Upcycled Picture Frame

One of my never ending projects got finished today... my upcycled picture frame.

I have 3 old picture frames that I planned to upcycle into crafty pieces of awesomeness.... they have been sitting, taken apart and half done for about 3 months now. I have been sick for a few days and today I started feeling better- not well enough to fold laundry or wash dishes but well enough to spray paint and finish one of my three upcycled picture frames.

So- here is the upcycled picture frame... turned kitchen chalkboard...


I have no before pictures... this was a large wooden picture frame that I picked up from Walgreens ages ago- it was the kind with the white inserts and you can put like 8 pictures inside it for a collage frame. I took it apart and spray painted the frame blue.
I spray painted the glass with chalkboard paint by Valspar.
Put it all back together and tada....



Don't ask me why this simple project has taken me so long- seems like the simplest projects are the ones that get drawn out the longest.

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

HOMESCHOOL & RAINY DAY GAMES

My children are some outdoor loving fools! Today is a rainy day in the sunshine state. Lucky for me, Sophia had some schoolwork to keep her busy, we had to change our schedule because of co-op, so we are having "school time" on Monday, Thursday, and Friday mornings now. Troy participates somewhat during "school time".
He usually does the "welcome" part of school. During this time we sing songs about the days of the week, months of the year, remembering our address, and some quick alphabet/shape/number/color recognition games.
Then he is off to watch Spider-Man cartoons while Sophia and I do reading, math, and history or science.
Then Troy joins us again for art. (Today they could pick from a variety of art supplies and make a picture of their favorite thing to do.) Sophia used every medium offered and made a picture of herself playing with her dog, Jazzy-Bell. Troy used a white sheet of paper and a black marker, made a few scribbles and a long line. After they are done we sit on the couch and I let them take turns telling about their art. Sophia went into an elaborate story about how she loves playing with her dog, and how she is "the best dog in the whole wide world". And Troy stood up, held up his picture, and said, "I like poking spiders with sticks".
They had some computer time, navigating www.pbskids.org (which I love).
Then it was the "end of school" song and off they went to play in their rooms.
I wasted some time on the computer, my sister came over and we played on the Wii, then time to make lunch.
After lunch the kids normally go outside and they were pretty discouraged to see that rain falling from the sky. So I got out the animal flash cards and we played "zoo keeper". I hold up a card and they pretend to be that animal while I read facts about the animal they are pretending to be...
We talked about the anteaters very long spiny tongue that they use get down in the ant tunnels,to eat ants. (Sophia and Troy stuck out their tongues and crawled around on the living room floor.)
We talked about the giraffes being the tallest animal, the babies are 6 feet tall when they are born, we measured it out with a tape measure. We talked about how they have to spread their front legs wide just to put their heads down to eat the grass. (They crawled and made themselves appear as tall as possible).
Howler Monkeys... wonder what the neighbors thought we I read that the howler monkeys howl can be heard up to three miles away?
Fun Times!!!
Then of course- we had to play "momma bear" -I crawl around with them pretending to be their momma bear, we go from the cave (Troy's bed) to the meadow (the living room) and my baby bears are quite mischievous, seems I can't get away without playing that with them. They love it!
Well- it is nap time now. So I need to take advantage of this time, get a shower and great ready to take Troy to karate this evening. *More on that later, but he is pretty excited to be going to karate.

just because it comes apart doesn't mean it's ruined.

Oh the things you can learn from watching Curious George....

Weekend Project

I scooped up a great find on a local Facebook group for moms and their kids. It is a group created by a friend of mine, for local moms to buy and sell new or used stuff. I have had awesome success selling within the group, last week I made $75 selling things that were just laying around my house collecting dust. This week also made my first two purchases from the website, one of those things was a metal swing set for $25.
I saw it listed and thought for that price it would be the perfect toy to put out on the farm for all the kids to play with. It had some rust but like my dad called it, "surface rust".
This is what it looked like when we picked it up. I just bought the metal swing set, not the wooden one.

We got it to the farm and my dad gave me some tips and he had to get to work. I started sanding right away and used three cans of Rustoleum spray paint. We got all new hardware for it and now...

Here is a great picture to show the difference of the painted side and the sanded side... whoa baby!

Well- I'm exhausted! Good Night!!

Upcycled Batman shirt.

Yes, that is his forced smile, "cheese" face... terrible isn't it?

But the Batman shirt I made him is pretty nifty! and he liked it enough that he posed for a picture. :) I made this from an old, stained Thomas the Train shirt we had laying around. Bought a plain navy shirt from Target on Clearance for $2.70, a few stitches and ta-da! An AWESOME UPCYCLED BATMAN SHIRT FOR MY LITTLE SUPER HERO!

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Great devotional book for little girls...

God's Little Princess Devotional Bible is a great devotional book for little girls!

We got Sophia this book for Christmas and started reading it just after the New Year. This has become something that she looks forward to every night before bed. It has required some discipline on my part as I have had to plan time to read this too her. Nights are so busy and sometimes all I went to do is tuck them in so I can have some peace and get started on the umpteen-billion other things on my list of to do before I can go to bed, but seeing that sweet face remind me, "We have to read my Bible" is something I just cannot resist! I am so glad that she likes it and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good devotional book for their daughter. Also, the front cover has "real fake diamonds" and sparkles, it's glittery and everything girlie!

