Who Says I'm Not Crafty?

We really wanted a headboard for our new bedroom as it's something we've never had.  Well, give me a couple sticks, a hammer, and a few nails and I'll make you a headboard.  Well, sort of.

Ellen found some great DIY directions online for how to make a headboard, including the cut list and step by step instructions.  In about 4 hours we were totally done!

After I built it, Ellen stained it a dark walnut.

 I think it looks awesome.

A BIG post for our trip to The Big Island

It's been two weeks since we got back from the Big Island.  And we are already dying to go back!

We did some fun things like visit Volcanoes National Park:

Yes, that is steam coming out of the crater.

Mason and Lucy in Volcanoes National Park

Abby and I in Volcanoes National Park

Went body boarding at my dad's favorite surfing spot:

Mason was a pro! I failed so miserably and it was one 

of the most exhausting things I have ever done in my life.  

Went swimming at the beach at the Mauna Kea Hotel (it was my perfect beach!  The sand was so smooth!)

While we definitely did some normal "Hawaiian vacation" type things, the goal of this trip was to spend as much time with our family as possible so the a lot of the time we were sitting around the house and doing everyday things like going to the grocery store.  My dad, my stepmom Emily, Abby, Mason and Lucy were all there and it was SO nice spending 6 straight days with them.

Abby and Mason have gotten so old!  They're DEFINITELY not my baby brother and sister any more.  In fact, Mason turned 9 years old while we were there!  It's been years since I have been able to be with them for multiple days instead of just a night here and there so I cherished this time.   

Matt introduced Mason and Abby to Jurassic Park one afternoon.  They loved it!

As for Lucy, she has gotten so much fun (and she was even super cute the last time I saw her).  I could spend all day every day with her.  We were pretty much attached at the hip the whole week.

Lucy and I laughing in the Hilo Farmer's market

Yes, I look like a goofy fool but I had fun making her laugh!

Lucy chasing me in Liliuokalani Gardens

Playing in a park by my dad's house.

Lucy in the grocery store

And because this post isn't long enough, here are some videos for your viewing pleasure:

This one is our personal favorite.  Lucy was doing funny faces in the car (the last face she called the "car face".  To this day we have no idea what that means.)  When she says, "Turn around" it's because she wanted Matt to turn the camera around and show her the video he was taping.

Lucy running to give me a hug while we were on a hike one day:

Playing with the baby chicks.  My dad has a chicken coup on his property, and they recently bought some baby chicks and a baby rooster to add to the bunch.

Lucy explaining to me all the dogs names.  This was our first big conversation as it was on the first day and she was still a bit shy.  Trust me, she got way more talkative and loud than this.

And finally, us playing chase in the park on the last day (looking like a goofy fool once again)

Moving Tomorrow

We have A LOT of posts coming, but, news flash, we are moving TOMORROW so it ain't happenin in the next couple of days.

• We'll have an entire post on the long long process of searching and finding an apartment.
• One about the one thing I'll actually miss about where we live now (OK maybe two things).
• One about our trip to Hawaii.
• One about finally building that headboard.
• And one about how I made over these lamps I have always kind of hated.

So in other words, I promise we'll be back, but just not in the next 48 hours.