tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767409727123155922024-03-13T14:10:28.543-07:00Quite ContraryMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.comBlogger892125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-22799747702466789062013-08-12T13:10:00.000-07:002013-08-12T13:10:04.225-07:00Weekly photo + new URLKitty's like, "Has anyone noticed that nobody is holding<em> me</em> in the air right now?<br />
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So, here's some exciting news for... probably only me. My new blog is just about ready to go. Starting tomorrow Quite Contrary will be found at <a href="http://www.quitecontraryblog.com/" target="_blank">www.quitecontraryblog.com</a>, so update your bookmarks. I figured that would be easier than trying to remember maryellephotography.blahblahblahblahthisURListoolong.com. Right? Of course right. <br />
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Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-31323703175398200872013-08-09T14:09:00.002-07:002013-08-09T14:10:37.256-07:00Back in town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear interwebs,<br />
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Last week the kids and I were in Utah for my niece's wedding. We got home Sunday and then I promptly left Monday morning on a boat trip to the San Juan islands. My kids fell in love with Utah. I am in love with the San Juan islands.<br />
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After 2 weeks of travel, I finally get to sleep in my bed again. It is quite lovely.<br />
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I finished beadboard wallpapering Lydia's room, now I just have to paint it. When I told Mr. Darcy I was going to paint wallpaper, he looked at me like I had lost my mind. But, this stuff is supposed to be painted, I assured him. Still, I think he's worried about me.<br />
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School starts in 2 weeks. This freaks me out.<br />
See you next week.<br />
MaryMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-42246917383003071592013-07-24T21:19:00.002-07:002013-07-24T21:19:36.743-07:00Progress in Lydia's roomOkay, so since we completed Bennet's room last week, I figured it was time to get moving on Lydia's. Here's what it looked like this morning:
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There was a dark blue wall, and the other walls are light gray. I decided to paint a chalkboard wall on the wall without windows:</div>
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It has to dry for 3 days before it can be written on. This girl is very anxious to start Mommy-approved wall scribbling. (All the baseboard and trim in my house need some serious attention, but that is pretty much the worst job ever and so I keep putting it off for later. Or for someone else. So far, nobody else has surfaced hoping to paint my baseboards. I don't know what I'm doing wrong here.)</div>
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Jane had begged to help paint the chalkboard wall, and then to repay her for her kindness, I tricked her into helping me hang up beadboard wallpaper. I have had my eye on this stuff for years, just like every other blogger in the world. I decided to go the wallpaper route instead of actual beadboard because I figured I could tackle this on my own and not have to involve Mr. Darcy. Which means it might happen sooner since Mr. D is a busy man.</div>
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So, let me tell you something: Okay, well first...<br />
FIRST, I know some of you might have fainted at the idea of me putting up wallpaper. I have spoken very strong words against wallpaper, you might recall. <br />
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But, here's the other thing, I think I've got enough experience removing wallpaper to know what I'm getting into. One layer of vinyl wallpaper is really not a big deal to remove. Removing 3 layers of painted wallpaper will definitely make you want to go on a murderous rampage, yes. This is truth. But one layer of beadboard wallpaper doesn't scare me at all.<br />
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But, here's the other other thing... This is the first time I have ever <i>hung </i>wallpaper, and I learned that I am a much better wallpaper stripper than wallpaper installer. I think I yelled out, "DARNATION!!!!" about six hundred times. I learned that a sharp razor blade is vital. Mine was... eh... pretty crappy. Hence the frequent Mormon swears.<br />
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Behold the wall of sorrow.<br />
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Tomorrow I am tackling the other wall, and it has less corners and tricky parts, so I'm hoping that I don't want to throw myself under a bus before I'm done. (The wallpaper is still drying in this picture which is why some areas show the navy paint more than others.)<br />
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I was seriously doubting my intelligence halfway through this wall, and Jane had quickly learned that installing wallpaper isn't as fun as DisneyLand like I had promised her... But, now that the wall is complete, it <i>really</i> is cute. (This is a terrible picture because it was getting pretty late by the time I completed this wall and there was barely any light left.) It's cute in real life. I love beadboard, people. I love it with every fiber of my bowels. I want it on basically every surface in my home. It's just so charming, so old house, so much fantastic.<br />
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I was really hoping that wallpapering was going to be a walk in the park since I have two other rooms that I was planning on wallpapering soon. Alas. It kicked a lot of my butt. <br />
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But, I'm sure next time will go better because... I will have learned from my mistakes and stuff. And the wallpaper gods will smile on me?? Right???Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-24894629265869157372013-07-22T10:38:00.002-07:002013-07-22T17:55:37.549-07:00Yakima<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've heard our town called the Armpit of Washington in the past. Conversely, there is an embarrassing billboard as you enter town claiming we are the Palm Springs of Washington. Perhaps Yakima is closer to the Armpit of Palm Springs?</div>
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Regardless, this armpit has some lovely places in it.</div>
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Mr. Bingley's face in this picture is the best part. <br />
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Lizzy and I had a conversation about how Lydia is too big to sit in her lap, as she blocks Lizzy's face. But, she is too wiggly if she is not immobilized somehow. --Tune in next week for a picture of the kids in straight jackets.<br />
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(That would actually be super funny. I wonder if they sell child-sized straight jackets on amazon?)<br />
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And I can't mention straight jackets without linking to this guy from Oddities that freaks me out more than any other human being. <a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81956024/" target="_blank">If you ever meet this dude in an alley, just kill yourself.</a>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-75884644207346416682013-07-17T16:55:00.002-07:002013-07-17T16:55:54.205-07:00Star Wars room, yes... one more time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, how many times have I shown you Bennet's Star Wars room? </div>
