Home Decorating

**A Break from the Vacation Pictures**
I have recently become a huge fan of home decorating blogs like The Nester, The Inspired Room and The Lettered Cottage.

These women are really good at making their houses feel like "home" for them. I secretly want to be one of them (you know with the thousands and thousands of blog followers). But since only a handful of you read my blog I'll just be content with what I've got. As is my new catch phrase "It is what it is!" Anyway, they have got me hooked on the idea of finding cheap items at Goodwill, garage sales or Craigslist and re-doing them to make them my own. Not to mention they have really great ideas for other home decorating... more on that to come later! :)

Well a few weeks ago I was putting the twins to bed and thought to myself... "I have got to get them some stools to help them get up into their new beds." They aren't that high, but since I moved them along a different wall they don't have the nightstand to leverage their legs against to climb up. Thankfully the next day was a school day for them and I decided to visit our local Goodwill store. I was pleasantly surprised to find a stool that would be perfect against their bed!! It was $4.99 and I just knew it would work just right. Unfortunately I only saw one and figured there was NO way I'd ever find a matching stool so I passed it up and kept searching the other furniture for some other "got to have" piece to re-do. After finding nothing, I ventured back to the stool to take one last parting glance and low and behold there was ANOTHER one!! I could almost hear the decorating angels singing!! I snatched them up and fought of an elderly man for them (well OK, he really only asked where I got them and if there were any more).

The next day I loaded up the kids, went to Walmart and got all the supplies I'd need to refinish them. I would have gone to Home Depot but when I have the kids - I have to find a store to kill all the birds with one stone and unfortunately Home Depot doesn't sell printer ink.

Take a look at my first furniture re-do.

After spending the majority of the time using this sandpaper - I know now that if I am going to make a habit of refinishing furniture I will have to get an orbital sander.

I had to take the paint off because it had crackle paint over the top and I was afraid my coat of black would crackle too.

This is a dark picture I know...but you can at least see where it goes! I also learned that I should have used semi-gloss paint...maybe one day I'll have spare time and energy to repaint it. Until them, the flat paint will have to do.

Please ignore the white spot on the right stool. That came from another home improvement project that we worked on this weekend. Pictures of that to come later...

Wonder how much it all cost?

Stools: $10.80

Paint: $5.96

Sandpaper: $3.27

Grand Total $20.03

Pretty good when this similar stool goes for $38.95 and up! And that's just one stool.

Gulf Shores, AL ~ Part ONE

Day One at the beach... Hudson was NOT a fan!

Neither was Brooke!

Hallie steered clear of the water and enjoyed the building in the sand.

Hudson found the sand was a safe place to be too.

The rare 'caught on camera' smile!!

We went the second night to eat at the Original Oyster House along with EVERYONE ELSE in Gulf Shores. When we found out it was 30 minutes to wait just to get a pager we ventured on to find something new. This place had GREAT shrimp and *maybe* the best hushpuppies I've ever had. There was no wait at all.

Day TWO: Mommy had the magic touch to get Brooke into the water happily

Hallie too!

Brooke put her swim lessons to the test and after a while she was like a little fish all over the pool with her floaties. She had a great time!

We built this Mickey Mouse

The kids sitting in our Mickey Mouse sandcastle

Even the beach has a time-out spot!!! :)

I just love this picture... I think it will be printed in black & white and framed somewhere in our house. She just looks like she hasn't a care in the world, doesn't she?

Like a little model posing on the beach.

Attempt one at a family shot on the beach...more to come.

Hallie had fun running to and from the water.

Sweet Hallie.

Imagine him saying at this point "I DID IT!!!!" every time he'd run to the water stick his hands in the wave and run back yelling "I DID IT!!"

What Our Vacation Taught Me...

A few things our week of vacation taught me...in no particular order.

1. Stand up straight!! After seeing photos of me on the beach I realize that if I don't start working on my posture later in life I will be pretty miserable!

2. Don't let people shame you out of using 85 SPF sunscreen. Your skin will thank you later (and those who razzed you about it will be begging to use it the next day).

3. Never underestimate the amount of times a 2 year old can ask "WHY?"

4. I am VERY close to turning the big 3-0.... and that means vacation pounds can and WILL be packed on. Scale told me this morning that in one week I have added 3 lbs. I am hoping tomorrow morning it will all turn out to be a misunderstanding between me and it (the scale!).

