My newest DIY...

There's a pretty good sized wall in our family room that I've wanted to fill with some kind of art for a long time but just couldn't find a piece I liked or one on which I was willing to spend a couple hundred dollars anyway. So, thanks to some creative inspiration from pinterest I made one. It was so easy and pretty fun!

Step #1- print letters and mod podge (since I didn't have any spray adhesive) onto contact paper and cut out

Step #2- remove backing on contact paper and stick to canvas

Step #3- spray paint, let dry, then peel off contact paper

Step #4- glue strips of burlap to sides

Step #5- hang!

The Living Desert...

We had a 3-day weekend last weekend so we headed out to the desert for a little family get away. The weather was a little chilly for my taste but nice enough for the kids to get in a little swimming. On Monday, before we headed home, we spent the morning at The Living Desert Zoo. We've been meaning to take the kids for years and are so glad we finally made it! What a great little zoo. We took our time strolling through, saw ever exhibit we wanted to see, and were done by lunch time.  

New Year's Day...

Happy New Year!

Every year when I was growing up, Nana hosted a huge New Year's Day party at their house. She and my mom and aunts put together a delicious breakfast spread and we'd watch the Rose Parade and football games, play with cousins and friends, and enjoy a great day. New Year's at Nana & Bapa's is one of my favorite childhood memories. Obviously, things have changed and our home is nearly big enough to host a ton of people but I want my kids to have these traditions, also. 

This year was the second year we hosted friends for a New Year's brunch. I LOVE breakfast food so this was great fun. ;) Of course, the camera didn't come out except for a couple of pictures.

Bread pudding with white chocolate sauce, Turkey & swiss breakfast sliders, bacon, egg casserole, fruit, coffee and mimosas...mmmm!! 

Reagan, Kate, Paige, Luke

A couple of days later, Brenna took the kids to the park for an impromptu photo shoot with the cousins.