Swim Lessons

We hit the jackpot when it comes to swim lessons here in Osage.  When we moved here last fall, my kids had never had a lesson in their lives.  But here we have a gorgeous facility with an indoor pool (it's also where we host our church services AND our baptisms) and they host swim lessons three times a year!  We've had three rounds of lessons so far, mainly to catch the girls up.

This last set of lessons Amos finally got to be included.  He's asked everyday since March, "How many days until swimming lessons?"  When the day arrived, I woke him up extra early and told him it was time to get ready for lessons and he pulled the covers back up over his head and said, "Mom, I'm too busy."  We did get up and get there on time and he loved every minute of it.

House Projects

So last September we moved to Osage, IA when my husband accepted a new job.  Many of you know that.  And while I have many thoughts and feelings about that whole experience, that is a post for another day. This will be the first of many posts to show the work that we have done to our new home so far.

We thought it would be cool to buy a fixer upper. Yeah.  We did.  Cool up to right about 2 seconds after we moved in.  I lived under the delusion that I would channel my inner Joanna Gaines and Andy would suddenly become this highly skilled and just as witty contractor like Chip and we'd just have a grand ole time and whip this place into shape in just a few months.  (Go ahead and laugh now.)  What was I thinking?!  What I imagined we could do in about 6 months, in reality will take about 3 or 4 (or more!) years.  But here we are and here we are going to stay, so we might as well get after it.  While we are still putting on the finishing touches, we are mostly finished with the project I call The Main Floor.

We tackled three rooms at once and today we'll start with the kitchen.  Here are a few befores:

Wanted to point out that the kitchen goes to the dining room on the right of the hutch
and the formal living room to the left.  The left is where we wanted to open up a bit more.

Just wanted to share what we loving referred to as our "butt" sink.

So here's what we wanted to do:  stove top out of the island and replace double ovens with regular range and new microwave mounted above, new dishwasher, new counters and sink, new floors, new lighting, and expanding the walkway into the living room.

Ceiling down....

...and back up again.

Widened entryway to formal living room.  We painted the walls a light blue,
but too often people were saying baby blue.  I hated it.
We stayed up til 2 am one night to repaint before the trim went up.

Concrete counter tops being poured.

New ceiling, canned lights and indented tile above the island.

I painted the existing island with chalk paint and wax.

In love with my new sink.  The "butt" is gone!

New color and new range.

New bamboo flooring

Island installed with butcher block, yet to be stained.

We do have some trim up, but I am taking my sweet time deciding what goes on the walls.  Will post more pics in the future once things have settled a little more.  Now that all the sheet rock dust has settled and been cleaned, the fun decorating begins...just call me Jo-Jo....

Us

This picture is here to show that I now remember how to upload a picture to the blog.  Seriously, I am the most un-techy person I know and what should have taken less than two minutes took 32.  Well, not really, but longer than necessary.

So, here we are.  This is the most recent family picture I have of us and I love it.  Mostly because it portrays our family so well.  Georgia with her perfectly placed purple glasses that took her 15 minutes to choose even though there were only like 5 choices, Lola with her jacket and hair askew with the slightly off-kilter glasses and the what? we're taking a picture? look on her face, and Amos who refuses to participate because it wasn't his idea and he hasn't been bribed with candy yet to produce a smile. Oh my kids, I'm just teasing them...sorta....yet I wouldn't change a thing.

This Blog

Y'all, this is for me.  This blog has been dead for TWO YEARS and I have missed it.  Even if no one reads this anymore, I'm bringing it back.  I'm looking for a way to put myself out there, share about our life, be expressive for cryin' out loud!  Ah...I've got some pent up word energy to expel and I'm going to do that here....and it's gonna be fun.

Sweet Gifts

Aren't these peonies beautiful?  Last week a dear friend delivered them to me straight from her garden. So fragrant too!  This is the second time she's delivered flowers to my front door.  The last time was two gorgeous arrangements of lilacs and hydrangeas.  

Yesterday was another surprise visit from her with a coffee treat and these goodies from her herb garden.  Yummy chives, mint, cilantro and dill.  

She is such a sweet friend and a breath of fresh air.  How many times do people pick flowers, arrange them, load up their kids and drive them over just for the pleasure of bringing a smile to a friend's face? Not too often these days.  I asked her why she goes to all the trouble and she said there are many things she enjoys (like coffee and flowers) and it's a lot more fun with someone to share them with. She's just that kind of girl and I am blessed beyond measure to know her!

Pomp and Circumstance

It's that time of year again...graduations, graduation parties, cake...or in my instance cake pops.  Lots of cake pops.  My youngest sister graduated from high school last week. She had asked me, after trying some a few months back, if I would please make cake pops (cake on a stick) for her graduation party. My baby sister, graduating, all grown up.  Of course I said yes.  I love her.  She asked nicely. And I do like to show off sometimes.

The week before graduation I spent every night after the kids were in bed, baking and decorating 300 cake pops.

I did have a little help.  Georgia was on sprinkle duty.  She did a great job sorting the colors.

They turned out nicely - a little too nicely!  People thought they were decorations and weren't taking them. We had to put up a little sign so people would know they were edible.

And here's the graduate.  Isn't she beautiful?  It makes me feel a little old that she has just finished high school.  I still remember very clearly the day she was born.  I was a freshman in high school.  She started kindergarten in 2001.  Now don't you feel old?  She and three other students graduated with a 4.0.  (Someone has to be the smartest, though, right?  She had the highest ACT score.)  She is taking a gap year to do work with Youth With A Mission.  I'm a proud big sister!

Mod Podge

My first experience with Mod Podge wasn't really an experience at all.  It was a homemade gift. Coasters.  I LOVE them.  I use them every day.  I thought, that doesn't look too hard....

My second experience with Mod Podge was a real experience.  I made a decorative pumpkin at MOPS last fall with all these cute strips of fabric.  It lasted about 15 minutes and for some it was no big deal, but for me it was a small feat.  I had actually used Mod Podge.  I felt so crafty.

My third experience was brought on by too much time on Pinterest.  I love Pinterest, but one downfall is that it makes me feel invincible.  I see a project and think, I can do that, no problem! 

I decided to put my uber-excitement to the test.  Here's what happened.

I took a small children's table that belonged to my hubby and his brothers when they were kids, probably circa 1982.  (Notice the little foxes with their little blue ribbons?)  While the table was in great condition and still perfectly functional, I thought it needed a little face lift.  And by face lift I mean extreme makeover.

Here's the before shot:

This is one of the best parts - I used a sander.  Ah, my first power tool usage ever.  And my 237th latte.

Quick coat of primer.

Application of color #1.

Application of color #2.

Ready or not...

Tada!!!  Children's table is now ready for use.  You can see the tea parties have already begun. Though there are some minor imperfections, I'm pretty impressed with myself for my first real project.  The table and chairs are also the colors of my dining room, so when guests with kiddos come over for dinner, the table fits right in.  I'm certain those details will not escape the attention of any toddlers dining in my home from here on out. :)