THIS BLOG HAS MOVED

You can find me at:
http://www.fourlittlemunchkins.blogspot.com/

Now You See It...

OR MY VENTURE INTO PHOTO EDITING

There haven't been any new projects lately, but in an effort to be a more consistent blogger, I will share with you what I've been up to. I've been trying my hand at photo editing (very time consuming, detailed photo editing). I took some pictures of my children recently that had the potential to be something special. I started with this...



I thought to myself, "Such a handsome little man can't be seen in such a low quality photo." So I tweaked it (and by "tweaked it" I mean painstakingly removed any distraction from the main focus pixel by pixel) and ended with this...



The next photo started like this...



And the results (better this time I think)...



Can you spot what's missing in the after photos?

If there is photo editing software that does this in a jiffy, don't tell me (I'm pretty sure there is) because I'm feeling like I may have a future in the Sunday paper's "What's Different About These Two Photos" section.

Here's wishing you a special moment preserved forever.

A Quick Update

OR CHANGE IS A-COMIN

Hello friends. I'd like to give a quick heads up that there are going to be some changes to this blog soon. I love the projects I've been doing and connecting with others online who are also doing them. But I was reminded recently that I also love writing and I haven't been doing much of that lately. It seemed too personal considering the traffic crossing my blog now may or may not even know me. So... we're breaking up. (It's not you, it's me. Can we still be friends?) I'm creating a second blog where my thoughts on life and motherhood will sit, and this will continue on with project updates and furniture makeovers. The next time you visit, this little spot in the blogosphere will be different. And change is good, or at least that's what I'm told.

Here's wishing you a good reminder.

How Easy Was That!

OR MOD PODGE, OH THE WONDERS

As you can tell from my recent posts, I'm experimenting and learning all kinds of new stuff when it comes to making things and, better said, re-making things. My latest project was a very tiny chest of drawers for the girls. They are at that age where they like to find something and hide it. Their "treasures" turn up in the most unexpected places. (My toothbrush could be anywhere at any given moment.) So they needed somewhere to put all their treasures.

I found this unfinished set (on sale... yay!).



Then I ventured into the world of Mod Podge. It's so easy to use it's ridiculous. I used a little scrapbooking paper and before I could say "Where's my toothbrush?" I had this...







I'll be so interested to see what turns up inside these drawers.

Here's wishing you something quick and easy.

Sweet and Simple

OR THE ROCKING CHAIR MAKEOVER

I'm on a streak of refinishing garage sale treasures, so why quit now right? It was my daughters' turn last weekend, so this little rocking chair came home with us...




Complete with graffiti...



So I gave it a little love. After refinishing it, I decided to sew a chair cushion for it. I have to be honest, I wasn't sure I had the skills and am more than a little surprised the seat cushion turned out. So happy it did...



I added these little scrappy little ties to the back. So sweet.



More makeovers and an update on doll making coming soon.

Here's wishing you a good streak.

The Missing Piece

OR THE CHAIR MAKEOVER

Remember that desk I made for my son's room? Well, you can't have a desk without a chair. It's like bologna without cheese, like shoes without socks, like Chachi without Joannie... you with me? So I headed to the garage sales again and found one I liked. I painted to match and reupholstered with some leftover fabric from the bookcase project and wa la! The finished product...



What a pair..


Then I decided my little picasso needed somewhere to hang all those masterpieces. So I screwed some clothespins to a couple yard sticks (an idea from Ana White's site) and he had his own little display wall.


My son is a happy kid, and even better, a quiet kid creating things in his room. And that alone made it all worth it.

Wishing you a few moments of quiet to your day.

A New Hobby

OR MY DAUGHTER'S NEW FRIEND

My free time disappeared for a while there so it's felt great to be fiddling around with something new. I've been slightly obsessed with a new project lately. I was inspired by the makers of some handmade dolls that are adorable and perfect for my girls, but were expensive. So the old saying is true... necessity is the mother of invention after all. I gathered my sewing supplies and decided to give it a go myself. After a firestorm of thread and material this little girl emerged...



