Gabe Turns Eight!

Gabe turned eight years old on the 20th of May. He is now officially a cub scout! He also had his last soccer game of the season last week. They lost but they tried hard.

For Gabe's birthday this year, he wanted a shopping spree at IKEA instead of a birthday party. What a funny kid - but I couldn't complain. Not having to throw a part makes my life easier. He ended up getting an art easel with a dry erase board and a chalk board. He also bought paper, craft supplies, paints and markers. He was a like a kid in a candy store - so excited! Then we had dinner at IKEA. I love their hot chocolate - it's the best!

Because that was on a Saturday, we had a surprise for Gabe on his real birthday. We decorated the house, bought an ice cream cake and gave him presents. We had pancakes for breakfast and he got to choose his birthday dinner. He wanted cooked spinach and salmon. So, I made some homemade bread to go with it. What a healthy boy! 

That weekend it was also the father and sons camp out. Gabe and Manuel, along with all the boys and fathers in our ward went camping. So all the girls went and had some fun of their own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABE!

The girls and I went out for frozen yogurt during the father and sons camp out.

Gabe's last game. Manuel let him be on the field.

Adventures at IKEA

Cambrey takes the best pictures!

Lettuce, portabello mushroom burgers!

Cambery likes to go into preschool by herself now.

Gabe's birthday breakfast.

Gabe's favorite color is yellow!

The birthday dinner

The ice cream cake

Manuel and I gave him his first set of scriptures with his name on them. He loved them!

Off to cub scouts on his birthday. What a good boy. Our grapes are producing!

Oh, did I mention we had a neighborhood flood?

DYI Transformations

Here is just some of the ugly junk I bought at the D.I. - ready to be transformed and given a home in my living room!

Sometimes when I'm itching for a change in my living room, I find that making small changes with accent decor, I can get enough of a change to satisfy without blowing my budget. I love to go to the second hand store and buy ugly junk for a few dollars and change into something nice. What could have cost me over $100 at a decor store, cost me next to nothing just by doing it all myself. 

We've had this old pillow for about 10 years This used sign was just plain black and only $1.00. I added the striped background.

I made this one and a mint green one There they are! I thought they would soften up that wall and add color.

These ugly brown baskets had to go! We've had this table for years.

It's amazing what a color change can do. See how they pop now?

This old picture has to be from the 40's or 50's.

Now it's a table centerpiece!

Remember when these were a hit about a decade ago? My awesome helper! Before pic!

What once screamed Christmas is now an all year round piece on the porch. The green board used to be a cork bulletin board. I made a garnish with music sheet paper and tulle. I'm just loving these two colors. This is what we are going to paint our bedroom in.

Can you spot the transformations below? I printed this picture just on normal paper and modge podged it with cute scrap book paper on this wood. I didn't get a before picture of what this wood piece used to be but it was hideous! It screamed 1990 with mauve, beige and navy blue hearts.

I glued an 80's picture frame on an ugly piece of red painted wood I love these boxes!