Missing tooth

I'm still getting used to seeing her without her front tooth, and she's still getting used to how it feels!

My name is April...and I'm addicted

I really do love the world of blogs. You can find endless ideas for almost anything you want to do. There are some REALLY creative women out there and I love that through blogs they can share all their knowledge, (and free tutorials) with me!

I also love to attempt to decorate my home. This usually happens one room at a time, very slowly, and for some reason it's always the kids rooms first. But, because of a limited budget, and the fact that I can't justify buying new furniture for kids who will ultimately destroy it, I tend buy old furniture that needs to be refinished.

I actually don't mind doing this and have found some WONDERFUL deals through craigslist and at consignment stores. So I collect all this used furniture. Usually I get something done with it fairly quick, but lately, not so much.

I'm starting quite a collection in the garage. Some of which I've had since before christmas. I think I'm addicted, to crafts, and thinking I can do all these fun things. I'm just really bad a follow through.

Here are just a few things I've got stored.

A picture frame that I got at an antique store. I'll be taking the picture out and refinishing the frame for a project later this month.

These beautiful nightstands that I found last week at a consignment store for $100, more than I wanted to spend, but still not too much. I love them, and Halli and Peyton will Love having them in their room. I especially love the drawers and the fact that Halli will now have somewhere to collect all her papers and what-not that she hordes.

A coffee table that we got quite awhile ago off craigslist for $50, I LOVE the shape of it, and the fact that it has three drawers for storage. But the colors need to be changed, someday!:)

I've gotten all the fabric and trimings for these adorable valentines bags. There's a free tutorial by the woman who made them on "our scoop'. But I still haven't started them. Valentines is sunday, so if it's gonna happen I need to get on the ball!

A cheap $25 kitchen table we found on craigslist. It was old and pretty beat up, but sturdy. So this weekend, I decided that since the playroom is basically done, I should get this done too. I wanted a large kids table for the playroom, but didn't want to spend a couple hundred on it. So we found this on craigslist and brought it home.

I cut the legs down to kid height, sanded the whole thing with my trusty mouse sander, and started to paint. I planned on painting the whole thing red, but after seeing the top red with the white legs, I loved it, plus it saved me time on more painting. I just touched up the white and it was finished!

I did this this weekend while Kevin was out of town, I felt like I should have something accomplished by the time he got back!:) It really only took a couple hours, and I used a hand saw, kinda tiring, but if you have a power saw, this would be a VERY quick project.

I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! We spray painted the whole thing with varnish and we're waiting for it to dry really well before we put it in the playroom.

Speaking of which, it's finished! We moved the furniture back in, and even Kevin said it feels cozy now. I think I'd have to agree.

The bookcases are from Ikea, an I just painted the backing green to add some more color. We now have a colorful fun playroom with way more storage! There are still a few things I want to do in here, but that will come with time.

I want to put big letters on the wall that spell out PLAY, I already have them, but haven't painted them. Another project that needs to be done. Not to mention the big shelf we got at Ikea that needs to go on the wall, a chalkboard, curtains, and our suprise for the girls!:)

So, there are a few of the things I've got lined up to do. This isn't even showing my closet full of bags with stuff for valentines day, the playroom, and a bunch of stuff for my sisters baby shower next weekend. If only I weren't a procrastinator, things might get done in a timely manner. oh well, eventually I'll get it all done right? For now, I promise to not buy anything else until I've finished most of these! (notice, I did not say ALL:). But that doesn't mean I don't already have ideas for more projects bouncing around.

A rainy friday at home

Last night we had a thunderstorm roll through, and I've learned after the last couple that Peyton doesn't come into our room anymore. She's terrified of thunder and used to end up in bed with us when there was a storm. But recently, I've found that she likes to cuddle up with Halli in bed.

Halli is an awesome big sister for letting her do this, and for comforting her throughout the storm. Talk about melting a mommy's heart! I love seeing them take care of and love one another. It doesn't always happen but it's great when it does.

After the storm, the girls never went back to sleep. I wasn't too happy about that one, but what are ya gonna do? Instead they were up reading and playing at 5am. With all the reading Halli found a new book with some crafts in it and a poem at the end. It's called "I love to sing", and it's Ariels poem. So this funny girl who loves to sing told me that when she grew up she was gonna go on american idol and sing it. She said, "I'm gonna say it's, I love to sing, by Ariel." She then proceeded to sing the song to me in her own made up tune. Then she went downstairs and sang it to Kevin.