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Well, this would be the third. Because I decorated his room 3 years ago, and it was super cute, and then I moved him out of this room into a tiny closet/room and redecorated it, and THEN I moved him back into this room because... Why? I'm a moron, it seems. And I like to make my life more difficult.</div>
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It is mostly the same as the first time around, but there are a couple differences. We kept the stripes that I painted when it was Lizzy's room. Kept the chalkboard wall, too.</div>
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Kept the awesome Star Wars art I found on etsy.<br />
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But, my boy tells me that he is too big for lightsabers, so we didn't put the lightsaber rack back up. Instead, I figured he might like to have a little desk area for homework and lego building.</div>
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He didn't really want the chalkboard wall at first, but when I filled it up with Star Wars quotes, he decided it was fun, after all. Yes, that is supposed to be Yoda down there. Just go with it.</div>
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Have you ever tried to draw Yoda? Then, don't judge me.</div>
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And as I was loading these pictures, I noticed that I spelled garbage chute wrong. Garbage shoot? Seriously. I'm so ashamed. And hey! I'm a homeschooler! Woot!</div>
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So, anyway... I like it. I'm glad that the stripes and chalkboard wall worked out, because I really, really didn't want to have to repaint in here. I was worried that striped walls would read kind of girly, but they don't.<br />
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And I solemnly promise I will never show you this room again. <br />
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The End.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-48421863732208590402013-07-16T11:57:00.000-07:002013-07-16T11:57:55.250-07:00Crazy scheme of the week... Natural poolsThis scheme really is Mr. Darcy's fault. He is the one that introduced me to the idea of natural pools in the first place. Now I find myself kind of intrigued/obsessed with them. <br />
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Have you heard of natural pools? They are totally natural, no chemicals added. The plants filter the water, so the water is clear and natural. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9300150805/" title="7d6359649e1739f0ea6127e19c86a57e by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="7d6359649e1739f0ea6127e19c86a57e" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9300150805_6ec5a75a6b_z.jpg" width="495" /></a><br />
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I've read different things about whether they are more expensive vs. less expensive to install... Some guy DIYed his own natural pool and has a video to explain how.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JoQthEBl6U" target="_blank"><i>(DIY natural pool)</i></a> He said it was a fraction of the cost, but since pools can cost $$$$$$$, I'm not sure if the fraction is affordable or not. 'Cause, 9/10s is a fraction of $40,000, and yet still completely unattainable to me right now. Know what I mean?<br />
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They are supposed to be much cheaper to maintain, however. Not to mention, less work.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9300152741/" title="Natural-Pool-Santorini-Greece by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="Natural-Pool-Santorini-Greece" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/9300152741_d3604b7cf4_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
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^This pool is labeled as a natural pool, but, I don't know... It doesn't have the plants that all the other pictures do, but mostly that picture is the most amazing thing I've seen. Also, it is in Santorini which is the best place I have ever been. Soo much pretty in Santorini. It's all blue and white, I mean... seriously.<br />
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The funny thing about these pools is that I was asking Bennet if he would like one, and he didn't like the idea at all. Then I showed him that video of the natural pool with frogs and salamanders swimming around and he was all, "YES, GIVE ME THIS POOL RIGHT NOW, WOMAN!!".<br />
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Boys. <br />
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There are a couple problems with this genius idea that are preventing me from renting a backhoe and digging up my yard. <br />
1. They are big... we have a big front yard, but it seems a little weird to have a pool in the front yard. Right? <br />
2. I always said I would only have a pool that had those magical covers that prevent little kids from falling into them. You can't cover these natural pools. We would have to fence it in. Which again, fenced pool in the front yard? Seems weird.<br />
3. I love amphibians, but do I love to swim with them? I'm not sure.<br />
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So, what do you think? Would you ever want a natural pool? How about one of you build one in your backyard and tell me how you like it? That'd be great.<br />
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<i>pictures found <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuddMMZZjuIeJCLL0Qb3jTOTt3KssCPsnu-wkeQTLH0G0kdRpklQ" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinimg.com/originals/a5/b2/34/a5b2347329369c7f8cab89984a0b5ec2.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>,<a href="http://pinlovely.com/natural-pool-santorini-greece/" target="_blank">here</a>,<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/13/0c/d4/130cd40002efcc46bf3adc4d4bfa435a.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/63/59/7d6359649e1739f0ea6127e19c86a57e.jpg" target="_blank">here</a></i>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-66080912079692752042013-07-15T09:21:00.000-07:002013-07-15T09:23:13.562-07:00Gadianton Robbers<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9291607429/" title="Untitled by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="407" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9291607429_73166da96d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Jane looks like she's got something up her sleeve, am I right? She and Bennet clearly have some secret combinations and it's cracking them up. I think Kitty might be in on it, too. <br />
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I will make sure to watch my back this week.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-74719245075531909632013-07-10T11:03:00.000-07:002013-07-10T11:03:26.920-07:00Yellow lamps = Yea or Nay?<div>
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Remember when I asked what color to paint my turquoise lamps a few weeks ago? These guys:<br />
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Several people suggested painting them yellow, and so yesterday I whipped out some yellow spray paint. And now we have:
