Mr Alta

One afternoon while I was working I got a call on my cell phone- I looked to see who it was and saw it was Carter. He is not one to call me from school unless he needs something so I picked it up and answered. He sounded excited and said, "Guess what Mom, I was voted into the Mr Alta Pageant!" I couldn't believe it! I told him how proud I was of him and couldn't wait to hear more about it at home! Later that day he filled me in on all the details. It's a bit of a spoof on girls pageants, but to be chosen to participate was a HUGE honor! Anyone could be nominated and then those nominations were put on a ballot (for the Senior class there was more than 20 people) and they were asked to choose 2 people on the ballot to participate. Ballots were counted and Carter and one other guy (who happened to be the quarterback of the Varsity team) were chosen! There were 8 guys total, two from each class, that were asked to compete in several competitions. First was talent, and Carter did a stand up routine of Chris Farley's Bennet Braurer. It was HILARIOUS! Then they were asked questions like "how would you defeat Chuck Norris" or "what's your idea of a perfect date". The responses were pretty dang funny! Then they were asked to strut their stuff on a red carpet wearing 3 inch heels! THIS was funny! Actually FINDING him heels that FIT was a challenge! Anyway, it was entertaining! Then they did a eating contest.... yeah he smashed ALL of them on that one! In fact he's participated is SEVERAL eating contests at high school and has NEVER lost! Anyway, the last event was a strong man contest. They had to hold two textbooks on each outstretched hand! Carter had this one in the bag but looked over his shoulder at the guy behind him and dropped one! Oh well! All said and done he did SOOO well and after the judges collaborated he was voted Mr Alta 2014!! WOO HOO! We are so proud! He was awarded a neck tie with Mr Alta 2014 embroidered on it. Such a huge honor and well deserved. I don't know anyone who loves their school more and loves to participate in ALL the activities! It's a night I am sure he will treasure forever! As will we! :)

January spruce up!

So right after Christmas Chan and I decided to use some Christmas cash to get a new couch for our family room. We went to a local store and ordered it two days after Christmas and then the domino effect happened.... we needed to get rid of our current couches (two black leather ones) and I wanted them to go to the basement for the kids. So to make room for them I put our HUGE entertainment center (EC) and a pull out loveseat on Facebook for anyone to take. The couch went fast but no one was biting on the EC. In the meantime Will had come to me saying how much he hated the paint color down there so maybe we should paint too! Honestly, I had to agree. I painted it a while ago a blue color and I too was no longer fond of it. So off we went for paint and I began to paint it a very neutral tan color. Not long after I painted we finally gave up on trying to find a new home for the EC so we asked some of Carter's buddies over, borrowed a big trailer, and loaded it up. We bribed the guys with free lunch so it seemed to work well! We also figured we'd have them help us get the old couches downstairs since we had them here and once they started trying it was evident pretty quickly that they weren't going to fit. AAAAAAHHHHH!!! I was SOOOOO bummed and MAD! Unfortunately there was no way to get them down there, so later that day I put them on Facebook as well. I figured if I could sell them I would use the money to buy something new for the basement. I initially thought I would have to buy some cheap futons since I wasn't going to get much for my used couches. So thankfully after about a week I was able to sell them to a friend and off I went to find something. I had done a bit of research beforehand, so I knew what I wanted to go check out. When I got there to see it I could see immediately why it was so inexpensive! I was sure it would only last 6 months! So I spoke to the salesman and he began showing me the "sale" items. I say "sale" because most were still over $500 per piece! Anyway, we came upon a sectional that was on sale and I could even order the color I wanted and with the cash I had on hand it was worth the money and it would last! So we ordered it! So two new couches ordered and I still needed to do a bit of work before they arrived so I figured I'd better get busy! I finished painting the basement- even painted the trim and doors again. I also got new picture frames, some rods to hang jerseys, new shelves, lighting and a new curtain for the window! We got it all hung/installed right before getting a call that the couch was in. We called to find out it was the basement couch, not the family room! There was an "issue" with the other and required special delivery on a split truck of one of the pieces. So off we went to pick up the kids couch- we got it downstairs and TA-DA basement complete! It looks fantastic! MUCH better than it has since we've lived here! I put up all the kids certificates for their sports, the boys jerseys, pictures of them and displayed their trophies. I LOVE the way it turned out and now they have a great space to chill with friends. And the dominoes are still falling........ so since I still didn't have the family room couch I started looking more closely at the paint in THAT room. It needed some freshening too!! I liked that basement color so much I went and bought more and started painting MORE! I attacked the family room and repainted all the walls and then repainted all the trim (even around the windows) as well as the door. It looks AMAZING! Only problem? One of the walls in that room leads to the kitchen! So I started painting IN THERE! I got the one wall that connects DONE and will wait a bit to finish the rest. I am a bit tired of painting! Anyway, I decided while I was at it to buy new curtains, a new shelf, rearrange pictures and get a new coffee table! Yikes! I told you it was a domino effect! Anyway, we are over 3 weeks out and getting our other couch has turned into a bit of a freak show! It STILL hasn't arrived but we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be here soon! In the meantime I have ONE more project- a sliding barn door. Chan is going to help me build it! It will cover the doorway that we have to our garage/basement. That way when there's a basement full of kids (or just our VERY LOUD kids) we can shut that door and have a bit of quiet to ourselves! When it's all said and done it's going to be marvelous! I am SOOO excited! (I have posted pictures on my Instagram of the basement and will post the family room when the couch arrives.) So change is in the air! I'm loving it!! :)