A Wonderful Husband, and Wonderful Deals!

Austin and I have been wanting to use our IKEA gift cards we got for our wedding, but we wanted to get something that we needed, and would use for a good long time with those gift cards. Therefore, when Austin brought up the subject of getting another dresser for the two of us, and maybe looking into getting a dresser for our new little addition to the family due in August, we thought--aha! This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of those great IKEA gift cards! :) Well, we searched and searched, and found a deal that we thought was just right for us--a 3 drawer chest for $29.99! With our gift cards we were able to pay for almost all 3 of the chests, which made this a great deal, we thought! :) Here Austin is opening the box of the very first dresser we opened. We were really excited! We got one chest each for Austin and I (to use as nightstands as well as doubling as dressers), and one for the baby! We love making everything count over here! :)

This shows the type of dresser we got.

Here is Austin, being so smart and starting the adventure of putting the first dresser together. Yay! He is so handy a husband to have around (and a pretty cute one too, I might add)! :)

There aren't any words in the instruction booklet, but everything was pretty clear and straightforward...especially after you put the first dresser together and figured out just what you were doing! I took the role of "photographer" while Austin did the manly work here. :) Don't worry, I jumped in later, and put one of the three dressers up too. :) Can't miss out on all the fun!

This is what the dresser looked like at the very basic, bare-bones structure (the front is facing the camera).

Austin was doing so great! At this point he was making sure the screws were in nice and snug.

"Hello!" Austin is saying to our new dresser. "Anyone home in there?"

A power tool was not called for, but Austin loves to use his fancy tools, so it was fun to let him enjoy his "toys" so he could screw in a few dresser drawer screws faster and save time. :)

Two drawers down! Only one left to go, at the top! The only thing we didn't put on that we will later are the drawer handles...we are going to stain the dressers first, to make them pretty and more dressy. I don't know if you can tell in these pictures, but the wood is very nice, and everything fits together tight, and snug. We were very happy with our wedding presents from those great IKEA gift cards!

Hard at work on yet another dresser...I was working on putting one together in front of Austin, and I wanted a picture of my cute hubby putting so much TLC and hard work into our new furniture. :)

The finished product! :) (Sans dresser handles anyways....) Here's to a wonderful hubby and three wonderful dressers!!!

Just for your viewing pleasure...all three dressers set up in our garage, ready to be stained! :) I measured the dressers against my leg, and then compared it to our bed height...and the bed and the tops of the dressers will line up exactly! :) I couldn't ask for any better than that! :) I'm so glad for a wonderful husband and wonderful deals! :)

The Snowy Week!

This week the crazy weather state of Texas was blessed with SNOW once again!!! :) I think this time the weather gave us more snow on the ground than I've ever seen here before! When I woke up this morning, this is the view Austin introduced me to...

Snow upon snow upon snow! :) It was so amazing and beautiful I had to snap a few pictures before too many excited children churned it up having fun! :)

I didn't think to measure how much snow we got from last night and this morning, but...I did do a google search on it today out of curiosity. Turns out that our city (according to a local newspaper) got 12.5 inches of snow! This was apparently a record snowfall, with the the next being a snowfall recorded in 1976 (or 78, I don't remember exactly). Wow! I don't think the area by us got THAT MUCH snow, but I would say maybe a little bit more than in the snow Momma got? I guess that would probably put us around the 6-7 or 8 inches of snow. How exciting!!!

Another shot of the snow accumulating on our bushes, and the cars in a different parking lot. Not that you can really tell from these pictures, but there is a valley-like terrain outside our apartment balcony outdoors (for runoff to drain when we get a lot of rain all at once). However, the snow makes it look like one perfectly flat carpet! :)

I was so excited, I told Austin, "Let's go to the park again and play in the snow this morning!" We decided to play at the nearby nature park because we both would feel bad churning up all the snow that children in the aparments I'm sure would want to play in (lacking a yard of their own "personal" snow). So, we both decided to bundle up fast. I decided to bundle up with tights, turtleneck, sweater, snow suit, socks, ear warmers, thick gloves, scarf, boots and my coat from Lands End. I knew Momma would smile, because she wants to make sure I get good use out of that coat when I get the chance! :)

So, without further ado we set out on our journey. Now, before today the roads were I-C-Y, and terrible to travel on because there was almost nothing for car tires to grip. Thanks to the handy-dandy snowfall, we now were able to travel without too much worry! :) Here is the field next to our apartment building...if you blow up the picture you can see a little family building a snowman. This is the very same field that we watched fireworks in this summer in the warm night air with Momma, Daddy, Kristie, and all her wonderful kiddos! :) I'd say it looked a little different today than it did back in July, don't you?

