Austin's outdoor adventure

Today was such a beautiful Day!!! Austin must have known this somehow because ALL he wanted to do was go outside and play (Actually not much different than any other day, he just wants to be outside.), so we went outside. He love the freedom he has now being able to walk and use the toys we have in the backyard. He was all alone today though (no Lauren to watch or follow, just him exploring). He had such a GREAT time.

He played in his barn.
BOO!!!! He thinks it's funny to look out the window and see me.

But then he had to figure out how to get out without Lauren. It took him a little time but...

HHMMM...how do I get down?

Maybe I can ride the door......

Hey, that worked pretty well.

Thanks door!

On to the swing set, Can climb the slide like I see Lauren do?

I'm trying.

Look Mom.....

He would pick up a piece of dirt and give it to me and say Thank You.

Then he wanted to swing...

On to the next adventure...

Hey, what's up there?

This is that think Lauren is always swinging on.....guess it's fun.

Oh, more dirt...

This dirt needs a closer look, I better sit down.

Look Mom.......

True to Austin....must taste it......

So he got his first BITE of dirt. Wish I could have gotten a picture of his face trying to get it out of his mouth but I was trying to help him (and laughing at him), he did not like it. He did like roaming around outside on his own able to do and touch whatever he wanted. He is going to be my little explorer. It is going to be fun to see him as spring and summer are coming and all the fun that come with them.

Projects

Projects, projects, projects......I have quite a few projects that need to be done around our house and today I started on two of them for the kids.

Repurpose and reuse...a theory of my mothers that I also live by.

My first project I am tackling is Lauren's old toddler bed. This is a bed I am quite fond of since I came up with the design and most of the measurements and my Dad and I made it for Lauren. Now it is almost time for Austin to be ready for a big boy bed so I am going to convert it from a cute girl bed to a boy bed.

Here is the bed as it looked like for Lauren. My mom painted the cute little flowers along the side and the heart wreath at the end.

Here is a view of the side.

The hard part is going to be getting this bed ready to repaint. When you do a project you never think...how hard will this be to redo when I am tired of it. When I originally painted this I sealed it with a wax with a stain in it. You can't just paint over wax so now I get the fun job of stripping the wax off. Hopefully not to hard.....

Here I have brushed the stripper on and now I have to wait for it to work. It is starting to bubble already.

So while I wait I will start on the next project, a bookcase for Lauren's room. Once again repurpose, repaint and reuse. The funny thing is..this was actually my bookcase when I lived at home. Now if you know my Mom this is not a strange thing to have furniture I left behind. The strange thing.....it is the same color as when I left it..that is almost unheard of in her house. If you leave it she's going to make it into something else, repaint it, not leave it the same.

Speaking of my mom and making things, check out her etsy site Cowgurls Blessing she has really cute stuff for sale that she has made.

Here is the bookcase I am painting for Lauren, is is starting out blue denim. That WILL NOT match Lauren's pink and green room so I am going to put KILZ on this so I can start over.

Okay, all grey with Kilz.....now it needs to dry so I can figure out what color I am going to paint it and what to do with it next.

Time to go back to the bed...the stripper seems to work pretty well...I think I will try to put it on a little thicker on the other side.

No more flowers.....

So after the stripper I ran the sander over it and I think it's going to be ready to repaint. So now I just have to finish the other side and the headboard and figure out what I'm going to paint on it.....I have Mom helping with that part.

I'll keep you posted on how I'm coming with these.

Lauren's 7!!

February 4th.......what a special day for me, the day Lauren was born. I can't believe she's 7 though. It seems like just yesterday..........(it's such a mom comment) so many memories of her firsts.. when she finally decided to walk, or things she did.. catching stars (like Dora did and singing "We did it"), or comments she made..her head say yes.
My sweet little girl is growing into such a lovely young lady.

And now such a wonderful big sister, also. We decided to take some new pictures of her and Austin today to help remember her day but Austin was not so cooperative.
Here he dedcided he should swing his feet.

Lauren's trying so hard to just hold on to him so they can have a cute picture together.

Then she wanted him to sit on her lap. He was not about looking at me and smile, we had quite a fun time trying though. Lauren just smiled right along.

Lauren was kissing his head.

They have so much fun together. Austin knocked them over and they were laughing.

After picture time we had dinner and then it was party time with Austin & Daddy & I.

We got her a little cake and daddy lit the candles. (Don't drop it!!)

We sang her Happy Birthday!! ("That is such a cute little cake with PINK icing" she said)

Make a wish!!

Blow out the candles!!

It's good cake.

Austin thought so ,too.

Present time.

Oh, WOW!!

It's an i pod speaker system. Now she can listen to all her music from her i pod in her room.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!!

She's getting way to grown up.........she'll always be our little girl though.

Seven years of memories, seven years of love. The time seems to have gone so quick. Everyone says they grow up so quick and it is so true. She is such a joy and bundle of fun....and now we start a new year of memories. Love you Lauren!!!