Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Painting the Kitchen Cabinets

Since my sister was on a vacation last week, I didn't watch my nieces or nephew. I decided to take advantage of having "only" four kids and paint the kitchen cabinets. I had wanted to for a while, and this seemed like the best opportunity. It took more hours than I would care to count or remember, but I'm pretty pleased with the end result. We also bought knobs and drawer pulls. For less than $200 in paint and supplies, I feel like I got a new kitchen!

I had already taken down some of the cabinet doors when I remembered to take a "before" shot, so that's why it's only half the kitchen.

I washed all of the cabinets with TSP substitute before removing the doors. Once they were taken out to the garage, I sanded them down (thanks to my dad for lending his sander and big work lights).

Next I painted on a primer. It dried fast enough that I was able to do the front and back sides of the cabinet doors on the same day.

Then came many days of painting. I wanted to give each coat of paint plenty time to dry, so I only painted one side per day.

I also had to prime and paint the cabinet bases in the kitchen, so it looked like this for a week. Yuck! Finally, I finished it off with a clear coat to help seal and protect the paint.

This is my "after" photo. Jason still has to install the drawer pulls, but other than that it's finished.

It was a really big project. It took up every moment of free time I had for week (and required me to stay up working until 1:00am several days). So, I'm not sure I'll be tackling another painting project anytime soon. Although I'd really like to paint our master bathroom... :-) 

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw was in concert last night at Klipsch Music Center, and Katie and I were able to go! Neither of us were interested in the opening acts, so we met for dinner at Puccini's (always yummy) and walked into the concert right as Tim did (I think he waited for us to arrive).

I hate traffic on the north side!

Me and Katie (a little blurry)

This was the very end of the concert after the encore. So fun!

Chloe's Party

We visited The Art of Kira Studios in Franklin a few months ago for a homeschool art class. The girls all loved it! When we found out that Kira does birthday parties, Chloe really liked the idea for her birthday. So, yesterday morning we had an art party in our kitchen! It was probably one of my favorite birthday parties we've done.

This was the very beginning of the art project. Kira was great! She walked them through step-by-step.

Their finished products (the inspiration was Monet's Water Lilies).

While the paintings dried in the kitchen, the girls had a picnic style lunch in the living room. I went super simple: they had pb&j, Cheetos, apple slices, carrots and celery (plus cupcakes and brownies).

Chloe's 12th Birthday

Jason took the day off work for Chloe's birthday. She picked waffles for breakfast, so I pulled out the iron and made those this morning. We bought her a couple small gifts which she opened today, but she is getting a new bicycle and a party this weekend. We headed down to Columbus today (the other option was Connor Prairie, but the weather was questionable for being outside). We let the kids play at the indoor playground at The Commons, ate lunch at McDonald's, went to kidscommons for more play time, and wrapped the day up with dinner at Culver's with Mamaw and Papaw ($1 butterburgers!!). It was a fun day, and I hope Chloe felt special. She is a wonderful daughter. I am so proud of the girl that she is, and the young woman she is becoming. I pray that her love for the Lord always grows and that the foundation of faith we are helping to build will be firm. We are so thankful for the blessing of her life!

Her last night as an eleven-year-old.

This was the sweet card Sophie made for Chloe.

I can't believe my baby is twelve!

I'm so glad they're friends!

Part of the indoor playground at The Commons in Columbus, IN. Fun and free!

Sophie on the giant toilet slide in kidscommons

Chloe's turn

They did a science experiment testing out Newton's Third Law of Motion (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). Basically they got to make rockets out of straws, clay and kool-aid bottles then launch them.

Charlotte tested out her rocket.

There is an area to create artwork, and Charlotte colored a few pictures.

Henry colored too. Quite a bit of marker ended up on his hands... And the table. But some of it made it to the paper!

Chloe made a picture by melting crayons on a hot plate. I tried it out too. It was pretty neat!

Sophie also created a masterpiece.

Chloe opened half of her gifts from Mamaw and Papaw tonight. The rest she gets to open at the family birthday party (Chloe, Jason and Tom have May birthdays). She got a doodle book, a bathrobe, a Lego storage container, and a Godiva chocolate bar. Thanks Mamaw and Papaw!

Day Five of Vacation

Henry woke up pretty early yesterday and the girls had been in the sun quite a bit this week, so in the morning we hung out in the condo and watched Wreck It Ralph (cute movie). After lunch, I put Henry down for a nap (and read a book - delightful!) while Jason took the girls to the beach. Once Henry was awake we all went to the pool for a while. In the evening we headed over to Pier Park to let the kids enjoy the midway. They all rode the carousel, and the girls (plus Jay) rode the Ferris wheel and the tilt-a-whirl. We also ate ice cream, freshly made donuts and Cinnabon. It was a bit of a sugar overload, but we all shared. Once back at the condo, I put Henry to bed and we tackled a puzzle. The girls gave up, but Jay and I persisted until it was finished!

Chloe and Sophie

Jason and Charlotte

Chloe and Sophie

Mmmm... Good!

What a sticky mess!

Sleepy boy (and me)

It's so beautiful!

Puzzle time!

We did it!