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I also went and found 3 more matching frames to rehang my wallpaper samples. (Apparently, they no longer stock these on their shelves, but keep them in the back. Phew! Huge relief.) And Ohhhh, it feels so nice to have this room looking a little less torn up. It has been torn up for months, kids. <br />
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So, yellow lamps? Do you love them or hate them?<br />
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I think they add a happy bit of sunshine to the room, however they might be a bit brighter than I hoped. What do you think? Do I need a paler yellow? Or if I get more yellow accessories, will it pull everything together?</div>
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Also, have you heard of that face blindness affliction? I'm pretty sure I have crooked picture blindness. I stood in front of the wall and stared as hard as I could to see if the pictures looked crooked. I asked for Jane's help. She assured me they were all perfectly straight. </div>
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And then I loaded the pictures on my computer and suddenly I can see that they're a mess. But, when I walk back in to fix them, I can't see it anymore. Maybe too much spray painting has broken my brain.</div>
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I should start a benefit for that. If you would like to help end Crooked Picture Blindness, please send in donations today! Or you can just tell me if the lamp color sucks. I go back and forth. I definitely like them better than the turquoise, but I'm not sure this is the right yellow.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-18511317840084003052013-07-09T09:34:00.002-07:002013-07-09T09:37:29.777-07:00Built in beds<br />
I've been scouring the internets for pictures of built in beds lately. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9246717009/" title="4973c85661e5b547f822a89af11008a4 by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="4973c85661e5b547f822a89af11008a4" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/9246717009_258c045672_z.jpg" width="425" /></a>
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I love a good built in bed. They can be such a clever use of space in a cramped room. <br />
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As we were moving Lydia out of our closet and into our other larger closet/tiny bedroom, I had a lightbulb moment. I wondered if we could build her bed in to what was originally a closet area for hanging clothes.<br />
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Her crib mattress fit perfectly. Huzzah! Then Mr. Darcy put some plywood down to support her mattress and installed a guard rail. So, at the moment her bed looks like this:<br />
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And it's not much to look at right now, but it's got so much potential. I'm thinking if I painted it all up, added a bedskirt, some drapes, or beadboard or wallpaper... This little nook could turn into something really sweet. Don't you think?<br />
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It's just a toddler bed, so I know it won't last more than a year or two, but I figure when she outgrows it, we can turn it into a cute little reading nook.<br />
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So, I have officially transitioned my last baby out of her crib. It is kind of bittersweet. The sweet part is that finally after 13 years of being a mom, I feel ready to let go of all the baby days, cribs, and all the gear that comes with little ones. The bitter part is that now she gets out of bed a million times a night and screams, "MOMMY, I WAKE UP!!! MOMMMMMMYYYY!!! I WAAAAAAKE UUUUUUUUPPPP!!!". Or last night, she grabbed onto me as I was leaving and pleaded, "Wait! Wait! Wait! I miss you! Wet (let) me come! I don't want it go to bed!" <i>(sic). </i> It was kind of heartbreakingly adorable. You're killing me, smalls.<br />
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Anyway, advise me. What would you do for this tiny built in bed to turn it into a sweet little nook? See, I have this new idea for my blog... Design wise, I don't really know what I'm doing. I just steal other people's better ideas. So, how about if you guys tell me what to do with my house, and then I do it? Great plan, right?! It will be like one of those Choose Your Own Ending books. FUN!<br />
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<i>photos via: <a href="http://i.imgur.com/peLRX.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.mdesignla.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://andreasideablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/built-in-bunk-beds-galore.html" target="_blank">here</a></i>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-13800006508971090572013-07-08T10:10:00.000-07:002013-07-08T10:10:02.294-07:00Cuckoo Cacha! Cuckoo Cacha!<br />
I really miss photoshop right now. (The colors in this photo are all messed up.) But, the good news is... I know how to find pictures on my computer now! Huzzah! (Thanks for the help, fellow Mac users!)<br />
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This is Lydia's favorite activity lately:<br />
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Always chasing chickens. I don't know how in the world she catches them, though. She's not that fast. And I'm doubly surprised that when she catches them, they just go limp and let her carry them around like a stuffed animal. <br />
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I mean, I'm looking at this picture of Lydia and Goldie and wondering why Goldie doesn't take the opportunity to peck Lydia's eyes out. But, no... She just freezes. If there is ever the occasion for me to go grabbing chickens for whatever reason, they do not go limp for me. <br />
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And here's a little goodie for your Monday... One of my favorite scenes from Arrested Development.<br />
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Chachi! Chachi! Chachi!<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-52200640971992497512013-07-05T12:15:00.000-07:002013-07-05T12:35:47.208-07:00Happy Independence Day Weekend<div style="text-align: left;">
We had a lovely holiday... No brush fires in our backyard this year. Yeeha! </div>
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The oldest two kids are spending the week with family on the western side of the state, so we just have these three sweeties at home. Doesn't this picture make you want to burst out singing "God Bless America"? Just me?<br />
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Hope you have a wonderful weekend!</div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-62588090166703107522013-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:002013-07-01T13:41:56.092-07:00Quick dresser redo<div style="text-align: center;">
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I am sure that you don't remember this dresser that I got on craigslist, because I bought it while pregnant with Lydia. It has been sitting in our garage for the last 2.5 years. So, I decided it was probably time to actually fix it up and maybe, you know, use it. </div>
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I had originally planned on stripping all the paint and painting it white. Then as I have pulled into my garage every day for the last two years, somehow the chippy paint started to grow on me. And I came up with a controversial plan to keep the chipping paint and change the color of the handles.</div>