She comes up with some of the funniest things, but at the same time she's always thinking on her toes. Gotta love a smart kid!

I tried to get pictures of her all day, but she just wasn't letting me. I practically had to bribe her to smile at the camera.

Then see, she wouldn't even smile, she's just look!

Since Kevin was home today because of the rain, he insisted that we work on the playroom since it's been sitting unfinished for a couple weeks. What can I say, I have little to no motivation right now.

But with his help we knocked out a good portion and there are just a few minor things to do before we can move everything back in!

The fun wall colors and the cork chair rail. That's really for Halli so she can hang up all her many drawings. I'm pretty sure that at some point, we won't even be able to see the cork anymore.

This wall is looking a little bare, because it's waiting for a small magnetic chalkboard for the girls, and a very big suprise for the majority of the wall. Can I say I'm beyond excited for what's going right where the duct tape is! Sadly it'll have to wait till my parent's can come out to help since Kevin and I aren't quite handy enough to handle that kind of project.

Also, I finally took pictures of Lexie during a prayer. We weren't praying at the time, I just told her we were so she'd make the face. She squints her eyes, but never quite closes them. Then when you say amen, so does she and she opens her eyes real big!

She has also become a major book worm lately, and LOVES to sit and read books and have them read to her. I love it!

Finally, I couldn't have a post without showing off the third cutie in the family. Besides the constant fighting, and the fact that Lexie is always beating up on Peyton and she sits and takes it and just screams, things couldn't be better with her. Maybe we'll have to work on protecting herself just a little more. You know, without hurting her sister. ahh, fun times.

Some fun family photos

A few weeks ago I got to take some family pictures for Kevin's brother's family. It was a little chilly that afternoon, one of the few cold days we get here in Houston, but the kids did pretty well with it which is more than I would have been able to say for my own kids. It was so fun to get together with them and it's always fun to try to get little kids to actually look at the camera & smile. If anyone has any tips for that, I'm all open for ideas!

Here are a few pictures of my very cute extended family!

Their cute little girl Katelyn, she's just loves Halli and asks her to be her big sister all the time!

Blake, who is just three months younger than Lexie, and was the first Williams grandson, after 8 granddaughters.

I hear that Katelyn is a daddy's girl, and I completely believe it!

Thanks guys for letting me take your pictures, I can use all the practice I can get!

Sometimes ya just wanna take a picture

We have been having some absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather here this past week, and I just had to get the girls outside to enjoy it.

We've been homebound for quite some time with a stomach bug that went through two girls, and after that cabin fever we're loving being outside. I also decided to take a few pictures, cause I haven't done that much lately, and I like the practice.

So for no real reason, other than they are the cutest girls I know, I have way too many fun photos of Lexie and Peyton enjoying the weather. Halli was at school, but the way she's been lately about having her picture taken, I'm sure she was glad.

We sure do love these little girls, and it just seems like they're growing up way too fast. Hopefully I can do a better job of slowing down and trying to enjoy this little time I have with them.

I once read somewhere that when our kids are babies, the memories of that time are ours, but as they get older, their memories become more and more their own, and we get to have less and less with them. I can totally see that, now that most of Halli's day has absolutely nothing to do with me or her family, and I will have no memories of that time in her life, whereas she will have (hopefully) wonderful memories of her school days.

I'm gonna miss these memories with them as they grow up, so I really need to soak it in now.

We love a good long weekend, time for projects!

Before I can write anything else down, I've got to say that I think I know the cutest little sunbeam ever, and although today was the third sunday of the new year, it was her first day to go to primary! Sadly, I wasn't able to go because Lexie isn't feeling so hot, but I hear Peyton did awesome and she sure came home in a great mood!

My sweet little Peyton after church today. She was all smiles and Halli said she did great and learned a new song! I'm glad it went well, I was a little worried that it might be tough for her. Luckily her best bud Braden was there, and I heard she had his arm around him for a good part of sharing time. Thank goodness for good friends!

What do you do when it's raining out, all the girls are home, and hubby has work off too, cause of the rain? I made one simple remark to the girls, something like, "wanna clean out the playroom so we can paint and decorate it?" That lead to this.....

Bonus points if you can find Lexie in there.

