10/27/13

Trash to Treasure (a peek inside my closet!)

Oh yes I did! I turned a baby gate that I took out of my neighbor's trash can...
 
into a super functional jewelry organizer..

 Every necklace, bracelet, and pair of earrings is now out where I can see them. Accessorizing has never been so efficient! WHY didn't I do this sooner? I had another organization system that worked OK, but I didn't love it. I love this. This wall was totally bare and now it is the most useful wall in my house (probably). I was going to make my jewelry organization all cute like I've seen on home dec blogs but then it HIT me. Just screw in some mug hooks and attach the thing to the wall. Oh my goodness...I love my closet now! And who cares if it isn't cute. It is a means to an end...that end being that I can be the one that looks cute...right?!
 So after I organized the jewelry, I just kept going on the rest of my closet. I'm hoping others in my family catch the bug..
 It is kinda embarrassing posting pics of my closet because I am well aware that I have a ton of shoes. And clothes. But remember, I'm a thrifter. I don't pay full price for anything. I have around 60 shirts hanging on the top rod in my closet. 50 of them I got from thrift stores or yard sales or clearance racks. The other 10 were from discount stores like Ross.
So are you motivated to go clean and organize your closet? DO IT! It is so much fun to get ready now.
Love, Tristie

10/22/13

blog vomit

BulAAAAAAAAAHHHH! That is what I feel like doing right now. Life.Is.Nuts. In a totally good way. Better than a totally bad way. But still NUTS. Where to start?

BIRTHDAY SEASON: Dax's birthday kicks off our crazy fall birthday season. I made him a DE-lux cheesecake (the thing weighed 8 pounds) and then I got super cranky that evening. So..awesome wife award over here! Dax is a sexy 35-year-old beast. (Ha, I just made Dax's parents blush by calling their son sexy.)

Next: Mack turned 6. Yes, six. He is still frozen in my mind at 2 or 3. He has blossomed and become so darn dutiful and smart and tall.

He says the GREATEST stuff, folks. Always has. I put a lot of his quotes on Facebook for my dearest friends and semi-aquaintences to enjoy. So you should totally friend me if you like to laugh at Facebook posts and not get riled up by politics or bummed out by people's bad days. Here are a couple cute things he's said recently...

Dax: I picked Quinn a cute dress to wear
Mack: Did you make the dress?
Dax: No
Mack: Well, you should try that.

While eating dinner the other night... " Mom, are these white things on the bun seeds to plant buns?"

Mack made a coupon for Hunter's birthday that said, "This coupon is good for a free hug without bashing your face."

And that leads us to Hunter's birthday. I've had this darling son for a decade! Wowsers. He is a great kid. I asked a few people to write a "top 10" list about Hunter and I got some great responses. I got choked up reading them because Hunter really is a tender and sweet person with a sharp mind and a good heart. I sometimes forget how great he is because he doesn't demand near the amount of attention that my other kids do.  Here are a couple of the lists I received about Hunter.

Mya and Abbeys Top 10 reasons of why Hunter is an awesome cousin and nephew
10. He plays games with us
9. He makes us laugh when we are sad
8. He has some rad dance moves and can break dance really good
7. He is super smart and knows a lot of things
6. He is kind to everyone around him
5. He is awesome at video games and teaches other how to play
4. He is caring to and aware of little children
3. He tells some really awesome jokes
2. He has a contagious smile that makes other people feel good
1. He is the most tender and loving boy I know.
 
Ten Top Reasons Why Grandma Warner Loves Hunter
10. When Hunter is around the yogurt never gets old or moldy.
9. I believe if you give Hunter enough Legos he could build anything.
8. I like the way Hunter obeys rules and does his best.
7. Hunter let me speak at his baptism.
6. I like the way Hunter laughs when he blows Grandma’s mind with his MasterMind skills.
5. Hunter gives the best hugs ever.
4. I love when Hunter will come and snuggle with me.
3. I remember when Hunter learned to ride his bike. He would circle the neighborhood riding farther each day. I love his determination.
2. I love the twinkle in Hunters beautiful blue eyes when he gets a great idea.
# l top reason that I like Hunter is that he has cold hands and he’s not afraid to put them on Grandma's sizzling hot feet. I just love that boy!
 