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Like so. I'm not totally sure if this was a good plan, which is why I'm bringing it to you, gentle readers. If you tell me this sucks, I will properly paint it. Most of my family thinks it is hideodeous. Bennet said, "That looks like you painted it ten years ago and a raccoon has been living in it.". That kid is growing up so snarky... I couldn't be more proud.<!-----awesome--><br />
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At first, I thought, "Mercy, that looked much better in my head." (as projects always do, alas.). But now it's been a few days and... I don't know.... I'm kinda diggin' it.</div>
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Now, full disclosure, if I keep it as is, I have to do something with the feet, which I tried to color match with the rest of it but the paint obviously ended up being too white. </div>
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Anyway, as we have been moving what seems like the entire contents of my house around in the last few weeks, I decided to plop this into my foyer because I lost all of my bookshelves for displaying pretty things (and books) that were in the school room.</div>
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So, don't be shy... lay it on me. Is it terrible? I won't be offended, promise.</div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-85993832892993305612013-06-30T19:07:00.001-07:002013-06-30T19:08:13.111-07:00Angry Princess<div style="text-align: center;">
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So, I feel like I'm showing up here without pants. (But, hey! At least I'm showing up at all???) Seven months ago, we got a new computer... a Mac, not a PC like I'm used to. I mean, minimally used to, I'm pretty helpless with all things technological. Basically, on our PC I only knew enough to blog. And buy stuff on amazon.com. Go me!</div>
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I was able to successfully avoid this new Mac until recently because we had 2 other computers set up in the school room. But, now we are down to one and... I don't know how to do anything. Consider this a Late June Miracle that I was able to get this picture here at all. I take pictures, load them on to the computer, and they disappear. Where do they go? I have no idea. They go to the land of hidden pictures and crushed dreams because those Mac vs. PC commercials are full of crap. If I ever meet Justin Long, I am going to punch him in the face.</div>
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So, I spend 3 hours searching for the pictures I take, then when I find them it takes me 3 more hours to figure out how to load them onto flickr, and freak dude. Ain't nobody got time for this.</div>
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AND, I don't have Photoshop on this new Mac that hates my guts, so I have to use some crappy free photo-editing program that doesn't do much and what it does, it doesn't do well. Which makes me embarrassed, because now you see what my pictures look like almost straight out of the camera.</div>
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So, with that lead in... Lydia has entered the tantrum years. All tantrums, all the time. Well, I'd say 80% tantrums with 20% over-the-top cuteness. Let me just say, she had better thank her lucky stars for her cuteness.</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-65457606445865131142013-06-26T23:40:00.000-07:002013-06-27T09:11:07.947-07:00Back from VictoriaSo, hey! Hi! Remember me? <br />
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Darnation, things have been super crazy around here. With the room swapping, I lost access to my blogging computer for awhile... Plus, the room swap has taken FOREVER and has been the biggest pain the the buttocks imaginable, so CindyinMN is totally right and I need to stop doing this so often. Because... DUDE. For the last week we have had piles and piles of stuff waiting to be moved from one room to another. It was a sneak peek into what this house will look like in 20 years when I start hoarding crap.<br />
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ANYWAY, school got out, we started moving rooms around, and in the middle of that Mr. Darcy and I took off on a quick little anniversary trip to Vancouver Island. I have been wanting to visit there for years, but it never worked out before. Do you know that in the 12 years I have lived in Washington, this is the first time I've been to Canada? That's crazy. <br />
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Anyway, I have a ton of pictures from our very short trip because our bed and breakfast was the most charming 1920s house and it was surrounded by many other adorable old homes and you know how I am with old homes. I had to take fifteen pictures of each house we walked past because OHMYGOSH-THEY-ARE-SO-CUTE!!!<br />
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So, we started out visiting Craigdarroch castle since it was just a few blocks away from our bed and breakfast.<br />
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It was a really interesting look into what a jillion dollars in coal money could buy you in the late 1800s. There were some serious clams put into that place, but it was definitely not my style home. It was so dark inside, it would be a great place for rich vampires to raise their freakshow children (Renesmee, I'm looking at you).<br />
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Then we checked out the Parliament building. It was gorgeous.<br />
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Naturally, we had to have tea at the Grand Empress which was my favorite stop on the trip. The whole time I kept saying, "Our girls would LOVE THIS. We have to bring them back someday." <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9149872080/" title="IMG_0162 by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0162" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9149872080_97b9b0a60f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722121@N03/9147596873/" title="IMG_0204 by Pemberley888, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0204" height="371" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/9147596873_5556c9c01b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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It was fantastic. It was expensive, but so very fantastic. It was very British. I could easily pretend that I was having tea at Pemberley/Manderley (shout out to my book club girls!)/some huge British estate. Next time I go, I swear I'm going to wear Regency garb and let everyone look at me like I'm a loon. And I'm going to bring all my girls because what is better than dressing up in Jane Austen clothes and spending $300 on a handful of tiny tea sandwiches? NOTHING IS BETTER THAN THAT.<br />
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So, anyway... Now that we are home and our children are all nestled snuggly in their new rooms, I can start trying to make this house pretty again. Should be fun!<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-74574019128713103832013-06-13T14:05:00.005-07:002013-06-13T14:05:51.276-07:00The Pemberley of my dreams, Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Do you want to see some of our upcoming projects and pictures of how I hope they turn out? Some of these projects are long term, some should happen in the next few months. This is mostly for my benefit, so that I can have these pictures at my fingertips, but I thought maybe you would be interested as well.</div>
