First Day of School...Homeschool

All I am going to say about the GIANT gap in posting dates is...I've been busy!  I have been painting furniture, playing with the kids, helping hubby remodel TWO of our bathrooms, prepping a quilt for Jenna, planning/setting up for homeschooling Logan (and Jenna since she has to do EVERYTHING big brother does), plus all the normal stuff.

Today is all about our homeschooling!  Why, you ask...because today was the first day!! 

 

Why are we homeschooling?  Because we want to try it out...see if it is right for our family.  As of the end of today everyone is excited and having fun!  Hopefully that remains the same come Day 100 and Day 180!  We are working through the same school where Logan went to preschool.  They offer an every other week classroom day that we are signing him up for, which will give him some time with other teachers and kids.  We also have park days and field trips scheduled.  There will be lots of opportunities to get together with other kids.

We plan to still send Jenna to preschool next year so that she will have the same experience as Logan.  She does NOT want to be left out this year, however.  So she will work along with Logan for the crafts, activities, science projects, etc.  We are using Math-U-See for our math curriculum and we ordered her the Primer (first level) and Logan the Alpha (second level).  I am not pushing her with her letters...she already know the ABC's, but not sounds or writing.  These she will learn next year.  At this point I am just giving her little tracing printouts.  We will see if they will satisfy her for now.

 

They were both up before 7am this morning, which is early around here.  Super excited!

 

 

Here they are working on their math.  Jenna checking out Logan's progress.

 

 

Their first day craft.  This idea came from Miss Kindergarten.

 

 

Here is how our classroom is set up.  We are using the eating area next to the kitchen.

 

 

And not to be left out...our third little student hard at work!



 

My First Pallet Art

I know there are all kinds of creative things out there that you can do with old pallets.  I have never done any of them.  Mainly because I would rather pick up free furniture off CL than free pallets.  Then the neighbors next to my Mom started getting their house ready to sell and they left a stack of pallets out for me someone to pickup.  The first time I saw them I was with my Mom and a friend and I resisted...convincing myself that they did not really look all that good.  A few days later my Mom had gone out of town and I was taking care of her house.  The pallets were still there.  I casually walked over and took a look...love at first pallet.  The one on top was not the typical pallet I have seen it was smaller and thinner.  Easy for me to quickly snatch and put in the back of the suburban before any of the other neighbors saw.  Ha!  Almost all the neighbors there are busy-bodies so I'm sure they were looking out their windows and saw me.  None of them mentioned it though.  :)  And for the record I love all those busy-bodies...they are they sweetest neighbors EVER!  When we first moved in (Mom lives in our old house) they ALL brought over cookies and welcomed us to the neighborhood.

Anyway, my pallet...

I watered down a mix of yellows and gave it a wash...

Then I attached a few dollar store frames with fabric inside, bottles with greenery, an L for our last name, and of course some knobs.  It is now "wall art" for our bedroom.  Hubby claims to like it...he said it looked kind of industrial.  What do you think?

 

 

Linking to:

 



 

Planter Chair

Okay, do not say anything!  I know it has been forever!  Even Hubby has made little noises about my blog slacking.  I have been working on lots of different projects, so I have lots to show you. 

Let's start with a fun spring/summer project...

I found this chair at a yard sale for $3.

 What you think I overpaid??  :)

My Mom bought me a sample of Anne Sloan chalk paint for my birthday and I thought this chair would be perfect to try it out. 

What do you think?  I used chicken wire to make a basket and then planted a few flowers...hopefully they will live with my not so green thumb.

I love all the spindles! 

Here she is happily sitting by the front door.

 

 

 

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It's Perfect, I Promise!

It amazes me to read the Craigslist descriptions some people post for their furniture!  One of the questions I always ask when dealing with a dresser is "do the drawers slide well?"  Simple question, right??  Almost everyone says "yes".  Take yesterday's dresser and mirror set.  I was told the damage was just cosmetic, but the drawers and frame were perfect.  Uh, huh.  I had to do some serious repairs to one of those "perfect" drawers.  (I knew this when I bought it, but the price was still right).  Here is another one.  I was told that the drawers slide fine...

 
Really??  The drawers did not even stay together when they were taken out of the dresser.  Yes, I know I got it anyway...I have plans for it that do not include the "drawers"!

An Antique Dresser and Mirror

Recently hubby went out of town for work and not even five hours after he left I had managed to find an awesome dresser and mirror set to bring home.

It needed a fair amount of work...the bottom and top were chipped, so I filled them in and sanded.  The top drawer was a mess, so I replaced the bottom and then glued and nailed the sides and front back together.  One of the front wood wheels is missing, but it still has the caster so you can hardly tell.  I am going to try and sell it with the wheel missing and later, if I need to replace it, I will.  I found the wheels pretty cheap on eBay.  Anyway, once it was solid again I painted it with a custom mix turquoise...I love this color!

Hey look at that!  She kinda matches one of the nightstands!


Linking up here:

Master Bedroom Update

Several weeks ago I found a house full of stuff being given away on Craigslist and told our adopting friends about it and we went and loaded up everything and then they sold most of it.  I had one greedy request...to keep two awesome chairs!  I had been looking for a chair(s) for our master bedroom and these are perfect!

I love all the curves and the seats are extremely cushy!  Here they are all set up...

Yes, that is our heater blanket cord.  I did not notice it until I uploaded the pictures and then it's just too late.  I found the stools at Hobby Lobby.  Someday soon they are getting a new look.  The quilt rack is not permenant...I just need to find something else to go there.  Also, I need stuff on the wall!  I do not know what yet, so it is staying as is until I get some inspiration.  Here is another shot...

Speaking of inspiration...I saw these knock-off sunburst mirrors and found a tutorial and made my own.  It is made with shims and spray painted!  Click here for the tutorial I used.

I really love the way it turned out and it fits perfect over the bed!