Here it Is!

What do you think? I like how it turned out. I'd rather have another night stand than the bookcase but until I do, the bookcase is serving as a nightstand. Next on to the chandelier. It does add a little romance doesn't it?

Here is a close up of the nightstand. It was a freebie from my SIL. It was one of those pine Mexican pieces. Adding the silver knob and painting it black gave it a whole new look. I think I have a "before" picture somewhere. If I find it, I'll post it later. The lamp and shade were $29 from Taipan Trading. I love that store!!!

The bedding if from Target as well as the draperies. Can't remember what I paid for them but they were very reasonable (or I would have made my own.) This is a frame that I bought from Michael's on clearance. It was around $30. I added scrapbook paper until I get some pictures printed.

Here are the curtains.

This is what is on the bookcase. .. along with Stephenson's Mint truffle Hot chocolate mix. There is a kitchen and microwave next to this room. I got the platter and mugs at T.J. Maxx (my favorite store.)

The iron work over the bed I had in my give away pile. I painted it black and now I love it again. (It used to be in my bathroom over the toilet.)

Here is the shelf that is made out of a quarter of a door. I need to merchandise it but I also plan on decoupaging some black and white patterned paper in the center panel and painting the routered edge around that black. I think it will help it blend in better.

My parents come tonight. I hope they enjoy staying in this room. (I hope it won't smell like paint fumes.) :)

Can't wait to show you...

This gift bag was my inspiration. I took it to Lowe's and asked them to match the color. It's a little darker than the bag but close. See the egg shell? I don't know what kind of bird it is from but I named the color "Robin Egg Blue." I painted it on an accent wall in my guest room. (The room with the new chandelier.) I'm hoping to finish painting the book case and a few other things tomorrow. I will post ASAP. My parents will be staying in it tomorrow night so I have to hurry. I hope to do the reveal tomorrow. Are you excited? I am.

My Angel Friend

My friend Kathee (on the left) is an amazing person. I honestly have nicknamed her "Saint Kathee." She is always doing nice things for people. (She is also my exercise partner so we spend a lot of time together.)

I came home from work today to discover that I was the beneficiary of her good deed doing. She worked in my yard pulling weeds. She must have worked most of the day because there were huge piles of weeds. We tried to work in the yard this last weekend but the weather didn't cooperate. So, after work, my husband mowed the lawn while I spent time picking up weed piles and pulling up more. What can I say...we have a pretty big yard. But today, thanks to Kathee, the yard is much better. BTW, today was beautiful and now it is storming again. I don't mind it when it rains at night.

Another Picture of Eli

Here is Elder Borup working hard as a missionary in Florianopolis, Brazil. It looks so beautiful. Is is winter there right now but it doesn't look very cold yet. Three and 1/2 weeks and then he will be home. Yippee, skippy! OK, technically he will be home but he was always off doing things with his friends so I don't know how much we will see hin. I still can't wait. Two years is a long time!!!

Indiana Jones Event

Thursday night we had a movie event at Thanksgiving Point for different people we work with...Drs., physical and occupational therapists, medical assistants, etc. I had costumes and other props for those who attended the event to wear in pictures. (How do you like my golden idol? I painted it gold and added stick on jewels. I called it my bedazzled idol.) Above is the picture of my brother's family and below is a picture of my brother and I. He is 6'8" so was a larger than life Indiana Jones.

My husband was the photographer. I liked the photo process he used. The movie poster/board was behind us which I think added to the effect. I will deliver the pictures next week as an added way of saying thank you for working with us (Alpine Home Care and Hospice). We really had a great time. I love working with my brother. We have a great synergy.

A Note for Steph and Eli's Homecoming

Steph, and anyone else in Salt Lake Area, here is your kind of website. They list things for sale on etsy, things to do in SLC, local stores, etc. http://www.yourheartout.com/ Check it out I think you'll like it.

