.

Anyway, I had to give up a few things for this nicer apartment and nicer area. For example, the second bathroom, a closet in Maddux's room, extra cupboards in the kitchen and a BIG laundry room(for an apartment). BUt the fact that I can leave my apartment and take my child for a walk around a little lake, feed ducks and geese make it all worth it. Plus, I get a very nice size garage for storage of what doesn't fit or what I don't want in the apartment.

So, I have had to get creative for storage. Here are some pictures of what I have done.

I don't have many drawers and I needed a place for my kitchen towels and rags.


I thought this was cute, got this idea(and the jar idea)from Karen!


This is to make up for my lack of cupboard space. This is in the closet where the washer/dryer go.


We got these in Idaho from some friends to use when Maddux was a baby. It makes a great armoir and makes up for the missing closet in his room(which his technically the Den)!


His clothes fit pretty well in here. A little tight because Grandma Kathy LOVES to go to Gymboree! But I am not complaining!


I have not fastened a rod to hang the clothes on in the bottom right locker. I made a rod out of old wire hangers and electrical tape. There are holes on the sides of the lockers I ran them through and then bent the ends to keep them put. It seems to work!


We got this dresser and used it as a changing table when he was born. It's just a cheap Kmart find, but in our move to Colorado the bottom drawer totally broke. So I ripped it out and decided to not throw it away, but use these old fabric basket drawers I had from my single days. It holds his socks and shoes. I love it and he knows right where to find, and PUT AWAY his shoes!


I saw this at Clairie-Poo's house when we visited Utah.



This is in my bathroom. We downsized and only have one bathroom now. I thought it would be awful, but it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. My linen closet is not nearly as big as my old one, however I am making do and this is one way I am making it work. I have had these baskets for years! I got them from IKEA back when I was single. I just have kept them because I love them and I ALWAYS have a use for them.


Finally, the living room has the pictures up, but that is about it.


When IKEA opens, which is supposed to be next month I hear, I am going to get curtains and more goodies to decorate the house with. (I have already gone through the website to see what I want!)

Okay, this is it for now because I am tired. ;o)

MOVING!

We are moving in about 3 weeks! This was really a split decision since we got the notice, less than a week ago, that upon signing a new 12 month lease our rent would be raised, for a second time, $35 dollars or $135 for month to month. Well, our place is certainly not worth it, especially since we are RIGHT next to an extremely busy road. We got this place in the beginning because it was just under $800 and discounted because of the noise from the road. Anyway, now it's $100 dollars more than when we first came. So, Skyler got mad. Made some phone calls, tried to get them to work with us, but they wouldn't. So...we found a MUCH better place. I LOVE it! It is in a GREAT area and I can actually leave my apartment with Maddux, not have to scream at him over the noise of the cars, not panic that he is going to be hit, and not have to walk as fast as I can to the car to avoid the "high class" smoking men's stares. Although it is sudden, I CAN'T WAIT!

There is only ONE downside to the new apartment: ONE BATHROOM! BUT, there are so many good things that I will deal with it! It's really great because they pay for our cable, give us a garage, and have front door trash pick up!(Skyler loves that one) AND, it is cheaper than our apt now! We are also moving back into his home stake and into the ward of our good friends, The Smith's. However, he is the Bishop, so I highly doubt we will be able to hide from callings or speaking! ;o)

Here are some pictures from the apartment's website. You can get an Idea of the inside.




I don't think I will have them put red on the wall. My friend gave me the idea to paint the wall around the fireplace and leave the fireplace wall white. I think I like that...


I am having a hard time packing because all I can think about is how I am going to decorate this place. My friend Karen, www.karinaink.blogspot.com, is so stinking creative and her house has so many good ideas that she has inspired me to be more crafty. I can't wait for garage sale season to see if I can find some hidden jems to add to my house. I figure this move will be the perfect opportunity to revamp my little place of living, whether Skyler likes it or not! I figure, I am the one here all day, so I might as well LOVE it! ;o)

Some update...Skyler's business is going REALLY well. I feel very blessed to have found a man that is motivated, passionate and determined to support his family. He loves his work and we are finding out everyday that it really is more about who you know rather than what you know. Seriously, his business is doing so well because he knows SO MANY people and those people refer others to him and so on. We are very blessed and can only pray that this continues. This is crazy, he is getting so much work that he went through BYU-IDAHO and got an intern for the summer! I'm not sure when she starts, but I'm just glad has someone to help, because I have enough to do as it is!

Anyway, I will update once the new place is all set up!

FOUR YEARS AND COUNTING!

Well...Skyler and I have now been married for four years! We've had our moments, but it has been wonderful! I feel very lucky to be married to a motivated, hardworking, gospel oriented man, and most importantly my BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD! So I thought I would put up some pictures of us and our growing family over the years.






















I love my honey and I'm looking forward to the next four years + some...or a lot, like ETERNITY! I just feel so lucky and love him so much I had to tell everybody!

I LOVE YOU SKYLER! FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Here is an update of our lives, as well as some Christmas morning pictures.

Skyler is still contracted with Quizno's Corporate offices working in their on-line marketing department. They even invited us to the our first Cocktail Party for Christmas! Although, it probably wasn't as fun as it could have been since we were just drinking Coke and Sprite! Currently he is also working for another branch of Quizno's as well. He is heading up the team for the internet marketing of THE QUIZNO'S PRO CHALLENGE. Quizno's is working with Lance Armstrong and are putting on a "Tour de France" here in Colorado this coming August. Even though the work load is A LOT with both jobs, along with the companies he is working with through his own business, not to mention I never see him, it is great to see him so passionate about his work and loving it. A few weeks ago he actually spoke at a little Business Women's Seminar and taught them the benefits of SEO. A couple leads came out of it and has since built more clientele for his company, FIRESTARTER SEO. I guess the only downside to having your own business is all the taxes we have to pay as well as our own "benefits." HOwever, Skyler loves it and it is going surprisingly well with this economy.

I am still working for Donn doing his typeset and design. It's perfect because I am able to work from the house while Maddux naps. I recently just finished up a Menu for the South East Denver Embassy Suites hotel Restaurant and Room Service Menu along with some other companies letterhead and business cards. So that is the kind of stuff I am doing and loving it!

Maddux is growing and growing and sort of talking. His vocabulary grows everyday. It was interesting the other day because I have been concerned about him not forming ENGLISH sentences and only saying one word in "our language" along with a gesture to get his point across. Then I came across our friends blog and she said she thought it was common for kids to develop quicker in certain areas than others. So my conclusion from this idea is that Maddux is going to be a great athlete! This kid has an arm and to say the least a very, very, VERY proud Daddy!

Okay, here are pictures from Christmas!

Daddy and Grandpa Donn built a train table for Maddux, however the train did not get here in time! Luckily, Gigi got Maddux a toy and saved the day!







The Monday after Christmas the train came and we set it up then brought Maddux out to see it. A month later, he is still playing with it EVERYDAY!

FUN!

Here are some fun pictures of Maddux I thought people (mostly the family) would like.

He loves his daddy and wants to do EVERYTHING he does! It's so cute! Sometimes he even kicks me out of the room so he and Skyler can be alone! He points to the door and says "OUT!" and if I don't listen he pulls me up and pushes me toward the door or kitchen! It's hilarious!



Here are some pictures that I thought were cute!