Bedroom Redone!

I found these plywood boards on our street out for trash day and thought they'd make a good craft project.  I thought about using them for frames, for baby boy's room, or a few other things.  Then I realized they were perfect for a project I've been wanting to do for a long time: a headboard for our room. 

So Nate put them together and I put a layer of thick foam over it to make it really soft and cushy.  Then I wrapped a fabric around it and we were ready to put it up. 

Voila!  Horrible.  I loathe it.  So ugly and the color is all wrong.  Gross and awful.  I had to do something because I could hardly sleep in here anymore.  This is what nesting does to a pregnant lady!  I have a long list of things to do before the new baby arrives, and about 95% of it has NOTHING TO DO WITH A BABY!!! 

I used many hours of kid-free morning time (thanks, VBS!) to shop and get together this beautiful new space!  I recovered the ugly headboard with a grey velvet that is awesome, got new white sheets and a couple of new fluffy pillows, and a few new decorations.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

Even these little doo-dads on the headboard are great!

Another view.  Love the grey and white striped shoe bin by the dresser and the comfy white rug. 

Just a few updates have made such a difference.  Not everything is perfect or high-end, but it feels nice and comfortable to us!

One of the coolest projects was upholstering the bed frame.  I took off the old and gross bedskirt and stapled the same grey velvet from the headboard all around the box springs.  It looks so clean and I just love it. 

Week in Review

Violet started a new ballet and tap class at Leaping Lizards.  It's much more focused than the Little Gym and she had some, um, trouble staying still.  After watching the class for a few minutes, another mom in the waiting room said, "That cute little blondie is a spitfire!  She just does her own thing."  That about describes it.  My reply was, "That's my kid!  She's very enthusiastic about life and loves everything too much to focus on one thing at a time.  We're working on it!" 

Violet went to VBS every morning this week and really liked it.  There were lots of kids and they put on a performance for the parents on the last day.  It was such a blessing for me to have 5 free mornings!  I spent the hours cleaning the house distraction free (oh how my life has changed), running errands, and redecorating our bedroom.  Our little ladybug is front and center in an orange dress with a yellow ribbon if you can spot her.

Looks like we're getting a new patio table.  A surprise storm brought strong winds and boom: shattered glass everywhere. Yikes!

Footprints!  We are working on finding appropriate consequences for disrespectful attitudes around here.  We absolutely do not allow back talk of any kind and Nate remembered having to stand on "footprints" at his grade school.  Notice the footprints are size 8 toddler.  I won't name any names, but if the shoe fits...

A new pink tent!!

Basement remodel

We've been working hard lately to remodel the basement and to put our little guy's room downstairs.  It's very nearly finished and looks great!  I'm happy that we were able to make a good use of existing space and create two separate living areas from one big open area.  Here's part of the art area and TV/play area.

Check out the newly finished half wall! 

Isaac's room is looking good!

This is what it looked like when we moved in - we've come a long way!

Bowling

We went bowling for the first time as a family this afternoon as  part of a church party.  While I only bowled a couple of frames and pulled something that felt like my uterus, Violet and Nate had fun!  Pregnant ladies shouldn't bowl...particularly in the 3rd trimester.  It did NOT feel good!

Learning the rules of the game

Playdate

Violet had her friend Sydney over for a big-girl playdate.  That means no extra moms around!  The girls had a lot of fun together.

We made fairy wands from chocolate dipped pretzels!

We played outside!

And V even helped clean up all of the sprinkles after her guest left!

Afterwards we both took a well-deserved nap :-)

More Tremont pictures

EPIC.  Love my family!

Violet made a list of things she wanted to do in Tremont: this one takes care of two.  1. Ride in Grammy's silver car, and   2. get pink ice cream with sprinkles from Pinky's

Looking very grown up on the farm swing

Sword fight with Papa

We had a now infamous photo shoot with Logan.  He was directing us to, "Work it, girls" and "roar like a lion" and "be fierce" and other encouraging things.  We got some pretty good ones of the 3 of us!

Do we look fierce?  'Cause we felt fierce!

Another list item crossed off: Visit a Tremont pool

Try on Riley's prom queen crown: checkety check check

Like mother, like daughter

I first saw Violet's shoes under the table and was about to remind her to put her shoes away.  It was the end of the day and I was tired and feeling frustrated I had to pick something else up - even though it's not that big of a deal.  I bent over to pick up her shoes and saw mine right under hers!  We both must have kicked them off during dinner and didn't bother to put them away.  It was a good reminder that I'm constantly teaching habits and that we are more alike than I know.  Funny how something small made me feel even more connected to my little lady.  It goes along with our family word of the week: awareness.   Awareness of the little things and how blessed we are to have a happy growing family.  Maybe in a couple of years there will be 3 pairs of shoes stacked up like this and I will remember, again, how good we have it.  All that from shoes, friends!

Museum of Transportation

We went to the Museum of Transportation today with friends and despite this serious looking girl, she really liked it. We got to spend an hour in the creation station playroom and then ride the mini train as many times as we wanted.

Exploring the big trains with Jake. 

Chicago!

We made a quick trip to Chicago over the weekend for a little babymoon.  It was awesome!  Violet stayed with Grammy and Papa on the farm in Tremont and did not want to come home.  I'm sure we have lots of great pictures of her time there to come!  We had a great experience taking the Amtrak and it was the most beautiful day when we arrived.

Necessary shot.

Lunch at XOCO was amazing!  We shared a cuban torta, guacamole, 4 beverages (including: iced mexican chocolate with mint, passion fruit fresca, and refreshing lime water), and the most delicious pistachio and dark chocolate churros.  Yum does not even begin to describe it.

27 week bump picture!  3rd trimester, ya'll.  Love the backdrop, too!

We have a special love for all things Atlas :-)

Zumba at Millenium Park (in the rain!)

It was the perfect little getaway for us.  We definitely want to go back another time!