finally, finally--I'm doing it---

Painting the kitchen cupboards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It took me 3 years of hemming and hawing and trying to settle on a color. Yesterday, I was looking through a very old magazine and saw it! The color! Painted on cabinets! And I instantly knew. So I ran to the store and bought the paint and ran home and sloshed it on and grabbed sandpaper and distressed it and am supremely happy! I only have the bottom section by the stove done- and have 75% more to go. But I am happy :)

The color? I can't give that away so soon, can I?

party! 9 year old boy style

Let's start healthy, why don't we, because it's going to go downhill from here. Our 8 year old turned 9 on Tuesday! He wanted a lemon cake with light green frosting. Pineapple and kiwi fit right along with that since they match, and he loves them.


And what a happy cake topper- some ninja-type lego guy with various weaponry.


There he is- seriously, those beady little eyes will follow you wherever you turn...



Off to the lego store to spend his b-day money! (lego party 2010, lego store 2011)



Back to the cake.


The green loving boy was very happy.


Dave and I found our favorite lego set.

How many more years will we get to celebrate at the lego store? Our 5 year old will turn 6 at the end of this month and she has taken a liking to the girl legos...so maybe we will continue on down the lego brick road :)

Happy Birthday, Dear :)

It's Dave's birthday and I got a present. My sweet girl wrapped up the masking tape (that I had been looking for-- That she stole and hid...)


It's Dave's birthday and what do we buy? Clay for the classroom.


It's Dave's birthday and he has no feet (but he has ears and he looks very happy....)


Happy Birthday, Dave ((2 days ago :))

the art museum

The kids and I went last week. I adore the art museum. Especially the new building that is bright and naturally lit.


We were in luck because there was a special Rembrandt exhibit in the other building, so we were virtually by ourselves over here. Just us and the security guards and their evil eyes. (I should be fair, there were nice security guards along with the mean children fearing guards)





Just me and the little man climbing the wall behind me...??











Our favorite of the day. After the Mona Lisa 2. Not only made out of spools of thread- but upside down! With a crystal ball to look through! We were blown away. Way to go Devorah Sperber.


After museum refreshment- a work of art in itself.

Do you have an art museum close by? How is it? And how it is for kids? We did have a really nice guide who gave us little maps made especially for kids, and for the most part they let us wander to our hearts content....but ((probably rightly so)) they do get nervous when they see us coming.

t-shirt art

You know how it is when you haven't created something in too long?! That is how it has been around here...soooo, we had to remedy that! My little girl had some t-shirts that were dying to be embellished.


I ironed fabric onto some fusible web (wonder under? I think it may be called), cut out the shapes, and ironed them onto the shirts.





Before



during..


And stitched! I had an awful time with my sewing machine- the thread kept breaking- so I called a local fabric store to ask advice. She told me that I had used the wrong fusible stuff (be sure to check the packaging and get the sewable kind). But that I could keep cleaning the needle with fingernail polish remover and that would keep it going (the thicker fusible gets the needle sticky with glue)


It worked and I was able to sew them all on. Here is one for me....



And a matching one for my girl!


I never claimed to be a neat and orderly stitcher :)



Oh goodness! I have fun dressing my doll :)


And goodness, she has too much fun posing :)

goals for 2012 * anthro painted window * and a date

Dave and I got to go on a date this past Saturday. We had some gift cards to spend and we needed to get out and talk about our plans and goals for 2012. We had a sweet time together. I thank God everyday for this man.


I do have some goals for this year. I already told you about the first one:

[1] Romans 12 for 2012! The kids and I have started memorizing it- now the hard part...putting it into practice...

[2] Couch to 5K! Have you heard of this? I got an app for my phone that allows me to listen to music while I walk/run- and I will get notified when I need to switch from running to walking...it gradually gets you from running for about 40 seconds at a time--to completely running 3 miles! I love it so far- I'm into my second week. Here is an excerpt from the website:

Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.

You should ease into your running program gradually. In fact, the beginners' program we outline here is less of a running regimen than a walking and jogging program. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in just two months.

My goal is to run a 5k with Dave this Spring. This is huge because, a) I have not run a 5k since college and, b) I hated running even then when I was in shape...but I am optimistic and life is too short not to run a race with my husband, you know?!

Loved the Anthropologie windows! ((excuse me while I go paint mine...))

Alright- so we have the scripture memorization goal, and the running (jogging) goal...now for the parenting goal:

[3] Chill out! This one takes a little explaining. I want to still uphold the expectations that we have for our children- but, when they mess up, make a mistake, or just flat out rebel; I want to react in a loving way, firm but kind. Showing that no matter what, my feelings for them never change. That I understand and love them and make many ((many)) mistakes myself, and struggle with sins every day- and we will have to deal with it....but that it is not the end of the world.

I struggle with this one- maybe just with my body language- when the kids start fighting- I tend to show them how annoying this is to me- what an interference that is to my day. And this should not be the case at all! They are my joy- it is my privilege to nurture and train them every day....sometimes I act as if I am surprised that they would do such a thing (whatever that childish and naughty behavior may be) - when the reality is that we all mess up every single day (hourly) and God is so loving and patient and forgiving to us. I am praying to react in a loving and forgiving and understanding way.

[4] Study the Bible more intensely..have a plan, use books, concordances, whatever it takes to dig in there and get more and spend more quality time. Right now I am using a Beth Moore study on David. I am also reading (still) The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer, and Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

There are lots more I could add to this list--but I really want to focus on these 4 things; Romans 12, running, responding in love (this could go back to Romans 12 too!), and studying the Bible.

Tell me what you have planned for this year, I would love to know- or, if you have posted about it- put a link in the comment section.

2011 was a colorful one!

Thank you, dear readers, for sticking with me and sifting through the piles of pictures I throw at you! :) Here's to 2012 being even more creative and grand!

Thank You, God, for making all the color possible and for being our Inspiration.