Monday, January 31, 2011

1-31-2011

This picture is significant for two reasons:
1) We made it thru my least favorite month of the year!
2) I got a new planner today, and I love it! (thanks alisha!!)

Sunday, January 30, 2011

1-30-2011

If you have not heard of the blog
the "nieniedialogues" you are
really missing out! I have been following
Stephanie's blog for about 2 years now.
Checking her posts has become part of my
"get ready routine"!
I check it while I dry my hair.
It gives me perspective and puts a
smile on my face first thing in the morning!
Well, yesterday me and the MR. went on our
date out to eat at Paradise Bakery.
It was a wonderful dinner-
love their Cajun Chicken Caesar salad!
As were walking out of the restaurant,
who should be walking in, but
Stephanie and Christian Nielson!
I almost did not say anything-
but luckily, Darren nudged me out of
my stunnnedness (is that a word?), and
I smiled and said "Hi"!
I introduced myself, and told her
that I felt like I knew her!
She was so kind and gave me a big hug.
We chatted for a minute, and then we went our separate ways!
Of course, I wanted to follow them into the restaurant
and join them for dinner!!
I wished I would have had my camera-
what a picture of the day!
I just count my blessings that Heavenly
Father put me right where I needed to
be to meet her! And the funny
thing is, I alway knew I would meet her!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

1-29-2011

Tickle those ivories, Mary!
After months of hearing her practice
Canon in D by Pachelbel-
Mary was able to perform it at
her recital today!
She was cool as a cucumber
and she looked really cute, too!

1-28-2011

It's Friday night--
and we are all feeling like we
deserve shakes after surviving
another week in January!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

1-27-2011

My starving college student is
coming home tomorrow!
I made sure we have plenty of milk-
(that will last until Monday!)
At as his request,
smothered burrito's are on the
menu for friday night dinner!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

1-26-2011

A BYU basketball win like this--
eases my longing for some BYU
football!
San Diego State
you just got "Jimmered!"

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

1-25-2011

Well, it's not fun or glamorous
but paying the bills has to be done!
I have to admit it is more fun with my laptop!

Monday, January 24, 2011

1-24-2011

Sew Busy!!
Remember all that material I cut a couple
of weeks ago?
Look how cute it looks now!
Let's just say if you work at
Leaning Dynamics you are in for a treat!

1-23-2011

It's Perfection!
(I'm talking about the cake, not Connor!)
Connor has taken over the honors of making
pumpkin cake! I honestly do not
know how he does it, but it is a
heavenly treat for a Sunday evening!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

1-22-2011

So here is the project that kept me in my pj's
until 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon!
Well, truth be told, Pride and Prejudice
kept me in my pj's until 10:30, and then the bookcase
project filled the rest of the time!!
I am so pleased with the "after"picture.
(see before picture on 1-20-2011).
As you can see the bookshelves are a lot less cluttered
and the look is more peaceful and intentional
looking!
First thing we did (Darren helped, of course!) was to
remove all the book jackets from the books!
This gives the books a far more clean and
simple appearance!
We put a lot of the paperback books in the
cupboards underneath.
I also like the look of the brown baskets being
divided up (they hold our DVD collection).
This helps with the balance of the overall look!
I did break a design rule, and
put framed pictures back in the bookcase, but I
like what I like--no matter what the rule!
Someday when we are feeling really
ambitious I would love to line the back
of the bookcases with a patterned fabric--
that would be Fabulous!
But for now, I am pleased with our
simple make-over, that did not cost a dime--
just a little time!

1-21-2011


For our "date" night we made a trip to the
beautiful Mt. Timpanogos Temple.
Darren snapped this picture as me and our
friends were walking out.
When you leave the temple you invariably take part of
it with you--the peace, the sense of priority,
the reminder of your personal divine nature,
and of course the power to keep trying
to do your best!
For more about LDS temples go here!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

1-20-2011

So, this is a "before" picture! Actually this is an
"as is" picture! This is what my built in bookcases
look like down in my family room!
I have been doing some design research
about how to design your bookcases,
and I am going to make some changes!
Call it cabin fever, but spending so much time
inside my house, forces me to look around
my house at areas that need some attention!
These bookcases are gonna get a little facelift-and when
I'm done, I'll post the "after" picture! Feel
free to give me any ideas you might have!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1-19-2011

Spreading a little love around
the house, as I decorate
for Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

1-18-2011

Uh-oh, what have I done?
The kids talked me into downloading
this fun new game--I can see hours
being wasted throwing angry birds at
grunting pigs!!

1-17-2011

We're gonna bowl tonight!
For human rights day we exercised our
right to officially "stink" at bowling!
But we all sure had fun!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

1-16-2011

The infamous mission papers!
That's right! Alex is starting his papers for
his mission!
Where do ya think he will end up?
Samoa or Boise??

Saturday, January 15, 2011

1-15-2011

My darling niece Miss Addison Louise is seven
years old!
To celebrate, Addie wanted a cheer party!
Lucky for her, we have a really cute
cheerleader in the family!
Cassidy and her friend, Maddie, went to
Addie's party and taught the girls some
moves!
I hope Corb and Alisha( Addie's parents)
know what they are in for!

