Lovely in lavender - our girls' room

 

Chris and I used part of this weekend to put the final touches on the bedroom we created for our girls.

 

 

It has been such a combined effort. I love that we share this hobby as a couple. This is the home where we want our children to finish growing up in. And we try so hard to be deliberate in our parenting decisions. So it seems appropriate that we are as deliberate in the things we place around our home. Their are so many personal touches in here. I'd love to share with you some of our finds, the things we've made, gifts they've been given and more.

I painted the "H." I made the fabric flowers that are on it out of her old baby clothes. And the little jewels were my maternal grandmother's old earrings! The Angelina Ballerina and vintage beach painting I purchased when Hallie was still a baby.

On Claire's shelf, the "be-you-tiful" sign was a hand out from a program for the young women (church youth group) I work with. The purple ballerina bear was from Claire's first birthday and the "C" also has fabric flowers from baby clothes and more of my grandma's jewelry.

 

The Scottie dog pillow and the pink toile pillow were from Claire's nursery. The rag quilt at the foot of the bed is one I made for her several years ago (Minnie Mouse is on the other side). The dark pink ruffle heart pillows are recent finds from IKEA.

 

The bed canopies fulfill my very own daydream wishes. We found these particular ones on amazon. Chris did the board and batten wood treatment behind the beds by himself. It was such a satisfying and inexpensive project.

 

 

The butterflies were clearance items at Hobby Lobby. We think they lend a great touch of fantasy and whimsy to the room.

This revolving jewelry holder is popular with the girls.

The small white frame is a painting of Anne of Green Gables that my Grandma Allen purchased for me in a darling tea shop downtown on her visit after Hallie was born.

 

We used the painting of Rapunzel in their old bedroom. They are from our favorite Tangled story book. The Pooh Bear and Eeyore figurines are actually salt and pepper shakers we bought on our honeymoon to Disneyworld.

My mom picked up this sweet mirror for the girls on her last visit. We hung it at a child's level so they could enjoy it for the next few years.

 

 

This painting, "Oh Jerusalem," by Greg Olsen, was the first piece of religious artwork I received. It was a Christmas gift from my parents shortly before I turned 19. It has always been in a gold frame and followed us from apartment to apartment and then from home to home. We thought it would be the perfect piece for their room once the frame was painted white.

 

The girls are so enthusiastic about their new room. We hope they dream here, pray here, and play here. We know they'll fight here and that toys will be strewn about the next few years. But the lessons learned and the memories made will be priceless. And that is worth every investment of time and money we've made to create it these past months.

Meandering through the meadow

 

One of the biggest blessing as of late is where our home was built. It is only about a mile from our old place - which means we attend the same church congregation and the girls go to the same school! We have great neighbors. And we back up to a gorgeous meadow. So far we have only experienced the meadow in late spring and summer. It is just gorgeous at all different times of the day. In the mornings it is misty. In the golden afternoons, the grass blows and it looks like actual "amber waves of grain." We see all sorts of birds and wild bunnies. And one day two deer just walked right up to our fence. The wildflowers are brilliant and varying. But the sunflowers are my favorite part.

 

 

Here's a fun fact. When I was in college in Idaho and I saw fields and flowers like this, I used to dream that I would have little girls so that I could drive with them to such a flowery field to take photos beside it. It just so happens I had two girls and we live right next to my version of the field of dreams. Sweet Hallie had the sniffles the other day and couldn't join us. But Claire was more than happy to come for a quick nature walk and collect wildflowers along the way.

 

 

Swoon!

Sometimes, I'll be distracted or in a bad mood and then my bedroom windows show me this and it just stops me in my tracks. This really emphasizes to me that I have a Father in heaven that knows me and knew how much I would love this meadow. I love it every single day.

kitchen tour

This morning after I did the breakfast dishes, I spiffed up the kitchen extra shiny so I could finally take some adequate pictures of her. Let's face it - the photo shoot was the perfect motivator to get her to the next level of cleanliness a Friday morning usually couldn't afford. And friends and family have steadily requested photos and been all too patient while waiting.

 

This kitchen is already my good friend. Don't feel uncomfortable when I refer to her as "her." We're just that close already. We still consider her a work in progress. One day we'll give her jewelry in the form of a tiled back splash. But for this stage in life, we are more than content - thrilled, in fact - with how she is.

 

 

A chalk board menu has been a fixture in our household for seven years. But it got an upgrade for the new place.

 

 

When we built the house, we knew we had to choose between white cabinets and faux wood floors. I thought about that decision in every moment that a busy wife/mom could - especially when I fell asleep, woke up, and showered. Chris and I decided that though both white cabinets and dark wood floors are hard to clean, the floors would be easier to keep up with. I am very happy with the decision that we made.

Other than the "eat" sign, the barstools, and the two curtain panels, every other decoration is one we already had and just moved to the kitchen. We love how it turned out.

 

I always feel like decorating above cabinets is such a delicate balance. Too little and a kitchen can look sparse, too much and it is just overwhelming.

But I have delightful memories of when we styled above these cabinets. Chris and I pulled every decoration from the moving boxes and placed them on the kitchen table as the holding spot. Then Chris would stand on a chair and duck down while holding the particular item up so I could see what it looked like. Then I would command him "a little to the left" and "try over there!" All the while he was hunched up so I could get the best view of the cabinets possible. We got a great laugh out of that activity.

My view while doing dishes is incredible. Although the lighting in these pictures don't give the full picture, that rolling meadow behind us is to die for. We try to cherish it as much as possible right now because we are sure some day it will be developed and more houses will go up.

 

Until then . . . it's my happy place.

 

 

 

Other rooms will be unveiled in the future but here is a sneak peak.  So for our loved ones that haven't been able to see our happy home yet - we hope this entices you to come see us in person!

Back to School 2014

Here we are again! Back to school . . . but this time with two darling girls instead of just one.

Yesterday, on our last glorious day of summer break, we lived it up as much as we could - Itz Pizza for lunch and then the kids had frozen yogurt for dinner! By the time we had our "Back to School" Family Home Evening and the kids received father's blessings, it was already after seven. Which means - by the time their showered bodies and sponge-rollered heads laid on the pillow it was close to nine!

Still, when I opened their door at 6:50 this morning the both lept up exclaiming "First day of school! First day of school!" Claire's kindergarten didn't begin until noon, but she wanted to be ready first thing.

 

Our trip to take Hallie to school was interesting because of our two-year-old, Grant. In a classic toddle move, Grant begs to be held as mom struggles with the infant stroller and too-big camera. Then, he screeches in the front of sister's class because he wants to go to school and "wants a dwink in a dwinking fountain!"

 

 

It was so frustrating at the time and yet already is so endearing. How does he magically do that?

It's those eyes . . . and that smile . . and the spikey hair. And his massive vocabulary. It's just Grant.

 

Claire was on a patient countdown throughout the morning as she waited for her afternoon kindergarten. As we took pictures before leaving, she was smiley but a little stoic (classic Claire). But as we arrived at school she lit up with excitement. She is so ready and so in her element. 

 

 

Love these girls and love that they love school!

Here's to an exciting and fulfilling year.