now that's love

When we moved into our home three years ago, there were a few things I did not love about the house. But there wasn't anything I disliked more than the color on the walls. Blah. Justin, on the other hand really didn't mind the color at all. Three years later, I somehow convinced him that it needed to change. And not just the paint, but to add some character as well. He has spent hours these past few weeks making that change happen. He spent that time making our home how I would like it because he knew it would make me happy. Seriously, that's love.

We were going to go for a warm gray throughout the home, but thanks to my wise sister (who is always my go to when it comes to home projects) and her talented friend, they convinced me to go bold. Go for color. I am still a little shocked that Justin loves it. 

When Levi saw me painting the wainscoting white, he told me, 
"Mom, stop painting everything in our home white. Why can't you paint it black!"
But when he saw the blue go on. We had his full approval. 

 ^^ Justin built this awesome ladder extension. This way the ladder wasn't leaning against the wall while painting. No worries, I was completely safe. I only look super awkward because I was 8 feet off the ground. ^^ 

Still so weird walking into the family room and seeing this, but I am not missing that orange beige wall one bit.

 Now Justin is building a new desk with drawers and a cabinet for our computer area. Seriously, it's love I tell ya. 

8.23.2014 - havenwood days

Every summer (at least for that past three summers) right before school starts, we plan on our neighborhood Havenwood Days. Some pretty awesome party planners know how to do this right. There was cotton candy, games, a train ride, a dunking booth, a water slide, face painting, salsa contest, marshmallows, and a movie outside. Yes, some serious party planners.  
Last year's weather was a whole lot different than this years. Which made all of us very happy! 

^^ Justin totally got pressured into doing the pie eating contest. I love that! The guy in the red transformer shirt, that's our bishop. The guy next to him, 2nd counselor. Also pictured - the elder's quorum president, young mens president, executive secretary. Pretty cool leaders we've got ^^

^^ I also love that Justin went down the slide, in his regular clothes. That is a serious splash ^^   

^^ Perfect ending to a full evening ^^

8.16.2014 - face painting, lunch, jump houses, and spiderman at daddy's work party plus crafts with grandpa

 I'll just let the title and pictures tell you about one of the last Saturdays before summer ended. It was fun. My favorite was when we visited Grandma and Grandpa Morris. Grandpa made bracelets with the boys. I love moments like that.

 ^^ I seriously love this picture ^^

^^ and this one ^^

^^ this one too ^^

8.15.2014 - packer park day

The original Packer family right here. But I have to say, I quite love every addition to our family. (you can barely see mom poking her head out behind Mandi)

Two days after we rode the surrey, we headed back up to Brigham for our reunion. Due to different circumstances we ended up just having a relaxing afternoon at the park. I thought it was perfect. There was some awesome food (minus the disastrous  caramel cake that I made), laughing, fishing, cute babies, baseball, climbing on bleachers, grandpa stories, and candy-kabobs (in honor of Levi since it was his birthday that day). 

 ^^My brothers^^

 ^^two super gorgeous people right there, Jaina's tooth was so loose^^ 

 ^^ cuteness right there^^

^^and there^^

 ^^grandpa's cow and chicken stories^^

Happy birthday buddy. It was a good day indeed.

8.13.2014 - a surrey ride and awesome parents

<< I will be posting the remainder of some of our summer activities over the next week. Need to document those good times before we enter this beautiful, wonderful season coming up. >>

One of our summer bucket list items was to go on a surrey ride with Grandma Packer. We rode around my hometown and pulled up to Peach City for some lemon custard. The boys were in heaven, but they did say that we were going too slow. We told them that's how it was back in the day. To go anywhere was quite a process. And then we talked about how grateful we are for fast cars and air conditioning!

Speaking of fast cars. Dad pulled up next to us. Now there's a difference in a few years.

Afterwards we went to Grandpa's shop where he showed the boys his most recent project with his wood business. Some of my favorites from his business are the train set, bear house (patterned after the one I got for Christmas when I was a little girl), first toys, and my most favorite is the nativity. Although the airplanes we are looking at here is up pretty high on the list, for sure it is the boys new favorite. My dad is incredibly talented. 

I love when he talks with my children. They always leave with more knowledge and a hurt tummy from all the laughing.

<< Thirteen years ago I was living in my hometown getting ready to move away. I still remember my mom waking me up and telling me what had happened and running downstairs to watch the news with my dad and the moment the second plane hit, dad saying that this was definitely a terrorist attack. I will never forget that day. Lots of my thoughts from this post>>