Oh Craigslist how I love thee

I am addicted to Craigslist and religiously check it everyday during Brody's morning nap and after the boys are in bed for deals...and things I just can't live without. So for our bedroom I wanted some classic antique pieces and bought that double bow-front dresser w/mirror that I just finished restoring and the single bow-front that I am in the process of restoring...when I found this...

At first I thought ooh ahh, and then I had to see it, then I had to buy it. Every piece is stamped in the drawer Morganton. Morganton furniture from North Carolina specialized in making Dining and Bedroom furniture all in Solid Mahogany. This set included the dresser w/mirror, chest of drawers, nightstand, and 2 complete twin beds (headboard, footboard and siderails). I also love the hardware! For being at least 70 years old, it has almost no wear and is in excellent condition.

Lovely crafted dove-tailed drawers...with serpentine fronts...no particle board!

Solid Brass Hardware

Of course the finish is not my favorite...so it will take a lot of sanding and staining but when finished will be a beautiful dark wood-I am thinking walnut!

I will add pics of the beds, mirror and nightstand soon...

Viola my 1st furniture project!

So a few months ago I blogged about Craigslist and the abundance of amazing antique furniture. I searched Craigslist daily for the right pieces for our bedroom and found 2 dressers. This being one of them... I have a great love of wood, and really wanted to restore this piece and not paint. Having no experience with antiques I read and read and researched and decided to strip the piece. I stripped one side, which was messy, time consuming and annoying. I got frusterated and thought okay I will just paint them and give up on the idea of restaining and restoring. So I bought the primer, brushes, paint, poly and couldn't bring myself to primer it...every part of me just fought the idea of painting hardwood. So I grabbed my palm sander and went to town. I thought okay I will give it one more go and if sanding doesn't work I will paint it... The sanding worked out perfectly...and was so much quicker! I wanted them dark so I chose MinWax Ebony and started to restain my naked wood..

I applied 2 coats of MinWax Eboy...then after letting it dry for a week I applied 3 coats of wipe-on poly...and VIOLA here she is...

I couldn't be happier with how she turned out! I have a new love...

My Favorite Things...

So I was watching the Sound of Music the other day and singing along to it...love that movie! I started thinking of what my favorite things are that make me feel better. So this is my list of my Favorite Things:
Wood, hardwood, wood work, mouldings, I love the beauty of wood
Antique Furniture
Historic Homes, I love the craftsmanship and character
Gardens, the work for the reward
Hiking
Mountains
Waterfalls
Kayaking
Rivers
Birds singing
Sunshine
The sound of leaves on a breezy day
My children laughing
Babies Sleeping
Motorcycle Riding
Smell and Sound of the Ocean
Smell of Horses, alfalfa, and Oats
Hardwork- it makes me feel good!
MY FAMILY!

CHEEKS

Mommy I drew you

Preston and Connor were drawing on the easel this morning, I could see them from the couch while purchasing a new garmin. Jim wanted to surprise me for my birthday...but also wanted me to choose which one I wanted. My old one suddenly quit charging a few months ago and not having one made me realize how much I enjoy them not always for direction but for all the other features. Anyway so I was doing my research when Preston says, "hey mom look I drew you". I looked up and saw this...I thought it was awesome!

Samson the T-rex

We decided to take an adventure to OMSI today, I say adventure because going anywhere on the weekend in Portland is an ADVENTURE! Everything is always crazy busy and crowded with super long lines, that is why I usually go weekday mornings and that includes grocery shopping! Luckily Jim is very patient and willing to battle the crowds and lines for a good family day out and I love him for that! We picked up Sean and made it to OMSI by noon. After waiting in line for 15 min we realized that the year membership was a killer deal. Sean and I decided to go in on it together since you got 2 adult passes, up to 8 children, 2 free guest passes with each visit, free daily plantarium shows and 8 passes to OmniMax. We figured he could bring his dates and use it on his own and I could still use it with Jim, Nikki, Ashton, and Grandma. It worked great and we even got a student discount! Of course there was so much to see that we didn't get to it all, but we did see the T-Rex, Submarine, and the Discovery playground. We all had an awesome time, the boys were perfect! Thank you Sean for coming with us! (The pics are a little out of order sorry...sometimes the pic upload just doesn't like me.)

Mommy and Brody (3 months old on Tuesday!)Preston, Connor, and Mommy cuddling!

It didn't take Preston long to figure out that you had to turn the crank to get the water to come out, it was really fun to watch him figure it all out.

The water exhibit in the playground was a huge hit, they even provide clothing covers and crocs so kids don't get their own shoes wet.

They played so well together and with the hoards of other children, some with great manners others with terrible ones.

Preston and Connor loved the balls and watching the air tunnels shoot the balls out

Sean and Connor...

Good-bye OMSI!

Our Christmas Traditions

This year was a very special year. It was the 1st year in 7 years that we had our 1st Christmas tree(which my dad surprised us with the day after Thanksgiving) and weren't traveling during the holidays! Our tradition is that we have Christmas dinner and open presents at my parents house Christmas Eve. Growing up we always opened presents and celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. It has worked out perfectly because then we can enjoy Christmas morning as a family at our own home and then visit Jim's parents for Christmas dinner and gifts on Christmas day. I even got to make Christmas goodies with mom and Nikki this year! I have always wanted to make a list of Christmas goodies and make them and never to to, well this year I did! Brody is such a good baby he makes it much easier to accomplish everything I want and need to.

We always drive and look at Christmas lights, we also took the boys to the PIR for their Winter Wonderland festival of lights. The boys loved it! We didn't make it to Zoo lights, it was so cold, Jim wasn't to excited to freeze just to look at lights, and I wasn't about to take Brody out. I have been blessed with a very healthy baby...he hasn't gotten sick yet this season and I don't want to encourage any chances of it happening.

PIR:

Christmas Eve was so much fun as we gathered for dinner at my parents home. My grandma Leta and grandma Barbara joined us which was so special to have them there. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner, I tried candied carrots this year which turned out delicious! I love Honey Baked Ham! We then started exchanging gifts. Of course had to have the boys open one first to distract them from everything that was going on. We exchange names between siblings every year we had Kevin and Sean and they had us. Sean and Kevin spoiled us with a new Cuisinart Toaster 4 slices! I was so excited about a 4 slice toaster! Sean really spoiled us with getting Jim a new riding helmet with sweet graphics, and a Coach purse for me!We visited till the boys were exhausted and headed home. We read the "Night Before Christmas" to the boys before bed...I think we were more excited then they were...I don't think they quite understood what was happening. After they were sleeping we brought out "Santa's" gifts and stuffed their stockings! I just wish we got gotten more pics! I can't wait for next year when Brody will be walking and part of the action! He will add a new dynamic to the holidays! Santa and grandparents brought the boys lots of Imaginext, a Crayola Easel, I Spy and Geotrax. They have enjoyed their new toys every day! It was our 1st Christmas exchanging gifts withe each other at our own home...I LOVED it! I used my stocking money to buy Jim a North face jacket and U of O goodies and he surprised me with a Wii including Wii fit, so fun!!

Afterward we joined Jim's family for brunch and gift opening. We had a great time and the boys loved every minute. We came home for naps and the joined Jim's family afterward for Christmas dinner and stockings! It was a wonderful fun-filled day with many wonderful memories! I am so grateful for Jim and our 3 beautiful boys, that we could start our own family traditions and be together! This year brought many changes and many many blessings for which I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father.