October is also hunting season in a major way. Not only is it Dax's job to be about the deer hunt, but it is also his hobby. Hel-LO?! Deer hunters totally forget that October is supposed to be about Halloween. I only pulled ONE of my totes of decorations out. It is a travesty that we've been too busy to decorate properly. My kids haven't even decided what they are being for Halloween; we usually decide in August... I'm freaking out! I'm in charge of my boys' class Halloween parties, which I'm looking forward to. Dax took the day off a long time ago. Good husband.
 
Our ward split at the beginning of the month. Dax was called to the Young Men's presidency and I got put in as Primary secretary. Busiest calling I've ever had. You know how when you get a calling, someone before you hands you a binder with all the info you need inside it? I don't. There is no binder. I had to make a binder. And type all the stuff that goes in that binder. And make a binder for all the teachers in the primary and type their lists, too. Because we are a brand new ward that never existed until now. The amount of organization it takes to run an auxilary (and a whole ward) is astonishing. I have a new appreciation for all who have served in any calling ever. It is truly amazing how a 100% volunteer organization runs as well as does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know the Lord's hand guides each faithful saint who is willing to serve. I've felt Him guide me. I hope it continues. I feel like hiring a secretary for myself because I truly cannot get a handle on everything that needs to be done in my calling and in my home. I am stretched beyond what I am capable of doing on my own. I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father will magnify me and my abilities. I know I am being prepared for some future responsibility. I am learning tons and being humbled to my core. But I am honored to be one to help move this work forward.



 Other October highlights...These two boys ran the "Spook Scoot" which is a fundraiser race that our high school's cross country team puts on every year. They ran the race as M&Ms but here they are in their rad T-shirts..
 We went up the mountain (twice) to cut wood for the winter. I am not looking forward to being cold. Even if it's bitter outside, I will be hot by my fireplace!
 Hunter had a couple buddies over for a "hang out" and they played this game I found online. You make a "scaffolding" with 2 pencils and a long string tied to each end. Then you put a Skittle on it and raise up the pencils by pulley system over each ear and eat it when it's within chomping range. It is quite challenging for the youngsters but they had a great time.

Soccer season was totally insane and really fun this year. Three kids in soccer is my limit. If Quinn wants to play next year, I'm going to start drinking Red Bulls. Mack really got into the game this year and scored a bunch of goals. He is fun to watch. But also terrifying because he would get enraged if his team kicked it out-of-bounds and he would start screaming and yelling mean stuff about his teammates. Never a dull moment around here, people.
 
Lastly, Preslie ran for 6th grade student council and won! She rapped her campaign speech. She is such a spunky, fun daughter. We share many hobbies like design and thrifting. She's always had a great sense of style and I love that we can share clothes and shoes right now.

I better go attempt to put the pieces of my house together so I can begin a new day tomorrow! A day packed with everything-and everyone I love!

8/29/13

transition to fall

A family meeting was called to order tonight by my hero, Dax. Basically we went from crazy, fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants summer to a rigid back-to-school schedule but we kept our summer I-can-do-whatever-I-want-and-go-wherever-I-want-whenever attitude and we were spiraling so we all decided our spirals need to line up. With 3 kids in soccer, 1 in dance, cub scouts, activity days, and 8 piano students, we've kept a mad pace these past 2 weeks. It was time to get on the same page.

Summer was awesome and I could not picture my summer without UBIC (Uintah Basin in Celebration) which is comparable to other town's Peach Days, County Fair, or the like. Except way better. Preslie sang in the UBIC talent show and won a trophy and performed her song at the park.
Matt, Abbey + kids came to see us and join the weekend festivities. Abbey entered the Tri-Athalon and did AWESOME. We were all so thrilled to call her our own.