1-14-2011

Friday night, we attended a wedding reception
for the son of our wonderful neighbors
Carl and Lori Johnson!
As I reached Lori in the reception line she gave me
a warm embrace and whispered in my ear--
"It's all worth it! All the tears, and
sleepless nights, and worries. It's all
worth it!"
And someday when I am sitting in the
celestial room, with all my children around
me, I know I will have the same feelings.
It will all be worth it!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

1-13-2011

I spent the afternoon cutting fabric for
some Valentines projects!
Thank-you, Heavenly Father, for giving
me the ability to create!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

1-12-2011

You can never have to many cute bowls!
These were our anniversary present!
Call me crazy, but it puts me in a better mood to
eat cereal out of a colorful bowl!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

1-11-11

It's been 19 years since I married my
favorite blessing! We celebrated by going to
Texas Roadhouse-- after we took Mary to dance, picked Dustin
up from the bus stop, took care of business
at the bank, picked Mary up from Dance,
got Cass to cheer-
well I guess in the past 19 years we
have created a lot of "life" to keep
us busy and happy!
We are still smiling through it all
Side by Side!

Monday, January 10, 2011

1-10-2011

The National Championship Game!
Someday I will be watching my BYU Cougars
playing in this game!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

1-09-2011

Oh, there's Sunshine, blessed Sunshine!
After a week with an awful inversion filling our
beautiful valley, I awoke to a sunny,
sabbath morning! My week was pretty
stressful as well, so not only did the sunny morning
brighten my spirit, it also made all my troubles seem
a little lighter. I took this picture from my back door--
how lucky am I to be able to look out my windows
and see my favorite mountains? These mountains
are "home" to me, and when the sun shines on
them I can't help but feel grateful!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

1-08-2011

A dinner out with our wonderful friends-
Jason and Mandy-
ended up being a fun and relaxing
way to end a very hectic and stressful week!

Friday, January 7, 2011

1-07-2011

My wonderful sis gave me this awesome picture
for Christmas! I finally found a frame for
it and got in hung up in
me and the Mr.'s room!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

1-06-2011

Mary is getting some good use out of our new chair!
It has become the coveted place to read or work on
your laptap or take a nap!!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1-05-2011

Talk about out with the old and in with the new!
My morning started with my hair dryer spewing sparks
at me and then pretty much blowing up!!
A quick trip to Wal-Mart and I
had an exact replica of my old hair dryer--
minus the sparks and smoke!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

1-04-2011

My New Chair!!
After months of agonizing over fabric samples-
then waiting forever for the fabric to arrive-
finally my old chair is new again!!
Can you say gorgeous?

Monday, January 3, 2011

1-03-2011

Can you rise from the depths of scumville to become
President?!!
After a wonderful discussion about the importance of every young
man being worthy to serve a mission, we decided
to lighten things up by having the Gibby's
over for some rousing rounds of SCUM!
I love Family Home Evening!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

1-02-2011

There is nothing like a bunch of
cute boys cleaning up
Sunday Dinner!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year!
I am proud to be posting on the first day of a new year, mostly because
I did not post once in 2010!
2010 did give me a new way to document my family's
comings and goings, our highs and lows, our joys and sorrows!
The new way was (is) called Project Life!( http://www.beckyhiggins.com/)
This entailed taking a picture for every day of
the year, and then journaling about that picture. I am proud to say I took
a picture every day in 2010!
Well, let me rephrase that--I took a picture FOR every day in 2010!
There were a few days I realized after climbing into bed--that
I did not have my picture of the day yet! I would think about what
I wanted my picture to be and then take the picture the next day!
Call it cheating if you will, but I have to be honest!
There were also days I had help from those closest to me! Like
the time Darren and I came home from a date and Zachie asked me
if I had my picture of the day yet. When I said no-
he smiled real big, and said "good, I have one!"
He showed me the picture he had taken of the first quesadilla
he had made all my himself. He has also set the table for him and his twin sister
to eat their gourmet dinner, and he was so proud he had taken a picture
of it! That was the day I knew this project was changing my family!
There was also the day my neighbor took a picture of my family
taking a springtime nap on a blanket in our backyard. When we woke up
our neighbor called out his window "I have your
picture of the day!"(I still need to get that picture!)
There have been friends who have been so thrilled when
I tell them they are my picture of the day! I sort of find it funny
because it is not like the picture will be posted in the New York Times-
I mean, this is just Jamie taking pictures!
I have also had many, many people ask to see my finished product.
It is in an album soon to be put in my family room, after I put
in those last pictures from 2010!
So this year, just to push myself a little (and to
let my friends and family
see all those pictures
they are in!)
I am also going to blog my pictures of the day!
Which means I am going from no blogposts in 2010--to 365 blog
posts in 2011!
The #1 reason I love taking a POTD(Picture Of The Day)
is because it helps me see the little
everyday things in my life that make it
MY LIFE!
I love that I have a picture of unfolded whites
sitting in my laundry room--because I hate folding whites!
I love that I have a picture of the blossoms on my trees
last spring because looking at that picture now
reminds me of good things to come!
I have pictures of all the big things that happened in
2010--Alex graduating from
high school, Darren turning 40, Cassidy going on her
first date, Alex leaving for college, Connor scoring a touchdown!
But almost more importantly
I have pictures of all little things that happened
in 2010, as well--and I am proud of that!
So join me if you would like, on another adventure-just
watch out! You never know who or what might become
my Picture Of The Day!