Yard Transformation!

The Before

The After

You can see the new location for our beds in the background.  Better sun there and leaves room for the sandbox and playhouse.

More pictures to come, but let's just say, we are lovin' it and ready for summer!  Many BBQ's ahead.

Stocked up for winter

Any of you that know me even somewhat well would be shocked by the news that I gave up coffee, the caffeinated variety at least. And because I have somewhat of an issue with (obsession) having a drink in my hand at all times, I went and stocked up on tea. Now, for those of you wondering what teas to get for winter, I highly suggest at least purchasing the lemon ginger (Fred Meyer) and Vanilla Cinnamon Black tea, both are oh so good! And if you can't quite make it to the store, just come here and enjoy a cup with me anytime!

Alas! It is finished!

The before.

Down with the wall and a world of possibilities open up.

The after with the french doors!

I'm really loving the space.  I decided to go with the aqua green/blue with red and mustard/gold yellow accents.  The room has already gotten so much use and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  I still have some finishing touches, but figured that if I waited to post it until it was totally complete I might never post it.



Below is the view from the chaise lounge at night time (love that the lights are on dimmers).  Check out the red chairs!  I got that big, comfy, rocking chair at goodwill for 4.99- love it!  love it!  And the little red chairs I found at the re-store for 4 bucks.  Oh yes and the fabric I used to cover the little nooks were an old Ikea duvet cover that I got at Ikea for 3.99 and just haven't known what to do with- perfect!  There was much debate over what exactly to do with that little mini-wall.  Make one big wall?  Use as storage?    I decided make 2 of them for storage and then to leave the other one open as a little cove for play.  The middle cove has a little roof shaped ceiling that mimics the other ceiling.  Let me just say, the kids love having their little coves and I'm not sure if I'm going to get them for storage afterall.  They pretend they're little rooms and stores and create all kind of fun in them.  They each have little lights in them too which makes them even more appealing.  Another hit for the kids is the little bench under the window.  They use it to build trains, watch the happenings of the outside world, read, walk on... and of course, lovin' the little built in bookshelves.  All this said, happy the project's done and our life can regain  some order.  We feel so blessed by this space and envision many memories here.

Oh yes, and a shout out to Trev and Jessie for a job well done!

Alright Friends

Surprise, surpise, I changed my mind!  Which color shall I do?





The middle color is out ( you can barely see it).  I think it could have looked nice and given it  an open bright feeling, but I want something with more depth.  Initially I said that I was for sure going with the green on the right.  However, the more I looked, the more I started to wonder.  Now, I feel like I'm leaning toward the color on the left.  I think the color on the left will go better with the accent colors that I have (red chairs, brown chaise lounge).  Oh yes, the little openings on the left and right of the windows will be built in bookshelves which I will paint other colors as well.  Any thoughts?

How does your garden grow?

Isn't it a beauty?!? I am quite proud of our first garden thus far. We have lots of yumminess growing. The far box has a variety of potatoes in it and the closer one has broccoli, spinach, mixed oriental greens, leeks, herbs, strawberries, and some other greens. It has already grown so much. Can't wait to eat this stuff!

Project #1 ... check!

No messing around with this little dude. He has been essential to our back yard projects. It gives me much joy to see Will with his tool belt on, measuring this and that, and "helping" on projects.

Speaking of projects, Project #1 is complete. Isn't it great?!?! I have had many debates in my head over what to do in the backyard. Our generous Granny gave us some money for some minor backyard renovations. I had thought originally that I wanted to get a big toy type thing. However, 3 things came to me that detoured me away from my original plan. For one, it would take up about half of our yard. For two, I think one the craziest times of my life is going to be when I have 3 toddlers. Thus, I don't want to have to worry about them falling of the big toy when I'm outside- major headache. And thirdly, what if they didn't like it or got board with it? feels quite permanent. Anyway, I landed on the playhouse idea. We found this one at Costco and I love it. It has a little hoop, window for puppet shows, a water/sand station and a little BBQ and sink. I think it's perfect and the kids love it. I'm so excited for our backyard plans, they're a little bit slow 'n comin... but they're a comin' nonetheless.

