Our Pioneer Day Celebration

July 25th, 2010

In Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day (Days of ‘47, 24th of July). Anyway, this day is remembered every year to celebrate the pioneers and to remember the trials and faith they had to come to this state. It’s a day to celebrate and spend time with family and friends.

Georgia (hubby’s 2nd cousin) hosts a party/barbeque every year for the family. Lots of food, but I forgot to take pictures of it. I was too busy eating I guess. Here’s one of the salads I brought to the barbeque though.

There were a lot of family members too. Some I hadn’t seen in years. It was good to see them again. Did I take pictures of them? Uhh, maybe 2! I was talking too much.

I did get some great pictures of this bike though.

Geogia found it after many years of being stored in her basement. I am in love with this bike!

Look at that awesome bike tag.

We had a great time and ate lots of yummy food.

We played.

And talked.

Then we headed for home to take a dip in the pool.

Amanda started out not wanting to get her hair wet, but that didn’t last long.

The pool turned to sprinkler fun after a while. That is a face of pure joy.

More sprinkler fun.

Then it was time for a few jumps on the trampoline.

The kids entertained themselves by playing charades while we waited for the fireworks to start.

Proof that hubby and I were there.

Snuggling down to watch the fireworks

Light up the sky.

Zach and Ammon both said this was their best day this Summer. Ammon has said that everyday since Summer started.

Hope you had a wonderful Saturday!

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Celebrating The 4th

July 12th, 2010

The 4th of July was spent with extended family in Cedar City.

Watching movies during down time.

Working crossword puzzles.

Then taking a swim in the hotel pool.

Even little ones that weren’t sure about getting wet joined in. (Julien doesn’t like swimming because it’s too wet.)

Zachary enjoys splashing everyone within 15 feet of him.

Amanda can’t resist texting for more than 5 minutes.

Even the babies took the plunge and enjoyed it for the most part. Ummm, maybe not by the look on Maddux’s face.

At least until the great-grandma’s came and rescued them from their evil parents and uncle.

My girls can’t get in the pool without climbing on someone’s shoulders, especially Ty.

Crashed as soon as their heads hit their pillows.

Maddux with Mom and Dad after blessing.

Ellas with Mom, Dad and brother, Parker after blessing.

Traci, Stephane, Sebastien, Benjamin and Julien visiting from Canada.

Parents and Grandparents of Maddux.

The Bargars and Jacobs celebrating Ella’s and Maddux’s blessing day at a nearby park.

Great grandma and grandpa Bargar and great grandma and grandpa Jacobs with Whitney and Maddux.

The kids eating dinner at Chris and Emily’s.

Playing with sidewalk chalk.

And stopping a runaway train.

Everyone loves a parade.

And playing in the water.

Trying to get cool on a hot day.

Also lots of eating, singing, laughing, playing, swinging, climbing, sliding, pretending, talking, hugging, snacking, cooking, holding, kissing, walking, watching, packing, cleaning, good-byeing!

No better way to celebrate the 4th!

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July 3rd, 2010

Happy 4th of July!

I’m proud to be an American,

Where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died,

Who gave that right to me.

-Lee Greenwood

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Flag Door Decor

July 3rd, 2010

I haven’t shown my front door decor for the 4th of July yet. I made this basically the same way I made the one for St. Patrick’s Day. Go here to get all the details.

I used 4 fence slats to make the complete heart shape. Put the pieces together and trace the shape on all the pieces.

Then trace the shape you want on the inside. Cut out each slat one at a time. Paint each slat then sand each one. Place them back together to make the placement for the holes.

Drill the holes to connect it all together. Use a heavy gauge wire. The pieces can be heavy when it’s all assembled.

I love decorating for the 4th and displaying everything red, white and blue.

I’m linking to:

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

I Made It Without My Hubby at Shanty 2 Chic

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

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Easy 4th of July Decorating

June 30th, 2010

A Dollar Store plastic plate and some white shelf paper make a very inexpensive holiday display.

I used shelf paper instead of vinyl because it’s cheaper and it’s actually easier to use. I start in the middle and work out when applying vinyl or any lettering to a surface.

It makes it easier to get the correct spacing of the letters.

Now, I remember why I like red so much. What a bright and cheery color.

I bought this red metal sign from Hobby Lobby last year for less that a dollar. It was on clearance. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture before I added the vinyl.

Then I added the vinyl “America” and some stars I cut out on the Cricut. If you look closely you can see the “america” after it was cut.

And here it is all finished. The little milk bottle next to the sign is filled with red, white and blue flat glass marbles.

Both of these decorations took less than 10 minutes each and cost $1 and some change. Here’s what the Entry looks like now.

I was going to make some vinyl to put next to the gates (I took one of the gates and for the mantel a few weeks ago) but I found this flag sign in my storage tote and it’s perfect here.

And another view of the Entry. I’m going to be having a lot of guests coming in the next few days and still have so much to do. I don’t have time to come up with elaborate decorations, so quick and easy one’s work for me now.

Sorry about the mixture of day and night pictures. That’s what happens when you’re at the park for 5 hours. Zach’s baseball team made it to the Championship game. They did great, but lost the final game and came in second. Congratulations to the boys, they played well.

