It's Official!

Coming Soon...

...Bunk beds for the girls! Forrest started working on these last week and should have them completed in the next day or so. The kids keep going down to the garage to peek on them and are so excited... as is Mom! I especially love the girly touches and the sliding ladder.

Bunk Beds!

Forrest's latest project has been completing these bunk beds for the kids. Here is set 1 of 2 as it came in the bedroom tonight. Our poor kids have been sleeping on mattresses on the floor for the past couple of months with the intention of getting bunk beds. All-in-all Forrest put about 3 days worth of work into these (he's fast.) It's a little taller than we anticipated (a "beast," he calls it,) but it gives you plenty of headroom on the bottom bunk. This is nice because I like to lay with my kids at night. The girls are eagerly anticipating theirs to come next.
I came in to take this picture after the kids were in bed tonight, which is why Noah is burying his face. The flash was too bright for him.

So glad I married a carpenter.

I love you honey! Thanks for all your hard work and fine craftsmanship!

Forrest's New Work Blog

Forrest has spent the last couple of days working really hard to put together a blog showcasing some of the work he has done over the past few years. As most of you know, Forrest possesses a great talent when it comes to woodworking and carpentry. He has not only been an asset to our own family with all that he's built us from toy boxes to book shelves to toy cars, but has done major improvements on others' homes as well, from friends in the ward to custom-home owners and acquaintances. Forrest's dream has always been to go into business for himself doing wood-working. We have found that the best advertising has come from word-of-mouth and personal referrals. So, take a minute to check out his new blog here and be impressed. If you feel so inclined, direct others to it as well. Thanks in advance for your good word.

Our Week at a Glance

Rachel, now 3 1/2 months, is growing faster than we can keep up with. However, this isn't such a bad thing because she now sleeps through the night. Thank you Rachel!
We had a sick day. I suppose this is what happens when you open up your home to 25 moms and kids for a play date when the flu is going around. Can you guess which two were sick in this picture? Today we are on round two (hence the reason for my being home blogging and not at church.)
I found this picture on the camera. One of the kids must have snapped it. The kittens are now 4 weeks and very adorable.
We have been spending a lot of time in the backyard working, gardening, doing anything that gives us a reason to be outside.
Ashlee was given a book on crocheting care bears, and here she is working on her first one.
This is the desired end result.
We attended a birthday party for a one-year-old yesterday, and Forrest decided to hand craft a memory box as a gift. It turned out quite amazing.
He used a wood burner to etch the tree.
The family has a Roman theme going in their home, so Forrest decided to add some Latin writing along with the boy's birthday in Roman numerals along the side. A very crafty touch, I think.
Can anyone tell me the meaning of the words inscribed on the inside?

New Toys

The Lumberjack has been at it again. Last weekend Forrest came up with this neat idea for a tire swing (we've actually seen them around and decided to try making one for ourselves.) It's made from an old tire off his truck, turned inside out, and cut to shape. What I like about it is that it cradles the little ones, making for a much safer ride.

Forrest was cleaning out the garage and had some scrap wood to get rid of, so he asked me what I wanted him to make. My answer? A picnic table for the kids.
He even drilled a hole in the middle for an umbrella. This is now the kids' favorite spot to eat dinner.



Thanks again honey! Your woodworking skills serve the whole family.

Wood Projects

Okay, so this post has been a long time in the making. Let me preface it by saying that when it comes to woodworking, Forrest has some taaaaaalent. Here is a random sampler of some of the projects he has come up with over the course of the past several months:


We were in need of a piece of wall art for our dining room, and after searching retail stores high and low with no avail, decided to make our own. So, Forrest went searching through our backyard instead, found just the right branch of manzanita, and turned it into this eccentric candle holder.

Here is a cutting board and banana holder made for yours truly.

Our homeschool bookshelf that he put together on a whim.


This is my favorite bookshelf, which is why we use it for our books. I love the glossy sheen.

This is also one of my favorite pieces of furniture- the kids' toy chest. He has all of their hand prints stamped on the top of it, giving it a personal touch. He built this while I was pregnant with Kaitlyn and it holds special memories for me.
This was one of his first pieces of furniture, built from scratch, and is a nice compliment to our living room.
This sign was just made this Christmas. He did the letters and scrolls by hand, and stayed up late painting it.
I think this is such a nice variation on the traditional "family" signs you see. Won't find another one like this around! It almost reminds me of an old 50's style diner sign.
After moving into our new house and having no closet space, there was no place to put the boys' shoes. This was his solution. I love the organized feel it gives to the room.
And this is his latest and perhaps most impressive creation; a hand-made chess set. He informed me this set is not for the kids to play on! He hand-carved, sanded, and finished each and every piece, stained the board, and crafted the trim... in two day's time.

Forrest was definitely pre-destined to work with wood. He has a natural talent and it is what he loves to do. Our dream is to one day own a home and fill it with homemade furniture, from our bed down to our kitchen table. One day...