Shana Meredith

In the last month of her life, my dear friend Shana asked me to help her put a BLOG together for her friends and family. Here is the link... pass it along to those who knew and loved her.

shanameredith.blogspot.com

Warp Speed

This week our house has ALMOST turned into a home. It has been amazing the speed at which the builders have moved and the many changes that have happened this week.

Painted arch into the family room:



Master Bath Vanity:



Kitchen Cabinetry:


Fireplace, no mantle yet...

Kitchen cabinets and pantry:

All of the trim is done:

Girls

The girls have been very cross at me for not posting pictures of their Birthday present. They wanted a Kitty and here she is. Her official name is Lily, but she's affectionately and creatively called Meow-Meow.

Here she's a bit closer to the size she is now. Don't let the peaceful sharing of food fool you. Once dinner is over, Sophie thinks Meow-Meow is her personal play/chew toy.



Couldn't resist putting this picture in. Nana rolled the girls hair and they are too adorable. Of course, I didn't get a picture of the finished picture but just imagine Shirley Temple.

Hunting Island, South Carolina

I am not a beach person. I love to look at the beach, I love to smell and hear the ocean and I love to walk along the beach... preferably in the fall, but that's where the love stops. I don't like to get in the water (maybe because I got stung by a jellyfish once or because my brother almost drowned in the ocean) I don't like to get sand stuck to me and my new dislike is fearing that my kids are going to get pulled under by a riptide.
Lately, Steve and the kids have been watching a lot of Discovery Channel. I didn't realize how much until I heard Griffin say this on the trip to the beach:
"No one swallow any water. If you do, you might swallow a plankton and you might get really sick." Hmmm... plankton wasn't exactly on my radar, sharks yes, Jellyfish - definitely. Despite my somewhat paranoid issues, I enjoyed spending time with my sister, Hillery and my Mom and niece and nephew Reagan and Logan. Here are some pics:

The drive into the park is awesome. It's like a jungle. Hunting Island is the least commercial beach I've ever been to. I highly recommend it (if you're a beach person :))







McKay having fun:


Now don't those waves look menacing?



Kaylee striking a pose. I love that she loved staying near the shore. She was afraid a crab would pinch her toes.


Owen: His yellow goggles made it much easier for me to spot him in the surf.

Griffin: Don't know what that face was all about? Maybe he loves the beach like his mother!

My Mommy

I've been soo lucky to have my Mom stay with me for awhile. We have had the best time and truly enjoyed each others company. The kids loved watching Nana get out her sketch pad and draw. She's truly and artist (although she would downplay this) and loves to sit and sketch. For me, her visit was such a help. She helped me cook, she helped me clean, she listened, she talked, she is a wiz at laundry... the list goes on and on.

We had the most giggles doing a photo session:

Sophie trying to get in the picture. Sophie LOVES my Mom and I love this picture because it is how you often see my Mom.

This is Nana, the kids and I making homemade Crab and Cream Cheese stuffed Ravioli with homemade Alfredo Sauce... it was heavenly.

Pioneer Legacy

My sister, Heather invited us to a special presentation that she wrote and produced based on the lives of the Mormon Pioneers. It was touching on several levels. First of all, it was amazing to see the talent that my sister has. Secondly, it was inspiring to see the Faith that the Pioneers exercised despite the many tribulations they faced. I'm so grateful for their example. I look at the world around me and the many trials and tribulations that my children will face as they grow up and find it easy to be overwhelmed. I'm so thankful that I was able to have a reminder that with the Legacy that has been left for my family by the Pioneers, I have the tools (Faith, Scripture, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ) that will enable us to endure to the end.

Depiction of a home in Nauvoo, IL around 1842. The Pioneers left their homes and all their belongings, minus necessities to escape religious persecution. Notice the dolls that were so lovingly left behind.

Picture of the Nauvoo Temple. The women gave their China to the builders. The china was ground up and used in the exterior which created a beautiful shimmer in the walls.

A covered wagon. Most of the pioneers weren't lucky enough to have a wagon and instead pulled handcarts across the prairie to the West.

A tent in winter. Several handcart companies were caught in the mountains in early snowstorms. A group of rescuers left Salt Lake to help rescue the victims. Two young men physically picked up the weak members and walked them across a frigid creek, time and time again. They received physical injuries that stayed with them for the rest of their lives.

Drywall, yeah!

It's amazing how much difference drywall makes to a house.

Steve posing in our new Master Closet (he's nervous it's too small, haha)



Garage



Fireplace in Family Room: