Warm Shadows

Last month I decided to paint my kitchen. I painted my previously white cabinets black, which took forever, but I love them, they look so much better. I have the hardest time picking out paint how are you supposed to in vision what a 1 inch square of paint is going to look like on every wall in your kitchen?? Well Anthony's brother just painted his house in "warm shadow" and we both loved the color so after we left his house we went strait to the paint store to get "warm shadows".....oooops did I say warm shadows??? well huge mistake a 2 hour drive latter we had our paint home and we're ready to go. Well my first swipe on the walls was followed by a panicked call to my sister in law Elise, "Did your paint kind of look purplish when you first put it on?" :) Of course she said no but our walls were green before so I figured it was just the green showing through, anyway after 4 hours of painting, and two coats latter Anthony and I successfully painted our kitchen Mauve, that's right mauve, white trim and black cabinets. It was quite the sight. You might be asking yourself "why did you keep painting once you saw it was the wrong color?" I've asked myself the same question a hundred times. The funny thing is that the entire time we were painting we keep saying, "this doesn't look pink does it?? No, it looks more grayish brown right?? " Well kids always can be depended upon to tell the truth and sure enough when Samuel saw it in the morning he said, "Why did you paint the kitchen pink??" Anthony and I just looked at each other and laughed guess it isn't grayish brown. Anyway long story but a month latter we made it back to Provo and looked at Scott and Elises "Warm Shadows" again and find out it is in fact "Warm Shadow" no "S" the paint store was really good about exchanging the paint. Who would've thought a "S" could make the difference between a mossy brown and mauve! What a hoot, needless to say our kitchen looks MUCH better!

Old Friends and Graduations

I'm going backwards but Samuel graduated from Preschool and is so excited about Kindergarten, Mom not so much he will get on the bus at 7:40 am and get home at 3:45 pm....:( I'm going to miss the little guy!

We have been able to hang out with friends from High school which has been so much fun and so cute to watch all of our kids hit it off so quickly, they love to play with each other and have a great time. Mel and Brad came up for a weekend, it was great to have visitors!

I'm still here.

I have a feeling that the blogging is going to be kind of sparce during the summer months. We have been enjoying the beautifull spring weather and try to be outside as much as possible. The lawns are finally green and I have new little leaves peaking out of on my trees. I have finally gotten all my spring cleaning done ....except windows those are this week......Katie you were right it is always so nice to be de junked and clean!

Anyway we spent this last weekend 4wheelen with family and camping, it was so much fun!

This is me and Savannah crossing "Dry Lake"

spring cleaning

Spring comes very late to Woodruff, so I usually don't do my spring cleaning until the end of may, I usually plan it for the last week of school so Anthony can help......he really is a good sport about it, he helps wash windows, wipe down base boards, wash walls. Do you see why I wait until he can help. I've never lived in one place for so long so i am feeling very cluttered and the need to move so I can get rid of a lot junk and deep clean. The pile that I need to take to the DI is really getting high. Am I the only one who feels the need to de clutter, and deep clean but hate every minute of doing it??? Maybe if I could have a break from being mom, laundry maid, and cook then I could focus all my attention to getting the cleaning done? Does anyone else spring clean?? What do you do?

Where's Samuel?

I was scrolling through my blog and noticed that I haven't posted Samuel very much lately. Probably because ever since the snow melted he spends his days riding his bike all over. He loves being outside and can hardly wait to get out there in the mornings. He comes in to eat and have a break in the afternoon...:)

New life & Tractors

The weather doesn't show it but beginning in March spring arrives in Woodruff despite the cold weather their are hundreds of new little cows born. Me and the kids love to spot them and lately try to get a few pictures of them. Samuel always worries about them being out in the cold all night, we try to assure him that their moms snuggle them and keep them warm.

Another thing that has been very interesting to me is all of the old tractors that are just left out in the fields. It is the funniest thing they have just become part of the landscape, the ground has grown up around their tires. I always wonder what farmer got off of his tractor one day and just decided he'd leave it were it was. I think I'm going to start taking pictures of all the old tractors and trucks that are just part of the Rich County scenery.

Banana Bread

I am always tring different receipes in the attempt to find the perfect one. Banana bread is one that I just can find one I love, I made one a few years ago and it was perfect but I can't find that receipe again. Well the one I tried today is awesome! It is really different though nothing like your typical receipe. So I thought I would share it all with you and maybe you can try it out. I got it off of Good things Utah and it is from the Southern Living Magazine. Sorry it is kind of long, but enjoy! (I didn't have pecans and it was still so good, I can only imagine they would make it that much better)

Ingredients: ¾ cup butter, softened1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened2 cups sugar2 large eggs3 cups all-purpose flour½ t. each baking powder, baking soda and salt1 ½ cups mashed bananas1 cup chopped pecans, toasted½ t. vanilla extract

Topping: ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar½ chopped, toasted pecans1 T. all-purpose flour1 T. melted butter1/8 t. ground cinnamon

Preparation: Beat Butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just blended after each addition.Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in bananas, pecans and vanilla. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8x4 inch loafpans; sprinkle with combined topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from the pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. Cool bread in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.