I have less than a month until daughter number 2 moves back to Utah. She'll be home at the same time Eli, our missionary in Brazil, comes home. He is speaking in Sacrament meeting at the Sharon East Stake Center June 29 at 11 am. You are all invited to come. I'm so excited! Marissa will be here visiting too. Now, I have to figure out how to get daughter number 1 home. We don't want to leave anyone out.

Eli, on the right, and another Elder he took on splits. They are eating the cookies made from the mix I send in his birthday package.

The Cupcake Scoop

OK, all of you who love cupcakes check out my blogfriend's blog Thimbleanna » The Cupcake Scoop. She gives you a recipe for cupcake batter and icing. She made these as favors for her son's wedding rehersal dinner. Thanks for sharing Anna!

Mother's Day Gifts

I didn't get my Mother's Day present from my children before I left on the trip so had a nice surprise when I got home late Saturday night.

Candice and family gave me Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. I mentioned that I wanted to try them. Candice told me how much she liked cleaning with them because they are a "green" product and they smell so good. I tried them out today in between running errands.

Steph and family gave me a great photo brag book. She blogged about it here Simply Radiant. I've already been showing off my cute kids and grandchildren. I'm not proud!!!

Marissa and family made a music CD complete with hand made CD cover. They also gave me a gift certificate to Bath and Body Works.

Child number 4 is still on his mission in Brazil. We got to talk to him on Mother's Day. Since we only get to talk to him on Christmas and Mother's Day and he has been there for 23 months, this is a big deal. OK, he didn't have a lot to say but that is how it has always been.

So, it was a great Mother's Day. Thank you to all of my children. I love you all and feel very blessed with such great children. XOXOXOXO

Our Trip to Oahu

We just got back from Oahu. Brett had a professional conference in Waikiki so I went along for
the ride. We used to live in Laie. The first night we spent the night at the Laie Inn. Yikes! It wasn't very nice when we stayed there for two weeks about 15 years ago. It is really bad now. They are getting ready to tear it down and build a Marriott. Notice the rainbow? We used to see a lot of rainbows.
Across the way from the Lodge is McDonalds. Our kids used to love going to this McDonald's when we lived there. It was the only McDonald's we've been to that actually ran out of fries one day. What is McDonald's without fries?

A picture of my husband in front of the old lodge. It used to be called Laniloa Lodge. The would answer the phone, "Aloha, Laniloa Lodge." We loved how that would roll off your tongue and used that phrase many times over the years that we lived there.

We met some of our old friends and went out to dinner the first night we were there. Cyd Kamuaoha (lt), me, and Lisa Wagner. We had some great times together.

This is Ken and Lisa Wagner. Ken is the basketball coach at BYU Hawaii. We used to love going to all the games and every other event the students put on there. Great times.

These are the Kamauaoha's...Cyd and Spencer. He does photography and has the contract for those tourist pictures at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC).

We spent Sunday eating at the Wagner's house for Mother's Day and going to church in two different wards. It was so great getting a chance to see so many of our friends and people we grew to love while living there. We were surprised at how many people remembered us. It literally was the best three years of our lives. Getting to learn about so many different cultures, enjoying all the nature there was to enjoy there. We kayaked, sailed, went scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, boogie boarding, bike riding, horse back riding, hiking. What isn't to love there?

There were always chickens so I took a picture for old times sake. We took lots more pictures too but my husband took them in raw so I can't download them. Sorry. We also spent some time at the PCC. It was fun; we saw a few old friends that were still there. We used to know a lot of the students in the show and who working there it made it a lot more fun.

This was Laie Point. Our kids used to jump off one side of it...my husband too. I don't think I ever tried it. However, my husband did talk me into taking a surfing lesson this trip. It it something he always wanted to do but we just never did. So, I went just to watch but somewho got talked into it. It was really pretty fun. Wish I had pictures. Oh wait...I was in a swimsuit. Hmmm, sorry I don't have any pictures. :)

Not much in Laie has changed except for the landscaping down the street the temple is on.

Here is another picture a little closer.

Here is the temple.

Here is a picture of a hybiscus. There are always flowers in Hawaii. You have to love that.

