More projects and my first day!

Wesley's room is coming along nicely. He has curtains and now pictures up! The animal pictures were painted by my sister, Kelsey, to match the bedding - very talented!

The monkey picture looked center to me... not so sure now! lol

Over the weekend my mom and I went to our favorite fabric store, Cutting Corners, to get my curtain rod for the living room (she made my curtains for my birthday!). While we were there I found this fabric... love it! It's so fun and colorful. I'm contemplating decorating the guest room with this.

Here's the curtain rod up. Now all I need are those curtains! :)

Today was also my first day as a Faith Christian School teacher! Orientations/in-services are always a beating, and this one had it's moments, but it's just so nice being surrounded by Christians -- it definitely keeps my attitude in check (plus, they took us to Spring Creek BBQ)! It's also nice to have SO MUCH in common with the other teachers. When I was teaching in public school you tended to gravitate toward the people in your subject area and "shun" the rest as "not as important" or something (at least that's how I felt the core teachers treated us). I dunno, it was like high school all over again -- can you say cliques? Anyway, not the case here. I think I talked to most of the teachers and didn't feel strange sitting next to someone I didn't know. Everyone's so friendly and wants the same thing: to glorify God and truly make a difference in these kids' lives for Christ. I just can't wait to find out my classes, figure out my budget, and get to love on some kids! There is more to it than I thought though... I have to get ACSI certified which requires reading 4 books on Christian education and writing a 6-page paper. Um, whaaa? I can't remember the last time I had to write a paper. But, I suppose there's always something. The accountability I am going to have at this school -- the checks and balances in my Christian walk -- is going to be incredible and challenging and make any hoops I have to jump through worth it. I'm just so excited to see what God is going to do in me and through me this next year!

Treeeee

I finished Wesley's tree tonight! The room isn't done yet, but the tree was the hard part. Here's the tree after paint...

And then after leaves and vines!

The finished tree!

Projects, projects!

Since we moved into our home May 5th, I've taken it upon myself to add color and style to this bland, white, house. Although I have pretty much decided what to do with most of the house, I only have a small budget every month with which to accomplish this. So I must be strategic in my spending/planning. My first month's project was to paint the family/breakfast/kitchen area and add pulls to all the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms (pics in a previous post). Then I painted Wesley's room and bought new towels/bath mats for my bathroom (pics to follow...at some point). The past couple days I've done projects I've been putting off: Wesley's paper-mache tree and painting the front door.Wesley's tree -- my son's room was inspired by this picture:

I mean, it's kinda the coolest thing EVER. Of course, I do not have the budget needed to create such a room... nor do I have the space. BUT it is my inspiration non-the-less. Since I don't have the means to cut down trees or whittle large pieces of wood to look like trees, the next logical answer is chicken wire and paper mache. :) I bought 2 shades of brown paint to make it look like bark and I intend to add leaves and vine just like the above photo. Step one took an entire day (with an 8 month old things take 10x longer than they normally would). Here's the paper mache tree:

I know it might be hard to see my vision, but I think it'll look really cool. I plan to hang Wesley's letters from that branch over the crib... I'm so excited! Bamboo fencing, leaves, vines... I can't wait for it to all be done! Anyway, it's hard to get stuff done in the place your child sleeps... so it might take me a while to finish. I highly recommend finishing the nursery before the baby arrives for this very reason -- it's a little hard to avoid when you move though!

Anyway, on to the front door. Our house is a cute, red-brick house with cream trim -- so cute! BUT it was just "missing" something. I decided that something was a pop of color on the front door. Here is a pick of the house before:

And here's my painted door!

I think it adds just the right touch. What's next? Well, painting Wesley's tree and then the guest room -- gotta get ready for some visitors from Alaska! ;)

Happy 4th of July!

It is beyond a blessing for Matt and I to have a day off with NOTHING on the agenda - today was one of those rare days! Wesley decided to wake up at 4:30am, of course, so in I went to feed him and get him back to bed. But bed wasn't in the cards. He cried for another hour til Matt went in and got him and put him in his bouncer. Or at least that's what I assume... I slept in til 10! :) So, when I got up Mr. Wesley wanted some mommy cuddle time.

So after some playing and relaxing, a walk with mommy, daddy and Lincoln, and of course a nap, we got some hard core play time. I just ADORE his laugh!

Well, it's also the 4th, so we had to show Wesley something about it! We had a few sparklers left over from a wedding (I think Caitlin's?). Wesley was ready for bed and super tired so he was pretty out of it at this point...

After a long day, Wesley got his evening bath and bedtime routine and mommy did her P90x (did I mention I'm on week 2 now??)! Just a TAD sore... :)

Overall, what a great day! I am so thankful to God for his unending blessings. We are so blessed to live in a country that gives us our freedom to live our lives the way we please and worship the only true God. Happy Independence Day everyone!

Wesley is 8 Months Old!

Such a fun month! We now have 2 teeth, have started walking around with a walker toy, and are just SO much fun! What a lucky mommy I am! Here's the 8 month photo shoot. It was all I could do to get a smile without him scrunching his nose and eyes... that's his new thing! :)