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Our kids bathroom is so cute with it's seafoam green hex tiles and original sink. </div>
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I really do love this room and find it very charming. But, it is tiny, and four kids share it. There is no storage, there is no floorspace. The kids fight over the sink each night... It's just too cramped. Since our tiny playroom shares a wall with this room, someday I want to knock the wall down and do something like this: </div>
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But with hex tiles on the floor. Because this bathroom is the cutest thing EVER. (And I have shared this picture before.)</div>
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Here is our kitchen:</div>
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And I want it to to be something like this:</div>
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More specifically, I love the checkerboard floors, the school house lights, and that it feels like a 1930s kitchen while still being updated and functional. My kitchen isn't going to come out looking as spiffy as this one, but I want it to have the same feel. We will start this summer if everything goes well.</div>
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My mudroom doesn't look like this, but it did 4 years ago. And for some reason, it seemed easier to just sift through 4 years of photos than to stand up and walk over to the mudroom for a new picture. So, there you are.</div>
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Anyway, I have been long pining for lockers. I have looked through a million mudroom locker pictures and all of them are glorious. But, I think I have finally settled on this design:</div>
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No bench, just simple floor to ceiling lockers with tons of hooks for hanging backpacks and coats and place to kick off their shoes. I know my kids. They will not lift up a lid to store their shoes. They will not place shoes in a basket or pull out a drawer. They kick them in the general direction that they belong. Obviously, our lockers will have to be more narrow, but I think this would be fantastic.</div>
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Our family room connects to the kitchen. It also hasn't looked like the photo below in years. We have changed the furniture, rug, everything you see here, really and not for the better. It was a project that started and then stalled and then got ugly and so I just tried not to think about it too much. </div>
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Just imagine black theater seating and a different rug and a bunch of chewed up things all over the floor and you will have the basic idea. It's ugly. But, the plan is to finally knock down the adjoining wall to open up the kitchen to the family room. </div>
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Aside from knocking through into the kitchen, I am planning on removing the double doors into the area with the piano (I'll explain more below). BUT, what I really want the room to look like is this:</div>
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So that it ties in with all the white/turquoisey/greeny colors in the kitchen. I've been planning on putting board and batten on the walls FOREVER. Way before everyone else in the blogworld already did it. Haha. But, I'm serious. And above that I will put that darling aqua flowery wallpaper that I bought YEARS ago and intended to put in my bedroom but then changed my mind, because I am excellent about changing my mind. Aaaaanyway... I'm hoping this will all come together this year.</div>
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Okay, and lastly, this little space that is to the right of the family room. This is where Bingley's pen is set up currently. However, Lizzy has convinced me to homeschool her again next year. Can you believe it? I fought her off for months by shoving my fingers in my ears and screaming, "I'M NOT LISTENING, I'M NOT LISTENING, LALALALALALALALALA!!!". But, I finally gave in. Homeschooling Lizzy with just Lydia at home is not going to be the same amount of insanity that we have experienced this year. (Famous last words?). </div>
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So this spot will become our little desk/school area once Lizzy makes our current home office/school room her bedroom. </div>
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And wouldn't something like this be fun? Since she will need access to a map on occasion? </div>
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I am so infatuated with map walls at the moment. Anyway, that was very long and possibly super boring for you, but now you know what I hope my house will someday look like when we someday complete all of these someday projects. I mean, it'll be cute, right?! Someday.<br />
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<em>Inspiration pictures found here: </em><a href="http://www.fourgenerationsoneroof.com/2012/02/family-room-before-after.html?_szp=462368" target="_blank"><em>family room</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/135905/list/Mudrooms--Ideas-For-The-Hardest-Working-Room-in-The-House" target="_blank"><em>mudroom,</em></a><em> </em><a href="http://meandmyinsanity.com/2011/03/budget-boys-rooms-that-withstand-their.html" target="_blank"><em>mapwall,</em></a><em> </em><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/42641/Farmhouse-Kitchen-from-School-House-Electric-traditional-kitchen-other-metro" target="_blank"><em>kitchen,</em></a><em> </em><a href="http://inyourbackpocket.blogspot.jp/2010/06/in-our-imaginary-house-trough-sink.html" target="_blank"><em>bathroom</em></a></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-50634080229523260002013-06-11T18:20:00.000-07:002013-06-11T18:20:00.338-07:00Two days and countingYou might think my title is referring to how many more days I<strike> have to</strike> get to homeschool my kids, but you would be wrong. (You would be a little bit right.) But, mostly I am counting down the days until I get to start painting and demolishing and spray painting everything in town. Bliss, thy name is Spray Paint.<br />
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This weekend we will start disassembling the school room and changing it into a bedroom for Lizzy. Then, the whole bedroom shuffle begins... which means these are my upcoming projects for the summer:<br />
1. Decorate Lizzy's room.<br />
2. Move Bennet into Lizzy's old room (also his old room). Paint? I don't know yet. Are grey and white stripes too girly for a boy? <br />
3. Move Lydia into Bennet's old room. Girl it up.<br />
4. Paint my dressing room and super girl it up.<br />
4. Remember how to count to ten.<br />
5. Kitchen kitchen kitchen, oh please, fix the kitchen<br />
6. Paint Jane's & Lydia's room turquoise. Also... Yahoo!<br />
7. Turn the playroom into a dress up area.<br />
8. Hem the living room curtains, paint the lamps, and get new frames for the wallpaper wall.<br />
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So, let me explain #8, but first, let me show you my new rug. <br />
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What do you think? Does the tannish-brown work with all the grey and aqua? I kind of think so. But I could be wrong. This was the Target rug I liked the most for the living room. And why Target, you ask? Because I had stockpiled a bunch of their giftcards, so this rug was essentially free. Free is my favorite.<br />
