My family

For starters, can I just say that I love my dad?

I have not been with my entire family for over three years! It was so great to see everyone again! But I missed the family that couldn't make it!
I heard the my nieces L& G wanted to see my latest hair color- its pretty much back to normal. Just a little more red then brown! Since I was going to arizona where I saw LOADS of family, I wanted to look a bit more like myself so I changed from the blond. I also couldn't help to remember that my grandma never like my hair blond and so I felt it fitting to go back to normal when I was going to pay my respects to her.

The kitchen saga.

This is what our kitchen looked like when we moved in!

Our Kitchen has had a major overhaul in the 2 1/2 short years that we have lived here. But in our home, the kitchen is defiantly the heart of the home so I have always wanted it to be perfect. Here is our kitchens little saga..... so far! ( Will I ever be done?)

#1: This is our kitchen with the original tile work that my Dad helped us put in back in 2007.

#2: In 2009, I painted the walls tan, blue, gray, blue/gray and then a creamy brown color! It was a very colorful year!

The blue was so awful, I never took the plastic down, I just painted it again!

#3: I found some beautiful tile at home depot and decided it was time to GLAM up the existing tile job. As you can see from the pictures below, the tile is a mix of sea blue, gray and copper glass pieces, and a very white natural stone. After putting it up on the wall, the white pieces were WAY to light!

4: To fix the problem I got our my trusty Walnut Ink Crystals, which you mix with water and use to antique things. In the past I have used it when scrap booking, and canvas painting, and it worked really well. So I decided to give it a try on the tile. It worked like a charm!

Here is a sample of the white tile.

This is what it looked like after I antiqued it! not to shabby huh?

5: And the finished product, which I LOVE......

Doesn't it look fantastic? I am very happy with the finished product! I am feeling very proud of my little project. I am feeling lucky to have a very talented and crafty father to help me with these projects. As well as a very understanding husband who lets me take my creativity out on the house whenever I get the urge.

6: The only thing left in the kitchen to do is our flooring. We go back and forth between wanting to lay tile down, or wood flooring down. We wont have to decide for a while since the next 6 months or so will be dedicated to yard work.

7: Keep tuned for the stories of weed picking, rock laying, seed growing, sun burns and sore muscles that are sure to come!

A prickly pear- the desert flair.

My grandma.

Grandma.

What do you think of when you hear that 1 word. What emotion does the memories you have with your grandma stir in you?

When I think of my Grandma, i feel my heart swell with love and admiration for a woman who lived a very long, lovely life. She gave to others, and loved so many. I could only hope that one day I could live up to her legacy.I also think of hot scones and story books. Making crafts and sewing. Learning to read and attempting to learn some math. I was the youngest grandchild. And I felt like she was my grandma alone. But when you talk to all of her other grandchildren, they also think they were her favorite. What a trait to have, to be able to love so many. And to make them feel like they are special. Here is my favorite link about my grandma. She was a wonderful woman. I will miss her dearly.

http://allen-price.blogspot.com/2009/06/love-story.html

Mary Magdalene Pace Allen 1913 ~ 2010 Mary Magdalene Pace Allen, age 96, passed away February 28, 2010, due to natural causes.Maggie was born to James Byrum Pace and Adeline Savage on September 9, 1913, in Woodruff, AZ. All of her great-grandparents participated in the Mormon Exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. Called to serve, they later pioneered northern Arizona. She was one of 10 children. She graduated from Snowflake High School at 16 and went to college in Flagstaff to pursue a career in teaching. Her first assignment was in a one-room schoolhouse in Woodruff, AZ. In her career, she taught every grade. She continued in the profession for 37 years teaching through the Great Depression, World War II, in several communities in Arizona before settling in the Mesa School District. She taught about 1200 students. After retiring from teaching she moved to St. Johns, AZ. where she enjoyed community service and many friends and family there. She met her husband, Gove L. Allen of Mesa, AZ, while they were both attending college to become educators. They were married in the Mesa LDS Temple in 1933. They had four children, Gove L. Jr., Gary B., Mary JaNeanne, and Loren P. They spent summers with their children in Greeley, Colorado while obtaining Masters Degrees. Gove Sr. died in 1951. She was known for her sharp intellect, vivid memory, strong sense of family, strong work ethic, integrity and creativity. She was especially talented in writing and sewing. She blessed many lives with her exceptional creative talents. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life and a dedicated church worker including, teaching, Stake Junior Sunday School Coordinator, YW Presidency. Maggie was residing with her daughter JaNeanne in Salt Lake City for the past four years. While there, she produced nearly 2,000 quilt tops for the LDS Humanitarian Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gove L. Allen, son, Gary Allen (Pam), grandsons Jeremy and Peter Allen, siblings Wilson, Beth Elledge, Glen, Ruth Bowers, Marion Fields, Paul, Lincoln, and Jimmy. She is survived by sister Gwendolyn Udall (Keith), sisters-in-law Mary A. Hardison, Henrietta Allen, Lois P. Allen, children, Gove L. Allen Jr. (Mary), JaNeanne A. Webster (Jim), Loren Pace Allen (Sandy). Maggie leaves behind 24 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and 24 great great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who she knew and loved. A memorial service/viewing will be held Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:30 p.m. in the Larkin Mortuary Chapel, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 6th at 10 a.m. in the old 2nd Ward building at 15 West 1st Ave in Mesa, AZ. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Interment, Mesa City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.