Monday, November 4, 2013

Dressed Up At Halloween

Our Monster: Ethan
(thank you Gramma Washington)
Tigger: Ollie
(yes, its a repeat costume from last year. Its very difficult to get Ollie into an actual costume...)
Sleeping Beauty: Liberty 
(thank you for the adorable costume mom)

Ethan and Ollie handing out candy at the door. It was adorable. I'm glad they didn't get stolen by a bad man.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

My Etsy Shop is open!

BeatToPieces, my etsy shop, is now open. Here is a preview of the items I have been whipping up in my garage. Everything is made from old fence wood.
Find me at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeatToPieces



Just a small sampling on the things I have in the shop and more to come. Do me a favor and buy some of this stuff. I think these bookends would make a great wedding or birthday gift. Lotsa character.
Thank you to my friend Emily Sanchez for taking these stellar photographs. They really make the merchandise look great!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Ethan Pelfrey, WWII Aircraft Enthusiast

I don't think I would be overstepping any bounds in saying that my little Ethan has become full blown obsessed with WWII aircraft. Let's see, how did it all start...? Eric, who is very interested in WWII history himself, had been reading these WWII encyclopedias that came with these color photographs and spec sheets of WWII planes. Ethan somehow found them and became interested in their designs. (For lego model purposes mostly, I think) But then he realized how much information about fuel tanks, engine size, gunners, wingspan (and I don't know what all) was also on these pages. Well, so then he wanted to know more about certain planes: the Mustang, the Hellcat, the Messerschmitt, the Zero, etc. Well, then we found this show on YouTube called Dogfights about WWII airplane dogfights between Americans and different Axis foes. Ethan was in heaven. He would watch these things all day every day if he could. Unfortunately for him, he can only watch on Friday night and Sat morning. Anyway, at this point, he is reading any library book he can get his hands on that has info on military aircraft and him and dad have special times to conference about...airplane stuff.
BUT, the thing that really gets him going is building these planes (to the best of his ability) out of legos and flying them around the house talking a mile a minute about all the technicalities and what not of the planes. It is out of control. I exaggerate not when I say he talks CONSTANTLY about these planes. One time I found Ethan standing next to my bed at 6 am. Instead of a "good morning" he just started spouting off about Japanese Zero fuel tanks! Wanna talk to Ethan on the phone? Better bone up on Mustang fuel tank capacity! My mother in law arrived 1 day ago and has already been forced through 2 Dogfights episodes and has had her brain stuffed with more than Superfortress specifications than most people care to know. Here are some quotes to back me up:
Natalie (self): "Ethan has forgotten more about WWII aircraft than most tenured history professors ever knew! If I listened to him half the time he was spouting off about this stuff I'd probably be eligible to teach a class on military air tactics."
Eric: "His knowledge is amazing...in both breadth and depth."
Interview with Ethan
Ethan, how do you feel about WWII planes? I feel pretty good. Its probably a little bit more famous because they didn't have as much electricity because WWII was in the 1940s.
What is your favorite WWII plane? Wildcat
What is your favorite enemy plane? The Japanese Oscar. It was a two gun single engine fighter.
If you could name a WWII aircraft what would it be? F18 Pidgeon

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Job Chart Follow Up

So I posted a mommy job chart recently and mentioned that I would follow up on it and let you know if it worked. Well, I am here to tell you all that it was a...success!
The first week or so didn't really work and I thought it was a failure because I wasn't following it and I couldn't get caught up. But after that I started getting in the rhythm of it, it made a huge difference. Instead of everyday being chaos of trying to clean everything or not knowing what to do, I have a goal of what needs to be accomplished. It makes it so much easier to keep things straight. It has relieved my stress quite a bit because I have freedom after I do my mommy job. I really am glad I saw this on someone's blog and tried it out.
I can really recommend this method.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

First Day of School

 Ethan (6) headed to his first day of first grade. What a handsome devil.
 
Libby (4) headed to her first day of preschool. What a silly little girl she is.
(Ollie: "C'mon, Libbs, there's a camera...we're supposed to smile!")
Ollie (2) headed right back into the house and do laundry with mom.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Chelsea's Wedding

 Eric's sister Chelsea got married recently in the Bountiful temple and we had the great privilege of being in attendance. Look at this beautiful couple!

 Eric and I hanging out at the temple
 Oops, insert. Ollie had his 2 year old birfday while we were there. It was so great. Both sides of our family were able to come celebrate with us. Uncle Stephen is helping him open his gifts.
 Our little family at the temple. Gosh, I love these little yahoos.

 Brandon and his soon-to-be bride Alisa playing with Libby. She loves them!
Ollie playing at the temple.
Ollie mowing the lawn in Henefer with Grandpa Utah.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

My Almost 2 Year Old

Ollie will be 2 on Thursday this week. As with all parents, I wonder where the time has gone.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Something To Think About

David O. McKay“In June of 1965, a group of brethren in the Physical Facilities Department of the Church was doing some work outside the Hotel Utah apartment of President David O. McKay. As President McKay stopped to explain to them the importance of the work in which they were engaged, he paused and told them the following:
Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.
First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowmen in your Church assignments.

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country and the world."

This quote is directed at men, but applies to women. Gives ya something to think about.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Perks of Being a Kid


 Bubbles in a jetted bath tub




Hanging in the kiddie pool

Monday, July 8, 2013

Family Reunion Time!

Eric and I, with kids in tow, set off about 2.5 weeks ago for Utah in a Volkswagon Golf. Now, 2.5 weeks later we are home, tired and fried, but with so many more happy memories.
The 22 hours to Henefer Utah were spent with naps and Richard Scarry books, interspersed with movies to keep things interesting. My mom and dad hosted us for a week and it was wonderful to relax in Henefer, letting mom do the cooking and Jay do the kiddie tending. We had an awesome and much anticipated campout up Lost Creek which the kids loved and couldn't stop talking about. We also hiked to the "H" and helped Grandpa watering and weeding his garden. Good stuff. Then it was reunion time. Eric's reunion has been held in Altamont, Utah in an awesome and humongous lodge since we've been married and this year was no exception. The kids loved the swimming pool, the AMAZING food, the time with the aunts and uncles and Grandma Washington and getting to sleep in bunk beds. Eric and I loved going to the Vernal temple with the family where Elliot was endowed in preparation for his mission to Japan. Another thing I loved was hearing about the lives and service of Grandma and Grandpa Mecham. It was inspiring. I need to put it in to high gear if I am ever going to be half the people they were.
Reunion number two was held in Oklahoma City, which luckily for us, is right on the way home. We caravaned with my family down to OK to attend the Christensen reunion. Oh boy, what a reunion it was! I give props to the awesome peeps who planned this massive get together. It was SUCH A BLAST! A little sampling of the goings on: 100ft slip and slide, 3 on 3 basketball for the dudes, slam dunk contest, sand volleyball, ice cream for all the kids in a huge long rain gutter, dibby dibby dip, chatting, yummy food, good weather, swimming, lake, jet skis, zoo, dodge ball, missionary updates, Grandma and Grandpa Christensen fav memories, pizza, OKC boat tour, sunburns, HAPPINESS...
After we pulled into the our driveway, burned and tired, I realized that as exhausted as I was, I didn't want it to end. Post family reunion let down. What a beast that is. (Not to mention the laundry)
Thanks for the memories, everyone!