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Which is why I want to keep it. Ha ha. My sister hates it, particularly with the striped chairs. I think the rug with the striped chairs is my favorite part... I'm just not sure if all the colors work together. Please weigh in on this important topic, but ESPECIALLY if you are on my side because then I can tease Linda about how she was so very, very wrong.<br />
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Okay, so here's my frame problem:<br />
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Three of my frames have bit the dust. They were knocked off the wall and broken... I must confess, one was my fault. <br />
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Oh, sorrow. This is what we call a first world problem, ladies and gentlemen. I went back to the store where I purchased these last year and guess what? I can buy these wood frames in EVERY SINGLE SIZE besides 11 x 14, which is naturally what I need. I tell you what, life is so hard here in The United States of America. Wipe a tear for me, starving children of Africa!<br />
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But, anyway... I need to figure out what do to with these frames because I don't want to have to replace all of them. <br />
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Now that we have reached the end of the post, you may tell me if you love or hate the rug. If you tell me you love it, I will give you a cookie. (No.) Also, what color should I paint those table lamps? Once I got the drapes I realized I needed to change their color. Tan? Grey? White? What do you think?Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-32216714993930951402013-06-10T14:15:00.003-07:002013-06-10T14:15:57.778-07:00Dome ClimbersI've been meaning to try a dome picture for years, before we had our own little dome. So, we gave it a try yesterday. <br />
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I realized right away that it wasn't going to work very well with a 2 year old. We tried to prop her up next to Lizzy at the beginning, but she wanted no part of it. Maybe in a year or two I will try this again.<br />
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In other news, I went to church with my back covered in grass. Embarrassing!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-72493415220245627572013-06-05T16:44:00.000-07:002013-06-05T16:45:51.956-07:00Kitty at age five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know, I can't believe this girl is 5. When I started this blog, she was a baby. She was just a bald, blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked six month old. Now she is a funny, spunky little blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked almost-kindergartner. <br />
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If you want to know how the sibling dynamic goes at our house, go read the Betty Bunny books. Kitty is so completely Betty Bunny. Lizzy is the snarky, sarcastic oldest sibling (Bill). Bennet is the always literal older brother (Henry). Jane is the sometimes exasperated but usually peace-making Kate. <br />
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I can't even tell you how much I wish I had written those books. <br />
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And the crazy, feisty, determined, sometimes impossible Betty Bunny? Yes, 100% Kitty. Although, so far she has never stuffed chocolate cake down her sock.<br />
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A non-marshmallow piece of Lucky Charms in her diaper? Yes... she has done that. But, so far no cake in socks.<br />
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She is in that completely honest stage that can be so humorous, if you are not the person she is being completely truthful to. "Why is your belly so big, mom? Are you having a baby?". <br />
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When we were discussing who to invite to her birthday party, I said the name of a boy she knows and she quickly said, "He's not my friend! He's CRAZY!". And it made me laugh, because he is a little bit... kind of... that way. .<br />
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So, keep your eye on this Kitty girl. She is a force of nature. She can't sit still during dinner. She likes her shoes on the wrong feet. She thinks wearing pants is a punishment. She really hates having her hair brushed.<br />
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She is going to take over the world and she will do it in a dress and with mismatched shoes.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-80320062784467142682013-06-03T12:39:00.002-07:002013-06-03T13:58:40.538-07:00Candy Land partySpring starts birthday season here at Pemberley. Lydia's was last month, Kitty's was on Saturday, so we decided to combine birthday parties this year. Then my brother called to see if we could add his little boy into the mix (he turns 2 today, happy birthday little P!) and I said, "The more the merrier!".<br />
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My kids helped make the invitations:<br />
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I have been gathering up decorations and stealing other people's ideas for months. I am super talented at craftlifting actual creative mom's party plans, yo! <br />
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<em>(This balloon string was self-destructing at an alarming rate. By the end of the party it was pretty much empty.)</em></div>
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After I had a plan for the decorations, I tried to find a way to incorporate all the kids stuff in our yard. Because it is a truth universally acknowledged that our front yard looks like a daycare center, so I figured I should try to work with it.<br />
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Our dome turned into Gumdrop Mountain.<br />
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We rented a bouncy castle for Lord Licorice's Castle:<br />
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Our little playhouse became Grandma Nuts' Cottage:<br />
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Lizzy dressed up as Queen Frostine:<br />
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<em>(She wore my wedding dress and some drapes we had lying around.)</em></div>
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Bennet was Lord Licorice:<br />
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We made candy necklaces...<br />
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Played candy beanbag toss:<br />
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The kids had to find a card at each station to tell them where to go next. I didn't get a picture of that though, because it was amazingly chaotic as children's birthday parties should be.<br />
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My sister used her amazing pinata skills and made us these cute lollipop and candy cane pinatas:<br />
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Aren't they perfect? I was super impressed. Thanks again, Maggie.<br />
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After the pinatas, it was time for the cake. If you ignore the fact that my little gingerbread people look like they have sustained some sort of brain injury, I think the cake turned out pretty stinking cute.<br />