I made a bunch of mistakes (I think her neck is weird) so it's good that I've got two more daughters still needing a new friend. (And I might even make a very boyish buddy for my son too.) But being my first attempt at anything like this, I'm happy with how she turned out.

She's new at our house and needs a name. Any suggestions?

Wishing you a new fun hobby.

My First Ana White Build

THE THREE CUBE BENCH

Well, folks, I finally did it. After mentioning for months how much I love Ana White's website (www.ana-white.com), I finally built something. Well, two somethings actually. I took advantage of some downtime over the holidays to make two benches for my childrens' playroom. Here's how they turned out...



I had to modify the measurements a little to fit smaller cubbies than the example on her site. I also had to modify to leave a couple inches clearance between the top of the cubbies and the bench so an overly full cubbie would still fit. You've never seen a cubbie stuffed full to overflowing until a two-year-old has had their fun with it.

I also made the cushions. My kids love the fabric that shows vintage scenes of children at a zoo. It was originally very expensive but I found an odd piece of it in Hobby Lobby and asked if they would discount it (because it never hurts to ask). It was still nearly $20 for less than two yards. And discount they did! I got it for less than $4. Geez, I love a good bargain.



There's nothing like taking your frustrations out on a hammer and a piece of wood and ending up with something beautiful. I can't wait to get started on the next build!

Wishing you a good hammer and some downtime.

---ADDED LATER---

I was asked two quesitons. First, the cost breakdown...

The bench I made: $44
The same bench at Pottery Barn Kids: $200
The same bench at Land of Nod: $189
The same bench at Company Kids: $150
*Prices don't include the cubbies and the cushions.

Second, the finish. I had originally planned on staining them, so I used a dark wood putty to match the stain. But I ended up using a lot of putty and could see they weren't going to cut it stained. So it took two coats of tinted primer and two coats of paint to cover the dark putty (because, of course, I wanted to paint them a light, creamy color). :/ I finished it off with a top coat of clear, satin finish polycrylic.

My Beginner Bookcase

OR THE TWO DAY PROJECT THAT TOOK TWO MONTHS

It's finally done! I started this project months ago with much excitement thinking it would only take a couple days. But then summer came with it's scorching heat and humidity and I wasn't willing to haul the table saw into the living room or sweat it out in the garage... so months passed.

If you decide to try this project yourself, you can reasonably expect to finish it in one day plus drying time for whatever finish you choose (stain, paint, etc.). This is a perfect project for beginners like me... it's very forgiving. There's wiggle room for mistakes.

Here's how it started. I saw this in the store and loved it.



But the fabric was awful and it was $50 (with four kids, that might as well be a $1 million). I also saw a cheaper version without the storage, but oh dear, it was hideous. Very ugly. So I thought, I bet I can make this. I ended up needing some help along the way (thanks Dad!). I couldn't get over my fear of the table saw to go it alone, so he jumped in to help make some cuts.

Pretty soon, I had this...



... and then I realized, wait a minute, this is for my children so it probably shouldn't be 6 feet tall. I had to disassemble, cut it down, and then I was on my way.



I used stain on this for one reason only - I'd never used it before. So, walnut finish stain from Minwax it was. And then I finished it with, you guessed it, polyurethane - satin finish this time (I'm still in love with the stuff).



Then I picked some fabric (still not my favorite fabric, but I live in a tiny little town that had VERY limited choices and I thought this was fun), sewed it together (yay for sewing!) and the final result...



I'm so glad it's done, but now I've got 10 more projects in mind. You know what they say... a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Wishing you that wonderful sense of accomplishment.

I Did It!

OR HOW I PLAN ON SPENDING MY FREE TIME FROM NOW TO ETERNITY

Well folks, I did it. I bit the bullet and bought this...



My "sewing table" is an extra desk that I almost sold. Thank goodness it's still around because it's perfect. And once I had a new sewing machine, I needed some sewing supplies, so this little cutie came home with me too.



I'm not new to sewing, so I've already got 100 projects in mind (and I want to do them all right now of course).

First on the list is a sewing project I need to do ASAP in order to finish an ongoing woodworking project that's been dragging on for months and is nearly done. Nope, I'm not telling what it is. Yes, I'm teasing you mercilessly. But check back for pictures soon because I plan to finish it in the next few days, maybe even today!

