Our Kitchen

So Jen and I have been trying to figure out a way we could update our kitchen for pretty cheap. We thought maybe we could try to use a stripper and strip the stain out and try to stain them a darker color. After that attempt failed we decided we would have to paint them. We didn't know if we could paint them a darker color, or if we should paint them a lighter color. So Jen was watching KSL one day and they had someone on who had just finished a remodel on her kitchen for under $300. We were interested and found that she had used a bead board wallpaper on her cupboard doors and painted them. She also used a chocolate brown glaze on top of the paint and wallpaper bead board so we thought we would give it a try. Here are some of the pictures from when we moved in and the color of the cabinets that we didn't absolutely love.

And now to our new updated colors. We can't decide on a tile yet, but we are thinking a slate style will look the best, and we are trying to decide if we should update the paint to like a red or something a little darker so it will off set the lighter cabinets and appliances.

The following picture is of the shelves that I decided I would make that would go on both sides of our cupboards so we could have some additional shelf space.

And finally, one of my favorite parts was the fact that we were finally able to put in some crown molding to hide all the spacing that was there from when they hurried the process and skipped some steps in building our condo.

Finally we finished Jackson's room. We were able to paint the shelf, and Jen did the letters thanks to our visit to the Wood Connection. Below are some pictures.

SO MUCH TO UPDATE!!!!!!

Here comes another HUGE update! We have so many fun pictures to share of our little guy! Crazy to think he is already 9 1/2 months old. We have had loads of fun lately as he has started learning all kinds of new things.

Here is a sweet shot of him attempting to crawl.
He still only goes backwards.

We went to feed the ducks at BYU. They have such a fun pond with turtles and baby ducklings! It was a blast!

For Memorial Day we went up North for a BBQ with the fam. Sweet cousin Dylan even came! Jackson loved checking out Toby (the dog) while we were there, too.

Memorial Day was also Jackson's FIRST haircut! Thanks to Aunt Stacey for the awesome job! Here are some fun shots of the process, as well as the awesome entertainers we had to keep Jackson happy. Thanks Myers!

All finished....one handsome guy! (Well...3 in this pic!)

jazzsportsnmore.blogspot.com

I have started a new blog where I (and some other loyal Jazz fans) will be able to get on and rant about sports, mainly it will be centered around the Utah Jazz (since I have a passion for them). From time to time I will get on and discuss or rant about other sports topics going on. Please feel free to check it out and pass it along to anyone, I am open to comments or suggestions on things to discuss or do more research on. The blog address is jazzsportsnmore.blogspot.com.

A bunch of firsts...

Lately we have been experiencing some very fun "firsts" with Jackson! It is so delightful to catch some of his adorable expressions on film. :)

I love my garden veggies! (He refuses peaches, applesauce, and all the yummy foods...but will eat all his veggies. What a healthy little guy.)

First experience eating a dum dum sucker...well, tasting it. He was so sticky!

Enjoying an apple core...yet he refuses applesauce. I can't figure it out!

My little musician! He loves the piano!

(Check out this smile!)

Yes, he also sings. What an entertainer!

One other first not yet captured on camera happened today...crawling! However, he has only figured out how to go backwards. :)

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!!!

Jackson experienced bubbles for the first time today, and loved them!!! I was worried that he would be too young to enjoy them, but I was wrong! Here are a few pics I managed to snap...it's a little tricky to juggle bubbles & a camera. Next time I will need to use my expert photographer Matt. It's so fun to be able to try so many fun new things with little Jackson! It's tough to watch little babies grow up, but it brings so many new adventures! Enjoy :)

Just waitin' for the bubbles...chillin' on the deck. What a nice day! He has such cute little overalls on, too bad they are covered up with a huge bib. I've got a big drooler, what can I say?

"Holy cow, where did they all go?" Jackson could not figure out why the bubbles would disappear and why he couldn't hold them without popping them.

Ok, now this is one of my favs!!! He was so excited--flailing his arms, kicking his feet, and going "ooo ooo ooo" like he does when he is delighted.

I love his little outstretched hands in this pic.

Getting ready to poke the bubble with his pointer finger. Sweetie pie!

Now after all the excitement has ended...somehow I am going to try to calm him down for a nap.

sleepy head...

i absolutely love being a mom because i get to witness adorable and funny moments (like the following) firsthand. this evening i decided to let jackson chew on a banana in a mesh teether that grandma ingles gave him. he thought it was the greatest thing, and cried when he chewed the banana gone. matt and i had to give him another banana segment he was so sad. then after that we had some fun in the bath. ha ha ha!

here's how the night went...

first i decided to make a coconut pina colada cream cake (thanks to colby's recipe). it was delicious, but huge...we had to share some with our neighbors! ha ha ha.

then we gave jackson his banana filled teether...which he thoroughly enjoyed! his eyes are so sweet in this picture.

it's a little hard to tell, but he has a banana slobber ring around his shirt. this is also garnished by some bright orange carrot splatters. funny how i have the same things all over me tonight. how lovely.

then it was on to the bath. this picture kind of posted at a funny angle. sorry.

this has happened quite a few times already. when i wash jackson's hair, he falls asleep. he was so relaxed in his bath he decided to take a little nap.

ok...now usually when i lift him out of the bath he wakes up. tonight he stayed asleep.

i even got him all dried off, diapered, and lotioned up without him waking up. what a sleepy head.

as of this very moment, he is still asleep. i only managed to get his pj bottoms on. he's nice and bundled up in a fuzzy blanket in his crib though. we are so lucky to have this sweet little baby in our home, he is an absolute delight! every day is a new adventure discovering something new that makes him laugh. being a mom is the best, i wouldn't have it any other way!!!