best moments of 2010

some of my best moments this year have been with this little bundle of happiness.. she is the best baby anyone could ask for smilie...quiet...quirky... I just love her little personality

 visits to utah and watching the boys discovering things

watching them learn to climb and jump and being greatful they can

their 2nd birthday was super fun to plan and having berntsen grandparents made it even better

finishing the junkyrad chair with brooke was awesome-and our 4th of july party was super fun too.

a much needed trip with dear friends to arizona right after coco was born

hours and hours at the cranston splash park.. i lived there this summer and it was heaven...gated...didn't have to worry about drowning or kids getting away..i could actually sit and enjoy the sunshine

having brandons cousin josh come visit and take pictures.. that was such a fun day we did picture some our family some etsy stuff went to peteres then came back for night shots and there was a firework show we hadn't planned on.. one of my fav memories of this year

days were brandon would randomly take a day off and we'd go somewhere fun...

we loved this little trip to heritage park relaxing.. sunshine..just being together.. it was lovely

thanksgiving in utah.. going to see the lights on temple square was my fav day..it was peaceful reminded me of being a kid and my kids loved the lights

going to anthropologies opening..and them saying oh your one of the bloggers!...

I 'm kindve starting to realize who I am.. that was such a fun night and the day of shopping with brooke and crystal was just very cool

keshias 25th birthday... hilarious and so fun...carla and vanessa still crack me up when I look at these pictures..remembering v speeding around the track and poor carlas tailbone! everyone dressed up...thats was awesome too. no party poopers

long summer nights at johnsons house swimming in the lake playing with the wagon and jett..going to the playground. I love to be there. It's so relaxing and I just feel love when I'm there

having my etsy shop really take off has been a delight I really started it as just an extra source of income to start mod..but it's become my big company and something I really enjoy..just creating things to wear. I really do love fashion

working on my house is a joy of mine and I've loved watching it transform this year as I've redone pieces and painted and sewn.. these pictures we did with wendy and tyler from blue lily is also one of my fav memories -the shoot was so fun and I really enjoyed meeting them finally. 

And can now say we're good friends!

endless bike rides and palm tree park trips to get the kids tired

and our trip to hawaii.. a much needed much enjoyed restoration trip for both of us. Very grateful I was able to spend some one on one time just playing again with my best friend.

we had a wonderful year...

I'm excited for new memories

more learning experiences

I know this new year will bring some changes challenges highs and lows

But I also know we have each other we're surrounded by wonderful family and Friends and most importantly we have a father in heaven who loves us.

So grateful for the blessings we have.

Happy new Year to everyone

-Brandon and Bree

My Grandparents House

My grandparents house has a special special place in my heart. I spent a lot of great quality time with them as a little girl and their house reminds me of being a kid and what happiness is all about. It also reminds me of the biggest feeling of love. The last time I was there was last year and as I walked in the house the smell overwhelmed me. It smelled like my grandma- it still does even though she's been gone for about 8 years now. I love their house for all it's little quirks and how they remind me of my grandparents for example....

This is my grandmas table lamp right by her bed- she used to hang necklaces on it because she like how the light made them look beautiful. They still hang there to this day. I think she had a way of seeing beauty that few rarely ever have.

My grandparents kitchen is a special place also. My grandpa used to make me and my 3 sisters the most amazing meals. And if we all wanted something different he'd spend hours making us what we each wanted. I remember dipping chocolates with my grandpa and peeling carrots for tampura dinner- which we had basically almost every sunday after church when we'd come visit.

This is a picture of my grandma- I love her jett black hair and ruby lips. Did you also know she was an exotic dancer at one point in her life! I KNOW HOW CRAZY FUN!

these keys always line up by their front door- I have no idea what they go too- and why they have so many sets of keys but one day I'd love to make a necklace out of some.

My grandmas pretty eyelet curtains still hang there- I think thats where my love of eyelet fabric came from.

another picture of my grandma- shes beyond beautiful- my grandpa in the background setting their huge table- that was always full of dinner guests. See that chandalier...does it look familiar?

My grandma had a love for making her get together out of the ordinary- always had fine china and cutlery- goblets of crystal and spoons with jewels in them that only the grandaughters got to eat off of. I remember making centerpieces with her and absolutely loving that I made the table pretty.

On my grandparents shelves are jars and jars of change. Growing up in the great depression they saved every penny. Whenever I see a jar of change this is what I think of.

This is the chandalier that inspired my company logo. My love for decorating tables and being a hostess came from an early age-starting at my grandparents parties. This was always the focal point of the room and it just speaks so much to me. amazing what some simple things will bring back to your mind eh?

thanks to my sister acacia who took these gorgeous photos-heres her blog if your interested. She's a great writer.

Journaling ideas!

credit

I saw a post today on or so she says that I loved- You can click the link for the full scoop!

anyways I really wanted to share it with everyone. I think Journaling is so important and I want my kids to read about my life someday and truly feel like they know who I was as a mother as a woman as a kid as a wife as a creative person.This is a list of ideas to write down for your kids- And I loved its simplicity and thought man I would've loved to know this about my grandma. So For the next couple days that's what I'm going to do. I think it would be fun to read others stories like this also- So do it with me!
*Empty your purse and write down the contents.
*Look out the window and describe in detail what you see.*Retell your worst date in 3^rd person.
*Most Embarassing moment.
*Awkward situations
*Grocery list.
*Earliest childhood memory.
*If you can remember…write about the first day of school of any grade.
*Your proud achievements.
*If you are married or have kids. Write a letter to them of how much you love them.
*Recall special moments in your life, ie: First kiss, first time you got your drivers license, weddings, birth of children, and so on.
*Write down a list of adjectives about YOU.
*she also has a jar of random words if she has writers block where she'll pull out a word and have to write about that subject- I LOVE IT
*My Heroes.
*Childhood Memories.
*Childhood Friends.
*Embarassing Moments.
*The last page she wrote was a special message to whomever will read it in the future. Cool idea eh?
*Favorite Bands.
*Favorite Restaurants.
*Favorite Smells.
*Favorite Places to Shop.
*Favorite Vacations.
*Favorite TV Shows