*painting is a lot like parenting*

Well, staining is really what I mean. I have done a lot of it over the past few days, as has many of you, so I hear! Yesterday we stained the backyard fence. My mom, aunt, and cousins came to help and watch the boys. We had it done by 1:30, for which I am thrilled! I'd show you pictures, but I'm too tired to get off this desk chair and get my camera. Today I stained all the post caps, and touched up all the black areas of the fence facing the driveway. Anyhoo... back to my painting and parenting thoughts (apparently the stain has fumes... I can't smell, and therefore am oblivious to them... hence the thought process more than likely!)

1. No matter how much you agonize over the color of stain, how it will look, how easy it will be to work with, etc. once you have it, your stuck with it. You learn to adjust.
2. Just because one method works on one board, doesn't mean the same method will work on another board.
3. Some boards don't soak up the stain well, others can suck you dry!
4. Just when you think you are going to run out of stain... there is always just a little more left in your bucket.
5. It makes you sore all over, and you find muscles you didn't know you had.
6. Time flies when you are holding a brush.
7. It's easier to do with a lot of people, instead of all on your own.
8. When you are all done, you take a step back and think, this is truly amazing, all that hard work paid off, and the results are stunning.

"Cheers" to Seven Years!

Yesterday was our 7th anniversary. Hard to believe that it has been that long. So much has changed in that period of time. Here's the highlights as I can recall them:

Year 1: Newlyweds, figuring things out, new job, school, learning to cook,
Year 2: New job for Tyler, getting really busy with my job, cooking, learning to cook well (yes, there's a difference between this and just plain cooking!) new car and a new truck,
Year 3: The year of the remodel, changing churches, LOTS of hours working for me, trying to get pregnant.
Year 4: projects wrapping up around the house, being pregnant, really loving and being comfortable with life as it is. It seems like we were at the edge of a cliff, and everything was about to change.
Year 5: IT ALL CHANGED! :-) I quit working for 8 months of that year, was on bedrest, had a baby, took 3 months to recover from the C-section, did I mention WE HAD A BABY!?!? We were so anxious and excited for Wayne to arrive, and now I don't really remember what life was like without him.
Year 6: Baby Wayne kept growing and growing, I worked part time, we decided to build a garage, more house projects, and pregnant again. We had Weston, and he is just a delightful boy... So fun and full of life (and a little spit and vinegar too!)
Year 7: What will be in store for us this year? More house projects... yes. More pregnancies/kids.... No! Yes, eventually, but the plan is not for this year! We want to enjoy our boys for awhile longer before increasing the flock. Our focus this year is to not work so hard, to take time to have "Family Fun" days, and to continue making helping others a priority in our lives. I know Wayne is only 2, but they can learn very young how to help.

I am happy to say that I am FAR more in love with my husband today than I was 7 years ago. I didn't know it back then, I thought that I loved him as much as I possibly could. Not true. God has allowed my heart to continue growing, so that I can love him more and more. And, as I've been told, love is not a feeling, it is an act of your will. As many of you know, I am quite willful! He is truly one of a kind, and one of my 3 favorite blessings! Love ya honey, Happy 'Versaries!

Fun 4th Photos

Wayne likes strawberries dipped in sour cream and brown sugar
Grandpa and Weston are quite the buds. Weston thinks he's funny (looking?! :-)
Weston Robert, 5 1/2 months old
Wayne was sharing his treats with Weston, who wanted to hold the bag
Almost sitting up... where did the time go?

Family of Four, on the 4th!
Wayne was playing with the ball... Auntie Tara sticks it under his shirt, and he thinks it is HILARIOUS!
the brother's were playing
Wayne, eating again! He is BOTTOMLESS lately. This time it's chips and salsa (he loves salsa!)
Stomping on pop-it's, what could be more fun?

The fam
A good 'ol game of crochet!
Sparklers are fun! (I was in the house feeding Weston, otherwise I would have been FREAKING out right now!)
That sparkler is bigger then Wayne!
A love of fire.... he takes after Uncle Todd!

Posting Palooza!

