Where DOES the time go?!

June 18th, 2013 ~ our oldest son graduated from Grade 8.  Already.  As I watched the slideshow they played during the processional, I had mixed emotions.  Relief, sadness, joy, thankfulness and so much more.  Do you ever look at your kids and wonder how in the world you've even gotten to this point?  I mean really....when I think back to when Tanner was born, we had NO IDEA what we were doing and we certainly had no idea how difficult parenting can be.  It's hard work ya'll.  It's difficult, tedious, often times feels thankless....but at the same time is full of humor, fun, love and so so much more.  I remember when we came home from the hospital with Tanner, we set the car seat on the floor, looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and said "Now what"?

Tanner Benjamin was born over 2 weeks early, a little boy of 6lbs 14 oz and 18 inches long.  Now?  He's over 160lbs, and his Dad and I have to physically look up at him.  He had some difficult toddler years, but has grown into a great teen.  He is quick to listen and ready to help.  He is courteous and polite.  He is a great friend, often sticking up for those who need a hand.  He is a great brother, with a soft spot especially for his youngest sister.  He is funny and has THE BEST LAUGH.  You know, the real laugh...the kind that makes him weak in the knees...it's awesome.  He loves marine life and we will find him often watching marine life movies...  He has the 'gift of gab"...similar to his dad, he can talk to anyone, anywhere.  He loves to be the peacemaker...which is quite funny if you knew what he was like as a toddler ;)  He is becoming more and more serious about his faith in God...with many questions about what it means to follow Christ.  How that affects every decision he makes from here on out...he knows Christ is in everything ~ the big decisions and the little ones.

We're proud of you Tan.

Hair

I have a daughter who has beautiful long, shiny blonde hair which she loves and takes impeccable care of.  I have a lovely friend who is a brilliant photographer.  So when this friend of mine asked if Riley would be able to model for a "hair themed" photoshoot, I knew Riley would be thrilled.  What a beautiful keepsake you've given her, Julianna.  We treasure them....thanks!!

Check her out at: http://www.redrubberstudio.com/blog/blog20130610.html

I'm about to jump....

...onto the yellow door bandwagon.  But first, I need help. 

Here is my side door.

My question is this:  Do I paint that little white moulding around the window?  Or do I leave it white?  There is the actual vinyl window moulding that I don't think I can/should paint...but the bigger one around the outer edge...do I paint that yellow?!  I'm confused....and I'd be forever grateful if someone would help me out!

$5 Dresser....

Today I started another project.  A year ago, I found this little gem of a cupboard at a yard sale.  I remember it well.  We were heading home....Henry was itching to get to his Saturday chores of grass cutting and yard work and I had groceries and laundry waiting for me.  We drove past a little yard sale around the corner from our house and I said "STOP".  Henry said "NO".  I said "Henry, do I need to explain to you again that I experience physical PAIN when I drive by a yard sale that I feel might hold an undiscovered treasure?  I can't just NOT stop.  It's like asking me NOT to breathe.  It's like asking you to NOT watch the hockey game".  We stopped.

The sticker said $15, but the time was late in the morning and they were cleaning up.  "I'll give you $5 for the dresser".   SOLD.  Henry (lovingly) stuffed in it the van.  I got in and tried not to smirk.  It was really hard ~ I may have had to bite the insides of my cheeks.  He's a good man.

It doesn't look like much now (and I forgot to take a picture with the drawers in...but trust me, they are equally as ugly)....but I love it's size and lines.  I've got high hopes for this little beauty :)

Anybody else do dumb things...like work with furniture stripper without gloves?  Yeah, it burns.  Wear gloves.

Stay tuned!!

A long weekend in May

I don't know about you, but I love me some long weekends.  This most recent one was exceptional in it's awesomeness.  The weather was perfect, the company was great, the attitude amongst our children was that of friendly, togetherness, and dining al fresco was involved...it was hotdogs, but eaten outside during that time of year before all those wretched bugs make their way into our lives, made it taste like a gourmet meal.  It helped that my contribution to said meal, was simply putting the buns and chips on the table.  Awesome.

A time to sit back, love on our friends and family, enjoy our children and simply BE.  No schedule (although I have to HAVE A PLAN ) but it can be loosely followed and I'm happy.  Henry knows nothing makes me happier than when he brings me tea in bed on a Saturday morning, which already is AWESOME in itself, and says the words "Babe, I've got a plan".  I just sit, grin stupidly and listen because I love plans that much.  Points if it includes making a list (because who doesn't enjoy making lists?!?!?!) and double points if it includes shopping.  Anyways....back to the long weekend.

Here's a little of what our weekend was like:

I've said it before.....we love the beach :)

Chilly!

This guy was in the water for almost 1/2 hour.

