Max's Woodland Nursery

"Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart"
~Winnie the Pooh

I had quite a bit of time on my hands when we first moved to Lawrence, so I got busy preparing for our little one. A rather cute nursery resulted (if do I say so myself!). Now if he would just sleep through the night, he could move in! :)

The Crib

Ironically, the first piece of furniture that we bought upon arriving in Lawrence was this crib. It is the only thing that hasn't been used yet :) We bought it used from a really nice family here in town who gave us a very warm welcome to Kansas. My family helped us pick it up once they got here. I touched up some worn areas, and it was as good as new! After I made some sheets and crib skirts it was ready to go.

Lots of little friends waiting to play!

Bronson helped me to make this during Christmas Break.

I made these little guys for a crib mobile, but haven't yet found a good way to hang them from the crib...

The Rocking Chair

I also bought this rocking chair used, and it was originally an oak color. It clashed terribly with the crib, so I decided to refinish it as well. My advice to anyone thinking about refinishing a rocking chair? Don't. Just don't. I couldn't disassemble it all of the way, so I would have to rock it one way, paint, rock it back, paint, and contort my pregnant body into strange positions to be able to see and reach everything. But hey, it turned out nice! I used a poly/stain, and because it was darker than the original finish I didn't have to sand it off. 

The finished product!

Before

I had to do some patching, because the kid who was rocked in it previously had some beaver instincts or something. He must have quite the chompers!

The Changing Table

I also bought the changing table used (do you see a pattern here?). Somehow I thought that it would be dark brown and match the crib, but it was black. We decided to get it anyway, and it looked so terrible that I decided to tackle one more refinishing project. This one is actually spray painted, and I think that it turned out pretty cute!

I made the changing pad cover out of minkee. Max loves to look up at his little friends when he is being changed. Thanks for making them Zeph!

Here's the before pic.

The Trees

I came across a few pictures of trees like this on nursery walls and loved them, but I was not about to pay the $70-150 that they were selling for. I figured that they would be easy enough to cut out myself, and as I looked to buy a roll of vinyl, I came across some instructions on how to use contact paper instead. So, we made our little forest using half a roll of white contact paper, which cost us about $3, and worked fabulously!

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things—wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."~Eda J. Le Shan

Oh, The Places You'll Go: The First Chapter of our Kansas Adventure

"Congratulations!

Today is your day. 

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

~Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

I thought you all might like to know that Bronson and I made it safely to Kansas, and survived our first two weeks! We left Rexburg on the 12th, and made the trip over 3 days, a decision that my pregnant body thanked me for. We spent one night with my grandma, and the next with Bronson's grandparents, so that worked out well for us, and we had an otherwise uneventful trip! 

It was actually dark when we passed this sign. So we missed the jackalope thing. And the tornado. And the turkey. But I'm sure they were there.  

We made it in time to check into our apartment Friday night, and then spent the next couple of days creatively surviving without any kitchen supplies or furniture- a decision that my pregnant body was not so thankful for. We live in a darling little community of four-plex apartments on the North end of town. You can see some pictures here. I'll post some of the inside when there's more to see than piles of boxes.

This is the view from the balcony off our Master bedroom. I think I can get used to this :)  And I cannot wait for Fall colors!

My parents were wonderful enough to volunteer to pull our moving trailer, but waited for Ben to get  back from Photoshop world, so they were a few days behind us. On Sunday our ward welcomed us so warmly, and the Bishop had us over for dinner after church that night- we were especially grateful for a meal that didn't include cold cereal or sandwiches! My family arrived Monday night, and we unpacked the trailer that they hauled for us the next morning. They stayed with us long enough to get us settled in our apartment, check out Lawrence and campus, and then were on their way to tour Ben's mission in Minnesota. 

The University of Kansas. You can see maybe 1/5 of it in this picture- it's huge!!

Hawk Fest

Bronson had a few orientation meetings that first week, and then started school officially on Monday! He is taking 3 seminars, and teaches four sections of an undergrad class. He will stay plenty busy, but has been doing a great job of pacing himself, and thinks that he is really going to enjoy his time here. 

Bronson's office!

Off for his first day as a PhD student!

Last week I was able to go to the temple twice- once with a group of sisters who carpool there during the day while the kids are at school, and once with Bronson for ward temple night. I am so very grateful for the peace that I feel there, and that it gives me such a strong connection to my heavenly home. I was worried about being homesick, but I don't think that will be a problem, as long as I can always get to the temple. 

Yesterday we had the chance to attend a baptism for two new members of our ward. We always have investigators at church, so I have already been a part of more missionary work in the last two weeks than I probably have in my life to this point :). Then last night Bronson and I went to a carnival on campus, which was a lot of fun. They had a booth for caricatures, and the finished product has been cracking us up ever since! :) I was afraid my stomach wouldn't handle the rides very well, but I ate plenty of food!

What do you think? Accurate? :)

Today we were given callings, and then officially welcomed into the ward (in that order- I think they wanted to be sure we would do what they asked before they made it official!) Bronson is the new gospel doctrine teacher (a calling he has wanted the whole time I have known him) and I was asked to be the music coordinator (a calling I have always been grateful fell to others). So if you come across any beautiful arrangements, send them my way! We apparently have a professional harpist and organist, so I'll have to have some fun with them. 

We are grateful to be here, and feel so blessed with how smooth the transition has been thus far. We have certainly been watched over and guided to where we are. And we can't wait for the adventures to come!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

The Resurrection 

Matthew 28:1–15; Mark 16:1–14; Luke 24:1–49; John 20:1–23 

Listen to Handel’s Messiah

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” 

To start our Easter Sunday off in Jerusalem, we attended a "Son-rise" service at sunrise at the Garden Tomb. A TV network covered it, and you can watch it here: 
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/21674767


The Garden Tomb

The Church of the Holy Seplechure

Saturday

Saturday

Jesus in the Spirit World 

Matthew 27:62–66; 3 Nephi 9–10; 1 Peter 3:18–4:6; D&C 138

Listen to Wilberg’s Reqieum or Cundick’s Redeemer

sing “Turn Your Hearts”

Good Friday

Friday

Jesus in the hands of the Romans; the Crucifixion; the Burial 

Matthew 27:1–61; Mark 15:1–47; Luke 23:1–56; John 18:28–19:42

  Suggested Music: Listen to Bach’s St. John Passion

sing “O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown” and “Behold the Great Redeemer Die”

Maundy Thursday

Thursday

The Last Supper; Gethsemane; betrayal and arrest; Jesus before the Jewish authorities Matthew 26:17–26:75; Mark 14:12–72; Luke 22:7–71; John 13:1–18:27

Listen to Bach’s St. Matthew Passion; sing “Reverently and Meekly Now”


The Last Supper

Jesus Warns Peter and Offers the Intercessory Prayer

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

Jesus is Tried by Caiaphas, Peter Denies Knowing Him

The Last Supper

 The Upper Room

This is called the Cenacle, one of the traditional locations of the Upper Room. 

Gethsemane

The Church of all Nations (adjacent to the Garden of Gethsemane)

St. Peter in Gallicantu

The Prison Cell underneath the Church where Jesus was likely held when being tried by the Jewish leaders.