Picture Challenge

A while back my mother in law challenged several of us to go to our 6th folder on our computer and pick out the 6th photo. I was wondering what kind of photo it would be and assumed it would be one of the kids.
I was pleased and surprised to see that it was one of one of my favorite men! I love this picture of Shon. I think that he is a hottie and even after almost 16 years of marriage, he can make my heart beat faster just by smiling at me like that. He has the most beautiful eyes (sorry honey if that isn't a manly enough word). His cheekbones would make any model green with envy and I love that his hands are in the picture.
They are the most perfect hands in the world. His hands are large, when I hold mine up against his, my fingers barely reach the end of his palm. His fingers are long and slender...but very strong. I love that they are the hands of a working man, calloused, scarred and tough, yet they have a gentle touch when needed. I have watched Shon use his hands to build things for our family, fix our cars, work in our garden to grow food, play ball with his sons, make crafts with his daughter, fashion costumes and props for Scout Camp, rest on a young man's shoulder while he was giving him counsel, play computer games with our children, bless others, fold reverently in prayer, cradle babies and tenderly touch my face when he kisses me.
I think that Shon is pretty amazing! He is my best friend and I couldn't ask for a better husband. Oh, there is one other thing in this picture that I love...You can't see it though because he is sitting on it! I think that Shon has the cutest little booty...but I didn't think you wanted to see a picture of it. :-)

Time for change

Whenever spring is around the corner, I get restless. I want it to be warm, I want to be able to go outside and not freeze, I want to be in my yard! Since I can't do any of those things, I start looking at things in my house that I can refresh and change out. I love the challenge of taking something old and reusing it to make it new, different and my style. Like everyone else, we also have to add cheap, cheap, cheap into the mix. Any changes I make right now, pretty much need to come from items I already have. I looked around, hmmm, I want to finish my mural, but thanks to Montana weather, it is way too cold to have my windows open and since I am using latex wall paint, that needs to wait....Let's see.....Mmmm....I know! Let's get rid of the off white carpet! Oops, guess not, that definitely wouldn't be free. :-) Looking around, my eyes came across the chandelier over my kitchen table. I actually like the shape, but someone in the 80's gave it a weird faux stucco, stone type finish, in beige, ivory and white. Now I know that taste is subjective, but I will file that one under E for Eeeewww! Besides, it has always driven me crazy because no matter how much I clean it, it always looks dirty. Upon closer inspection, I actually like the texture, it reminds me of wrought iron. That made me think of the 87 cent bottle of black craft paint I had in my craft room, so I got up on the table and it only took about an hour to paint it and change it completely! It probably would have been faster to spray it, but this way I didn't have to take it down. I love the results! Sometimes, change is good...especially when you can do it for under a buck!

Toby loves to play basketball. Whenever the weather permits, he is out there. After school, I forget and start to pull into the driveway, he asks me to move the car so he can "shoot some hoops". He is really good too, easily sinking 7 out of 10 shots.

Come out, come out where ever you are....

Spring has hidden from us, playing peek a boo once in a while by teasing us with a couple of 50 degree days and then smacking us upside the head with snow. Yesterday was 50+ degrees of spring like beauty. LOVED it! Today was okay, kind of cool, but since I was creating wall art for Lissie's room in my craft heaven, I could ignore it. Tomorrow is the day that I need to run all of my errands and wouldn't you know it? SNOW! Seriously, it is becoming a four letter word. :-) I love the snow, when I can stay at home and watch it, but not so thrilled to be on the roads. I thought I would pull some pictures of my flowers out, dust them off and remind us all what warmer weather looks like!

New Beginnings

On Wednesday, we had another milestone in our lives. In our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) our children leave primary at the age of 12 and enter either the young women's or young men's organization. Each year in YW, there is a ceremony called New Beginnings that helps welcome the girls who are turning 12 and spotlights the girls already in the program. Shon had scouts with the boys, so I went with Lissie. We enjoyed a wonderful program, and I watched with bemusement as my little girl grew up before my eyes. She was easily the tiniest one there, even with among the other 11yr olds. The older girls were so welcoming and Lissie was perfectly comfortable with them. Her YW leader is Sister Myrna Hammer, we have worked with her in other callings and she is so nice, I know Lissie is in great hands.