It also lead to this, in the movie room.

And another picture of our slightly crowded hallway.

Seriously, Halli and Peyton did pretty much all of this before I made it upstairs. I did take my time though.:)

Lexie's stayed pretty entertained with toys everywhere too.

So we got to we got to painting and taping and painting some more. When you have a room with no door, and an 18 month old, your kinda limited on how often you can paint. So it's taking us a little longer than we would have liked, and the mess upstairs is getting a little old. We're gonna have a big garage sale sometime soon though.

See what I mean about an 18 month old and getting into stuff?

She thought she'd help too, putting up tape and drawing on the wall. Enjoy it while ya can!

The older girls basically ran around in their PJ's most of the day friday, and this was the only picture I got of Halli cause sometimes she seriously dislikes having her picture taken.

I just had to throw this one in there, cause look at our little business girl, isn't she cute?

And this is how we all feel right about now, and there's still ALOT to do upstairs! Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of the finished product, and our newly organized playroom soon!

Our life at the beginning of 2010

I saw this on another blog, and thought it was a great idea. A verbal (or written) snapshot of our life right now. I don't always take pictures, or document just what makes us who we are, the everyday little things that seem so inconsequential at the time. But those are the things that I'm really going to miss.

So here are a few little snippets that I hope will be able to capture our life now.

Halli is determined to learn how to cook. She'll take any scraps on the counter when I'm cooking and start cutting them up (with a plastic knife), to make some sort of concoction, then try to get her sisters to eat it.

Peyton desperately wants to go to school and is loving her weekly preschool we do with some friends in the ward.

Lexie is a fireball. She's starting to jump, and loves to be the center of attention whenever she's around new people.

All three girls are awake and going by 7am at the latest. Many times it's 6:30.

I'm being lazy and my house is generally a mess. Please call before you come over!:) I blame it on the pregnancy. What am I gonna do when were done having kids? I'll have to find another excuse!:)

Kevin and I are spending some time "decorating" a little. I put it in quotes cause there isn't too much we've done, just pulls in the kitchen, curtains and some much needed added storage, all in the kitchen. Next is the playroom, which desperately needs some help.

Kevin is gone...alot! Maybe I'm whining, but I've been spoiled. There's pick-up ball once a week, mutual, stake men's basketball, and on weekends, young men's basketball. I think I'm seeing a trend, Hopefully some of this tapers off before march madness or I'll NEVER see him!

We've just been moved into a new ward, because the large parkway ward was split. We've also moved into a new building. I haven't been yet because the girls were sick last week, but when we go back we'll have a new sunbeam, and Lexie is FINALLY in nursery! Not to mention Kevin is now the young men's president.

Lexie is finally learning some words that are really helping her communicate, and she's using them! I've seen a dramatic decrease in her screaming the last few days. She says milk, help, thanks mom (I love that one!), movie, book, pee pee, eat. That's not even to mention the names of objects and body parts that she knows. I love seeing her grow, and learn.

Halli is very independent, and loves to make her own lunches, and even breakfast some days.

Peyton is starting to draw people. Funny thing is they look exactly like Halli's did at this age, a head with arms and legs.

Halli is almost always grumpy and irritated after school. I don't know if she's tired, or hungry, but some day's she's just mean!

Lexie will always run for the door when she hears the chime, screaming "daddy", she's a total daddy's girl.

Lexie likes to wave bye to random people we pass in the store, and blow kisses to them. She's always getting smiles from it!

Because she wakes up so early, Peyton generally falls asleep on the couch 2-3 times per week. She does not wake up happy, ever.

Halli is, as always, a letter writing fool. She's started using word to type them, and print them out. I love her spelling!

Lexie thinks she's 5, and gets very upset when she doesn't get what her sisters get.

I'm sure there is so much more that I'll remember later, but for now, these are some of the things I really want to remember later. These are the hard times, little kids climbing all over me, crying no less than 5 times per day, per kid, and total dependency on me for nearly everything. But I know these are the times that I'll miss. I hear it often from women in the grocery store. When you're shopping with three kids running around and screaming, one of the things I'll hear most often from older women in passing is that it goes so fast, or to enjoy it while I can.

I really hope I can enjoy these days more that I do most days. It's hard sometimes to see the big picture when you're in the middle of it, but these girls are truly precious and I know that someday I'm going to miss their amazing little selves.