So- how did we hear about this book? My sister in law sent Sophia a DVD set for her 5th birthday it was called, "Gigi God's little Princess." It reminds me a lot of the Fancy Nancy series but with a great gospel message. :) Sophia loves the DVDs and they are a Bible lesson in themselves. Here is a clip from one of the DVDs, we don't have this one but they are all excellent!



So we soon discovered in the craze of Gigi.. that there were storybooks, Bibles, and devotional books all centered around the Gigi theme -

Girls long to be loved and adored, and give their heart to their hero. God is that hero! The characteristics focused on in this Bible storybook will help your little girl blossom into the princess she was created to be. Virtues to create beauty such as compassion, sharing, and truth are highlighted in fun and engaging ways. The perfect format for girls to learn about their destiny as a daughter of their King.

Also- for those of you with boys. They do make a series for boys called "Will, God's Mighty Warrior". I cannot wait until Troy is old enough for these. I would love to get him some DVDs but I have not seen them anywhere... just story books, bibles, and devotional books.. please let me know if you find the movies anywhere. :)

back from the doctor... (Neurology Appointment Today)

We just got back from Sophia's neurology appointment. Looks like we will not be weaning off of her medicines. I'm kind of relieved and sort of disappointed. I was hopeful that we could begin weaning and she wouldn't have to take medicines for a while, but I was also nervous that if we did wean her again it would open the doors for seizures to occur. She has been doing fabulous on her current medication so all in all I'm glad we get to stay the course.
I always wonder if the seizures will stop or continue once she is off medicines. I guess that is why they wean them every so often so see how they will respond. We did talk about her "diagnosis" which I was glad he was so willing talk about with me because the other neurologist kinda' beat around the bush and seemed reluctant to categorize Sophia. I just need a reason... give me something to call it so when people ask why she has seizures and why she walks on her tippy toes I don't have to say, "well, they think she has cerebral palsy" it just sounds so ignorant. Either you do or you don't right?
She does have cerebral palsy, which is why she has seizures, they are like secondary to the cerebral palsy. The new doctor seems like a tell it like it is kind of guy. He told us some things to be concerned with for the future and how he was impressed with her abilities given her history. He encouraged me that I was doing a good job, keeping her on a sleep schedule, healthy diet, and keeping her involved in activities like dance, cheerleading, and gymnastics, which all aid in coordination and muscle development. He did NOT refer us to a physical therapist but said to stay the course, keeping her involved in activities and continue to do exercises with her at home.
He said it was not necessary to do EEGs every three months because the results have been the same for the last 3 years and that was silly. No more MRIs every 6-9 months either, he said it was just putting her through added tests when the MRI results were the same since she was 2 1/2. I am relieved that we don't have to do any more unnecessary tests but the hope that they would reveal that everything was normal and everything is fine was kinda taken away.
It's always an awakening experience, every time I take her for these visits. I'm so glad Sophia is thriving, I just always pray for a miracle that we won't have to fight with insurance, worry about pills, seizures, and side-effects, I wish that seizures didn't exist, that cerebral palsy could be cured by magic juice!
I struggle with feeling sad and thankful.. I feel humbled and humiliated... we are so blessed so why do I feel sad? I feel spoiled and embarrassed... I have my daughter, she runs, jumps, talks and plays.. I shouldn't be sad about this- but the fear for what her future hold grips me sometimes. So- I'll be faithful and find strength in God's grace that He is in control and that He will provide for all of our needs.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Dueteronomy 31:6

I'm really not trying to be a downer or ungrateful.. just sharing my real feelings because isn't that why I write this? It's not always about our fun adventures, cute quotes, and adorable faces... this is real life and like our preacher said in a sermon a few weeks ago "Sometimes life stinks, but we can always find joy in knowing we have a faithful God who is always there when we need Him" Preach it Preacher! :)

