My Ballerina

When you just wrap up a 10 hour work day and there's one more message that pops up  in your in box and said message is this.....well, I left work with a smile on my face.

Totally Revamped....Our Living Room

I am so excited to share this!  I've been working on this for months.  I've just threw the stuff we had in the living room when we moved here. It was okay, but not how I pictured my ideal living room in this old house. I wanted old things with a fresh look and multiple different pieces to make this room multipurpose.

So, what did I do?
First, I took almost everything out.  I took apart our broken couch. I gave away the braided rug. I gave away our huge chair and ottoman. I took all the art down that I had up.

I kept the TV Cabinet I painted ages ago (which the TV hasn't been on since Christmas movies last year, I'm totally debating just getting rid of it), my antique china cabinet, the free chair I already reupholstered, a couple of antique/vintage tables, the antique/vintage lamps and a rug I bought last winter.

Now, for the re-do.  I cannot believe how I have a new room for such a small investment.  First is the reupholstered couch I paid $35 for off of craigslist and spent about $25 to reupholster it.  I love this solid piece!  Then the $30 100% wool 9x14  rug I scored at the thrift store.  Then the table and chairs, which I haven't posted before.  Nice old set. $40 at a yard sale.  Then the art is from my dad, his old vintage bird posters. I also swiped some clippings from my dad's succulents and house plants to add. So, some patience, some searching, and some hard work, $130 it's out with the old and in with the new. 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so freeing to pass on the stuff that worked well enough, but I didn't love. Now I have the living room I wanted and I'm very happy about it.  The table for projects and board games, the comfy spots for books, the space to play, the warm fireplace.  It's just what I was hoping for.
For more pics of our home, click here.http://www.bornimaginative.com/2014/11/two-years.html

A girl and a goat. A boy and a tractor.

 

A girl and a goat and a boy and a tractor. Because that's just how we roll evenings around these parts.

Kids 1, 2 and #3 (with due date!)

 

Well, look at that, all three of my kids!  (Those are the ultra sound pics).

After my appointment today, I treated the kids to lunch in the hospital cafeteria (seriously, it's good food there...it is really a treat).

I don't think I've ever been prouder of these two.

 

Adrian saw an elderly man sitting alone and he was just feeling so sad that the man was eating alone.  "Mama, someone either needs to invite him over or sit with him so he doesn't have to eat alone!". Adrian worked up his courage and went, on his own, over to the man's table and said "You can come over and sit with us if you want." I was over the moon proud of the thoughtfulness and how he carried out the offer. Adrian is usually my kid who is more reserved and sticks by my side, but he put all his nerves aside to show kindness.

The man didn't come over to join us. He didn't have to, as Audra decided to join him! She went right over there and talked his ear off (seriously, I don't know if he got to talk much at all) and kept him company while Adrian and I finished our lunch at the other end of the room.  When we left, Audra said the man really enjoyed talking to her because all his grandkids are in Massachusetts and he doesn't get to see them much.

 

It's my hope and prayer that baby #3 is as kind and generous as my first two. 

 And now we have a date..can you read it? Adrian wrote it to surprise his dad. April 7th.  Which means I'm 15 weeks along.

 Will we be needing the pink or the green John Deere shirt is the next question we cannot wait to find out the answer to.

Re Upholstered: DONE! I did it!!!

 It all started in August. I bought this vintage Ethan Allen couch for $35.  Awesome bones, plenty of squish, just dated fabric.  I honestly spent 50-60 hours on this project.  I ripped the VERY well tacked fabric off. I stripped the legs with citristrip that I had around.  I covered it with a $20 painter's canvas using some staples and some furniture tacks I bought.  For ~$60 and a ton of time, I have the couch I envisioned for our living room.

Here's the after:

 And the back.  I really should have pressed the fabric, the wrinkles will smooth out eventually.  Now to tidy up the living room to get it back to a non chaotic state....

Nature Journals

 This summer, we started this new tradition.  Nature Journals.  To prep for this project, a trip to the thrift store was in order (naturally).  I found all these photo albums and basket to put them all in for $5.00.  A couple times a week, we try to add to our journal. We draw pictures of what we see and place those in our binder. We collect leaves and flowers to press in the flower press that my dad made and put in our journal.  We talk about what we see and enjoy being outside together.  Just my littles and me.  (And yes, I journal along with them). It really has become such a peaceful and enjoyable time in our week.  I look forward to seeing how the journals change throughout the season and hopefully years.

Earning his keep

This spends his days earning his keep...by choice.  We're fortunate to have so much "help".