bottoms-up!

Brooklyn is starting a new trend in eating ice cream. It's called "bottoms-up." Take a bite from the "bottom" of the cone, then scoop "up" the ice cream with your hands! Gotta love it!

Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing. ~Psalm 141:4

a kids' bathroom that's off da hook!

We have done a ton of updates to the kids' bath over the years. Before we even had kids, it was our master bath until we added on our master bedroom addition. And it was ewww, let me tell ya.

For the kids, I wanted it to be fun, whimsical, and to keep it light and bright. We added the beadboard and trim several months ago. Thank you handy father-in-law! It adds protection to the walls from the wear and tear of kids, and just made it more aesthetically appealing. We also added a new sink and faucet. Thank you dad!

To dress up the window and still allow a lot of light to come in, I created these curtains from, you guessed it, a shower curtain! Sorry, not the best pic.

It was on clearance at Target for $7...you can barely get a yard of fabric for that much, and this shower curtain was at least three yards! In a fun, bright color! And I still have more left for another project! Score! I added the rick-rack for a touch of whimsy.

For storage, I've tried to think out-of-the-box...or vase for that matter. One of the quirky things I've used in here is a pretty milk vase to hold their toothbrushes and toothpaste. Cute, don't ya think?

I wanted each of the kids to have their own spot to hang their towel. My mom and I found these hooks and turquoise trim at the World's Longest Yard Sale. My dad attached them together and then to the wall, and there ya have it! An off da hook bathroom!...you can laugh now.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. ~Psalm 126:3

the gallery wall saga continues.

I got the million, gazillion frames painted yesterday. Man do I hope this wall doesn't look too busy in the end. Oh, well. I'll still adore it. Johnathan already does. He's so sentimental like that.

I decided I wanted to add some graphic touches to the wall too. I framed our wedding invite, and I also created two graphic prints.

One includes a saying that I have said to Johnathan since we started saying "I love you" to each other.

And the other is all the important dates in our little family of five's existence.

I can't wait to finally get this wall hung...maybe this weekend. A girl can dream.

The course of my life is in Your power. ~Psalm 31:15

the gallery wall...still blank.

Yep, it's still a big blank wall. I decided I needed to add a lot more frames in a bunch more different sizes. Great language usage huh...yep, I was in Honors English thank you very much.

So, I am still working on the gallery wall, but I just scored big time at a local church thrift store on smaller frames in 4x6, 3.5x5.5 and 2.5x3.5. I'll use these to fill in all the gaps the big frames make.

Here's sort of what I am hoping to do...on the wall, of course.

But with a whole lot more frames in a bunch more different sizes! ;  )

Until I get this gallery wall done, enjoy three of the beautiful pics that will be proudly displayed on this wall.

 I have continued to extend faithful love to you. ~Jeremiah 31:3

no checks off that to-do list . . .

Well, I managed to not get one single piddly ole' thing crossed off my to-do list. Life just gets in your way sometimes you know...

We did get a leaky toilet fixed, the driveway blown off, a million loads of clothes washed, kids bathroom cleaned, and so on and so on. I won't bore you.

Okay, Lauren, focus. In regards to the to-list, I got started on one of the projects: The Gallery Wall...refer to the blank wall pictured here...

and here.

This blank wall is to the right of the front door when you walk in and to the left of the front door when you leave, okay...duh. It's also the wall between the living room and eating area. It has needed some love for a long time, say, oh, 10 years maybe? In comes my bright idea, kudos to Pinterest, for a gallery wall. 

Fast forward to this weekend. I gather up all our ugly old, mostly brown (yuck), frames.

Some are cheap plastic.

Some are really old and wood.

Some were even metal (these actually held the paint the best too).

I start reviving them with a nice coat of FLAT white paint (gloss would compete with the glare of the glass I think).

I even hit this baby with a coat of ...a nice, can I say BRIGHT, color. No, I didn't paint that cute little boy; I painted the letter!

I've started laying things out, and tomorrow I hope to show it to you, mostly finished and hung on the wall. Not all the frames are filled yet, and I still need to add a lot more. There are just so many awesome pics to choose from!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

the weekend to-do list.

I have busy plans for what I want/need to get done this weekend. Tomorrow I have to photograph RU's commencement ceremony and then a lunch for the Golden Anniversary grads, but after that...IT... IS...ON...with home improvement and craft projects of course!

The projects I want to accomplish this weekend are:

1. Create a simple coat hook and shoe storage area by our back door because it currently is ...well ...just take a look for yourself...yeah, right, I am not displaying a pic of that BIG OLE' FAT MESS!

I am wanting to build/construct/create something more like the two levels of coat hooks (adult level and a kid level) in this one:

and the seat and shoe storage in this one.

2. Create a gallery wall with photos of our children, their artwork, our monogram, sayings, etc. Here's an example of what I love:

3. Construct a large chalkboard. We already have a gigantic frame we found that someone was throwing away, we just need to paint it, attach a chalkboard painted piece of MDF, and then we'll have something like this, not hot pink though:

I can't wait to get started! 

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. ~Jeremiah 29:11

a transformer.

Easton is a special little boy in every sense of the word. At age 3, he was diagnosed with a mild form of autism. But in saying that, we don't let it define who he is as a person. It's just a hurdle he/ we have to jump together every day.

In about a month, Easton will finish up his year of Pre-K. He's been at this school for two years now, and we are going to miss the wonderful teachers who have helped him transform and grow into the smart little boy he is today.

