Still Training

Fisher still occasionally has accidents. Really, he's just lazy. This is also a nice snapshot of post-breakfast in our house.

Front bench make over

If you have been to our house recently or not even recently you would have noticed that our front bench was looking a little worn out. The white paint was chipping and the cushion had a huge popsicles stain from last summer that I was to lazy to wash out. Why wash when you can make over!
I cut off the arm rails and took off the top of the front legs with a hand saw and a jig saw. (Honey I'm sorry I broke the jig saw blade). But doesn't it look cute! If you look closely at the picture of the girls in the background you can see the bench and the hand rails that are no longer there.
I bought yellow toile fabric to cover cushions with but when I went to Goodwill to find cushions to cover, I found these awesome Cost Plus World Market ones for $4.99. I can recover them when I get tired of the stripes.

I was in a hurry for a new project that I forgot to take before pictures so these will have to spark your memory. Whoops!

Remember how gross it was? I didn't even want to set my groceries on it. But now ...

Next on my list is to paint the mail box black and get a new front porch light. (I love you Mr. Bikes)

Ladder Girl

Another notch in our Parents of the Year nomination.  Well Father of the Year, because this one was all mine.

Thursday I got home a little early, so Bobbins ran some errands.  Just me and the girls.  We went for a nice walk with Olden.  The HVAC guy came over to look at the heating--a/c unit, in preparation for summer.  I wanted to get on the roof to look at it with him, to learn a few things about the system.  I figured the girls would be fine in the backyard, Josie in her exe-saucer and MM running around with Olden.  So I left them out, put up my extension ladder, and went up.

About 5 minutes later Bobbins came home.  I thought she'd get the girls and get ready for dinner while the HVAC guy and I finished up on the roof.  Another couple minutes passed and Bobbins came into the back.  I heard her say "Oh my goodness!" and I looked back toward the ladder, and there was MM on the top rung, trying to figure out how to get onto the roof.  She had climbed up about 10' all by herself.  She must've watched me do it and decided to give it a go.  She wasn't scared in the least bit.  I grabbed her and we laughed about it, after our heartbeats returned to normal.

Later we took some photos and video to memorialize the occasion.

               

For Nana

"I only correct you because I love you"

Sneak preview of the big reveal

On the Suzy and Kim Show!

I have been working on changing Doug's old office into a new room for the girls and possibly other future children. Yes, it is sad Doug has lost all his space in the house and has been forced to move outside to his work bench. His space is getting smaller and smaller so I hope he does not think we are trying to boot him out.  We still love you daddy and need you around to do hair and tea parties. 

I was inspired to recover the glider chair after our visit to OK. After a third time I found the right paint color. I am not sure why I continued to paint the room knowing I didn't not like the color. I suppose I thought it will change. Well, it didn't and you would have never known I painted the room if it did not smell like a freshly painted room. Who picks the same color twice?  I am just in love with the color and all the upcoming changes, chair rail and shelving.

Olden helping with the sewing

The glider that was given to us is now a sleak gender nuetral green

Our two workers (notice the old blue)

                                                           All in three days time

Round 2

MM took on the tile floor for a second round (1st was the chipped tooth), and the tile prevailed again.  MM took her fat lip like a champ.

A tea party for 2

So romantic. I know! The girls received a lovely gift from formally my moms group to  now my friends. How wonderful it is that they can join the girls, and mom, and maybe even daddy, with such a little addition to the play room.

Yes baby gifts are great but having friends that help and are there for you are even better gifts. Thank you from the bottom of my c sec incision and my heart. I appreciate you.

When Marcelly finished breakfast she crawled right to her new table. Getting ready for afternoon tea can be tiring so she took her break.

Needless to say we put the chairs away for now.

and I wash you of your sins

In perfect timing with our busy lives,our washing machine broke.  When the machine was on the loudest booming sound came from the laundry room. The Green Giant was going to come bursting through the walls and declare war. I was not sure what it was until I decided to shake the drum on the inside. Well, it made the same loose sound as it did when it was running. I called Filex our repair man, Reliable Appliance Repair, (little plug). He is very affordable and honest about what you should do in cases of appliances. He has fixed our fridge and dishwasher. Great guy. Anyway, talking to him he gave a few options but ultimately he said with the cost of the part and the the labour we might as well just buy a new one. Off to craigslist I went.

OLD

There were plenty of what we needed at great prices. Then the fear of warranty set in and I could not purchase a washer. Then a friend recommend B and B Appliance and I found exactly what I needed at a great price. A washer that matched our old drier, a TOP LOADER, and at a great price.
Having been doing laundry since I was tall enough to reach into the machine, top loaders have been my favorite. Our old washer was a front loader, I have used front loaders at other peoples house,etc. Top loaders still remain the best.
The perks of a top loader.

• You  don't have to bend down as far
• You can see in the entire washer, so no hidden socks
• You can ADD A GARMENT 20 minutes after you realize you forgot
• You can rinse out your detergent cup
• You can rinse out your softener cup

The guts behind the glory

NEW going in

 

 

 

 

 

And complete. If you notice the washer is now on the left and the drier on the right. The guy switched the drier door for me and no more bumping into doors while loading and unloading.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Look water is running and I can add clothes. PERK

Rinsing out cups. PERK

So, all in all we have a washer before baby number 2 comes. We have a washer that I actually like, and we have a washer that is actually practical to my laundry style. I love my new machine!

 

 

Oh so sad

I was organizing for an upcoming party and when all was said and done, the shelf came crashing down. We were in the family room talking and the sound of broken dishes came ringing to every ear hair I have. I just said I can't go, please tell me it was not the Christmas dishes. "Well, um..."  "Oh dear Lord help me, they are just plates and can be replaced." Every Christmas, starting at about age 10 till about 18, I was given a place setting of Spode Christmas dishes. At the time it was annoying but now priceless. As soon as Advent starts out comes the beauty of the tree and and all its glory. We picked up the pieces and had to move on. The good news is that the top plate in each china cover was the only one that was broken, to my knowledge. I suppose I willl find out this Advent. Since I have already started Marcelly on her set, I will take hers and re buy, at some point, for her again. After all she won't be using them for awhile.

As an after thought, part of my tea set broke too. Can you tell the importance of the set? I got it for 12$ and there is no sentiment attached, only age. I will glue the spout though, and said good bye to the sugar bowl.