Wishing you fresh inspiration!

My Weekend Project

I did something I love this weekend. I found an old, yucky piece of furniture and gave it a facelift. I started with this old desk that I found for $20.



I thought it had "good bones" (I'm a sucker for turned legs - I love that) and although being blatantly lied to that it was all wood but was actually veneers, I decided to go ahead anyway. Could have been a big mistake but I was willing to risk it.

I started with a little of this...



It's for my son's room, thus the fire engine red. Just about done...



Then I used a spray-on final clear coat and RUINED IT!!! I had to re-sand and paint (did you know you could sand veneers???) After getting back to a decent color, I decided to go the old fashioned route and use polyurethane in a can with a foam brush applicator.



It was my first time using polyurethane and I loved it. I'm totally hooked. It made me want to run around slapping poly on everything I could see. I'm convinced it's in the category of duck tape... able to fix anything. It could probably even substitute for plastic surgery. But I digress.

Here's the finished project...



What do you think?

Wishing you the magic of polyurethane in your world.

Don't Sigh So Loud

OR WHAT NOT TO SAY TO A MOTHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN

I have a pet peeve. It starts when people sigh a deep sigh and either think to themselves or say out loud, “Isn’t there anything else in your life besides your kids???”

---long pause to choose my words carefully---

If by anything else, do you mean that free time that is not at night because
I am busy getting up to quiet a fussy baby at 10pm
or comfort two toddlers from waking up scared at midnight
or being wakened by my son crawling into my bed after a bad dream at 1am
or helping two toddlers use the potty at 3am
or getting up with the now rested baby at 6am,

and which doesn’t happen during the day because there are…
meals to fix
and diapers to change
and kids to dress and undress and dress again
and imaginations to foster
and little self-esteems to reinforce
and chub to kiss,

and which doesn’t happen at naptime because…
there is much convincing to be done of the need for sleep
and dishes to do
and laundry to be done
and vacuuming and folding,

and which isn't at dinner time or during bathtime or story time or bedtime, and now we are back to nighttime.

Remind me again. At which point during my life with four babies is there supposed to be some luxurious thing called free time? And at what point do my children take a back seat to this other “independent and empowering” life I’m supposed to have where I “discover myself” and have "me time"? The answer is simple. They don’t.

I’ll continue to write about my life, which means writing about my children. And someday in a few years, there will be more free time and as a result, a greater variety of subject matter. But for today, I'm not less of a person for being an all-consumed mother. I'm better for it. No really.

And to those who sigh those deep sighs of boredom, my thought is, “In order for you to have survived your first years, someone somewhere was all-consumed with you.” And at some point in life, most people are called on to care for someone else, either child or employee or student or ailing parent. Most people come to a place in life where they are required to put their needs on hold in order to meet the needs of another. I think God does it on purpose. I think he likes to build our character.

And I, my friend, am up to my chin in character building.

First Day of School!!!

Today was my son's very first day of school... he's in kindergarten!

He was SUPER excited when we walked into the school.



And very excited when he got to his classroom...



And only slightly terrified when it was time for Mommy to say goodbye. :)

Why I Dread Walmart

OR "LOOK! MOMMY CAN BREATH FIRE!"

This weekend was typical. Let me give ya the run down of a typical Saturday...

First, we have a “special” breakfast. Special for the kids because it’s full of sugar. Special for me because I don’t have to argue with anyone to eat it.

Then it’s off to Walmart. The kids are in tow, so I mentally make a note of the 5 things I must have and remind myself again that anything else is totally optional depending on how long I can last without becoming that screaming, red-faced, fire-breathing, “Come Here Right Now!!!!” mom. I have my pre-shopping pep talk with the kids where we review the three rules that haven’t changed in the last six years:

1. No Touchy Touchy
2. No Running
3. Stay Close to Mommy

Each child dutifully repeats these to me and I am lulled into a false sense of peace by their big eyes and reassuring smiles. Enough false peace to get out of the van and go in. Then I tell them, “OK guys, we need milk. Who can show me where the milk is?” Before I even finish my question, the kids are touching, running, and nowhere near me.

