40 is the new 30!

I am 40! Maybe if I say it enough, I'll actually believe it!

My attitude is 40 is the new 30! I stole that from someone else's blog, but it feels about right for my life and lifestyle. July 25th, 2011- I also copied this same blogger who made a list of 30 things to do the year of being 40. I won't bore you with my whole list but a few are:

re-string my grandma's pearls and wear them just because, take a basic photo class and take our kids next birthday photos, do 1 new craft each month, go scuba diving, visit at least 1 of my top 10 places I'd like to visit in the U.S., finish all my unfinished photo albums, dance with Boyd in the rain... you get the idea.

Anyway to kick off being 40, here's what we did.

Breakfast at the Olive Branch

A hike in Williams canyon

Date night at the Blue Star.

We started to go to another restaurant that was only doing a happy hour night and closing at 9pm.

We didn't want to feel rushed having arrived there at 8pm so they sent us to the Blue Star where we were greeted to a reserved booth, champagne and free dessert! Not too shabby!

So here's to 30 in 40! I'm sure I'll post about most of the goals throughout the year.

Tea at the Castle

As part of my 40th birthday we went for Sunday tea at Glen Eyrie Castle.

Ohana and I are in our hats and white eyelet dresses- I guess I like matching more than I thought:)

They had a great time despite looking so serious.

It's not easy to get a good family shot with these to busy toddlers.

Mmmm scones and devonshire cream.

Yep, she wore the hat the whole time and then some- she REALLY likes hats!

She mostly ate scones and fruit. Once she saw the grapes, that's really all she ate.

Becoming such a little lady;)

My sweet prince

He sampled the herbal tea we were give with lots of sugar.

He liked the chocolate truffle the best!

Little princess in every way!

Such fun exploring the grounds.

She charmed everyone there... as usual!

17 on the 16th!

Ohana is 17 months old today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She LOOOVES her "buba" and even keeps him company when he gets time out!

She's a climber!

She likes "trucks" and doesn't mind the lack of "girl toys"

She loves books and this is the face I usually get when the camera is out. She says "cheee"!

A favorite is going "side"! (outside)

We feel so blessed by her happy heart and love for everyone

I've been slacking in the picture taking department. We just finished our 4th move in less than 3 years. Moving is just plain icky! Anyway, often she puckers up for a kiss and then tells me "thank you"! She has no idea how often this makes my day.

Speaking of her constant chatter, she can now say over 40 words! Some are hard to decipher, but she uses them consistently and in correct context so I know they are true words and not just her cute baby babble. She loves baths, riding her bike, eating, nursing, putting toys away since one of her most common phrases is "put back".

She talks on the play phone, likes putting on shoes, washing her hands, wearing hats, still eats veggies, draws chalk on the driveway, and tells us in a couple of ways that she is peeing and pooping in her diaper. She makes backing up beeping noises when she backs up on a ride on toy or even into our laps!

She still doesn't like cold milk.

You might want to sit down for this...

Welcome to our rental house... let's tour a bit shall we?

This is a study in wall paper sine two-thirds of the house is covered in it.

We will be tearing it ALL down and repainting almost every interior wall!

Time to put all the time watching HGTV to good use!

The entry with large closet- view looking from the kitchen to front door- notice the fake dark green linoleum, ya that will be covered up too!

The Living room- aka the play room soon to be a pale yellow

Dinning area... soon to be a tan color of sorts

Guess where this gem of a border is?

Kitchen... doesn't make it country just because of that choice! It will be a soothing light aqua

The family room... we just learned the land lord is putting wood laminate in here... can I hear a hallelujah? Soon to be the same tan as dining room

The upstairs bath... oh no wall paper you say? No, there is, and it's already peeling off! Soon to also be tan

Rigel's room... he might like sports, but the border still goes! Soon to be blue, not because he's a boy, but because he likes it and it goes really well with Orange- his fave!

ECU- extremem close up!

Ohana's room- soon to be seafood spray with lavender accents!

These are going to be extinct too!

The very large guest room! I thought I posted it, the border is rainbows and unicorns- how 80's can you get? Soon to be pale yellow like the living room

Master bath- soon to be tan

Ginormous master bedroom- soon to be green- a green called happy camper which is what we will be when all the painting is done and we are snoozing on our new king size bed! Another hallelujah!

Our in bedroom library I guess... they will stay white and probably contain lots of baskets... I love baskets! Sorry Boyd!

And best for last, our golden vanity countertop! I decided it is just a rental so I get this baby for 2 whole years! It could be worse I guess

So that's the quick tour... we will post photos of all the new fresh paint jobs and those amazing laminate floors being installed this week! We spared you the 1/2 bath on the main floor- it has wall paper too.

And we didn't reveal the basement. It's like a dungeon... dark wood paneling and crazy leopard-like shag carpet. We leaving all that too since we won't use that space much.

We also have a great yard and are just 2 blocks from the YMCA!

July 4th 2011

Red, white & blue!

Rigel's shirt is vintage old navy 2001

The weird marks on it are sweat from his nap... gross but true

We got invited to the Fletcher's 4th of July bash... so fun since I just met her last week on a mtn. mama hike! Thanks for including us Fletchers!!!

Ohana spent most of her time walking around and eating all the yummy food... I swear she has a hallow leg or something!

And this is where Rigel spent most of his time... we actually took them both swimming earlier in the day, but glad he enjoyed it nonetheless!

Boyd let Rigel stay up to see the fireworks at the Air Force Academy since you can catch the action from the neighborhood... he did great staying up till 10:00pm.