Chalk Paint & Upholstery Project

I've had these beautiful chairs for nearly a year now.  I got them on our local facebook garage sale sight (although they happened to be listed by a friend of mine) for super cheap!  The silk upholstery was very nice but in need of being redone because of lots of stains.  The woodwork also had a lot of nicks and scratches.  Well, I basically just lived with them this way until I mustered up the motivation to tackle the project myself.  When I bought them I originally thought I would hire someone to do the upholstery and even bought the fabric (from fabric.com with a coupon) and called the "cheap" guy in town.  But then I kept saving them for when I was coming out of the newborn funk because I knew once I had a little more time and energy, that I could probably do them myself and save myself some money:).

So I got the itch once school started back for the big kids and once chalk paint finally came to Tuscaloosa!!!  I was so excited to see a local store begin carrying Annie Sloan chalk paint.  It was the final motivation.  I went on over and bought Old White along with some clear wax.  I came home and read lots of tutorials on how to reupholster chairs like this.  I had a sweet friend send some pictures of a project she had recently done with some tips.  Then I got started.

I'll spare all the details but I will summarize by saying that I LOVE chalk paint and loved painting/distressing/waxing the wood on these chairs.  I did not love the upholstery part.  It was very tedious and I messed up several times around the arms which was frustrating.  In the end, I am very very proud of myself and I just love the finished product.  I do have plans to make matching/coordinating pillows for these chairs but for now I just added these coral ones I already had.  It took me the course of about 5 days to finish these because I had to do them in chunks of time during naps or after kiddos were in bed.

So, here they are now all bright and clean and finished...

So here is the super fun before and after...

We are still getting settled into the new house.  Maybe one day I will show you pictures of it:). 

Linking up with

 Miss Mustard Seed 

The Shabby Nest 

Thrifty Decor Chic

First Day of School!!!

Today was the big day...

It's the beginning of a new chapter for our family today.  We moved to our house mainly to get into this different school district.  We are so excited about it and are trusting the Lord that it will be a great fit for Samuel and Ellie Kate.  However, it has brought out some nervousness for mama and for my big boy.  Ellie Kate was about to bust she was SO excited.  She has been ready for this day since last year:).  Samuel was fearful of all the newness and not knowing anyone (I would be too)! Change always gives us the opportunity to trust the Lord...that is what I am doing minute by minute today.  What I'm praying Samuel will do and that he will not give into his fears.  I am trusting that our Father will provide new friends and confidence and that He will protect my babies as then venture out of my nest and my control.  Their teachers are wonderful and our God is even more wonderful.   I know that He is faithful and the He alone can still my soul and theirs as they take on this new chapter.  Abigail returned to her preschool and she was excited thank goodness and walked right into her class!  So now I'm just snuggling with the baby and passing the time until we walk out and wait on the big yellow bus to bring my babies home (that is my biggest fear right now...that they won't get on the right bus!). 

My big handsome 3rd grader 

My precious kindergartner ready to take on the world

My adorable preschooler

Thanking the Lord for the calling to raise these that He has given me and trusting as they begin the journey of growing up.

Here is a little comparison of Samuel's years in school...

7 Months Old

{Anna Mitchell...you are 7 months old today!!!!}

This month has brought a lot of changes and you are growing so quickly.  You have become proficient in crawling, scooting, and sitting up.  You are all over the house and it is past time for us to baby proof and put a gate up at the stairs.  You are quite the busy active baby...much like your biggest sister Ellie Kate was.  Throughout the day you are into everything unless I sit you in the high chair or we go on a walk in the stroller.  I have a feeling these monthly photo shoots are going to get harder and harder to keep you on your blanket:).

In fact just this past week, you decided to pull up in your crib.  I about had a heart attack when I came upstairs to get you and saw you about to catapult yourself over the side of your crib.  I screamed for Samuel to get my phone so I could take a picture and stood there beside you while we waited.  Silly girl...I think 6 months was a bit early for you to learn that skill.

Needless to say we lowered the crib that night!

You mostly wear 6 month clothes although you can still fit into some 3-6 month.  I think you might be my most petite baby:).  However, you do have some fat rolls on your legs that we love to squeeze. 

   This month you also decided to have a little bit of separation anxiety mostly when I try to put you down for a nap.  Even with that going on, you have finally worked yourself into a somewhat predictable schedule of having 4 bottles a day, 3 solid meals a day, and 2-3 naps a day.   Look at how much you've grown over these past 7 months...   We love you so much little girl!!!    Here are a few cute pics from a few days ago when I went in to get you up from a nap...                    

Back To School...

We are less than a week away from school starting back here.  This year, we have a later start date than we have in the past and I guess that's good.  Although, I will say that I am more than ready for a "normal" routine to resume even though I do hate homework and carpool:).

Our backpacks are picked out and ready.  Supplies are bought and packaged and ready to be taken up to the school tomorrow for meet and greet.  One reason we moved was to switch schools and we are a little nervous but also excited about this new chapter.  Samuel will be in 3rd grade and Ellie Kate is starting Kindergarten.  I'm a little emotional about it.  I just can't believe I have two school aged children.