I begin chasing them down and grab items as I pass them in my pursuit. If you’ve ever seen old episodes of the game show where shoppers get a 1-minute shopping spree in the grocery store then you’ve got the idea of what this looks like. I kiss the baby’s head every two seconds to make sure she’s still in the basket and to thank her for not being old enough yet to add to the madness. I touch the back wall of the store wondering if I’m shopping or running suicides. Running suicides I decide.

My oldest is in competition with the other two to see who can do the most cartwheels down the aisle and takes out a full display of soup cans and an old lady in his effort. Humiliated, I apologize, but have to keep moving to catch him, which is lucky because these old southern ladies have some fight in them.

Someone pats my hand and says to me for the ninth time this morning, "You sure do have your hands full. Bless your heart." Which, translated in southern, means get your children out of here... now!

I herd my offspring to the checkout counter and then silently begin to pray that the person in front of me will go faster. Not for my sake. For theirs. They have no idea what 8 curious little hands will do to their groceries. I wonder if the mom in front of me has gum in her purse, because if she does, my daughter who shall remain nameless, will pick pocket that junk in 2 seconds flat.

Finally, I face the cashier who glances at my shirt, which somehow has multiple stains on it although it was clean two hours ago, sees my red, fire-breathing face, and silently sums me up in her mind. She tries to move quickly and I try to reassure her (as the children totally dismantle the strategically placed, child-height display right next to the cash register), but we both know she wants me out of there as badly as I want to be gone. Finally, we make it to the safety of our van again.

This stands in bold contrast to some of the fun times I've had this summer, but I know someday I'll look back on these "typical" weekends and laugh. And the moment the kids get old enough to walk through the store calmly, I'll be blogging about how sweet their baby days were.

Wishing you the magic of enjoying the moment.

Bits of My Weekend - Vol. V

Weekends can be five days long right? Did you say “no”? I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that and talk about the last five days as though they were all a weekend anyway. It all started here...



... at the Charlotte airport. Apparently, I did something right in a past life because I got the best present. There’s a person out there who, without being glib or sarcastic, I can honestly say is one of the most amazing, inspiring, encouraging , and stinkin’ hilarious people I’ve ever met and has remained consistently so through more years than I want to count… Evita. (We are not even going to discuss how she is also gorgeous even after having two kids, because it should be illegal. Not everyone can pull that off. I know I can’t. She can. Whateva. I’ll forgive her for it.) She left her kids at home and came to visit for a couple days of freedom and fun. And it was.

Evita, you should know, is an a-ma-zing cook. If you are ever invited to her home… go. Run, in fact. She made dinner one night that involved chicken curry and basmati rice and homemade chutney. (Excuse me, I started drooling just typing it). I would love to show a picture of it but, as fast as I am, this is all I could get…



We got pampered and ate delicious food and hung out in not one, but three cities in three different states. Aiken in SC, Augusta in GA, and Charlotte in NC. It was hard work but somebody had to do it. My favorite was Amelie's in Charlotte and this place in Augusta...



To see lots of pictures, visit her blog.

We also went to see SALT with Angelina Jolie. Let me say that, years ago, when Alias was on TV, I was a HUGE fan. While the less-than-mind-bending plot may not inspire awe, this movie filled the Alias-sized hole in me. And fueled my workouts for at least a week. (I want to jump up on a wall before laying the smack down like that. Oh yeah. )

In the end, I have to say what everybody always says. I don't do that enough. And I need to do it again. Life should always be that fun. Can I get an amen?

Bits of My Weekend - Vol. IV

Summer is slowly passing. Someone said, “Can you believe half of July is already gone?” I say, “God’s mercy is great.” Growing up in the land of perpetual summer (Phoenix) taught me one thing… just hide in the pool until it’s over. My family likes that idea too so that’s what we do. And all we did this weekend. And when the cold water in the pool suddenly feels luke warm, we add popsicles… without getting out of the pool. It looks like this…



May your freezer always be full in July.

And to find people who may actually be doing something exciting in July, check out other Bits of My Weekends.

