Iowa State Fair

Before I show pictures of the fair, I wanted to show off Mckenna's pig tails... I know, kinda stretching it, but it was fun!


Too bad they only stayed in for about 10 minutes :)


Now onto the fair... Devin took a whole Saturday late afternoon/night off to go to the fair! It was worth it, I think. We had a good time!

A huge slide that Devin and Mckenna went on.


Mckenna wasn't too sure of it until it was all over. Then she couldn't stop smiling and saying "fun!" and "I like it!"


Watching the high-dive show. A man dove 85 feet and another guy lit himself on fire and then jumped in.


Mckenna and the rooster had a staring contest


Iowa's largest pumpkin... 1,323 pounds


Everyone told us that we had to try the deep fried turkey drumsticks


We decided to share one... that was a good decision :) It was a lot of turkey. We didn't even finish it


We were also told that the deep fried candy bars were delicious... so we tried that too. And yes... it was DELICIOUS!!! The candy bar was covered in some batter. When we bit into it, it was all melted and tasty


Worlds biggest bull... 3,022 pounds!!!






I think we wore her out...


(another post below... as I said, mine seem to come in two's)

Chicago

So, I was uploading tons of pictures from my camera to the computer and realized that I spaced sharing our Chicago/Nauvoo trip when my parents and little sister came. I'm not sure how I forgot it until now, but here are those pictures.



Navy Pier







The Bean


Mckenna and Aunt T on the Blue Line in Chicago



Playing at the Park


Carthage Jail


We had such a fun time and it was so sad to see them go. The week went by way too fast. But, we had so much fun together and I am glad they were able to come because we probably won't be able to see them again until Christmas.

What I Have Been Doing

So... You may be wondering why I haven't been blogging. I am about to show you! I have found a love for painting and re-doing things. So, I have been painting and sewing a lot. Once I started painting things, I couldn't stop! I have a long list of project to do, but also quite a few that I have done and am in the process of doing.

My Sewing Table... before


and after


A sleigh bed I found at a garage sale. I forgot to get a before picture, but it was all white and was really scratched and dirty. After some sanding, painting, more sanding, and polyurethane... it is finished. It's all brown, but here is some of the detailing.


I haven't done anything to our dresser, and don't plan to. I just wanted to post a picture of it for those that wanted to see. We got it for free!! Can't beat that!


This table was $1 at a garage sale. It was painted white and was really scratched and the paint was peeling off.


I wish I got a before picture of our lamp. The shade was all white and the part that is blue now was a light brown color. I decided to spice it up.


This valance/curtain was just an idea that I made up. Not super original or all that cool, but usually I have to follow a pattern exactly. So, I was excited that I could actually come up with something myself.


This couch has dog hair and stains all over it. I plan to recover it with pink fabric for Mckenna. I haven't started yet, but stay tuned for an after picture (just to warn you, it may be a few weeks away, too many projects :) )


This one I am working on now... so hopefully this after picture won't be too far away



I am also working on a play kitchen for Mckenna and an end table/coffee table that I found.

This is my new found hobby! It's really not very hard either. Anyway, I thought I would show what I am doing since Devin is studying all the time. The End. :)

VAcAtioN!!!

I forgot to mention that my parents and little sister are coming here next week!! I'm really excited. Mckenna and I will be spending some time with them in Chicago and in Nauvoo. It'll be tons of fun!!!! (and yes, poor Devin will be home by himself for a few days. We will miss him, but he will probably get more studying done without us here anyway.) There are two posts below... enjoy!

4th of July

Our day started off with a 4th of July birthday breakfast in bed (say that 10 times fast) to celebrate Devin's birthday! Let me just tell you a little bit of what a day in his life is like. He gets up around 5am. Leaves for school at 5:50am. Studies for 2 hours before class starts. Has class from 8am to 12 noon. Gets a one hour break for lunch. Goes to class again from 1pm to about 4pm. Comes home. Takes about an hour to an hour and a half to spend time with Mckenna and I and eat. Studies in his "office" from about 6pm to 9:30, 10, 11, or 12... depending on when he has tests and how many things he needs to learn/memorize. This is Monday through Friday. Then on Saturday, he gets up at the same time and studies until about 5pm when he comes home to eat dinner and hopefully takes the night off from studying. Sundays he doesn't study at all, then he continues with the same schedule on Monday.

Honestly, I don't think I could do it! So he really did deserve breakfast in bed for his birthday and day off. We sure love him and are grateful for his hard work not only in school, but also taking time to spend with us.


On Saturday, we had a ward activity with a Bike Wash and bike parade. Mckenna didn't want to join the parade, but it was still fun!




She LOVED the swing though! She laughed and laughed as she was swinging.


She didn't want to get out.


Eating crackers while watching the parade.


Could she even see? :)


Sittin' with dad.




She loved collecting the candy and putting it in her hat.


Sporting her new neclace


Tired from a long, but fun day.


By the way, there is another post below...mine seem to come in two's :)

Tour Guide Baby

This cute little tour guide wants to take you through our new house!





We planted a tiny garden soon after we got here. We can't do too much, but we will see how it turns out! So far it's doing pretty well!




Our living room, what you see once you walk in our front door.


(tiny) Kitchen




Washer and Dryer. I know it's not that cool looking, but it's the first time we have not had to use quarters to do our laundry! It's exciting to us :)


Our "nook". Yes... I will get around to organizing it a little better. One of these days


...and upstairs...


Devin's office


too bad the other half of his office are our clothes! (someone in our ward gave us this idea to use half of our walk in closet as an office. They even handed down their "desk" to us because they just graduated)


Mckenna's bathroom


Our back door/ storage closet


The view from our back porch. The swimming pool and playground are really close


Thanks for joining us on the tour! You are welcome back any time!