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I can't bake, so I had Costco make a plain, undecorated sheetcake for me, which I decorated to look like the board game. Things got a little sketchy for awhile in the Molasses Swamp section... It looked a lot like Mr. Bingley had helped decorate if-you-know-what-I-mean... But, I think in the end it wasn't quite so dog turdy.<br />
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The kids LOVED it.<br />
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Then we fueled the kids up on about a jillion pounds of candy and sent them home to their adoring parents. Hahahahaha. It would have been funnier if 5 of those sugar-tripping kids didn't belong to me.<br />
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(I realized as I was loading the pictures that I somehow didn't get any shots with Kitty. She was there, I promise. In fact she and Lydia wore these matching Costco dresses and they both looked so charming I wanted to eat them up. If you don't believe me, scroll back up to Gumdrop Mountain and you can see half of her body in that shot. I'm sorry to say there is a long list of things I was too distracted to get pictures of. Oh well.)<br />
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Anyway, it was a very fun afternoon. Many thanks to everyone who helped, and of course all our guests! And Happy Birthday to Kitty and Little P!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-47336403799568897082013-05-28T18:23:00.003-07:002013-05-28T18:23:47.648-07:00Playroom/Crazy scheme of the weekSaturday I cleaned out the playroom. It is a tiny little space and because of that, it doesn't really take much to completely trash it. Plus, we got a few new baby chicks and were raising them in here for awhile because it was the only place to keep them safe from the twins (aka, Lydia and Bingley). They both really wanted to hug them and squeeze them and bite them and break their tiny necks, so we had to lock them in here to keep them from going Lennie from Of Mice and Men. <br />
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Also, here's a tip for raising chicks indoors for a few weeks... You're going to want to keep them somewhere that can be closed off to the rest of the house because baby chicks smell so bad that you will want to rip your own nose off your face. I am not kidding. The smell will knock your socks off.<br />
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We have since moved the chicks out into the garage because nothing that stanky should be kept inside for long, and so Lydia has a freshly organized playroom once more. Well, she did for about five minutes while I took these pictures. </div>
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When it is clean, it is such a cute little space. Tiny... yes, but very charming for a little play nook. </div>
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Oh, look.. that nice little girl from The Ring goes to school in here. </div>
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She seems... sweet. (I've never actually seen The Ring because I am what you call a giant, wussy baby. No scary movies! Or wire hangers!!! I haven't seen that movie, either but I had a companion on my mission that would quote it all the time.)<br />
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With all of the room swapping that is going on in the next few months, I am thinking about moving these toys into Lydia's room and turning this tiny closet/room into a dress up room for the little girls. The room I have created in my head is really quite cute... a mirror, wall pegs for their costumes, girly drapes, etc. Wouldn't you have loved that as a little girl?<br />
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What would you do with this room? <br />
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As for my crazy scheme of the week... Since Lydia seems determined to draw on everything all the time, I thought I could chalkboard paint her entire room. What do you think? Too messy? Will I regret it? I don't really think it will make her draw more on non-chalkboard walls, because... honestly, that ship has sailed.<br />
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Lizzy has loved her chalkboard wall and Lydia sure loves to scribble on stuff. I think it could be pretty cute. Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-37519953584502219372013-05-20T15:43:00.000-07:002013-05-20T15:47:50.256-07:00Put your heads together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This picture was brought to you by yelling, the letter Jaytch*, and viewers like you.<br />
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Nobody wanted to lay down on the floor. They certainly weren't interested in putting their heads in such close proximity to the heads of all their idiot siblings. And then Lydia was wiggling all over the place and somehow got her shoe velcro caught in Jane's hair and neither of them were particularly happy about that development, but especially Jane. <br />
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<em>*Jaytch is made by combining the letters J and H. It is also Kitty's usual response when asked to identify the letter G ("Uhhh, Jaytch?"). Now go use it in a sentence. I'll go first: "What the Jaytch, Mario?!"</em>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-66541393815196280182013-05-13T16:52:00.000-07:002013-05-14T08:27:42.878-07:00Duncan Flicka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So that new (to us) kitchen table that I promised... I am finally ready to show you. Honestly, I was ready to show you last week but never had time. Twenty-three more days of homeschool, by the by.</div>
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This was our previous table. </div>
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Once Lydia started growing out of her high chair I worried about where she was going to sit... there really wasn't any space to squeeze in one more. And I finally figured out that it might help if we had a rectangular table rather than oval...<a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/6151001394_fe5d36c7bc_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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And I thought that a Duncan Phyfe style table with drop leaves would be the perfect thing, because we could increase and decrease the size as necessary. (Once a month we have a Sister Pizza Night here and there are 10 kids trying to cram into this kitchen.)<br />
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Once I found this table on craigslist, I knew it would be perfect. It is pretty much the same length as our last table, but more narrow. Yet, somehow it seats <em>more</em> people. It is a magical table of joy. (Being able to stick someone in the corner makes it possible to put 4-5 kids (depending on their size) on the benches alone. --And I thought they would hate the corner seat, but it is actually in high demand, strangely enough.<br />
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So I threw another bench back there (until we get this kitchen project under way) and our new table is working out quite nicely.<br />
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There is another leaf in the center that isn't pictured because I forgot, but when we open it up we get another 8 inches. Or we can drop down the sides and free up a bunch of floor space. I am in love with this table, yo.<br />
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As an aside, after I painted my kitchen table and chairs two years ago, I had a friend ask me if I had sanded them anywhere to give them that antiqued/weathered look. I said, "No. I assume my kids will take care of that for me."</div>
