Let the Countdown Begin

Halloween is probably my favorite holiday. I get so excited and can't wait to get out the decorations. I have only decorated the inside because I don't want to advertise my obsession to the entire world! We have never had a Halloween Countdown so I decided we needed to start this year. Last year I saw this super cute idea on Simply Kelly B. Duke really wanted to be involved in the making of our calendar. One night I thought he was asleep so I decided to quickly finish it without my helper. I hung it up to make my final adjustments and then I heard a little voice behind me, "Mommy you done? It so pretty!" He was so happy to start the countdown! Duke and I had a lot of fun finding little prizes and treats to fill our calendar. Can't wait for Halloween!!!

What We Love About Duke

Mark and I are so in love with this little guy. We are constantly laughing at him. Here are a few of things that make us giggle...

-First, we love that if you ask him his name he will always say, "Duke Jeffrey Hansen."

-Lately when I have been sick he tells me, "It's okay mommy, you still a good girl, don't cry."

-Our favorite line he says in a deep New Yorker accent, "What you talking about it?"

-If he doesn't know the answer he'll say, "What?" over and over and over.

-When you ask him who he loves the most he'll say one person's name then look at the other person and laugh his little head off.

-When you ask him where daddy is during the day he'll say, "Working at Skull Candy...there no kids there."

-Mark and I feel so bad leaving him in the morning, he'll ask for a million loves and kisses. And then tell us he'll go to Skull Candy and get the money for the family.

-When he hears Mark get home from work he'll start screaming, "Save me mommy." He knows that he'll soon be tickled to death!

-If Mark is bugging and teasing him he'll say, "Stop it Mark" or "Quit it Mark." Wonder where he has heard that!?!?

-He can spot a princess from a mile away...we blame it on Callie. He always argues with Mark that he loves pink, purple, Barbies and princesses.

-When he puts on a chapstick or anything girly he says, "Look, I da princess. I so pretty."

-Some Sundays when I'm dressed for church he'll tell me, "Mommy, you so pretty."

-The second we start walking out to the car he says, "No buckle me mommy, promise."

-If he wants my attention he'll grab my face with both hands and say, "Look at my face mommy, focus."

-You better not make Luke mad or else he'll send you to timeout.

-Don't leave an iPhone around...he can operate it without any help.

-If he sees a camera pointed at him he'll instantly look away, do a big smile, and say, "Cheese."

-The kid doesn't need sleep. Some nights Mark and I give up and just go to bed while he is still jumping on our bed and sining.

-He knows how to sweet talk. When we attempt put him in his bed at night he'll say in the sweetest voice, "Mommy, you come lay with me, right here." How can you say no???

-Before Luke's eyes are even open in the morning he'll ask, "Where my baby, more sippy. Now. Hurry." So demanding for such a little guy.

-If something goes wrong he instantly says one of two things, "Oh crap" or "Oh man."

-Duke hates it when Mark and I sit down at the computer. He'll get mad at us and tell us, "No computer."

-When he wants you to play with him he'll say, "Come on let's go do some construction."

-If he ever gets hurt he asks you to kiss it and then he is instantly cured!

-Duke has to be involved in everything. If he sees me in the kitchen he comes running in, "It's okay mommy, I help you cook." If Mark is working in the yard he'll reassure Mark, "Don't worry Daddy, I get my tools."

-On our way to work in the morning we generally stop at McDonald's and Luke says, "Here we are." Maybe we need to start eating breakfast at home?!?! I love it because he'll sing me old McDonald Had a Farm the entire time we're in line!

-Luke has a Talbot head...aka big. When we try to get shirts on and off his head he screams, "That's a big noggin."

What would we do without this little guy? I could go on forever!

We love our Duke Jeffrey Hansen

Sun Valley

Over Labor Day weekend we went up to Sun Valley with Mark's family. It was fun to have a weekend away and a break from the heat. Sun Valley celebrates their Wagon Cart Days over Labor Day weekend. There were a lot of fun activities to do. We took Luke to the parade...he loved all the horses and the big wagons they pulled.

