Before and After

When we first bought our house I had dreams of making a few changes.... and last August we did. Yes, this post is a year old. Most of the work was done in August of 2010, but we had one small invisible finishing touch (trim to the tile) that was just completed a few weeks ago...and so now I can officially post our before and afters.

Before:

After:

Check out that travertine tile---cut and completed by Tyler himself. Tyler borrowed a tile cutter and for days worked meticulously on planning, laying out, cutting, getting the tiles perfect around the small black tiles, and then putting up the tile.

He is basically super awesome.

We consulted a lot and sent pictures and samples to a gal that helped my parents re-model and decorate their house, Julie. She was so so so fabulous in her recommendations and suggestions. One of our favorite suggestions was the black hardware on our white cabinets--such a pop. We also loved the suggestions of having a black faucet (which are amazingly hard to find actually).

I love this sink. And I LOVE the soap dispenser... I had no idea how much I would love not having to have anything on the counters (and of course.... there is hardly ever anything on these counters....Tyler wishes.) It is just nice to have that option.

Needless to say, we love it.

And yes, granite does make a difference to my happiness level in the kitchen.

I Know It Isn't July Anymore...

...but here are a few 4th of July pictures.

Abigail and Chloe are the dearest and sweetest of friends. Buffy (Chloe's mom) and I are also the dearest of friends.... so the 4th of July was just another reason to get together and work late into the night making these matching dresses.

Story Time Love

The girls LOVE story time with daddy. Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Lucy is especially entranced -which says a lot about this squirmy girl's devotion to this special time of night. She will stay relatively still while listening to the story and looking at the pictures.

Did you know pajamas come with skirts now? We're in love. Carters has us sold with these pajama sets and we also have a pink ballet pajama/skirt set that is just about as darling as these "ABC Pajamas (really it says, "Snow Belle" but Abigail calls these her ABC pajamas because of the letters).

Yes--we love the squishiness (not a real word, I know) of this girls legs and cheeks.

Saying Hi

Abigail sitting at a table she set up by herself (as in went into the garage and dragged in the 4 chairs and 1 folding table and then got all the food and plates) for her restaurant "Morble".

Lucy being Lucy---happy as can be.

Abigail and friend Spencer playing/drinking the sprinklers. And...we have a garden again this year which is now speckled with red tomatoes. Today I harvested 12 tomatoes.

She is seriously smiling most of the time.....and she is especially loving sitting up and....CRAWLING. This girl is 100% mobile and into just about everything.

The Masters

Our good friends called one day. Their uncle had given them tickets to the Masters. Did Tyler want to go by any chance? Ummm-- yes. Except, there was no hesitation at all. This was the masters (actually it was a practice round), but whatever it was--it was an opportunity to go and see the course and experience it. When we moved out here, my dad, somewhat jokingly, but not really, told us he was counting on us to get him tickets to the Masters. So, you can imagine the jealousy when we told him Tyler was going....then jealousy turned elation when another ticket became available. Phone calls were made, patients were cancelled, airline tickets were bought and after a red-eye flight--Greg (our friend), Tyler and Dad enjoyed a full and wonderful day at the Augusta National Golf Club.

And maybe the best part about it, besides seeing the joy on my Dad's face after a day at the Masters, was having him all to ourselves the following day.

I'm pretty sure my dad pushed Abigail for over a half hour and she continued to say "Super High" the whole time.

And Oh Were They Ever Happy.

Dad playing "monkeys" with Abigail.

Rainy Days and Mondays...

are perfect boot weather.

Lucy is Blessed

My mom sewed Lucy's dress.

My Mom, myself, Lucy, and Tyler's Mom.

Our happy eternal family.

Tyler's father, Tyler, Lucy, and my Father.

Everyone who participated in the blessing:

Uncle Steve, brother Chad, Tyler's father Ned, Lucy and Tyler, my father Creed, Uncle Rick, Grandpa, Uncle Matt and cousin Gannon.

Actually, she was blessed a long long time ago in January during our visit to California. It is hard to put in words the sweet feelings I felt as Tyler blessed Lucy with the name of Lucy Mae Rushton and gave her a tender father's blessing of seeking after righteousness, among other great promises as she follows Jesus Christ throughout her life.

There are times in my life when time stands still enough for me to be truly grateful and overwhelmed with the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "My cup runneth over" is a phrase I have only begun to understand as I've entered motherhood. Truly my cup runneth over and my joy was complete and full as I watched and listened to Tyler, so worthy to hold the Priesthood, bless our sweet little Lucy, surrounded by both of our fathers, my grandpa, as well as my brother Chad, my Uncles Rick, Steve, and Matt, and cousin Gannon--all worthy and righteous men, strong in the gospel. Sweet is the peace the gospel brings.

Sweet is our little Lucy.