This is what our lovely roads looked like. Surprise! Luckily we knew where the road was (and where it was not), so even though everything looked the same, we didn't drive into any ditches. :) Needless to say, there wasn't any speed car race-driving today! :)

Like I said, we were driving safely and slowly. :) The buildings to the left are another apartment complex that also is in our church ward boundaries. If you look at Austin's speedometer, you will see the pace every car (at least all the smart ones) were driving at today.

We pulled into a parking spot at our nature park, and here is the tire track. I was surprised how deep our powdery snow was! We were one of two cars at the park. Wasn't that so nice of Heavenly Father to provide us our own special, private Winter Wonderland?

One of the first things I had to do in all that UNDISTURBED snow was to promptly throw myself into a bank of snow and make a snow angel. Brrr! I was glad for my snow suit so that no snow made my legs all wet and cold! I LOVED making a snow angel! :) After all, how often does a Texas girl get to experience THIS kind of snow in Texas???!!!

Austin was having a hayday too. There were TONS of little birds flitting to and from in the snow over here...and Austin's favorite pastime was to chase them! :) I'm glad I'm married to another person who's still a child at heart! :)

I think someone on a tractor came through earlier in the morning and left these tracks for us. Weren't they so nice to blaze us a trail? They cut out the hard work until we hit the real trails!

Speaking of which, here is OUR trail! :) There is a real trail underneath all that snow...and we were going to explore it once again! :)

Here is the trail again. As we walked into the trees, we felt like we were the Pevensie children stepping into the magical world of Narnia...a place of our very own! :)

Fortunately, I don't think any White Witches ruled our pretty little stretch of snow land. :)

"Look!" Austin said as he stepped off the trail! "Snow up to my knees!" How fun! It also looks like I caught a snowflake in the picture just as it was falling...I hope Austin likes his Frosty the Snowman nose! :)

There is a little "river" that winds through the trees that we like to look at. Here is Austin having a good time, looking at our frozen (well, partly frozen) river! Wow! We took turns throwing snowballs into the river to break up the thin sheet of ice over the running water.

And here am I as well, enjoying our frozen wonderland while staying toasty warm. What a treat!

I love it when Austin acts silly. Here he is smiling away on the big snowy tree log! :) Isn't he cute? I'm so lucky to be married to him!!! :)

And here am I, striking a pose on my great big snowy tree log! :) Austin and I had such a fun time! We loved our little "snow vacation" and the chance that we had to play in the snow together and enjoy nature. We even saw a beautiful cardinal on our walk, but my camera battery had died by that point, so I couldn't get a picture. :( However, this was a time I hope I won't forget! We even laughed and said this was the first snow our Baby Palmer gets to "experience" (through me of course). :) We're silly. But we always have fun. :) I'm glad that we got to spend the morning playing in the snow--life's just more fun when you're children at heart!

Baby Palmer

I would guess that almost everyone who reads this blog knows already some pretty big news that Austin and I have yet to reveal to the world...that's right, I'm pregnant! :) My due date is August 30 of this year, and I'm about 8 and a half weeks pregnant.

Sunday is the day that we will be announcing our exciting news at church, and to however else may not know! :) I put a baby ticker at the top of my blog so anyone who visits can see how the baby is developing, and how far along I am.

Austin and I are so excited! I had my first appointment this past Thursday, and all was prounounced to be on schedule! :) Now all I have to do is get ready--good thing Austin and I have several more months to prepare for our little miracle of life!!! :)

Sunday Snow Fun

So, this Sunday as you might know Texas had a wonderful winter snowfall! :) It was very exciting to those of us who live here to look out the windows and see big, fat, softly falling snowflakes instead of rain! Austin was very excited to see his native weather appearing here in Texas (the snow). :) However, we both waited until 4pm, when church was done before the Sunday Snow Fun began. I was so excited so see snow that I suggested to Austin that we have some fun and go out and play. Austin suggested that we go to a park that is a couple minutes away where there was sure to be plenty of snow. What a fun time we had! Here is Austin's excited face as he is starting the drive to the park. :)

Here is my excited face as we arrive at the park. Yay!!! There was snow everywhere, and it was ripe for all kinds of snow fun.

This was the first view we had as we arrived. To us it seemed like a icy winter wonderland perfect for our enjoyment! :)

At this park there are quite a few nature trails that people can go walking on. This is one of our favorite aspects of this park. Plus, there was hardly anyone else there! We did happen to pass a photographer out and about in the snowy trees, and a man walking his dog. Otherwise, it was a snowy escape all to ourselves! :) What a treat. This is Austin at the start of one of the trails we took. He is leading the way into the snowy "wilderness"! :)

Austin is just so cute I had to take more than one picture of him. :) Here he is. The other pictures didn't turn out so well, but right before this he was shaking the tree to make it look like it was currently "snowing" on him when I took the picture. :)

Here is my wonderful husband. "Will we make it out alive?" He seems to be saying. At one point out on the trails (we were a little worried that we had lost the trail we had started out on) he assurred me: "Don't worry, I'm a Boy Scout, and I know the way!" Fortunately, we did make it back without really getting lost. I'm glad that my hubby was such a good boy scout! :)

A trail marker on the beautiful snowy day. It was starting to get dark about this time, and we were headed back out of the trees before the sunlight was completely gone. I love the way the snow looks on the trees. It transforms ordinary trees into beautiful works of living art that are marvelous to behold! Much like the gospel transforms ordinary people into extraordinary people, because of the beauty and strenth that it lends to the life of the person.

