Are you a Reader?

I've been reading THIS book for my bookclub, and I'm really liking it.  

I know that his method seems a bit too good to be true--"Kid on drugs, Read! He's off drugs.", "Low test scores, Read! High test scores!" "Bullied in class, Read! Friends in class", etc. etc.  You can find research to argue you point, either side of the line.  However, I think the foundation is true and I really do think reading--alone, outloud, in a classroom, to your kids--will solve a myriad of problems.  Or at least it can't hurt.

That being said, I decided to make some bookshelves for my kiddos.  We have books all. over. the. stinking. place.  I mean all over.  This is my attempt to try and wrangle the chaos and hopefully encourage the kiddos to read. I'm a read--an avid reader.  There have been too many nights to count that I have stayed up late reading, only to start again early the next morning to finish!  I'm a frequenter at our library and I'm always looking for more suggestions. My only hope is that it will rub off on the kiddos! 

I love how these turned out.  And they were free! (Bonus of being a wood scavenger!)

PS...to my teacher friends. I'm serious--get a copy of this book, and read it. I can only imagine it would help your classroom, at any age!

PPS--don't judge the lack of cuteness of this room. Katelyn likes to sleep with the boys, but doesn't want blue.  And I still haven't finished those darn comforters!  One day, this room will be Pinterest worthy! ;)

Bunk Beds

When we got word that this baby was to be BOY number 3, I decided that triple bunk beds were the thing to build.  I always seem to want to do some fun project when I'm pregnant, and this one is going to be great!

We found a smoking deal on KSL for oak 4X4's on a Saturday and Mike headed out to load up the truck with literally TONS of beams.  He has been working on the plans at work and this weekend the weather was nice enough for us to get started!

Here are our 'before' boards.  Pretty rough but sturdy.  We had some trouble getting the right saw blade for the band saw, but after some googling we fixed it (or rather, Mike fixed it; he is the best fixer at our house, ya know!)

We got all the posts rough cut and planed to their final size.  Four long and 4 short.  Today we are going to rip other boards down, in half, for the rails, headboards, and footboards.  I am SO EXCITED!

We have been trying to decide on stain for the beds.  I think we've ruled out dark because the natural wood is so pretty--now we just have to decide if we want to do just a poly or if we want some light color.

Finishing Up...

Mike tells me that this weekend we will FINALLY finish our cabinets in our kitchen.  This has me excited--and got me thinking about FINALLY finishing decorating said kitchen.  

I have a knock-off photoshop program that I use and LOVE called GIMP.  I spent some time yesterday learning how to make silhouettes from any picture...how cute are these!  They are going to go right next to my neat quote I had printed last year, right above my stove. I'm excited to look at these everyday!

    

    

  

So, the question is...what color? They are going on a cream/yellow wall and these are the colors of my kitchen. Frames will be java color, like my cabinets. What do you think?

Craft morning--

I finally got a project done this morning that I've wanted to make for years. I love how it turned out!  Can't wait to pull up all my kids stats from years past and fill in their heights.  So fun!  

My hope is to re-decorate my Family Room this year--it's going to have to be a slow and steady process, but I'm going for a vintage, warm, almost country-ish look.  Got one part of the puzzle completed today--yeah!

Bathroom Re-do

I spent one day last week painting bathrooms at my besties house.  We had a great time--I had to leave before the tape came off one of the bathrooms, and before everything got put back together so I can't wait to head her direction and check it out totally finished! Yeah for color!!

This got me thinking about MY bathroom--I think it needs a re-do too!  Bathrooms are not on the organization list until later in the year, but I'm thinking they should move up on the list and that the list should now include a little painting party! 

I'm also thinking stripes...what do you think?

My bathroom has this GREAT towel rack, I LOVE IT!  This will be staying--everything else can change.

The headboard, rugs, and shower curtain (which, btw, since the time of this pictures has been ironed, as well as goobered up by baby hands) are that sort of green-blue color that big this year.  The other decor I have, which I really don't love, is black and some chocolate brown.  So, what color would YOU do stripes? 

I like these ones in the gray/blue family...

But, I also love brown with my whole soul...

And then, everytime I look I see something totally out of left field that might be fun--but might be just crazy?!  Yellow?

Once I finally decide on a color, now I have to decide on direction, and on how many, how thick, design, etc.  Whew!

Obviously not green, but up and down stripes?  I did this in my guest room in our Houston house and LOVED it, but maybe the bathroom is too small? And too short of ceilings?

Or like this? Neat!

Or this?

Oh man! Decisions!! Send me your thoughts!!  Anybody want to come and play painter? :)

Last Month in Pictures...

So, I'm a slacker.  Enjoy the latest update--with minor words and major pictures!! :)

Halloween...it was 'Incredible!'

Applesaucing...always a joy.  This is only half the apples.  A LOT of work!!

Fall came...and went!

Katelyn found scissors...before-

 After: (way cuter after!!)

 He sits!!

\

 We love Trains!

 Winter came, and stayed...

 

We had a birthday party for a really old lady. It was really great!

We projected....

 Before:

 After:

We played. (and slobbered)

We dated.