Time flies by

We have been busy around here doing so many different things. The weather is FINALLY starting to get nice...sometimes. We've been working in the yard a lot and got a vegetable garden in. We'll see if it survives the little tornado who is my son. We redid the beds up front (pictured) and we also maintain the extensive yard of a previous landlord of ours. Between that, our kids, preschool, church callings, etc, we seem to maintain a steady level of activity. It's marvelous. Here are a few pics of stuff. My baby girl will be six months old this month. Sigh...I have felt so blessed to have such a sweet spirit in our home. She blesses all of our lives with her contagious smile and sweet attitude. There isn't one person in our home who doesn't ADORE her.

We ripped out the boxwoods that used to be in front of the house and extended and reshaped the beds then planted perennials in there. I am so excited for the plants to fill in the spaces. It didn't cost hardly anything either. 90% of the plants are starts from various places that I got for free! Thanks Carla, for your awesome contacts and getting us so many great plants. Another of my projects is to paint the trim on the house white.

Clare is a wonderful artist and could do this all day. Shelby gave me the marvelous idea of letting the kids paint on carboard boxes that we just folded out. I just let them use one of my foam brushes that you can get anywhere (keep an eye out for Michael's 20 for a $1 sale) for cheap and some craft paint. She has a BALL!

Another one of Fallon just because she-is-so-friggin-cute!

Projects Galore

These are a few of the projects that I have on my list of things to do. I have high hopes for all of them but we'll see...it may take me a couple of years to get them done especially since they all need to be sanded and I hate sanding in the garage cause then EVERYTHING gets dusty. But...the weather has not cooperated lately to let me do much outside. This little hutch will be painted and go above the toilet in my blue bathroom

Carla gave me this great vintage dresser and matching bedside table that I'm going to try and do something like this with.

This is my Grandmother Crook's table that she bought in the 1920's. We've used it as our dining room table since we got married but it's time to refinish it... Big project.

Paint this cedar chest that is currently in our bedroom and add a glaze to highlight the edges and it should be super cute.

I found this little jewel of an old window in our neighbors pile of things for the garbage man to pick up. Being the trained scavanger that I am, I snagged it with visions of shabby chic dancing through my head. David too one look and was about to throw it away (HORROR!) He just needs to catch the vision.

I also want to build a headboard for our bed like this farmhouse headboard. Excited about that, but I will probably need David's help.

Happy, Happy Birthday

My firstborn turned 5 on April 6. It's sinking in how fast my kids are growning up. Clare will be too big to sit on my lap soon! I don't want them to get big so fast, I want to be able to snuggle and love and kiss them for as long as possible....Anyway, I'm getting sentimental but here is the real reason for the post: Clare had her first real birthday party with friends over and everything. She had a princess party with a princess castle pinata and pink and purple everything! The girls decorated their own tiaras with sparkly stickers and had fun playing the whole time. Later Clare celebrated again with just us so that David could be in on the celebration too. Oh, my sweet little girl, I can't imagine my life without her.

This is not the original pinata. The first (homemade) one was sitting in the garbage can in a crumbled, melty mess. What went wrong?!!!!

All of Clare's birthday friends in their Princess crowns. You probably can't see how they decorated them but they all looked fantastic! They did a wonderful job!

The Big Tooth Castle in the Sky

Clare just lost her first tooth a week before her 5th birthday! She did have a little help from Daddy but there was no fussing or crying just a small yelp and then "Wow!" Of course, the tooth fairy came and left her a large gift. He's a lot more generous than I would be. I am not excited about the tooth-losing years to come. I HATED loosing teeth as a kid. I can still remember the popping sound of the tissue as it came loose and the taste of blood in my mouth. eeeeeewwww. Good thing David has a stronger stomach.

Extreme Bathroom Makeover-kindof

When we moved into our house Every square inch of floor space was covered in carpet with the exception of one out of the two bathrooms (yes, our kitchen has carpet too. YUCK!) The carpet in the other bathroom was a lovely dark orange. Dark cabinets with jack and jill sinks, and dingy off-white paint complemented the flooring and it was all topped off by a hideous brass dropped light fixture. David and I figured we could update and improve it pretty inexpensively so ........----new tile floors, tiled backsplash and tiled bathtub surround from leftover tile....new light fixture, and paint. TA-DAH! Before. ( sorry, my computer is acting up and I couldn't rotate it.)

After!David did an amazing job with the tiled backsplash! Love it!

I still need to put up the curtains and I'd like to replace that repulsive hand towel hanger and the sink faucets but all in all, I love it! It's so much brighter and more modern.