5. Never wear my big hoop earrings again... After taking pictures while wearing them several turned out terrible with the hoops sticking straight out to the side of my head looking as if I have silver 'Dumbo' ears... not cute!

6. With that in mind... no matter how good I 'think' I look... the photo result will tell otherwise.

7. "GOOD" family pictures with three kids under the age of 4 are nearly impossible.

8. The ocean in Greece is much saltier than Gulf Shores.

9. The ocean CAN be enjoyable for me if I have a float.

10. PuttPutt golf is NOT a family-friendly activity when your family includes a 4 year old and TWO 2 year olds.

11. I can STILL make hole-in-ones on the mini-golf course.

12. Electric cooktops are just stupidly slow.

13. If the place you're staying has a work-out facility...USE IT!!

14. Reading good books makes me want to neglect all duties as a mother.

Togetherness

We spent last Saturday with my family for a mini-reunion. My two cousins both had new additions to their family within the last month. Kelli and her husband had a baby girl, Karlyn and they were in visiting from the Hill Country. Kristy and her husband adopted a little boy from Rwanda named Blaise. So we felt like we could make the easy day trip to see them for the rare chance we are all together. It was Mother's Day weekend so that worked out well to see my mom too.

My Momo and her great-granddaughter, Hallie Campbell (her namesake)

Momo & Hudson

All the cousins SIX of them age 5 and under

Our attempt at a cousins shot

The cousins (minus Ryan) & their kids

My Mom & her kids

Dad & Daughter Dance

Our church recently had a Dad & Daughter dance that George took the kids to. I think they had a great time...we had been 'practicing' at home for a few days so they'd have their skills down. George said they did okay rotating turns and he'd dance with one for a verse and chorus and then swap. I was on the committee that helped put it all together so I went up after they came home to help take down the decorations. I got there a little early and watched some of the dads and daughters dancing and I just have to say that it was pretty much the sweetest thing! I literally teared up as I watched these manly men being so gentle with their little girls.

George & the girls before the dance (don't you just love Brooke's pose?!!)

Daddy & Brooke

Daddy & Hallie

Brooke & her candy and flower ring

Hallie showing off her candy

Country Fair

Our church had a country fair this past weekend and we braved the sun and heat and took the family out to have fun. The kids had fun bouncing in the bounce house, sliding down the slide, eating popcorn, fajitas and sno cones.

Swim lessons!

Brooke finished up a 2 week swim lesson in April. The first day was AWFUL with her crying almost the whole time (hence the first picture). By the end of the two weeks she did much better and 'sort of' enjoyed herself. She still isn't swimming like I want her to be able to. So, we'll be doing it again sometime this summer. Hopefully she won't spend the first day crying again. I know this is just payback for my time as a child doing the same thing to my mother! But, I decided I wasn't going to be the one to take her out and let her "win"...we pressed on and with a little bribery (sticker chart) she made it through. I have to also mention that for her "prize" after her sticker chart was complete she chose a BELT!!! Yeah, you read that right...not a toy, not a movie, not candy, etc... a BELT!! And she's so proud of it.

First Day!

Later the same week... notice her smile! :)

UT vs. A&M baseball and Tailgate

In April (I know I've been a terrible blogger!) the college ministry had a tailgate at the UT vs. A&M baseball game...thanks to some AWESOME table hosts getting it together!! We took advantage and figured it would be fun for the family to go to the game too. My parents came up and went with us (thanks for the tickets, mom & dad!). The kids had a good time and did really well. It was a rainy day and ended up sprinkling for the end of the game so we had to leave our seats and hangout out underneath the upper deck for the last few innings. Hudson, Hallie & I sported our UT gear (I couldn't find Brooke's t-shirt or she'd have worn it too!). Lucky for us we came out on the winning end ~ shutting out the Aggies.

Family picture ~ please ignore my hair... remember it RAINED and I'd gone curly that day anyway.

Kid's tailgating!!

This was typical of Hallie all afternoon.... no nap combined with falling out of a chair, getting hit by a football, brother eating her food, etc.... left her in a foul mood! And before you Aggies comment on the fact it was her shirt causing the tears read the above sentence AGAIN! :)