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And boy howdy, did they ever. They're such troopers. These puppies are allsortsa dinged up. There is even a chair that has Bennet's name scratched into the paint because apparently he was tired of his sisters snaking his spot. And he also wasn't clever enough to realize that scratching BENNET into the paint was going to make it impossible for him to pretend that he was not the perpetrator. ARGH. Out the window! </div>
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They look rough. I am guessing I have some spray painting in my future.</div>
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And lastly, here is a picture I saw in This Old House magazine that made me decide that we certainly must knock through the wall over my someday banquette. I love this look so much. It almost makes me less mopey about not being able to completely knock the wall down.</div>
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I think it is wonderful. Isn't it wonderful? I like it a lot. </div>
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So, anyway, that's it. We will certainly keep you updated on any progress.</div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-73687907269282400212013-05-13T15:46:00.002-07:002013-05-13T15:46:40.398-07:00Stairstep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These guys (and their dad) gave me the sweetest Mother's Day. I am crazy about all of them!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-6815357406586912352013-05-09T13:12:00.003-07:002013-05-09T13:12:44.342-07:00Serenity now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are there blogs that you read that give you a feeling of peace and serenity? I have a couple mommy blogs that I follow that do that... I always come away wishing that <em>my blog</em> was more like that. More artistic and relaxed and Utopian. <br />
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And so every now and then I think, "I'm going to do that. I'm going to show the beauty we are surrounded by. I am going to try and portray the love and calmness that is our life here."<br />
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But, then I realize that our life is fantastic, honestly... but calm and serene? Not really. And I'm sure those other bloggers have their chaotic moments even if they....</div>
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<strong>SCCCRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAM!!!!</strong> I just felt something on my ear and flicked it off and saw an earwig on the ground and holy crap NO NO NONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!!!!!!! In what kind of world is it okay for earwigs to CRAWL ON EARS?????????!!!!!!! WHY WHY WHY??????????????</div>
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This is giving me The Wrath of Khan flashbacks. That movie messed me up. Don't let your 8 year old daughters watch that.</div>
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ANYWAY... I'm thinking that pretty much summarized this post. I don't think I have it in me to grow calm children.</div>
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These is my girls. This is how we do it, baby.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2876740972712315592.post-33505291520740499932013-05-08T17:31:00.002-07:002013-05-08T17:31:58.493-07:00Cinco turns dosLydia turned 2 yesterday. That wraps up the fastest 2 years of my life so far. Seriously, this time warp stuff is tripping me out.
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So, let me explain something about these pictures. Lydia loves finding crayons/markers/pencils/any writing utensil and leaving graffiti all over anything and everything. Furniture, walls, sheets, floors... floors are fun, they're like a huge, neverending canvas. </div>
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So, yesterday she got her hands on a yellow permanent marker and tattooed her face and arms pretty successfully. We scrubbed and scrubbed and it wouldn't come off. Eventually I decided that it does quite accurately sum up Lydia at this age, although I admit for a little while I thought about postponing the cupcake pictures until we had removed it.<br />
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But, that's my girl... always scribbling on something. I just realized that I forgot to add "graffiti" to her list of LOVES. Consarn it!<br />
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I was able to remove most of the marker from her body this morning during her bath, so I took her outside for her 2 year old photo shoot.<br />
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Hey, Liddy, how old are you?<br />
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This child runs very hot or cold. She is either happy and charming, or a short little tyrant screaming orders and throwing things. Or occasionally head butting stuff. If she was my first child, I would worry about this little ragey-tantrum business, but that is one of the benefits of having 5 children.<br />
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I'm too tired to care anymore. Haha, just kiddin'. Truthfully, this ain't my first rodeo. I know this is just one of those stages where you have to soak up the sweet to get you through the sour, and rest assured that in a year or two or five she will be a perfectly pleasant human child again.<br />
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--I mean, we are all crazy about her, for sure. I don't want to give you the impression that we don't like this girl. She is so fetchin' cute and funny. She talks our ears off and is constantly coming up with some funny phrase that we all repeat over and over. And sweet, honestly, she is such a sweetheart at times, hugging and kissing and saying, "Sowwy!". <br />
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But there are definitely 2 year old moments with the screaming and throwing herself down on the floor. As I was carrying her inside the house the other day while she was screaming and kicking and trying to get away (she doesn't like coming inside, see) I remembered doing the same thing with Lizzy and how frustrated I felt. And how it would stress me out that my daughter had turned into a tiny terror and I didn't know how to fix it.<br />
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But, now almost 12 years later, I'm like, "Meh.". She'll grow out of it. I wish I could go back and whisper some reassurance into my 12 years ago self. <em>"This won't last forever. She will grow up to be amazing. It's okay."</em><br />
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So, Lydia on this two year anniversary of your birth, thanks for being perfectly you. You will always be my lastborn, my final sweet little baby. Last night as I took you up to your room, I pointed to the spot that you were born and I said, "That is where you came out of my tummy." You didn't know what I was talking about. But once again, I felt that heaviness or sacredness or whatever that feeling is as I remembered your birth. It was lovely. You were lovely. You <em>are</em> lovely. Every morning as you wake up too early and snuggle in bed with us it is a privilege to have you in our family.</div>
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We couldn't do without you.</div>
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Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04781821938687405755noreply@blogger.com7