And what is this? A strange, but wonderful sign in the snow! :) Austin and Melissa Palmer, plus hearts and a hug and kiss! :) I think Austin's finger traced this cute message, don't you? :)

And a snow angel! I did this right before we left, so it was much darker by this point. It was Sunday after all, so I figured the making of the snow angel was an appropriate snow activity for the Sabbath. :)

Here is my wonderful Austin--King of the Snowy Log! :) This was too good of a picture to pass up. We both posed on this log before jumping over to the other side to continue on the trail.

My pose, unlike Austin's, was rather silly. :) Here I am showing off my muscles in a classic pose! :) As I was looking at this picture, it reminded me of a certain nephew of mine with curly blonde hair out in Kentucky! :) Brian, maybe you and I are more alike than you think! :)

Another pretty view. I couldn't get enough of what snow we had! :)

Another viewpoint...

Here is a picture of Austin under a tree that is bent over by the snow so much that it looked like a beautiful arch! :) Can you tell we were having lots of fun? We definitely were! :)

I hope that you enjoyed our walk in the park as much as we did! :)

Christmas Time Is Here!

Here is some more of Austin and I's wonderful Christmas Resort at our own little home! :) Here is the completed Christmas tree--and it even has a few presents under there already! :)

This is what I look at everyday...a Christmas wonderland!!! :) I believe that the Santa blanket on the chair came from a wonderful Momma last year! :)

This is another retainer from my BYU-Idaho years...Santa night light! :) He just looks so cheerful, I try and turn on the night light for a little bit each night.

Since Austin likes the Tree of Life represented in our home, this tree is another (smaller) representation, complete with beautiful white and silver ornaments and little lights! :) We turn this on every night without fail along with the big Christmas tree, and my BYU-I little mini Christmas tree. :) The Christmas carols book and little framed picture are from my Momma, as well as the lovely Merry Christmas linen! :) Thank you!

Along with the cute, official stockings that Austin hung, here are some more Christmas stockings we decided to hang up. They are from the Christmases that Austin sent me presents from Colorado...I'm so glad that this year we get to wake up to Christmas morning together and enjoy the happiness that Christmas morning always brings!!! :)

This is the first of some close-ups of the fun Christmas decorations we have on the piano. The "Merry Christmas" blocks and the nativity on the far right are from my sweet mother-in-law, and this is the Nativity that Leah gave me last year. Austin and I are so blessed!!! :)

This is a Nativity set we got for our wedding this past June. We love it, especially the shepherd on the bottom...and the fact that it's a music box playing the tune of "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Here is a jolly Santa Claus that currently holds our yummy candy canes...however, at the rate I'm eating these candy canes, I'm betting they don't last all the way till Christmas! :)

This this basket is a exceptional favorite in our household! Every time Austin and I had gone Christmas shopping for Nativities this year, we ALWAYS happened to pass marvelous-smelling cinnamon-scented pinecones. Finally, one time at Wal-Mart Austin turned to me and asked sheepishly-"Melissa, you know those pinecones that smell so good?" I looked at him in surprise and said yes, which led to his inquiry, "Do you think we could get some?" At this I officially had to tell him how sweet he was for even asking, and that OF COURSE we could get some, because after all it was the Christmas season! :) We were both so happy, we went through ALL the bags of scented pinecones, and settled for the one perfect bag--then went home and promptly put them into a basket to add to our decorations! :) Now every time we walk past them, we can smell anew that wondeful smell that we both love! :)

Now, the other day Austin came home with this beauty--if you look close you can see the leaves are more pinkish, with beautiful sparkles all over them. WOW, was I ever surprised! :) I love flowers, and this was a special treat for him to bring me some! :) Apparently his work had handed out these poinsettas to everyone at work. While all his fellow employees had quickly settled them on their desks, Austin had thought to himself, "I bet Love would be so happy to have these brightening up our home. I think I will take them to her instead of leaving them here at work." Isn't that so sweet? I think he is my personal guardian angel, because he is so good to me. I love you sweetie! :)

Here is a top shot of that beautiful poinsetta. Now we have two beautiful bundles of poinsettas! :) "'Tis the season to be jolly...." Merry Christmas, everyone! Christmas day will soon be upon us!!! :)