The person I want to be

I've always heard the phrase, "I want to be the person my dog things I am." It's not really something someone actually says, more like a bumper sticker or magnet for the refrigerator. I've been reminded of it recently while I watch S grow and become less of a newborn baby and more of an active older baby. We joke here about how the dada sounds come out of babies mouth when they're happy and playing, while the mama sounds are their unhappy and fussy noises. She seems to believe those mama noises get attention faster, and they do.

When she's hungry or upset, or is stuck or hurting, she cries and looks me straight in the eye. L was never like that. There was always this desperation and, of course, dramatic flair to her that said, "I may never get out of this again. I will probably starve right here in my swing and die, never learning to walk." (meet her and you won't think that's exaggerated ;)) She cried out of a desperation for SOMEONE, anyone to help her. S looks to me. She has me figured out as her provider and protector. She never doubts, only getting extremely angry if I drag my feet in meeting her needs.

I want so badly to be the person she believes me to be. I want her to grow up always knowing me to be dependable and helpful, without being obtrusive. I want her to learn to walk with my guidance knowing the entire time that my arms are close if she falls. My daughters have given me higher standards to meet than I think I would have ever set for myself without them. I love how different they both are, and that they challenge me in completely different ways to be a better mother. It's so energizing and challenging to be believed in, even if that person wears a tiny little diaper that you have to change and, at times, slobbers on your favorite shirt.

Curtain Playhouse

Are any other moms out there ready for these spring rains, that do bring beautiful spring flowers, to pack up and move on? We're getting some cabin fever over here and looking for any way to entertain. One of my favorite rainy day secret weapons is a playhouse front I made out of some curtains.

I discovered some old curtains that I had from who knows where and decided to sew the two pieces together to make one big piece. I cut out a door and windows and lined them with ribbon. I think this is about the time that I completely gave up the sewing part and pulled out a hot glue gun. Then, the mailbox was added from some scrap fabric I had, a felt planter with some felt and pipe cleaner flowers were stuck in, and a doorbell from felt. A cute roof was added with fabric. I made curtains later (on one side because I procrastinate) and a little ribbon table with a felt cup and cupcake. It's such an easy project and I love that you can fold (or just wad it up) and throw it in a closet before company comes over. We slipped a shower curtain through the top and put it in the hallway in front of her room, or as you leave the living room, or wherever. Who doesn't love an automatic playhouse?! And because pretty much everything was done with a hot glue gun (and all of it could have been), anyone can do this project!

Hope this saves some of you on some rainy days!

Easter baskets :)

Easter is coming up (April 24th) and with that comes the search for an Easter basket. I decided this year that I would sort of cheat, and instead of buying one of the normal baskets that you either throw away or stick in some closet to use a couple of years or just end up throwing away in the end anyway, I bought a metal one. I got it for $4 at Hobby Lobby (it was half off on a sale day), and I got one for Story (that I haven't worked on yet) at the Salvation Army thrift store for $1! Not bad, right? With London's, it was already painted pink, which was a big help, but I got some ribbon that was on sale to use as well. I pulled out my hot glue gun and got to work. I first took some scrap fabric that I liked in pink to glue on the middle area (knowing I had the same material in purple to use on Story's) and then covered up the rest, as well as some mistakes, with the ribbon. I loved how it turned out, but then decided to add some ribbon wrapped around the handle and a matching bow tied on it for some more cuteness. The result? A seriously cute Easter basket for $5.50ish!

Here's my favorite part, on tin/metal, hot glue peels off! Which means, after Easter (or I'm tired of it) I'll peel off all the decorations and add new to either match their room and use the pail for something in there, or another Easter basket! AND, I'll just take that bow off and hot glue it to a clip, and TADA! London has a new bow. I love love love when things can be used again and not just wasted, and I have a feeling you do too. ;)

I just finished Story's too, so I can go out and buy that edible grass for them (it's the only safe way to go in this house) and fill them up! I mean...so the Easter bunny can fill them up!

Entertainment Center turned Kitchen Set

I thought I'd share our version of the entertainment center turned kitchen set. She's been playing with it so much lately with the rain and loves it just as much as when she first got it! There are ideas online all over using an entertainment center, so we looked at several and tweaked our own until it was just right. We bought the entertainment center on Craigslist.com for $35 and already had a lot of the paint.

