For Link

I wanted to do something for my nephew Link for Christmas! I talked with my sister to brainstorm some ideas to do in behalf of him. We came up with a few ideas but I ended up settling on Glass Etching ornaments to donate to the NICU. Link spent the first almost 2 months of his life in the NICU. Spencer was only in the NICU for 4 days but I SO feel for the NICU parents. Even just that short time there felt like forever to not hold my baby when I wanted and take him HOME! So, here's the pictures of what we'll be donating in behalf of Link this week. WE LOVE YOU LINK AND THINK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME! We know you are doing wonderful things for our family and others beyond the veil and know you love and care about those of us still here on earth!

This is the poem my Mom wrote to go along with the ornaments:


Instructions included with the ornament:


The ornaments (I hand cut stencils and stuck them on the glass ornaments. Then I used Armor Etch glass etching cream to etch each ornament. There are 21 in total):


Sending love to all the NICU parents and to Link! Love you all! Merry Christmas!

P.S. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! We went to my Grandma's house and had delicious food and fun company, then we went to see the new movie "Frozen" with my family. It's a tradition with the Potts' side to go see a Thanksgiving movie-BIG THANK YOU TO MY POPS for that! Then we headed to Darrin's parents, did lots of online Black Friday shopping until wee hours of the morning, then we went to Walmart and Home Depot in the morning (MUCH less crowded), and then went to go see my in laws house being built in Lehi. It's going to be SO gorgeous! Then we hung out with some of Darrin's siblings last night. FUN times. I cannot believe it's almost December and we can decorate for CHRISTMAS NOW! I absolutely love this time of year! Each year gets more fun with the boys :).

Projects lately

I've been working on a lot of projects lately. Lots of crafts for Christmas gifts (can't show those just yet because it could give something away :), and lately, some furniture! Darrin and I have also been been busy taking out a wall! So, lots goin' on. PICS!

Taking down the wall that was separating our entry way/kitchen area. We chose to do this mostly to be able to open things up and make it so when we have family over we'll be able to put some extra tables up on the tile. I was hesitant but I'm actually really liking it. We still have finishing work to do but it's lookin' good :). The kids loved helping to hammer and take the wall down!


For the furniture, we were looking for a large shelf for our living room and I've been looking for an above my shampoo bowl cabinet for a while now. We happened to go to the "RE-Store" or another name is "Habitat for Humanity". I found this twin bed headboard that looked like a piece of crap. BUT I saw the inner beauty in it :). I wanted to cut off the legs and refinish it to make a shelf. Darrin didn't see it but I was persistent. It was only $5!! I also found the perfect but needed to be re-finished storage cabinet for my towels in the salon. Another project I have wanted to do is re-finish the hope chest my Aunt Al gave me when I was around 12.

I wanted to try my hand at Chalk paint. I've seen it all over pinterest how you can make your own so I did that. Here's a tutorial here:
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/chalk-paint/

Before and After Salon Cubbord:



Before and After Hope Chest (soon I will be making something to go above it in our room :)):


Before and After Headboard into shelf (I wish I had a picture of it actually as a headboard before I cut off the legs):


What do ya think? I really liked using the chalk paint!

Halloween Happenings

Happy Halloween yesterday! We had a grand time and hope you did as well! To celebrate the holiday earlier in the month, the boys and I went to a pumpkin patch close by which was so much fun! They had a corn maze, tractors and trucks to pretend to drive, wheelbarrows, fun photo ops and more all free! We'll be going every year :)


The boys and I also went to Gardener Village with our friends:


Last Friday we had a family pumpkin carving party at our place:


Last Saturday we went to our annual party at the Waddoups :). For Halloween Darrin was lightening, I was snow, Parker was a tornado, and Spencer was cloudy with a chance of rain (he carried around a spray-bottle "chance of rain" :))!


On Halloween day we had a little preschool Halloween Party in the morning, then went to Daddy's work for trick or treating and to show of costumes (it was so much fun to go to Darrin's work-both boys FILLED their buckets with candy there!), then we headed to our brother&sister in laws to hang out. At their house we had a nice dinner and then went out trick-or-treating. The trick-or-treating wasn't too great-soooo many houses with lights off. Lots of walking without much payoff so it's a good thing we went to Daddy's work trick-or-treating earlier. Later that night Lincoln, my nephew had bit into a glowstick. It was getting everywhere (it's non-toxic so we weren't too worried) but then my bro-in law started splatting the liquid everywhere! We split open a bunch of glow sticks and splatted. ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I'VE SEEN! It looked like outer space and when you walked on the "star" covered floor you felt like you were walking on stars! It cleaned up really easy and was just plain AWESOME! :)


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! I cannot believe it's NOVEMBER now! Time to focus on Thanksgiving :). I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this time of year!