A little more like home...

So we got this piano for $100 from our neighbors a few months ago.  It was ugly.  So I painted it! I painted it "old white", then distressed it, with gold legs and trim.  You can't tell that it's gold in the picture, but it is.  I got the idea from Emily's coffee table that she painted (which is super cute and she should post a picture of)!

This couch I scored at a yard sale a few weeks ago for $100.  SOOOO much better than our old black leather "man-cave" couch that's been in our living room.  It makes the whole room feel much more home-y. 

In other news, we (Rod & I & Caitlin!!!) have to speak in church next Sunday.  It'll be Caitlin's first talk in sacrament meeting (although she has borne her testimony once before).  She's nervous, but I think pretty excited, too! 

And Brooke, I want to hear all about your first day of work!!!!

Some New York moments

                            Times Square, a view from our apartment, bike ride, bird man in Washington Square,
                          The book group at lunch, fun markets and parking for $21.72/ an hour downtown.!
                          We also saw Empire State Bldg. Met Museum, Tenament museum, walked over
                           Brooklyn Bridge, ground zero, 5th Avenue, Central Park, AND Newsies, Mathilda.
                           What a trip!!

I HEART FALL!!!

So it's Fall!!! Whoo-oo!!! I can't experience Fall without remembering mom's cornstalks always decorating the front door. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!! These cornstalks are from my neighbor's garden.  I think he thought I was a little TOO excited at the prospect of dried corn stalks.  But it's just not Fall without them.

I've had this grapevine wreath for at least 6 or 7 years.  I like recycling it to fit the season.  I just "Falled" it...fabric flowers made from fabric books mom gave me from her work, and dried weeds gathered from around here. Other than my ghetto white-wire-clothes-hanger holding it up, I love it!

Also, completely unrelated....we had a major virus on our computer and had to factory restore it.  We back up our files pretty often, so we didn't lose much.  But my "favorites" on our browser are gone...and I need links to Kates & Emily's blogs.  Anyone want to send them to me? Or just list them as links on this blog?

Little Whittle Pictures

I'm trying, I really am. I don't know why I have such trouble getting pictures on here. I take most of my pictures on my phone, and I have problems getting them on my computer. My computer doesn't recognize my iPhone because it's been 'jailbroken', some crazy process that I know nothing about, to make it so I don't have to have a contract with a cell phone company, I pay month to month and it's just cheaper that way. But I've learned the drawback is I can't download pictures to my computer, unless I email them to myself. Now I can't figure out how to make them bigger. They are so little! Any ideas my tech savvy family? :) Anyway. Here's some pictures from the beginning of the summer. A S'mores summer kick off with Alex really enjoying his. note Mt. Hood in the background!

 

 

Audrey had a family bday this year. I just couldn't do a big friend one again. When she has a party, she wants it big with lots of details. I didn't have it in me this year. We had a family dinner the night of her birthday, then Troy took the boys on an overnight Mariners game in Seattle, so Audrey and I spent the day riding bikes, picking blueberries, going out to lunch, shopping, and watching a girl movie with goodies. It was fun and easy.

 

I know you've all seen this I think, but here's the bed I made for Audrey. It was fun and a challenge. I hope it lasts forever!

 

Cam would kill me if he saw this, but it's funny. I love Dev laughing the background. Cameron looks so little for some reason. Must be the hair!

Our recent adventures!

Just Watch and You'll See...

 

I saw this floating around FB, but I kept skipping past it until this morning. It is a really touching 3 minute Thai commercial. You won't regret watching!!

 

a little politics...

Here's a little politics to shake up your day: (warning: they use the a-word twice!)

 

And for the record, ('cause I know you were all wondering), I'm against action in Syria. 

I think helping either side is a huge mistake.  These people hate us, and playing police of the world is not a good move. 

 

But Syria is screwed up.  Instead of attacking and solving no problems in doing so, the global community (US included) should focus our resources on helping the refugees.  We should build whole cities if necessary.  If families want to start over somewhere else, let's take them there.  Build schools in refugee camps.  In short, undertake a humanitarian mission on a scale the world has never before seen.  Show Syrians that the West is not evil, that democracy means the freedom to live one's daily life without fear of your own government being after you.

 

Helping either Syria's messed up government or the rebels who hate the U.S. and the West will not solve any problems in the long run, and in the short run will probably make things a lot worse.  Instead, we should seek to change through direct, immense aid to the ones who are suffering.

 

What do you guys think?