Sweet Summer!

We grew strawberries this summer!  We actually planted them last summer, but nothing happened.
This year look what came up?

Yummy Strawberries!  Lindsay figured out a new variety of "lipstick!"

We got so much joy out of checking on our strawberries!

Guess What?

Someone at our house had a special day!

There were balloons.... 

  

 ...and even some Carrot Cake!

Yup!  Lauren is 15!

Make a wish!

She's a real sweetheart and a real pleasure to have in our family.  We love her soo much!  I just don't know if we're ready for her to grow up and start driving!

More painting....

I still had quite a bit of paint left over from our table and chairs...I had an idea...and the whole month of May...

Here's a close picture so you can see I distressed the edges just a bit, sort of fun.  And below is a picture with the wood floor--I really like how they look together.

Here's the new guest bathroom--or in Lindsay's terms, "Grandpa and Grandma's Bathroom."  She says this because she used to use this bathroom when she was potty training, but now that she's trained I like to keep one bathroom clean for our company.  Since she didn't understand when I told her it was the guest bathroom, I simplified and said it's just for Grandpa and Grandma when they come over.  Now our poor guests wonder why they have to use "Grandpa and Grandma's Bathroom."  It's especially perplexing to her little friends!

The laundry room feels more like a room and less like a pass through/forgotten part of the house!  

I did this room first and once it was done, I knew I would do my bathrooms as well.  I just love it!

Here's our master bathroom--a lot of stuff to paint!  So naturally, I saved it for last.  I am soooo happy with the way it turned out!  Yippeee!  I also painted the kids bathroom upstairs, but it looks pretty much like the other rooms, so I spared you.  Our cabinets were natural wood before, but the finish was wearing off and we were ready for a little make-over. It's fun to change things up a bit--makes the journey more fun!

Spring Break Project

With all the play this break we needed a little project to make us feel like we accomplished something... 

About 13 years ago we picked up this awesome table and chairs from our favorite store--DownEast Home.  They have been great, but over the years they've received a little too much "love". 

So it was time for a makeover!  Thank goodness I had a neighbor to mentor me along the way (Thanks Paige!),  and some big girls that wanted to help.

Step 1--Remove upholstered seat cushions and clean those chairs!  

Step 2--Spray paint the chairs...several times until we get a good coat.

Step 3--Paint the table--four coats!  Don't forget to steel wool between coats!

Step 4--Rub on the polyurethane coats--3-4!

Step 5--Let everything dry for a couple of days--No touchy, touchy!

Step 6--Re-upholster the cushions and attach to chairs!

Step 7--Enjoy!  I still cringe a little when the kids use the table...I'm sure I'll get over it!

It's fun when the journey is rewarding too!

Spring Break Part 2

We had a beautiful day at the park!  Lindsay got to sit in Mom's chair and eat snacks!

She also had fun playing on the playground.

Calvin and his buddies on the spinning UFO.  Only moments before one of the boys loses his lunch!

  Those things get me too!  Uggh!  Enjoying the journey!

Spring Break Part 1

We went to "Jump on It" with our Wilson cousins during Spring Break!We had a great time as you can see by look on Lindsay's face!

Alli was jumping so high and fast that we couldn't get a clear picture!

Oh, to be young!

Lindsay wasn't quite sure about jumping around so many kids...

Calvin looks like he's ready for some action!

He's just a blur!

Fun times!

Best Formula 1

Calvin entered his first Pinewood Derby a week ago!


He picked his design, the paint color, stickers, etc and loved working on it. He was so excited about it, he tried to start work on it the very night he received it (right after the Blue and Gold Banquet)--we held him off by having him draw his design ideas that night. And nearly every night during the month of March, as walked in the door from work, Jeff heard, "Are we going to work on my car tonight?"


He got to race against his best friend Jackson first thing. Jackson made a cool Sponge Bob Car.


Calvin got the award for "Best Formula 1 Car."



He learned about all the steps involved in making a great car--even though he wanted to skip through a lot of them. He had a fabulous design and paint job, but a "bum" wheel kept him out of the Winner's Circle! He handled it well and is looking forward to next year! (While Daddy's glad he has another year to gear up!)