Tea Party with Cutesy and Grandad!

My mom got the cutest dishes from IKea for a tea party. She's had them for a few months, and all it took was letting the girls get a glimpse of them, and suddenly a tea party was in the works. Mom and Marianne and Bekah went to Walmart and picked up delicious sweets like animal cookies, sherbet, mangoes and strawberries, whipped cream and mini Reese's cups. And of course there was orange juice and Gatorade for the tea cups. It was the most adorable table I've ever seen. 

Gymnastics

We were able to visit Amy a few weeks ago at the tail end of our spring break. The first morning I took the kids plus Mikey (the rest of her kids were in school), to a fun play-class at the gymnastic-place. It was supposed to be for kids under five, but the employee said we could play if the big kids didn't trample the little kids. We agreed.

It was really fun to see the kids tumbling, doing flips into the block pit, hanging like monkeys from the rings, and belly flopping onto the vault-thing.

Here's some pics:

Wood shop Friends Strike Again!

My dear friend Kristine texted me a few months ago..."Ready for another woodshop project! I need a coffee table!" I looked up some pictures of tables and found one that was simply beautiful. She agreed with my opinion, and soon she, I, and Taffy were at Lowes, picking up wood. Marianne was able to practice her routine on the parallel bars while we loaded the cart with 2x6's and 1x3's.

This is a view of the table top, made of 2x6's. It is 38" square. It's assembled with pocket holes and screws.

Taffy jumped ahead and finished her table before the rest of us. She picked a beautiful blue color. The turned parts of her legs share the same origin of my own legs. She found a coffee table at a thrift store that was octagonal and had eight legs. We cut that table up, and used the turned parts as the middle portions of our own legs. 

Here we are putting together Kristine's table. If only we had realized at this point that the leg closest to both of them was attached upside down. Don't worry, we figured that out...Later. Kristine's legs came from Osborne woods. She ordered them online, and they came very quickly and were stunning. See how beautifully they stained? She put one coat of the stain on them and then finished with two coats of a satin polyurethane. So pretty!!

The finished product! In the official, as Taffy puts it, "finished project picture place." She was understandably proud of the finished piece and I know for certain that everyone from church to yoga practice saw pictures of it!

The next week we put my table together. By this time, we were very good at assembly, and it only took us about an hour. So we spent our saved time sitting on it and chatting. So fun, the stories that come about in the woodshop!

Ah, a little out of order, here is the center part of the coffee table leg that Taffy and I used to build up our own legs. This piece is only about 8" in length.

Taffy and I both added 4x4" pieces to either end of the turned piece. She liked hers there, but I wanted a little more width and detail, so I then wrapped my 4x4 pieces with molding. My dad helped me get going on that part. Making these legs was the hardest part of my table, or rather the most time intensive. I picked out marigold chalk paint for my table to add some color to my living room. This picture is taken after only the first coat. I wound up doing three coats, just to get the middle to be the same color as the ends.

I decided, at the eleventh hour, to stencil my bottom shelf. I used stencil material in my Silhouette, cut out the desired pattern, and then rolled the brown paint on with a foam roller brush. After I took this picture I sanded it down quite a bit...although I don't know that you can tell, even in the finished product.

I tried finishing my piece with soft wax. It was very easy to work with, but felt sticky for quite a while. I tried then putting on bronze wax, but the bronze color was too translucent and I don't think you can even tell. So then I got some really old antiquing gel out of my paint box and brushed it in the crevices. The leg on the left has antiquing gel, the one on the right has wax but no gel.

Once the table was assembled, I waxed the whole piece and then applied more antiquing gel. Then I finished it all with two coats of a satin clear coat. And then I took a picture of it in the "finished product place."

Then the boys helped me carry it inside where it was instantly put to good use.

And even vandalized by my husband's shoes.

I'm sure there will be more projects to come. I love each and every one! Long live the Woodshop!

A few more pictures from the Zoo

Sweet cousins. Love Sarah's elephant pants.

I was very happy with how the tiger face turned out. Pretty girl.

Marianne of course hung out with the boys the whole time. She's just one of the boys!

Beau and Mikey, wild crazy loud boys.

Looking at the giraffes...Now turn and look at me! CLICK!

The zoo baby takin shares a name with Beau!

We were actually all in this same spot years ago when the baby rhino Chomper was introduced to the public.

Don't feed the tigers, Grandpa!

On the playground.

Amy visits NM

Amy and Mike brought their kids to New Mexico for a cheap adventurous spring break. They also brought our other sister Amanda's daughter Madison along so she could enjoy some girl cousin time. Madison and Sarah were super sweet to Marianne. Madison brought her this super cute shrug, and Sarah picked out her clothes. 

Amy is expecting her fifth baby this June. She's torturing us all by not finding out the sex. We decided to tackle an easy sewing project and made these booties for the baby. It was simple enough, but then Luke and Mikey and Jacob all wanted booties in their size. And not just slippers, but booties just like these but bigger. It took a little pattern enlarging and tweaking, but eventually Luke had a wearable pair of super soft slippers. I didn't finish Mikey's while he was here, a fact that he reminded me of daily.

I think I've mentioned how Marianne idolizes Joshua and Luke. She adores them, loves them, wraps them around her little finger. Here is Joshua showing Marianne his Clash of Clans game.

They were all lucky enough to be here for St. Patrick's day. We ate lots of green food and had a wonderful feast of corned beef and cabbage and soda bread and mint brownies.

All the girls stayed with me that night while the boys went to Los Lunas. We rented "Annie," which was fantastic, stayed up late, ate popcorn, had a dance party, and sang all of our favorite Annie songs several times over. Thankfully they were just as kind in the morning and they all slept in, even Marianne.