Project Backyard Renovation

We have high hopes for that yard of ours. This last weekend we began our first project- a garden. We've been dreaming about our garden for a long time now and to see it actually happening is super exciting. The picture you see below is the plot we've set aside and Nate already completed one of the two garden boxes (don't know what they're officially called.) This whole gardening thing is going to be a learning experience for sure as we know very little about it, but I can't wait to start the process. The idea of going out to pick food with the kids for dinner is very motivating (you mean the food isn't just grown in the supermarket???). Anyway, the kids can't wait and I think our excitement has rubbed off on them.

We kind of ran out of projects for them to help with building the box, so they ended up decorating rocks and the fence to make the back yard "beautiful". Such helpers.

I will definitely be posting more pictures of Project Backyard Renovation as we have lots of plans. Can't wait!

This was my Walmart fabric inspired project.  While I was scooting around Walmart I found these for a whopping $1.50 a yard.  I also had several left over canvases from various art projects, so I stapled the fabric on and viola! Art!

(Bad picture alert)

Ever since Nate started saying the pledge of allegiance to this one I can't get it out of my mind that it is a flag.  So ... thoughts?  I'm kind of on the fence on it.  I could leave it be, take it down altogether, or maybe add something, like a twins initial.  Won't be offended, let me know what you think....

Cover 'em up

I mentioned this project a couple posts back. My friend Nicole came and helped me with it since I'm not really supposed to do projects. We have a little bit of a dresser shortage, so I have been scavenging. Our college neighbor was getting rid of his dresser that he has had since a child, but he had collected stickers over the past 20 years on the front drawers. I had thought about painting it, but decided to do something a little different. I picked out this paper, bought new handles, and Nicole Mod Podged right over the stickers on this puppy. Pretty cheap and easy (especially when I don't have to do it) project.

Stripey Wall

So, I am a project person. I love using things I already have to make something new. Especially being in a new house I keep coming up with projects. The only thing, is, I'm not supposed to do projects- this is not easy for me. I usually get an idea and compulsively work on it until it's done. I also typically get an idea in my head and want to do it, "right now!" The Lord is building me in patience as well as graciously surrounding me with people who will help me with my projects. Well, before I was put on bed rest I had it in my head that I wanted stripes somewhere. I scouted the house and thought the perfect wall would be the one between Lucy and Will's room. I used the colors from the LR and DR for the stripes so I didn't have to buy new paint, spray painted frames I already had red, and got the yellow dresser as a hand me down. After the twins are born Ada will be moving upstairs with Lucy so I made a little changing area up there. Anyways, I thought I'd post a picture. It's not the best picture, the colors aren't that great and with my 50 mm I had issues, but you get the idea. More projects to come, my friend Nicole worked on one today and her grandma is actually making some curtains for me- so nice, huh?

The neighborhood

Coming into our neighborhood I didn't really know what to expect. In fact, when I first arrived I had forgotten how much of a college town Bellingham is. Though it's not all college, you notice the students more when you're not one and our house is really close to campus.  That said, I have been pleasantly surprised by how mixed our neighborhood is and that it isn't in fact all students.  We do have some students, which is fine, but there's also some families, some young marrieds, and empty nesters.   We feel very blessed to be in such a diverse neighborhood.  One of our neighbors two houses down has a daughter a little older than Lucy and a son Will's age which is fantastic.  Below are our kids with some of the neighbors doing a music march through the back alley.  

We have another neighbor who has been so generous. They first fixed up that guitar for Lucy and then brought us this huge fresh fish that we enjoyed with some of our good friends. They also have started coming to church at our house which is wonderful.

Here's Nate chasing Lucy with the fish. This actually wasn't the initial chase, I wish I had my camera ready for the initial chase- Will's face was priceless. Nate actually gutted this whole fish, which was messy business, but the meal was scrumptious.

a couple rooms

The house is (slowly) coming together. It's been so fun to see the visions for the house come to be.  We got a TON done when the kids were gone for a few days, but since they came back it seems like projects are slow in coming.  However, they are coming.  Lucy's room, is nearly to completion.  She really wanted a pink room, I however, am not a huge fan of (too much) pink. We compromised with 1 pink/rose wall. I really like how it turned out (ignore the wrinkly bedding). I got to use the chandelier from a while ago that I spray painted and the fabric circles from my old dress.  Also, that clock above her bed is from my sister Stacie   (remember it Stace?) and I've been waiting to use it in her room.  It says Lu Lu on it.  I'm happy to give her a somewhat "girly" room as she has always lived in gender neutral world with Will.