Mission: Rescue Tracker

A few weeks ago my cousin and I met up for some Chick Fil A with the kids. Sophia and Troy loaded into the car with their handfuls of toys.
My children feel it is necessary to bring Barbies, action figures, Littlest Pet Shop babies, rocks, magnets, anything they can find on their way to the car. After multiple requests not to bring toys in the car, I have finally decided this is a battle I do not want to fight... so we have an understanding whatever they bring in the car they are responsible for. If it gets lost or broken it will not be replaced. Their toys are safe at home and if they get leave them in a store... oh well. Also, if they bring toys to a place where other children will be, they have to be prepared to share them.
On this trip Sophia brought her favorite beanie baby "Tracker". "Tracker" was one of the many beanie babies my sister and I acquired when we were little. My mom kept them all in a plastic bin and she has given some to Sophia, they are her favorite toys! "Tracker" went with Sophia to play in Chick Fil A, he joined us during lunch, and then he joined us on an errand to the post office, and when we went into JoAnn Fabrics. I warned Sophia that she should leave "Tracker" in the car... she didn't. And- the inevitable happened, "Tracker" got lost. We were loading back in the car and "Tracker" wasn't with us. I closed the door to the van and got in the driver seat, I knew this was going to happen...
Sophia was crying, I had to stick to my guns about this... I always warned them that they should they loose a toy it would NOT be replaced, I would not go searching for a lost toy...
"Sophia I am sorry but that is why I tell you not to bring your toys in the stores, I hope you have learned your lesson, but Mommy is not going to search through the store for your toy, we will call them later to see if someone turned him in."
She cried the whole way home. I felt that lump in my throat, I knew she loved "Tracker" because he belonged to me and my sister when we were young. Oh of all the things she could have lost! I called the store when we got home and they said it had not been found.
That night Tony and I went on a date. After dinner we decided we would go back to the fabric shop to see if we could rescue "Tracker"... we searched and searched... I am sure we were quite the sight, all dressed up, searching around the store, while I described to Tony which toy is was, "a small hound dog, sad eyes, brown and white spots, the TY paper tag has been ripped off, but it still has the red plastic in his ear..."
I asked a few employees if anyone had turned it in, they said no. Then just as we were giving up, one of the employees walked up, "Is this it?"
YES!!! She had found "Tracker"
We got home that night and we gave Sophia the missing pup, she was so excited! Mission Accomplished! "Tracker" is safe in Sophia's room... and he has stayed there ever since. :) Lesson learned, for now...
Isn't he the cutest?

Medical Update for Sophia

We are going Tuesday next week for our first "official" visit with the new neurologist. I say, official visit, because we did go to him for the meet and greet but we haven't been yet for an actual visit. I do know that he wants to refer her to a physical therapist for her tippy toe walking, I'm not sure what he will say as far as medication is concerned but she has been doing really well. We got the report from the other neurologist and the new doc is going to review everything and we will meet with him Tuesday.
Praying it goes well...
It always makes me nervous switching to a new doctor...

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."

strawberry pickin'

Today the kids and I went over to a local farm to pick some strawberries. We hadn't been since last spring; a playgroup that we are a part of posted it on their website and it was a great reminder of this local treasure.



The strawberries are so sweet and the atmosphere is so "hometown" I love it... the strawberries are soo sweet and soo big! Sophia's little hand...



I think they should have weighed Troy before and after we came from the fields.



Sophia is just as sweet as the strawberries she was picking...



We ended up picking just under 9lbs



We then spent some time playing on the play set at the farm as well as the zip line, which was the kids favorite!! I want to build one on my parents farm.. haha! We are home for a nap and some laundry, then who knows what the rest of the day will hold; I'm sure we will make it an adventure.

"Loving Jesus"

OK- Moms- I found this awesome poem called "Loving Jesus" as we spend our day cleaning up messes, teaching, loving, guiding, nurturing our children... may we not forget that we are serving our Lord. God Bless and Happy Monday! So glad I found this this morning as I was searching for some encouraging words to get through this week.. Thank you Lord.

If my printer was working I would have stuck this on my fridge this morning! :)

I started my day early,
Before the room was light.
I lifted my son from his crib
And wished it was still night.
But as I held him close and said,
"Hi, Kenneth, precious one,"
I knew that as I greeted him,
I greeted too God's Son.

When my daughter woke up later,
Calling, "Mommy! Mommy! Down!"
I picked her up and hugged her
In her worn Elmo nightgown.
I know she felt the closeness
That a mother's touch affords.
I welcomed not just Ellie,
But so, too, the Lord of Lords.

That day, I mixed some formula
And opened jars of peas.
I fixed some "pizza butter" bread
When she grinned and said, "Pleeeeease."
I heated up some leftovers;
I had to nuke them twice.
And when I fed my children,
I was feeding Jesus Christ.

I made some funny faces,
And "played puzzles" on the floor.
I dressed kitties, ran around outside,
And played with them some more.
We laughed and jumped and tickled,
Making memories to be stored.
When I spent time with my children,
I spent time with my Lord.

I wiped up sticky cereal
And washed the dishes clean.
I straightened, picked up, put away,
And dusted in between.
I did six loads of laundry
And folded it like new.
When I cleaned for my children,
I cleaned for my Savior, too.

When my children were both crying,
I held them in my arms.
I cuddled them and whispered
That I'd keep them safe from harm.
I told them how their Father saved them
With His perfect Lamb.
When I comforted my children,
I comforted I AM.

Later on that evening,
I put them in the bath.
I washed their little bodies
As they kicked around and splashed.
I dried them in soft towels
And put their jammies on.
When I had washed my children's feet,
I'd washed the Holy One.

I cooked and cleaned and rearranged,
Made beds and taught and played.
I made sure that we had food to eat
And that we often prayed.
I died to self. I made a home
From ordinary things.
But when I served my children,
I served the King of Kings.

To some, I have done nothing,
But to two, I've done the world.
I made eternal difference
To my precious boy and girl,
And to the One who watches over
Every pathway that I've trod.
For when I've loved my precious children,
I've loved Almighty God.