I’m linking to:

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville

Show and Tell at My Romantic Home

Patriotic Categorically Crafting Show at Someday Crafts

Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Metapmorphosis Monday Between Naps On The Porch

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Easy Decorative Flags for the 4th

June 28th, 2010

When something in a magazine interests me I cut the picture out and put it in a binder. Hopefully someday I’ll actually make it or use it as some sort of inspiration. I cut this picture out last year. I think it was from Better Homes and Gardens, but I’m not sure. Cute flags, huh?

I’ve had these pails for a few years. I bought them from the $1 section in Target.

I looked through my fabric stash and picked out the fabric I wanted to use for the flags. To make them as easy as possible I used pinking shears instead of sewing them. I cut my pieces 4 1/2 x 5″. I think their flags are bigger though.

I cut a skinny dowel into 3 equal pieces (you could use a skewer instead of a dowel). Then I wrapped the material around the dowel and secured it with hot glue.

I made 12 flags, 3 out of each fabric.

I stuck one flag of each

fabric in the pails.

Arranging them a little different

and securing them with beans.

And then I put them on the shelf in the Entry with my new little boat.

Another quick, easy and inexpensive 4th of July decoration.

I’m linking to:

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog

Forth Of July Party at It’s A Blog Party

Stars and Stripes Party at Centsational Girl

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Flag Categorically Crafting Show at Someday Crafts

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Favorite Things Friday at A Few of My Favorite Things

4th of July Fun at Somewhat Simple

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Mantel Vignette Party at The Stories of A 2 Z

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Patriotic Pinwheel Banner

June 28th, 2010

My 4th of July decorations are lacking, so I’ve come up with a few quick, easy and inexpensive ideas I could make and put up quickly. This is the first one I completed for the Entry.

First, I found the paper I wanted to use in my paper stash and cut each piece 4 1/2″ square.

Next I drew 2 lines from corner to corner to use as my cutting guide.

Cut along the lines but stop about 1/2″ from the center.

I used a tiny hole punch to puch the holes for the brad. Some of my paper was thick and it worked better than trying to poke it through with the brad. Punch only one hole in each triangle and the center.

Poke the brad through each hole one at a time.

Then poke it through the center and secure the pinwheel with the brad.

By drawing the X on different sides of the paper, I came up with 2 different looks out of one piece of paper. I did it with paper that was only white on the one side also.

Here they are all finished. It took less than an hour to make all of them.

I attached them to twine with tiny clothespins.

And hung them on the banister. So cute!

The polka dots and flowers are my favorites. I’ll show you the rest of the Entry when I finish my other quick projects.

Oh, and this is #5 on my 10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge. 4 down, 6 to go!

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog

Forth of July Party at It’s A Blog Party

Spotlight Yourself at It’s So Very Cheri

Stars and Stripes Party at Centsational Girl

Flag Categorically Crafting Show at Someday Crafts

Get Your Craft On Thursday at Life As Lori

Inspired By at The Inspired Room

4th of July Fun at Somewhat Simple

Patriotic Categorically Crafting Show at Someday Crafts

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July 4th Centerpiece

June 21st, 2010

I needed a 4th of July centerpiece. I’ve been trying to use the supplies I have on hand, so no running to Hob Lob, Roberts or Ben Franklin for me. This is what I came up with. Three random wood candle holders, some twine,

A faded platter and some clear and black plastic stars. I’m trying to figure out why I had these stars (they’re kind of strange).

Then I got into my spray paint stash for red, white and blue spray paint.

The platter got painted red.

The stars white, of course.

And the candle holders blue.

I like the tall candle holder, but it’s not a chunky as the others and looked out of place to me. I used the twine to beef it up a little by wrapping it around the skinniest part and securing it with hot glue.

It still wasn’t thick enough, so I wrapped it again going back up toward the top. It looks much better now.

And here’s the finished centerpiece.

Kind of fun and whimsical.

I like my new centerpiece and especially that it was free. Sometimes it’s nice to have a stash of random stuff. Just remember to keep it organized (wink)!

I’m linking to:

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog

Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented

Patriotic Parade Linky Party at Craftaholics Anonymous

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Penny Pinching Party at THe Thrifty Home

Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville

Transformation Thursday at THe Shabby Chic Cottage

Look At Me Party at Fun To Craft

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Forth of July Party at It’s A Blog Party

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Is Crafty Day at Along For The Ride

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Making the World Cuter Monday at Making The World Cuter

Stars and Stripes Party at Centsational Girl

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Father’s Day Gifts

June 20th, 2010

This year we decided to make most of the gifts for Father’s Day. Ammon’s been wanting to make a tic-tac-toe game out of this shadow box I bought at the Dollar Store. Him and Daddy like to sit on the front porch and watch the cars go by, so I thought that would be the perfect place to put this game once it was finished.

First I took the hooks off the back, then primed and painted it a color to match the pillows on the front porch.

Next I sanded the edges of the box.

Then I found some rocks to fit in the sections of the box. I cut vinyl x’s and o’s on the Cricut to stick on the rocks for playing pieces.

And there you have it. The perfect game for Daddy and Ammon to play on the front porch.

This next one is a combination of ideas from different blogs. I cut out pieces of scrapbook paper to fit around small candy bars. The kids drew or wrote things they would do for their dad on the back of each paper. These are the ones Ammon made.