In the morning we met up with everyone at the zoo. Before we left, I told the girls I'd paint their faces like animals. Bekah picked a tiger, and Madison and Sarah were butterflies/fairies. Marianne was a lion. I almost felt bad later when Bekah related to me that a little girl and her mother had seen their painted faces and the mom had promised that she'd let her daughter get her face painted too. Maybe I should set up shop at the zoo!

It was a slightly cloudy day that eventually gave way to a drizzle, but it was not cold, and the animals were entertaining enough.

Amy and Mike, both carrying some weight...

By this point - the train ride back to our vehicles - each and every one of the kids was fed up with picture taking. So I tricked them into this one. I said just stand in a line, youngest to oldest. No pictures. And then I took their picture anyway. That's why Sarah and Bekah are looking so betrayed.

After this picture was taken, Joshua said he'd like to run on the trail back to the zoo instead of taking the train. I said I'd accompany him, because I was in running shoes, and despite being in jeans. We had a lovely run, not much more than a mile, beat the train, and wound up running around to the front of the zoo because we couldn't get in the same way as the train. Joshua was very nice to me and didn't run too fast.

Piedra Lisa Trail with the Ludingtons

A few weeks ago we took some time to go on a hike on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Carla, Doug and their kids came with us, along with two other excellent hiker boys that we picked up to come along and motivate our own children to hike well. We had intended to hike a different trail, but because of a series of events that delayed our departure (including a few minutes to dance on the sidewalk to Maroon 5's "Sugar" while waiting for the boys), we wound up taking a closer trail. Piedra Lisa trail is just a fifteen minutes away from our house, and while it was a little steep, it was a beautiful hike.

 I stayed at the rear with Carla and the slower kids. Rus and Doug were somewhere in the middle with the bulk of the kids, and the older kids were who-knows how far ahead of all of us. We enjoyed critical glances from passing hikers at the brood of eleven children that we were herding up the mountain. It was really fun to just enjoy a leisurely hike with the slower kids while visiting with Carla. She is a wise, wonderful friend and mother.

 I can't believe how stunning the colors are in this picture. It really was a beautiful day! A sad side note: As we were hiking the trail, in fact the whole time we were hiking the trail, a search and rescue helicopter seemed to be hovering and circling the top of the mountain. I learned a few days later that while we were enjoying our hike far below, a 17-year-old girl had stepped over the railing at a trail on the peak of the mountain (to get a better view), slipped on an icy patch, and fallen to her death. So sad.

 Marianne was a walking fashion statement on our hike. Bear shirt, leggings, and fluffy skirt with hiking shoes. Rus made me stop and get a picture of him and her, saying, "she's just too cute."

 And she kissed him...

I'm so grateful for my family and for beautiful places!

Trip to Mesa

When I mentioned to Rus that I wanted to go to Mesa for the weekend of my mom's birthday, cousin's wedding, and sister in law's baby shower, he quickly and endearingly suggested that I go alone, without the kids. I was happy to oblige, and after arranging babysitting for Wednesday (he had Friday off work already, and took Thursday off as well), packing my bags, and finding food that he could feed the kids, I was off! I went with my parents, which made the whole trip infinitely more satisfactory.

Here's a view from the truck near Pie Town, NM.

We did lots of fun things in Mesa! We stayed with Tyler and Gina. I woke up at 5am to run with Tyler before he went to work, that's how much I love him. Gina, my mom and I went to the nail salon later that day and had our toes painted. Gina is due in less than a month with her first baby - a boy! I couldn't be happier for her and Tyler!
The next day we made the trip to Ikea because we love it so much. Grandma went with us, and Dad was seduced by the incredible comfort and low price of this chair. I love that he is framed in a halo of light, with the price clearly displayed above him.

On Saturday, my Mom's birthday, we went to a few flea markets to find beautiful old rusty metal parts. We have big plans for old rusty metal parts. The first place was a bust, although they had the most delicious freshly baked cinnamon rolls. The second place was a gold mine. Why, oh why am I so easily seduced by old, used, worn things?

Proof of my part in the trip - waiting for dad to bring the truck around...

Also on my mom's birthday, we went to my cousin's wedding reception. "Reception" is stretching it a bit...It was more accurately a beautiful, casual park day with delicious catered tacos and addictive oreo-cream-filled cupcakes. Oh and there were lots of family members there as well. Here I am with my uncle Casey. My dad lost his 'stache and Casey found his.

Here is the happy couple: Ty and Alisa. Alisa actually served her mission in Arizona! She is from Canada. Several people from her mission were able to come to the "reception." Very cool.

My stunning mom and grandma! I love these ladies!

Gina went to her baby shower outside Tucson earlier in the day, that's why she's looking so cute in this pic. Sarah is going to be a big sister again later this summer - my sister Amy is expecting!

See? My dad, clean shaven, and my uncle Casey with his mustache. Oh how facial hair makes life interesting. It's a nice variation from talking about the weather (which was beautiful by the way).

My sister Amanda asked me to take some pictures of her kids. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to take this picture of the kids not being goofy. Notice how the arms are blurry? It's because they were always moving! Left to right - Madison, Hayden, Taylor, and Preston. Taylor is graduating high school this year! He is to-the-day 15 years older than Marianne - they share a birthday!

Grandma made my mom an amazingly scrumptious coconut cake. It was so good I didn't even have a chance to take a picture of it before Tyler ate it all and then licked the plate...Well maybe he had some help...

It was a WONDERFUL trip! And coming home was great too. Bekah cleaned the house and made me a cake while Rus and the other kids came to meet me so my parents wouldn't have to drive all the way up to my house. All the kids were delighted to have me back because I brought them each clip on lamps from Ikea. Rus made burgers, I slept in my own bed, and all was well.