It was a fun weekend!
I decided to give our dog a better home and found a great family not far from here with a lot of land for him to run on. It is very telling that it took my kids 3 days to notice he was gone. I feel so much better now that he's not tied up in our backyard each day for hours. We love Echo; we went and visited him at his new place and it was great to see him and how happy he is.

I am still working on Preslie's room here and there. This is her desk chair that I made over. It used to be cream with a maroon cushion cover.

I also took my kids on a quick trip to Salt Lake to see my niece and go to the temple with her as she received her endowment in preparation for her mission. We went to the ward campout and then BOOM; school began.


Preslie learned how to open her locker just before school started after several attempts and trips to the junior high on her own. It only took one lesson from her old, out-of-touch Mom who she thought surely could not know how to do such a cool thing as open a locker. Ha.

Hunter is surviving his first 2 weeks despite his certainty that the world was going to end once he entered school again!

Mack started Kindy this week and has the whole school thing wired. The first day- when all Moms on the face of the planet drive their little ones to school, hold their hands and walk them to the right class and sit with them until the bell rings- Mack insisted on riding the bus and assures me he can find his class on his own. And he did. He was so excited to board the bus; it was darling. How could I be melancholy?!
The evening of his third day of school, we were all chatting before bedtime and he tells us how good school breakfast is.. Say wuh ?
"You went to breakfast at school? How did you do that?"
"I heard a teacher say, 'if any of you are going to breakfast, go ahead and go' and I just followed the other kids that were going."
(shock and amusement)
"Well, you don't even have a lunch card and there is no money on your account. What did you tell the lady sitting at the beginning of the line?"
"I didn't go to her, I just went and got a tray and put a chocolate milk on the little square that said 'MILK' on it. (In a singy-song voice) The ham was deLIcious! But I didn't drink the chocolate milk because it was too hard to open."
By this point we are all laughing and shaking our heads. Preslie said, "It's your THIRD day of school. I didn't figure out about eating breakfast at school until I was in 3rd grade!"

Thank you, Mack for always rescuing us from the daily-ness of life with your crazy mind that is always thinking and doing things that make us laugh!

8/1/13

go Fourth

We united with Dax's family for fun, fourth festivities, and memory making of all kinds the beginning of July! Dax's brother and his wife hosted 12 of us and joy was experienced by all!
 
 
 Our visit to the zoo delighted the kids and adults alike. Preslie's reaction to the giraffes was my fave memory of the trip; she was in disbelief that a REAL giraffe was right there. We got to watch up close as a zoo worker trained it.

 We cooled off in the backyard with sprinklers, kiddie pools, and a home made slip-n-slide.
 That trampoline called my name and I answered...
 I've never seen myself at this angle before!
 
 We hit the town for some shops and food. Hunter loves himself some fries.
Swimming at the Bountiful Rec Center was a blast!
 We went up beautiful Mueller Canyon for a cookout and got as far as snapping a family photo and grilling one side of our burgers before it started to rain.
We tried to wait it out, but it poured harder and harder. We packed up and continued our meal at the house!


Other highlights:
fireworks, ward breakfast, a morning hike/run with Abbey, yummy food, chats and laughs, Everett the 1-year-old daredevil, Dax riding the crazy bike, garage sales, cousin sleepovers. We are so thankful for good family and the time we were able to spend with them!


7/16/13

In and Out (projects, not burger)

Look, Ma! No sod!

  Hey, look here! We have grass! This is so exciting, I can't even tell you how happy this sight makes me. Real grass in my backyard! Our house faces west so our backyard is shady in the afternoon/evening. This grass is going to up my yard's awesome factor a thousand points. It has been so hot, we are trying to keep it wet and alive! The gravel I'm standing on to take this pic has a future as a huge, beautiful patio! Next year, maybe.