Be expecting a posting palooza... I have lots of picts. of the boys, the 4th, and so much more! I'll do my best... I don't upload at the fastest rate, so it may take time! I hope I don't overlap, but if I post pictures you've already seen, I ask your forgiveness now.
Oh, and a side note... I am declaring July scrapbooking month! I have a goal to complete 5 pages each week. I have one page left to squeek in today to make this week's goal, and I should have at least 20 pages done by month's end. Also, I've been using my Cricut machine to cutout vinyl's for the nursery wall. It works really great, and the next project will be to help my sister cut out the alphabet for her to use in the baby's nursery. How cool!
Also, can't remember if I've told you, but Weston had his first food! It was rice cereal, and I know that I am WAAYY behind from when I started Wayne, but whatever. Weston is still eating every 3 hours during the day, and up 1 or 2 times at night to eat, so I think he is ready for the "full meal deal." I am pulling the high chair out today! First Food!

Wayne was "helping"
Cutie-patootie!
Wayne and his Bob/Veggietales gloves
Silly Boy!
A boy who takes after Grandma's own heart!

It's Independence Day!

I have that song stuck in my head... you know, the country one "talk about your revolution, it's Independence Day. Let freedom ring! Let the white dove sing...
" Ringing a bell to anyone? I am truly thankful for those who put their lives on the line to protect me and my family. Just yesterday I was talking with a dear friend who's husband is in the air force. I asked how she did it, how she handled it when he was so far away for so long. She said that she believed in what he was doing, and the protection it was affording us, and so she felt there was no other choice for them. I want to thank any of you who have either served, or are family to those who have or who are doing so now. Thank you. I've always loved the song, "Proud to be an American" and I believe it still rings true today. I am so thankful for our freedom, to do as we choose, have families and the freedom to raise them as we believe, and the freedom to worship the Lord. Truly, I am grateful for all of these blessings today! I will go to our BBQ, chase kids and probably eat so much I'll be sick :-). I will have a wonderful time, but I will remember that this day does not come without a price, and I will be thankful.

Church Nursery!

Without further ado... the church nursery! I just realized I hadn't posted these. The comments will be below each picture... The new board that includes our quarterly newsletter, medical forms, background check form, illness policy, and our Mission Statement and Rules
Two additional bulletin boards (note the farm theme!)

Opposite wall as the above boards, we removed the window and door to open up the two rooms to each other. I love the wall color! (Adam's Gold by Benjamin Moore.)
The cabinet that we moved to the "middle" room to use as a check in counter. It is painted a beautiful color (by Ralph Lauren). We ordered animal knobs, that are too cute! A sheep, cow, horse and pig!
The mural painted in the playroom... the removed window area is just to the left of this.
The check in counter!!!
A wide angle view of the check in counter, you can also see the mural and the bulletin boards in the play room.

The view that parent's see when they bring their children to us.
This is the "old" view of the wall where the mural is.
Again, the "old" view of the play room.
The "old" view of the check in room.
The "old" view of the check in room. This area is still the changing station, it just looks so different now!

Random Thoughts and Observations over the past week.

• Once the temp hits 80, it is just plain HOT, and doesn't feel any "hotter"
• How on earth does McDonald's run out of ice cream?
• Plants shrivel and die in 90 degree heat in Washington, no matter how much you may water them
• Babies in diapers are so adorable
• Toddlers in sprinklers remind me of when I was a kid. How did a stream of water entertain me for hours?
• Even if the sun is not shining, you can still get burned.
• When allowing a 2 year old to play with the hose, the "mist" setting is just pure genius.
• Traffic and construction on the Guide are HORRENDOUS.
• You can have a popsicle or ice cream bar whenever you want, even before lunch.
• Boys eat A LOT!
• I love my family.
• God provides us strength and protection, and He can protect my kids faaar more than I can.
• Working on projects with your husband is great bonding.
• I have almost been married for 7 years!
• I talk on my cell phone a lot when driving.
• Our fence in the backyard will be stained cedar neutraltone, not black. I will not have a nervous breakdown over it! :-)
• I love the sunshine.
• I do love my career, and the people I work with.

That's all I've got! Have a great day everyone!