In my kitchen! DIY menu board, labels, and a new stove!

This is one of those fun and easy projects, that really is useful! I found a frame at a thrift shop, backed it with scrapbook supplies, and added clothes pins, and a little paper covered box. I laminated our basic meals so we can clip them on the desired day. The clothes pins are painted lightly, I also added a sticker to represent each day.

I like this because even my younger kids can help plan meals.

This week we also printed labels to put on our glass containers. I think it really helped to coordinate them!

Last, but not least, my sweet husband bought me a new stove! Yay!! This is Brady giving it a BIG thumbs up! We really needed a new one!

Living out here

I just love living out here. My little boys run around with chickens and ducks... They climb trees, swing from tires. They play in the dirt, grow veggies.....

Morning come, and Little hands wave, as they watch Daddy and Brady take the truck to work. Its cold on the kitchen porch early, but they don't come inside until that truck is out of their sight.

Late in the afternoon, we hear something coming up the dirt road. Then, little feet run back to the porch, doors swing, and excitement is heard "Daddy, Daddy, we missed you". Off to enjoy their Daddy. His Carharts worked hard that day! Brady's did too. All our men check the gardens, the animals, maybe repair a step, or fix the truck. All with the little guys in tow.

They build, and grow, and work, and love, and learn, and live. Life is good.

Use what you have!

We're in the process of trying to spruce up a few things around here. Our girls need some clothing storage that is in good shape. We hang most of their clothes, so they don't need tons of space. Mostly, somewhere to out Jammie's, undies, etc.

I had a few pieces that were in sad shape... So today we repurposed them. I used chalk paint, in white. I distressed the pieces, and then finished them with soft wax. They have bunkbeds that are distressed, too. I plan on doing most of their furniture like this.

If your interested in how I did this, check out "chalk paint" on google. There's no prep, and it covers almost any surface!

Here are my before and after pictures. My girls really like it!

Still Working

Sometimes when something starts, it just keeps going! First he built the bed, then a new porch out of the kitchen door, and yesterday.....A new bathroom floor in the hall bath! Yipeee!

My husband is so good at what he does!! I just love watching him working hard with all of our men-in-training around him learning to do what Daddy does. When we were at the lumber store buying porch supplies, Benjamin got one end of the board so he could "help too". He loves our new porch that Daddy and the boys built!

While the boys were working Miss Marendy made a dirt cake, all decked out with candles. Don't forget to notice her leaf wrapped presents to! How sweet.

I, of course, am just thrilled about our improvements around here. I love our house. It was a fixer-uper when we bought it, but to me, it's just perfect! It isn't too big or too small. I remember when we pulled into the drive for the first time, I knew this was the house for us! I thank the Lord always for blessing us with it, and hope that we are able to stay here for a long time.

Handy Husband

Have I said lately how blessed I am? I have such a wonderful husband who is always doing things for me and our children. He can fix and do anything! I was telling him last week that Benjamin needs a big boy bed. So, he comes home with lumber to build him one.

We spent yesterday afternoon with Gary outside while he built the nicest little bed I have ever seen! After Daddy was done building, Baylen sanded it down smooth. Today Gary will pick up some stain for it, and I will make some bedding. I haven't decided what yet, I am still thinking on that.

Lumber for the bed was about $25. It's sturdy, and will last for years. The memories we made together are priceless.

Today we are busy with school, and later on we will have Piano lessons.

Joyfully busy!