When you are the respective owner of a 14 year old, they will sometimes act like this.

The beach calls for some Doritos.

 

 

 

You must always attempt to "one up" your siblings when drawing in the sand.  This is best achieved by using A LOG.

To say that our girls love their Dad, would be an understatement.  

 

 

 

 

The beloved dock.

 

The fish were really biting.  I think we were there for 1 1/2 hours and caught at least 30.  We love fishing and it's even more fun when the fish are hungry :)

 

It's funny.  Reeve is generally a high energy, going 100 miles an hour kind of girl.  But, she can sit still for so long when fishing.  She's got great patience when reeling in etc...she's very good!

 

Her patience paid off!

 

I have no idea how this guy got to be so big.  Ridiculous.

 

We pretty much had the dock to ourselves.

After fishing, we went to visit Mom Noordam's grave.  Her stone is there now and it's so nice to see that instead of just the dirt.  What was anticipated as being a quiet, perhaps sad visit (the kids' first time there since her funeral in February) was actually a wonderful time of talking about where Oma is and why.  After cleaning up Oma's grave, we spent about 45 minutes trekking around, finding the stones of other loved ones and had a wonderful time reminiscing about each of them.

 

Campfire...always. awesome.

Monday was HOT.  The kids always enjoy the sprinkler under the trampoline.  

 

So in a nutshell, that was our May long weekend.  Come on July 1st!!

My place

I have a place.  A place that's been near to my heart for as long as I can remember.  I love it there.  I would live there if I could.  Maybe I will someday. It would be a dream come true!

It's the beach and its waters.  Any beach...doesn't have to be turquoise water or white sand.  The dirty sands on the beaches of Lake Erie are good.  Very good.

I love it when it's calm and serene.  I love it when waves pound the shore and you can hardly hear one speak.  I love it in the summer.  I love it in the winter.  I love it in sunshine and in drizzle.  I love watching a storm move over it.  I respect it's power.

And when I sit and watch it move, I love knowing that when he created the majestic waters, my Creator knew I would love it so.

He knew it would become my place.  I love that.

Desk Dilemma

You know that feeling when you just have to have exactly what you want?  Nothing else will do.  No matter how much you try to convince yourself that you'll be just as happy with other arrangements, you know you will just pine for what your heart truly wants.  Such was the case with my desktop.

I wanted a butcher block counter for my new desk area.  I had this vision of a long, sleek wood top.  Space for two people (mostly the *ahem* hard working, diligent students that live my house) to work at.  A place to store the never ending amount of stuff that comes with a family of 6.

Enter butcher block counter top prices.  My vision came to a screeching halt.  It's not cheap.  Sure, we could maybe build something for cheaper but I wanted what I wanted.  My vision needed to be realized.  My very life depended on it.  Ok, well maybe not but still....I had to have it.  So, I said to myself ( I do talk to myself on a very regular basis...come on, we ALL do.  Own it people. ) "Self, how are you going to get your hands on this desk top"?  I rolled ideas over in my mind for a while and then I thought ~ GARAGE SALE.

Even though we had regularly been bringing van loads to the local Goodwill store during our reno, I knew we still had enough stuff laying around to make a decent yard sale (because let's face it, no one wants to earn the dreaded "drive by garage sale" status) and I was willing to rip toys out of the hands of my children and the clothes off their backs to make it decent.  Kidding.  Or am I?  Muahahahaha.
So, Friday I sent my two oldest kids on foot to the Dollarama for some stickers and we went to town.  We despise clutter and so, even if we didn't make much, it sure felt good to know that so much stuff was going to be leaving our house and would not be finding its way back in.

Saturday dawned gray and dingy but we weren't going to be deterred.  I was on a mission and so out we went @ 6:15am to set up.  Being that we are on a main road, we didn't feel the need to advertise more than just the simple sign my husband *creatively* drew and placed in front of our house.  Wasn't long before the people came.  The kids had a blast, with $ signs rolling in their eyes.  Every time a stuffy or dinky car was picked up, I could see them figuring how many swedish berries they could buy with their new found wealth.  At the end of the day our tally was, drumroll please.......$285.  NICE.

Because I'm impatient and was virtually salivating at the idea of going to get my (our) desk top, I batted my eyelashes at my husband and politely asked if we could go to Ikea RIGHT NOW.  He said sure. My Henry?  He's sweet like that :)  Turns out this style of butcher block was being discontinued so the price was reduced by $50, which worked out well because I had to pick up a few more Ribba frames and a sweet little yellow bucket as well.  Oh, and a couple plants.  And 3 baskets.  Sheesh. 

Here she is.  This is her backside ~ how embarrassing.  Yes, she's a she.  I might even name her. 

I simply can.not. wait to install this beauty and start enjoying a great desk space!