Wednesday, November 28, 2007

just what you've been waiting for


Welcome to Mom and Dad's new home in Nauvoo! I hope you enjoy my picture tour...

the picture wall lives on.

going down to the basement. (note the antique sewing machine. what a beauty!)

the kitchen windows from the outside.

the cool storage areas outside in the atrium


french doors from the walk-out basement.

french doors leading to the library/piano room.

the view when you walk in through the front door. I LOVE the mantle.

the view on your left from inside the front door. Dang cool clock.

the eat-in kitchen from the inside.

the view standing on the new curbs that were poured while we were there.

Okay, could those pictures be in a more random order??? I had so much trouble with blogger deleting pictures while trying to put captions, but in the end I think I've got all the pix posted.

This house boasts some of my favorite things: side entry garage, double oven, Corian countertops, jetted tub, frieze carpet, antique brass hardware throughout (looks black), GREAT lighting fixtures throughout, master suite on main level and 5 (yes, 5!!) bedrooms in the finished basement, french doors off the master suite overlooking the atrium outside, fruit trees planted last year, gorgeous front door...the list could go on and on. Hope this helps you when you go home for Christmas, Marci!

And more on our visit to Nauvoo, Thanksgiving, etc. to come...

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Thursday, November 01, 2007

what a party!




Eliza's party this year was the best birthday party we've thrown! She invited 11 friends to come to our luau at the new rec center and ALL of them showed up. Eliza was so sweet, and as it started she was welcoming each of them with a lei and saying, "Aloha!" We played limbo (wish we'd taken pictures, but James and I were the ones holding the stick) and then the girls rocked out to the High School Musical 2 soundtrack. It was so cute to see them all jamming! Then, everyone was changed and ready to swim. They had a GREAT time going down the slide and whirlpool/lazy river.

BUT...what made this party so great was that it wasn't at our house, we didn't have to do the clean up (except remove all of our stuff) and there was REAL fun involved. We had a babysitter for the younger kids, so James and I were able to ride the slide with the girls and even sat in the hot tub for a few minutes. I've never had a birthday party that I've thrown where I actually enjoyed it and felt like it was truly something FUN. Parties usually just stress me out.