Currently Ada is sleeping in the twins room downstairs, but she will move upstairs with Lucy when they come.  I still need to put her bedding and such on the crib.  Have I mentioned how excited she is to have Ada in the room with her?  Well, she is!

Here's our room, small and cozy, but I love it.  I also love the closet. I know it doesn't seem too big, but we came from a closet that was literally one fifth of the size and so I feel like I'm living the luxurious life.  I still want to put some kind of curtain contraption in front of it to hide the clothes- but that will probably be another one of those lingering projects- what's life without them?

A couple more LR and DR

This part of the house is the major seller.  We love these two big rooms with the fireplace and built in book shelves.  The floors were newly stained and I love the dark color, especially with the lighter walls.  The house really isn't that huge, but compared to our last, I feel like I"m living in a castle.  We are very thankful.

For our anniversary I got to go pick out some new throw pillows.  I found these and Love them!  I'm still surprised at what a difference a few throw pillows make though I can't count the amount of times I pick them up from the floor or fluff them.

My conveniently located desk.  We finally got rid of our intrusive roll top and got a more practical one.  

The House

We feel very blessed to call this house our home. It has been a bit of a process to make it feel like home, but now that we are almost unpacked we are loving it here. I would say we're about 95% done in each room. I've been dreaming of being here for a while, so to actually be here and get the rooms together is great. I thought I'd just post a pic of the dining room/living room for now, but do a full house tour later. Pretty much all the colors of the house (10 or so), were picked out in 5 hours- it was wild.   Initially I was going to have the DR color be the LR color as well, but once I saw it on the wall I called "halt" and picked a more neutral for the LR- this was a good thing I think.   Anyway, more to come...

Project 4

before
after

these are nate's projects and he did a superb job.  well done my dear, well done.

Project 3

Before

The after coming... (for those who are worried, I'm not doing the painting and staining while pregnant, my wonderful husband is)

Project 2

Before

This fabric speaks to me

After

This will be my new desk chair.  I used this fabric before on a stool and table runner.  However, I tore it off of those, pieced it together and recovered this chair.  Projects have been on the mind and cash not so much in the wallet- thus, forcing creativity.  This project with nada out of pocket- it's all about scavenging and reusing.  More projects to come...

Reduce, REUSE... (project 1)

I got this dress for 10 bucks a couple years ago and have worn it once, maybe twice because it fit kind of funny (have not gotten my money worth in my opinion).  However, I have not been able to give it away because I love the fabric.  Well, it occurred to me that the colors in the fabric would go great with Lucy's new room (turquoise, green, and pink).  So, in my attempt to use this fabric I have made a little wall decoration.

(I think it will look great with the chandelier that I'll finally get to use)

This is how these were used before in Lu and Will's room.  Such a great, el cheapo way to fill a wall (in my opinion anyways).

Oh Boy!

The preparations to get to the airport were enormous. We had 7 stuffed bags, 2 car seats, 1 stroller, and 4 carry-ons (not to mention the box we shipped). I think we figured that we had 500 lbs of stuff-uck! We made it though and as I write this I am glad to say that we are totally unpacked and settled.

We had a dream plane ride, things are getting easier and easier. If you're at all interested you can check out this post to see what our first plane ride looked like, a lot of progress has been made.

It was like Christmas when we got home. It took about 2 minutes for the room to get into this state. I felt so excited to see them with their toys, in their room and was happy to see them so happy. Home has been good! (By the way, that blur in Will's hand is his airplane that he hasn't put down since we got home, thanks auntie Jo Jo)

Operation Chandelier Recovery

So, I have seen a couple blogging friends find old chandeliers and fix them up. Ever since, I have been on the lookout. I was so excited when I found this one on craigslist and got it for free! I'm still debating about where to put it. I was actually planning on painting it a different color, but fell in love with this peacock blue. I won't bring it back to St. Louis this next year, but will save it for the B'ham home. I'm thinking of painting our bedroom a chocolate brown, accenting with this color and using our light yellow quilt- hmm that might just work. If not, it might end up in Lucy's room. Nate's not sure if he can quite handle this in our room- we'll see. Anyway, I have a year to figure it out...