Superheros

Matt has loved Spider-man for about two years now.

Lindsay, for what ever reason, has an interest in Batman.

I personally have a love for Superman, so Andrew doesn't really have a choice.

Last night, all three kids just happened to be wearing their superhero outfits--at the same time.

I couldn't resist just taking a few photos! 

I sure do LOVE these three!

St. Patty's Playdate

Lindsay has been begging to play with Boogie for weeks.

We FINALLY made it happen, and it happened to be on St. Patrick's Day.

Matt had some friends over too, so we had to make it a little green!

We did some finger painting.

And we had a green lunch.

(Green lemonade, peanut butter sandwiches on homemade green bread, green jello, celery, apples, and clover chips).

And we ended the playdate by going on a scavenger hunt to find a leprechaun. 

Faux Canvass

By large request here is a tutorial on how I made my Faux Canvas.

Here are some step by step instructions.  If you're interested in me doing a tutorial with pictures, let me know, but hopefully this will help.

What you'll need:
-An Engineering Print
-Foam Board from the dollar store
-Spray Adhesive (optional)
-Packing Tape
-Scissors
-Hot Glue
-2 paperclips

#1- Upload the picture of your choice to Staples.com  Choose the 24x36 option, and make sure that your picture has room for an edge, so you're not cutting off heads when you wrap it later. This print will cost you $3.00.

#2.  When you pick up your print, you'll notice your picture isn't super high quality, and may even have lines in them.  That is ok.  (Remember, you only paid, $3.00 for it).

#3.  You'll need to go to dollar tree and buy one of their foam boards.  I already had one, so this project will end up costing $4.00, instead of $3.00 (GASP!).

#4.  Lay your picture on the board, and decide where you want your picture placed.  We marked the back side with a pencil so we knew where to put it.

#5.  Give your picture a light spray on the back with spray glue.  (We actually skipped this step on one of the canvases.  Can you tell which one?  Neither can we, so if you must, you can skip this step).

#6. After you stick your picture onto the board, cute the corners off the picture (this helps so you don't have a heavy corner) --just cut it off in a square shape so the tip of the cut out meets where the board is.

#7. Wrap the flaps around to the back of the picture.  Secure it to the board with packing tape.  (Just like wraping a present).

#8.  Hot glue paper clips to the back so you can hang it on the wall

#9.  You're FINISHED!!  Enjoy your new artwork!!

I LOVE the way mine turned out, and it is nice to finally have some "art" in the basement, and replace the pictures above the stairs  with a new big canvas to include Andrew!

Here are my three canvas knock-offs in the basement:

Here is one with Matt so you can get an idea of how big they really are.

  

Then, I did another one that is DOUBLE the size of the three in the basement.

It doesn't look that big in the picture, but it is pretty large.

And this one cost a little more...$5 instead of $3.

(For this big one, I did the same thing, but I taped TWO dollar foam boards together, then secured them with a yardstick on the back).

Thanks mama for helping me put it together!  I LOVE how they turned out!

Canvas Knock Off

One of my friends made some canvas knock-offs, and they turned out great, so I thought I’d try it.

You just upload a regular picture as an “engineering print” (that only costs $3.00), then you spray glue the picture, wrap it around a dollar-tree foam board, and tape it on the back.  I LOVE the way they turned out, and it is nice to finally have some "art" in the basement, and replace the pictures above the stairs  with a new big canvas to include Andrew!

Here are my three canvas knock-offs in the basement:

Here is one with Matt so you can get an idea of how big they really are.

  

Then, I did another one that is DOUBLE the size of the three in the basement.

It doesn't look that big in the picture, but it is pretty large.

And this one cost a little more...$5 instead of $3.

Thanks mama for helping me put it together!  I LOVE how they turned out!

Morning Hike

Yesterday the weather was delightful.

So, today, I thought it would be fun to go on a family hike.

I asked my cousin Krista if she could give me directions to a certain trail.

She had the morning off so she kindly volunteered to take us!  

Abbey is in town for spring break, so she came along too!  Love those girls!

It was a little colder than I was expecting, but we had a great time!

Thanks Krista and Abbey!!

Sugar House

Monday, for Family Home Evening, our family took a tour of the Sugar House Ward Building.

My great-great grandfather, LeGrand Richards, was the first bishop there.

It really is the most beautiful LDS chapel I've ever been to.

There are VERY few church buildings that have artwork in the chapel, but this is one of them.

I just loved all the details throughout the moldings in the building.

This was grandpa's office--complete with FIREPLACE!
(We saw two other fireplaces while we were there).

Sometimes, I don't know how Heather puts up with Rick.

But he IS hilarious!  Love him!

After the tour, we drove a few blocks to the house where my grandma grew up.

I think it is so pretty!!

Employed!

Darin got a job!!

As luck would have it, the EXACT same position that he left a year ago, opened up.

So, we're back at eTrade!

And feeling SO thankful!

Thanks for all the help, thoughts, and prayers, from so many family and friends!

So, in honor of being back at eTrade, I thought I'd better do my eTrade dinner!

Darin bought me these flowers for "Beautiful Wife Day!"

I thought it was perfect that the colors just happened to be etrade colors!

Everything was the same from last year, but my mom helped me come up with this new addition:

I thought that was pretty clever!!

Hooray for a job!

Grandpa's Ipad

I kind of hope I never have an iPad.
I'm afraid I'd be doing this all day long.

Matt and I couldn't stop laughing!

My mom's going to be mad that I posted these, she thinks they're so ugly.

I think they're hilarious.

Enjoy!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

I woke up to a phone call from Darin saying to look out our bedroom window.

When I looked out this is what I saw:

Darin with Matt and Lindsay flying a kite in the field behind our house.

Andrew and I hurried over to join them.

The wind really picked up, so we decided to see how high we could fly the kite.

We ended up letting out ALL of the string!!

Do you see that TINY dot in the picture?  

That's our kite!  

I REALLY thought an airplane was going to hit it!

These kids are SO LUCKY to have such a GREAT dad!!

Twenty and Nine

I turned 29 last week.

I feel so thankful to so many friends and family that made it so special!

It really was a WONDERFUL week!

I can’t believe this is my last year in my 20s.

I have less than a year to accomplish my 30 before 30.

I think I’m going to have to make a few changes…

I don’t think Disneyland is going to happen. L

And I REALLY don’t think I am at the skill level to take on Claire de Lune. 

(Sorry Aunt DeeAnna).

28 was GREAT, and I think 29 will be DIVINE!

Sushi

My awesome cousin, Blake, came down from Idaho, and took us out for sushi for my birthday!!  It was honestly, the best sushi I've ever had!  And, the company was pretty fabulous too.  My stomach hurt from laughing so hard!

Thanks Blake!!