From the Laie Inn we went down to Waikiki to the Hawaiian Hilton. Wow, what a great hotel. Here are a couple of pictures of our room. I had to laugh at the partial ocean view. See if you can find it.

The other half of the room.

Outside of the hotel. Beautiful fountains, sculptures, ponds, and koi.

The view off the balcony.

OK, did you find the partial view in this picture? You have to lean out over the railing to see it.
It was OK that there wasn't a view because we too many other things to do.

Here is my hubby in the pool. Didn't get a picture of the ocean to the right of this pool.

This companion program included breakfast every morning, a luau, and hawaiian culture. We made a a haku lei. This is kind of the aftermath.

Here are two of the attendees with their leis. Sorry the picture is sideways.

We celebrated our 31st anniverary while we were there. It was a little early but opportunity knocked. My husbands favorite resturant is Roys. We went to one years ago and he was hoping for the chance to go again while we were there. They had a new Roys in walking distance from the hotel. Here we are.

And this is what we ate. This is making me hungry! This was my husband's dinner.

I had macadamia nut crusted ono over boiled potatoes and asparagus. It was so good.

The luau was at Sea Life park. We got to see the dolphin show before going to eat. The little video is at the bottom of this post. Not too exciting but Cole will love it so this is for you Cole.

A self portrait at the luau. We got leis and everything. Whohoo.

It was so beautiful. We were overlooking the ocean, the food was good local food, and the entertainment was nice too. The ocean was right behind those singers.

You can see the ocean in this picture. The setting was amazing.

Here's the video. Not too exciting.

Women's Conference and Other Activities

Here is my husband and me. This is out of order but it includes my favorite person in the world so it is a good place to start. I love this guy.Here I am with my Sister and our friend Joanne. We are getting ready to participate in the instant choir at Women's Conference at BYU. It is about 6:25 a.m. I think we look pretty awake for that early in the morning. Singing in the instant choir is one of our very favorite things to do. The songs this year were so inspiring. We loved it. Two hours of practice and then we perform.

Spring has finally arrived. See the famous "Y" on the mountain? It was still cold though.

Another Spring picture.

My sister, Cheryl, and me.

A look at the Marriott Center filled with women for the conference.

Our group with a few of the daughters thrown in. My sister and her roommates come up for a reunion every year. We all grew up together in Roseville, CA.

Another Spring picture. Isn't it beautiful?

We even got to hear our prophet, Pres. Monson speak. What a treat!

Another picture of me and my sister. We have a great time together. We enjoyed shopping at the bookstore, doing some things to help her prepare for girl's camp, and attending classes.

On Friday night we had a reunion with our YW's leader. She was also our early morning seminary teacher. This is Sister Bohnstedt with her husband and grandson. She was so nice to have us all over. She loved as all and had an amazing impact on many in our group.

Here is the Roseville clan all together again.

Here we are looking at photo albums full of pictures. There were many of us in roadshows, dance festivals, and young women's activities. It was fun to relive those memories. The younger girls in the picture are daughters and thought the pictures of their mother's and friends were very interesting.

Sunday we went to my brother's house for dinner. This is my nephew, David, with one of his birds. He raises chickens, quail, pheasants, and is trying to hatch some emu eggs.

This is Adam and Ali. They are so cute.

Here is my brother Dave's daughter, Brooke, and her two kids.

Here is our family group blowing kissing and waving. We took a picture and sent it to our parents for their anniversary on Sunday. The really tall guy is my little brother, Matt. You might recognize some of the group from our backpacking trip the weekend before. (We look a lot nicer all cleaned up don't you think?)

THe END. That is what I did last weekend. The rest of the week has been spend working, working, going to the temple, and getting new cell phones. We had old analog dinosaurs that were on their last leg. I hope I like the new phone. It has a camera...hmmm...can you download those pictures to the blog? I'll have to check it out. Oh, and all these pictures are from my sister. I haven't even looked at mine but I copied hers before she left so used hers. Thanks Cheryl.