Preslie's room has been so fun to put together. I can't stand it. The ideas are flowing into my brain faster than my hands can produce them. I love it when that happens. Usually it is the other way around..my hands are willing, but my brain's got nothin.
 It is bright white in her room and I love that it doesn't feel like a dark basement. I knew it needed a cool focal wall. Something bold, but subtle. Is that possible? Can something be bold and subtle at the same time? I found out the answer is a definite YES..
BEFORE
AFTER!
 It's subtly bold. Boldly subtle? And it was easy to do. I found the center of the wall. I found a long, straight edge (I used a piece of baseboard sitting in my basement) and had Preslie hold it up at different angles until I found the one I liked- not too slanted, just enough. Then I drew a line from the top corner of the wall to the middle line and did the same on both sides. I made my chevron stripes 12 inches thick. I started with 8 inches but they looked too narrow for the size of the wall and for the look I wanted. I drew all my lines one day and taped and painted the next day. I grabbed a can of paint from under my stairs that was another shade of white to do the design so this project cost me nothing except some painters tape.


 


Here's Preslie's cute desk corner. Her chair is waiting for a cushion cover to be made so is currently non-functional but super cute.
 I have about 7 more little projects to do in her room and it will be "done". If anyone comes to visit me, you can stay in Preslie's room!

Party (x4)

 June was party month for my side of the family. My youngest brother Trent got married June 14 and we crammed all the fun and parties we could into that weekend while we were all together.
Party 1 was the annual Grandkid B-day party where my parents celebrate all their grandchildren's birthdays in one day. My parents took everyone to Toys 'R Us and all the kids got to pick out a present. They look forward to this with great excitement! The older ones get cash, but everyone has fun seeing the kids pick out their toys!


 All the kids took a turn hitting the pinata! My Mom made these darling elephant and giraffe cakes and my bro Tyrel altered them a bit...
Grandpa held a bow and arrow contest.

Of course the kids played with their new toys. Quinn picked out a princess carriage.
 We did some night jumproping! Super fun and a great workout. The adults had as much fun as the kids. Mack tried jumprope for the first time and loved it!
 Party 2: Trent's wedding. Already having so much fun, here are Hunter and Quinn on the way to the wedding. This is a definite warning sign of breakdowns to come...
 The wedding was beautiful. Marriage is a wonderful thing. I am so happy for Trent and Kenzi
 Here are my 4 brothers! 2 older, 2 younger. I should have gotten a pic of me in the middle. That is how I grew up- surrounded by crazy boys! I love them dearly.
 The happy couple sealed the deal with a serious kiss!
All my parents' grandkids in one place. Quinn was the most darling flower girl.

Party 3: Aubrae's Utah reception. I went to her wedding and reception in Hawaii. While decorating for this one, I said I was having major deja vu and my bro-in-law said, "Yeah, the only bad part is that we can't go play at the beach afterward!"
Cousins make the bestest friends!
3 generations of sweet and/or spunky girls!

Party 4: Sawyer's baby blessing. My brother Tyrel gave a beautiful blessing to his first baby and really shocked a couple of my kids that he could be so serious/spiritual. He is usually such a goofball and always joking around. He is a fun dad, borderline crazy. This is a picture of baby Sawyer underneath my Mom's glass table with his nose pressed up against the glass- totally Tyrel.
Tyrel is one of my favorite people. I love his happy and adventurous personality. He is also creative and can build anything just like my Mom. He built this cool old looking trunk for Trent and Kenzi and we all filled it with gold Sacajewea dollars for their wedding present.

We had so much fun and packed in so many special events. My sister came from Florida, my brother from Alaska and my sister from Idaho came. Also my niece and her husband came from Hawaii. It was so neat to spend that time together with each other. I took my kids to Cowabunga bay with some of their cousins after the main parties were over. I had good walks/talks with my sisters. My dad had us do a marshmallow shooting war (he's the biggest kid of all). When I pulled out of my parents driveway to go home, I got choked up. It was hard to say goodbye. It may be another year before we are all together again. I am grateful for a wonderful family that I love dearly and for my parents for raising us all those years. I miss my sister Tiphanie that left us in 2001 but I know she watches over us. Looking forward to giving her a big hug some day. And looking forward to the next big family party! Until we meet again!