There was a car auction at the Sun Valley Resort. Luke's favorite car was the Mercedes that reminded him of Finn McMissile. He couldn't understand why they wouldn't let him drive the cars. There was a fun park in downtown Ketchum. Luke braved the cold water and ran through the fountains. He could only run through once and then run over to get warm under his towel.

We got yummy ice cream and had fun walking around town. One day Luke went fishing with Pops and caught four fish. He told us, "There was just one big one though." Mark and I were able to go on a bike ride. Sun Valley is perfect for road bikes! It was nice to spend time with our family and relax!

Baby Augie

Last week Grandpa Jeff went to the pasture to water the horses and found a little surprise. Sadie had given birth...the big surprise was that no one knew she was pregnant. This cute little colt is Sadie's August Surprise. We took Luke and Callie down to meet Augie when he was only four days old. He is so cute. Luke kept wanting to ride him. He figured there was finally a horse his size so why not jump on!

Dinner and a Movie

The other night Luke and Iz were watching a movie when dinner was ready. They couldn't quite break themselves away from Rio so we moved the table instead. Nothing like dinner and a movie.

Summer Projects

I get a little stir-crazy in the summertime. One week Mark was out of town and I decided to freshen up our playroom. Here is what we ended up with!

I started out in the playroom but then I saw this idea for ghost lampshades and had to try it so the lamp in the office got a little makeover. It's amazing what a few bottles of spray paint can do!

This was probably my fav! I had printed a cute saying from a canvas company a few months ago and decided that I wanted another one. I really didn't want to spend another $40 on one so I found another way. First, I bought a blank canvas at the craft store for $4. Next, I painted the canvas with white acrylic paint. Then came the fun part, I designed a monogram graphic using the Cricut and cut it out on vinyl. After I put the vinyl on the canvas I spray painted it green and then removed the vinyl. There you have it and for a lot less!

Me and the KSL Classifieds are a bad combo. I was looking for chairs to refinish and found this cute bench that I didn't even need. Gave it a fresh coat of spray paint and glaze...love! This red is my new favorite, Krylon's Banner Red. What else can I spray?!?! I have never glazed a piece of furniture before, but it is so easy and makes a huge difference!

This antique window was also one of my favorite projects. Did I mention that I should never go on KSL Classifieds? I found these antique window frames for $10 and knew I had to use them. First, I took fabric and cut it to the size of the glass. Then, I sprayed the back of the glass with spray glue. Working quickly, I laid the fabric down and smoothed it out. Last, I bought a picture hanging kit at the Depot for $3 and attached it to the back. I loved it so much that I made three of them!

I always love to add new curtains!

I have had this doll furniture since I was a little girl. My mom bought it unfinished at Wood Connection and we just never got around to finishing it. I had to do quite a few coats of the yellow spray paint. My brother Mitchell drew Batman heads all over it when he was little and it was tough covering those little blue heads up. I have never used an upholstery stapler before and now I want to reupholster everything. The little cushions in the crib were super easy and made a huge difference!

I don't even want to think how many bottles of spray paint I went through this summer. I just couldn't get enough of it and all the fun colors there are. My backdoor neighbor started to tease me...he said that sometimes he would look over and I would just be spraying grass!

Can't get enough of Banner Red! When I do projects everything else goes to the wayside. Poor Luke probably got told a millions times that week that I was doing my projects and couldn't play. Now he'll tell Mark and I to leave him alone because he's working on his project. He'll start to gather things up around the house and tell us that they're for his project! Whenever I would be spray painting in the backyard I'd give him an empty can and a scrap piece of wood to work on. Such a fabulous assistant!!!

Markers

Lately Luke has been into coloring, but the other day he discovered markers and now we would categorize it as an obsession! Of course he discovered the markers on a Sunday and all we had in the house were highlighters and sharpies. I have boxes full of washable markers in my classroom...no help. First thing Monday we went and bought Luke his own washable markers. Now he finds any scrap of paper in the house and covers it with colorful scribbles!