Well, I saw an idea on a blog and of course I wanted to try it myself.  I love to do little happies for our teachers because they really do so much for the children.  So I got them a little gift for the kids to give out tomorrow.

Supplies: 

small glass jar (from Hobby Lobby and they were $1.99)

paper clips or something else fun teachers use (bag was $3.99 from office depot)

vinyl letter (from HL for $1.99)

ribbon to tie around just to make it cuter (so I guess this is optional) ($1.99 from HL)

gift tag (you can download mine at the end of the post)

So total cost was around $10 but at any given time a lot of the things purchased from HL are half off so it could potentially be a good bit cheaper if you plan in advance and buy the supplies when they are on sale. 

And since some of you may want to try this sometime, I am allowing you guys to copy and save the image I used for the tag on top of the jar.  Enjoy and let those teachers in your life know they are appreciated!!! 

Just Life

A few days ago we had a really mild day weather wise so I spent the late afternoon sitting on the  back porch watching the kids play.  I have to say it definitely made me excited for cooler weather (that probably won't be back around until October around here). 

Anna Mitchell also enjoyed watching her big sisters (with her dirty bib on no less)...

Could you not just eat this sweet baby up???  We pretty much do all day:).

Abigail had fun with the chalk and practicing some of her letters...

Ellie Kate practiced to be an olympian gymnast:)...

 

To say she is obsessed with gymnastics right now and doing cartwheels and handstands would be an understatement.  I guess I better sign her up for some classes or something.  We do need to work on pointing our toes though or she might never win gold:).  Seriously though, she has loved watching the olympic gymnastics.  We saw one part of the newscast where they did a spot on Gabby Douglass and how she had to move away and live with another family to do her training.  Ellie Kate looked at me and said in all seriousness with the sweetest little voice and look on her face you could ever imagine..."Mama, I'm really gonna miss you when I'm 16 and have to go live somewhere else."  I'm thinking she's probably not the only 5 year old dreaming of gold medals and gymnastics right now:). 

Missing in these photos is Samuel because he rarely stays around long enough for me to snap a picture.  A 9 year old is way too cool for that.  Riding his scooter around and playing on the construction site next door is wayyyy better than hanging with mom and 3 sisters:).

On Motherhood

If you are like me, you need all the encouragement you can get from this ministry called motherhood.  I love that facebook allows the spread of so many amazing blogs/articles related to motherhood.  There have been several lately that have been just what I needed to read and be reminded of as I journey along with my little ones.  Some convicting thoughts too.

Then there is of course the word of God which can just bring me to my knees as I read it through the filter of being a mom.  Here are some truths I read this morning that I need to memorize so that I can walk in them throughout the long days...

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone."  Colosssians 4:6

"For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake so that His life may be revealed in our mortal bodies."  2 Corinthians 4:11

"Therefore having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart..." 
2 Corinthians 4:1

And perhaps my most favorite and convicting quote from the articles I have recently read is this...

"The Everyday Question, however, asks not just about what I do but also about my attitude: 

Will I joyfully pour out my life as a fragrant offering before the Lord for the benefit of my children? Will I serve my children out of obligation and duty or will I serve like I'm serving God Himself? 

Will I die to myself so that I might live to God in the specific calling He has given me as a mom?

The Everyday Question must be answered everyday.

Because motherhood is not so much the big, dramatic acts of sacrifice, 

but the little, everyday, unseen ones"  Christine Hoover

If you need encouragement and truth as you mother your little arrows, I encourage you to read the following blog posts if you haven't already...

The Everyday Question

Motherhood is Victory

Dear Stay at Home Mom

11 Years

11 years  =

4 homes.  3 states.  4 children on earth and 1 in heaven.  8 countries visited together.  Joys.  Sorrows.  Laughter.  Tears.  Mountains.  Valleys & Lots of God's Grace!

I'm so thankful I got to marry Jeff 11 years ago.  Let's take a look back down memory lane...

 2001 Wedding Day

2002 on vacation in the smokey mountains

2003 on the front porch of our first home in Hattiesburg, MS

2004 on a Caribbean cruise

2005 our first Christmas as parents of our miracle boy Samuel

2006 Easter

2007 in Colorado...now with TWO miracle kiddos

2008 with 2 kiddos and another in the belly

2009 at the beach with THREE miracle kiddos

2010 at the beach again as a family enjoying the crazy!

2011 brings another baby (surprise!) in the belly

2012 our family is complete (we think) with FOUR miracle kiddos!

Well, there's a lot more wrinkles and pounds added on over these past 11 years.  Thankfully no gray hair yet that I can see:).  Seriously though, I don't think the girl up in that first picture could have imagined the girl in the last picture eleven years later.  God has truly taken us on an incredible journey so far where He has provided every step of the way through all the ups and downs.  I just wouldn't want to do life with anyone else by my side.  I look forward with hope to many more years, Lord willing, in this journey together!  The verse we had on the front of our wedding program seems fitting...

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."  Ephesians 3:20.