He truly is a transformer in that he can speak, verbalize and communicate now close to the level he should be...and because he really, literally is a transformer! ;  )

We are so proud of how far he's come, and we look forward to seeing the person he will become. 

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see him as he is. ~1 John 3:2

a new kind of workout.

I love my children. I love them dearly. And I love spending time with them. Because we are are a strict budget, a gym membership is not something that I can take advantage of right now...but heck, I've got to make lemonade out of oranges, so I came up with my own "Use My Kids as a Workout" workout. 

1. The first being "Swing Lunges"

Start by pushing the child in the swing and lunging forward. Then as the child swings forward bring your self back to standing position. Have your distance for standing position far away enough so that as the swing comes forward, the swing barely touches you if at all. Alternate legs for lunges. 

Do as many as you want or until you start to feel it hurt!

2. "Swing Squats"

Still using the swing and your standing position used with the lunges, as you push the child, do a level squat keeping your arms stretched out and parallel to the ground. As the swing comes forward, jump from squatting position and point your toes and keep your arms to your side, and say "peek-a-boo" to your child. Land back into the squat position as the child swings back. 

*You don't necessarily have to push the child each time you squat because as you give them one good push, they should have enough swing momentum to last through several squats.

Do as many as you want or until you start to feel it hurt!

3. "Wagon Sprints"

This one so almost self explanatory in the name, but I'll still explain. On a relatively flat part of your yard at one end, put your children in a wagon, one that has seatbelts or safety straps to hold them in. With left, or right hand, start running and pulling the wagon until you reach the end of your yard. Switch to using the opposite hand and repeat (switching hands will work each side of the body more intensely). 

You can do this only a few times before you start to feel the burn!!!

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. ~Proverbs 31:17

a girl and her bunny.

If you know Reagan, you probably know about her side kick "Bun Bun." He, or sometimes She, is a white bunny made from socks that I bought at a local farmer's market 2 years ago. I originally bought him for Easton and a pink cat (also made from socks) for her. But Easton wanted nothing to do with the bunny or cat, so the relationship between a girl and her bunny began.

Bun Bun is Reagan's constant companion. He loves to celebrate holidays with her. Like Christmas.

And Easter.

He travels with her everywhere. From visits with great grandmom,

to playtime outside,

to dinners at Cracker Barrel.

And it was at the Craker Barrel that we had our first (and I hope only) incident with leaving Bun Bun behind. After eating, we were playing out on the front porch, rocking in chairs and playing checkers...just some good ole' Southern time after stuffing our faces with meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Since it was getting close to bedtime, we get the kids and get into the van and head home. As we are getting baths done and pajamas on, we are soon asked by Reagan, "where's my Bun Bun." So, we search and search and then remember that we don't remember her carrying him in. My mom then jumps in her car to go back to Cracker Barrel to search for the lost bunny. She arrives at the restaurant, and lo' and behold, he's just waiting patiently on the porch deciding on his next move in a checkers game. ;  )

Bun Bun is Reagan's best friend (as much as a stuffed animal can be).

She finds so much comfort in him being there always for her to snuggle with. It's kind of gross and cute at the same time, but when she's sleepy, she presses her nose to Bun Bun's nose...pratically smothering herself...so that's why Bun Bun is not quite as white as he once was; he gets washed a lot, because hey, a two year old's face is not always the cleanest!

I know this is a whole post about a stuffed animal, but he's part of our life and I always want to remember the little things like this that bring such joy to my children's lives.

"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." ~Proverbs 27:9

The fruits of my labor (pun intended).

This is why I love working only 4 miles from home.

I get to go home at lunch and play baby dolls with my girls!

 

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." ~ 1 Timothy 4:10



worm poop.

In honor of Earth Day today, I thought I'd talk a little bit about worm poop.

You're probably thinking, "what is she thinking?" Compost people! I'm talking about compost.

Composting is more about just throwing out your table scraps, clippings and coffee grounds. Or ...it is about that but it's also about creating nutrient soil for your plants and gardens. It's worm poop!

So how do you compost? It's basically five steps:

1. Select a sunny location near or away from your house. A sunny spot for the sun to give it oxygen and near or far from your house, well it doesn't matter because if your putting in the right ingredients it shouldn't smell. It's just a matter of how far you want to walk to get to it.

2. Build your bin. These can come in all kinds of forms.

From a simple pile,

To a wooden or pallet box/cube,

A chicken wire mesh,

Or in our case, a plastic bin sold in the store.

You could easily make one out of a 55 gallon trash can by cutting air vents in the side, creating a 3-sided door on the side close to the bottom, and then completely cutting out the bottom (that way worms can make their way in to their new residence!)

3. Start adding your INGREDIENTS!!!

~browns: coffee grinds and filters, shredded newspaper (not too much), leaves.

~greens: fruits and veggies of any kind, dead plants.

~whites: egg shells, used paper towels.

What not to add?

~meats, mayo, dairy, grease, weeds, anything that would attract varmints basically.

4. Water, turn and wait. You're not going to have dark rich soil overnight. It takes time. Keep adding your ingredients, keeping it damp, and turning it every month or so.

5. Enjoy your nutrient beautiful soil. Yes, it really does look as beautiful (as dirt can be) like the pic below.

In about a year's time, no I didn't stutter, a year's time, open up the bottom of your compost bin and use your rewards! You can spread it around existing plants as a natural fertilizer or mix it in the dirt as you plant new plants to your landscape or garden.

So, as it goes with composting, hurry up and wait!

"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and all those who dwell therein." ~Psalm 24:1