Toddlers

OR THE CHUB EFFECT

Toddlers have chub e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. They have chubby tummies, chubby legs, chubby hands, and chubby cheeks on both ends. And they use this chub in the same way criminals use deadly weapons – to get anything they want. If used correctly, the toddler chub effect can make grown men cry. Toddlers would rather plaster the walls with their food than eat it. They’d rather flush anything down the toilet than actually use it (especially cell phones). And they’d rather be naked all the time – the better to use their chub. Toddlers hate car seats. Toddlers like to run and scream… at home, in the store, in the car and get very angry when said running is impeded by said car seat. Toddlers have big eyes that watch everything you do. They will ignore the thing you are teaching them by endless repetition and immediately repeat the cuss word you say once. Toddlers do everything with all their heart which is why it is utterly impossible to give them anything less than all of yours.

Three Year Olds

OR THE TASMANIAN DEVIL WITH A HALO

Three year olds can’t say their “s”s. Three year olds have split personalities. One moment, they are an angel from God, sent down to smile that sweet smile and bring you joy. The next they are tearing your kitchen apart and throwing tantrums. Three year olds have no concept of danger. They frequently lean too far over the railing and reach for open flames leaving you to breathlessly save their life multiple times daily. Three year olds get tired every afternoon but fight naps in the same way a cat fights being put into the bathtub. Three year olds will embarrass you at every important moment. They will always repeat your cheeky comments to your mother-in-law and call your neighbor fat. They will be potty trained one day and pee in the bed the next because it’s what they do. Three year olds still have chubby fingers but have lost those chubby baby cheeks. Three year olds need to do everything themselves even though they can’t and when they bump up against their own limitations, or yours should you be so brave… meltdown. And at the end of the day, you will find that you have switched roles. While for the first two years, they were completely dependent on you, they now think that they do not need you at all, but you, on the other hand, are completely unable to live without them.

Five Year Olds

OR THOSE BRILLIANT LITTLE WHIRLING DERVISHES

Five year olds have ears that are too big for their faces. They will ask if you’ve seen a certain movie, and even if you say yes, proceed to tell you all about that movie you’ve already seen from beginning to end. Five year olds pee on the toilet seat. Five year olds don’t know how to shut doors, turn off lights, stop running water, pick up clothes, or take their shoes off. These little tornados can undo a weekend of cleaning in 10 seconds flat. I’ve seen mine go from one end of the house to the other, unintentionally leaving a trail of destruction behind in one swift rampage. Five year olds think they are smart. Smarter than their little brothers and sisters. Smarter than their teacher. And most annoying… smarter than you. And sometimes they are, which just bites me in the butt. Five year olds look at the world with starry-eyed wonder convinced they can conquer it if they just have the right superhero cape on. Five year olds are too old to kiss you in front of their friends but still hold your hand and want to be sung to at night. Five year olds are five years too old for holding and rocking, five years too young for serious talks, but just right for thumb wars. Five year olds will steal your heart and hold it hostage for life. I know mine has.

The Kids Very First Movie EVER!

---I had some technical difficulties and had to remove the pictures that were on this post. Sorry folks.---

This week, the oldest three went to see Toy Story 3... in a movie theatre... their first time in a movie theatre ever! I think I was more excited than they were to take them. My excitement lasted all the way to the concession stand where they told me that one medium popcorn and one medium drink would be $13. I managed to swallow and blink repeatedly until I was sure I wasn't going to pass out. After I was done signing over the deed to my home, we ventured on.

The kids were enthralled by the life-size Alvin, Simon and Theodore chipmunks in the hallway. I had to repeatedly remind them what movie we were there to see. Apparently, Emma got the message because when we sat down and the previews began, every time a new preview started she SHOUTED, "That's not Woody! Where's Woody?!!". Then Olivia said, in a very loud voice, during the first two minutes, "Mommy, when is this movie over?". Perhaps it was her seat. I had not considered that there should be a weight requirement. Here's what my daughters looked like in their seats...

After we were all settled in and early wiggles settled down, it was a success! I had some happy movie goers.

FYI: Toy Story 3 was great! A few suspenseful moments, but overall, great for kids.