Jacob is so not surprised! ;)

Jacob and I have been working on finishing the basement. When Jacob was spray painting the basement, he painted the kitchenette the regular tan that went on all the other walls. Then we decided it would be fun to have the kitchenette and the bathroom be a different color. We chose a light peachy color for the kitchenette (don't worry I think it turned out good, plus it matches well with the hall paint), the bathroom is a dark green. I think it may be a little too dark for a basement, but Jacob insists it looks good. (Really, I just think he doesn't want to repaint it. ;) )

Yesterday Jacob painted the kitchenette while I painted the bathroom. Because the kitchenette had already been painted tan and the peach color is light it definitely needed a second coat of paint. Jacob planned on doing the second coat of paint today along with ward fellowshipping visits, home teaching, writing a paper for his masters program, and reading a hefty 30 page article for class. Oh and did I mention he gets home from work at about 6:30 pm. So poor guy, had his plate overloaded. So I thought I would help lighten the load for him.

So while Jacob was at work, I put on the second coat of paint in the kitchenette. I didn't tell Jacob because I wanted him to be surprised. When Jake got back from all his church stuff, I went along with him as he went downstairs to paint. I was waiting on the edge of my seat to hear his reaction. I had visions of him being so happy and feeling so lucky to have such a sweet thoughtful wife. However, I was a bit disappointed when I heard, "wow, I did a better job than I thought. I don't know if I need to do a second coat after all."

Needless, to say it was pretty anti-climatic when I had to tell Jacob that I already did the second coat of paint.

Outside & Across the Street --My Fav. Hike

I love the Bonneville Shoreline hike across the street from my house.

A few things that make this hike so great:

• Nobody ever uses this hike, so I feel like it is my own private sanctuary.
• It is so beautiful, especially in the spring time with all of the new growth. I tried to take pictures of all the different wild flowers. I just love nature. It makes me so happy and I am so grateful for Heavenly Father creating places like this for us to enjoy.
• It is quite steep, so I feel like I get a good work out just by hiking quickly up the hill.
• Nature has such a calming affect on me. I always feel
• recharged, peaceful, happy, and feel I have gained a better perspective after time in nature.
• It's right across the street. How nice is that. I don't have to drive anywhere and I don't have to plan a time to go. All I have to do is step outside my door and I am there.
• Have I mentioned that it is beautiful. I love looking at all the different flowers.
• In the spring there are many different streams of snow melt to cross.
• I love the earthy fresh smell of trees, water, and good dirt. Also in the spring there is a sweet scent from all of the flowers which I love.
  
• Another pleasant factor about this hike is that it is shaded from the sun for most of the time because it is in a twisting canyon. And the trail is shaded by shrubs/trees.
  

Shan's Spring Break 08

One of the benefits of being a public school teacher is I get an entire week off for spring break. Just one of the many reasons I chose to be a teacher. :)

See the picture where Kesa is holding Navy by the crib. Kesa made the cute blocks on the wall spelling "NAVY." We actually did a craft! Crazy I know. You get married and all of a sudden you find yourself getting all sorts of domestic. We used scrap book paper and modge podged it on the blocks. It is actually harder than it looks. Kesa's turned out really cute. I chose to spell "LOVE" but mine didn't turn out quite as I had hoped so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.

Kesa had a lot of projects to keep us busy. We put together an entry way table, organized bookmarks on her computer, and created a blog for Kesa. And of course there was the usual staying up late talking. What visit is complete without that? I really enjoyed my visit. It was the perfect break.

I loved seeing Gunner and Payton, they are growing up more and more. (Payton literally) It makes me so happy when they are excited to see me. I talked with them about school and they asked me loads of questions about "I Legend" that they could overhear in their room while Matt, Kesa, and I watched it. They are such good kids.

And I just adore Lunden and Navy. Those girls are so dang cute--I could eat them. (Jake thinks that is a funny thing to say) Lunden would ask me to tell her "scary" stories. At first I was making the stories a bit suspenseful but the characters would always end up okay. Then she would start asking for the characters in the story to get eaten by the witch, monster, etc. At the age of 4 this girl definately thrills for the goulish.

Toting Navy around, telling scary stories to Lunden, tickling the girls and listening to them laugh, reading books, and seeing their huge grins definitely made me baby hungry. Here's hoping, eh.