Our first job was to go and find the pieces we needed, such as the sink and oven/stove knobs. We got the faucet for $10 at the Surplus Warehouse store over on Caraway, and next went to Home Depot. They were so awesome and when we explained our project, they went all over the store looking for things to help us. We eventually ended up in the very back with the appliances that are being trashed, and the manager spent a crazy amount of time prying off an oven handle for our fridge door and gave us some knobs off an oven. Free!

Next, Lance built up the sink area and cut a hole. He painted the entire kitchen white, except for inside one cabinet (the oven) which he painted black. We slipped a metal mixing bowl that we already had down into it for the sink and glued the rim down all the way around. He put on the doors he had painted, and flipped the oven so it'd open down. (Side note, if you make this and make the oven so that it does open in the direction a normal oven opens, add a small chain from the door to the inside of the oven so that it catches. Otherwise, it drops and hits little feet)

The stove is simply a piece of wood painted white with black circles and glued on. The only other thing to do after all that was fill it up! I did spray paint a small square piece of wood with chalkboard paint and stapled ribbon on for a handle to hang at the end of the kitchen with her apron. We also added a few screw in hooks to hang up dishes and her oven mit.

It was sitting there all ready to go Christmas morning, and as soon as she saw it, she ran to it and immediately started doing dishes! Doing dishes? Where'd she get that? I would totally understand if she ran straight to it to put on a pot of coffee. ;)

All in all, Lance worked on this kitchen 10ish hours (most of that was trying to figure out how to do the next part without a guide) and we spent around $60. Less money than the neat plastic ones we liked so much and this one turned out SO much better!

Journey Campus

It's 11:30 pm, and I sit here in a dimly lit living room. Chaos (as usual) all around me in the form of a billion small toys, a princess table and chairs, countless articles of clothing, and more, but it's a quiet chaos. One that can wait, because tomorrow is the day. It is the beginning of the Journey Campus of Central Baptist outside of the comfort zone of Central's campus. Tomorrow, we spread our wings and officially leave the nest and I can't help but think about it. So, because tomorrow is the day, tonight is the night. It's not a night for cleaning, or time wasting, or whatever. It's a night for quiet rejoicing. Here. In my chaos. Rejoicing for what God has done, for the prayers that He has answered, obedience He has blessed, and the glory that He has and will show. I wonder if Central will have empty nest syndrome? Will they miss that loud music and guitar blaring in their gym and, at times, disrupting some life groups? Will they think often on the passionate people pushing for this movement and be inspired? and I wonder on the other people from the Journey tonight. Are there some up in prayer? I'm sure there are many working steadily on last minute details. and I feel very much like I imagine Olympic relay teams must feel like when that first challenging check mark is done, aware of the challenges and work ahead, but encouraged by the first hopeful victory after so long of training and work. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. --Hebrews 12:1-2

Magnetic Chalkboard

So, I'm still obsessed with spray paints of all sorts, particulary gray, chalkboard, and magnetic (yes! for those thinking, there's magnetic spray paint?). A project I did a few weeks ago mixed all of those together! I'm afraid I don't have any before pics...it was really just an ugly framed home decor painting. I think it was a barn...or a house or something. I remember it had a really light color wood frame and a HUGE maroon matte, the picture itself was like a 5X7 haha. So, I took the glass and picture out of the frame and sprayed the frame gray. Then, I sprayed the glass with the magnetic spray with 3 or 4 coatings. Next, I sprayed it with chalkboard spray with two coatings. Once it was dry, I "seasoned" the board by lightly coloring the whole thing with chalk and erasing it, then put it in the frame. It looked a little boring, PLUS, some horrible wind, mingled with the sprayer thing on the magnetic paint made some really bad places on the top middle of the board. sooo, I made some fabric flowers to cover up my mess and hot glued them over it :). They'll never know. Also, you could do one side with this idea, and the other side of the glass with the mirror spray (and yes! there's mirror spray lol). Then, if you wanted to go with an elegant look, you could switch it to the mirror, and switch it back with your decorating mood. :)