Kitchen Table Makeover Summer 2013

Table and Chairs: Before and After

Furniture Makeover

Before

After

We started out with a table half this size and 4 chairs.  It worked well for about 5 years but I needed a bigger table.  So when a close friend was getting rid of her large table (the one in the pic) and four chairs I jumped on it.  The picture below is how it looked when she gave it to me.  Two black chairs, two red. 

 

 

 

 

The surface already had tons of damage, and we just added to it...

 

 

Not to mention we only had 4 chairs, which was fine until Gabriel decided to grow out of his high chair.  So I searched for chairs on Craigslist until I found these. 

 

 

I bought 7 for $30. (One for the 'desk' on the other side of the kitchen). They are restaurant quality, heavy wood chairs that just happened to match perfectly with the wood of the table.  But the color was insignificant because I was prepping for a total makeover.  Including the ugly green vinyl torn seats.

 

DURING

 

I planned on a two-tone table: gray top and white bottom (matching the cabinets I did). I like the diamond wood pattern in the table top so I wanted to stain the top so I could still see that pattern.  You cannot stain wood without removing every bit of previous lacquer.  I carried it out to the garage (with the 'help' of my 7 year old) and started sanding. I used an electric sander but it was still a very difficult task that lots of muscle would have made easier. Sorry no pics of that step.  Then I flipped the table over and sanded the legs, primed them with spray primer and painted them white with gloss spray paint.  I used about 1 can of primer and 2 cans of white paint.  Then I flipped it back over and stained the top.

 

 

  I wiped off extra stain in the diamond to really show it off.

 

Then I put 5, yes FIVE coats of good old fashioned polyurethane on the top.  Only 2 or three were recommended, but I wanted it to really last.  I scrub this table A LOT.  It was shiny and perfect when finished.  But I still had a lot of work ahead...

 

A couple weeks later I took the ugly green cushions off the chairs, scrubbed the wood, hand sanded each chair, used a spray primer (about 3-4 cans for all 7 chairs), then spray painted them the same gloss white (about a can for each chair).  I did one chair that citronella color to match the kitchen door that leads to the garage (which you can see in this picture).  I painted that one with a brush.  Wear a mask and cover anything in the garage that you don't want to be painted with a white powder like your bicycles and strollers...

 

Then I bought a polyacrylic to finish off the chairs and the white part of the table.  I used that instead of the polyurethane because it doesn't yellow over time.  But the polyurethane is stronger and it was over a gray which won't show the yellowing as much.

 

Next I had to do the cushions.  Such a long process, right?  So about a month later, my mother can to visit and I picked out an awesome fabric that I loved! I bought 16 gauge clear vinyl to go over the fabric.  We used a hair dryer to warm it up so we could stretch it and really put them on fitted and snug.  Then we screwed all the cushions back on.

 

 

 

AFTER

 

 

Nice! Right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Good Call

Max is finishing up kindergarten.  He's had ups and downs over the past year with his academics, behavior, etc.  I had my doubts about how well he was going to do in school.  Sending him off on a huge yellow bus in a new city all by himself ALL day long.  I've had  couple of calls from his teacher explaining why he is in the special reading group, why he got a 'red' for the day, etc.  Yesterday changed everything.  His teacher called just to tell me how impressed she is with his progress over the past year.  He was assessed at the begining of the year and was scored 77 out of 205. He was assessed again yesterday and scored 200 out of 205.  She said that of all of her students he has improved the most.  So proud of him.  Mostly proud because he is such a nice kid.  Look at him, sitting there in his yellow shirt.  His close friend Casey (blue shirt) is always right near him.  Love him. 

New House

Am I only dreaming? Nope.  It's the real deal.  We bought a house.  Our FIRST house.  We own property.  Or should I say, we owe lots of money to a bank over the next 30 years.  Either way, it's ours.  And we feel so blessed.  It's in Kempsville in Virginia Beach.  4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2189 sq ft, deck, 2 car garage, laundry room, and perfect neighborhood.  Almost a year of looking and saving up.  We close on Monday June 11, 2012. In Gabey's short one year of life it will be his 3rd residence.  The thought of packing up and cleaning and unpacking again after JUST doing it exactly 12 months ago makes me wanna eat a tub of ice cream.  BUT... knowing that it's the LAST time for (hopefully) a very long time makes it bearable. Plus knowing this one is OURS is absolutely thrilling!   

Magical Moments and Butt Grabs

This is Freddy's way of helping me push the baby stroller.  Darla just really captured the moment.

Birthday picture

I have a tradition where I take a picture of myself every year ON my birthday (April 5). This way, I can watch myself slowly get older. This was the picture from this year. I'm not angry. I'm concentrating.

Barefoot jog

Last night we threw the kids in the strollers and went jogging. Of course they wanted to get in and out of the stroller using it like a lounge chair when they get tired of running like barefoot maniacs through town. And we look totally normal pushing empty strollers down the sidewalk. Watching them chase after the bunny rabbits in people's yards was my favorite part. They are like clowns putting on a show for me. Non-stop entertainment.

Si Dios Quiere

(April 1998, BYU, before missions, marriage or kids.

An hour later I got on a plane and flew to NY for the summer.

That is why Freddy looks so sad :(

This was the first of many goodbyes before we were actually

able to spend the 'rest of our lives together'.

Actually has nothing to do with this blog post.

I just found the picture and thought I would post.

THAT story...is for another day.)

When serving a mission in Venezuela, after inviting people to church, we would often get the response, "Si Dios quiere," (If God wants). It was a very common saying down there and it was used for everything.

Are you coming to work tomorrow? -Si Dios quiere!

Have a good weekend. - Si Dios quiere!

Get better soon. -Si Dios quiere!

Do you want to get an education? -Si Dios quiere.

Would you like a million dollars? -Si Dios quiere.

Once that phrase is said, no response is ever needed. It is the end of a conversation. The future is now left to the will of the Gods and nothing that I, or you, or anyone else does will change it because it's "what God wants." We use THAT phrase and immediately relinquish all responsibility and control over our own lives delegating it to the powers that be. If it's supposed to happen than things will magically fall into place regardless of how I prepare for it or plan on making it happen.

Because it is the catch all phrase for everything and anything, it really bothered me when that was the answer I received to my "sincere", "heartfelt" invitations to come to church. "Will you come to church with me tomorrow?" -"Si Dios quiere!"

Of course I couldn't just let the conversation end at that like any normal Venezuelan would. I HAD to answer back with my usual smarty pants retort which, at the time, seemed less smarty pants and more OBVIOUS and "imperative", ..."Claro que Dios quiere" (Of course that's what God wants).

I hate that I did that. The simple fact that I even responded to the phrase caught people off guard all the time. They would give a nervous chuckle and gently close the door. But this typical conversation was my favorite:

Me:"Will you come to church with me?"

Them: Si Dios quiere.

Me: Of course God wants you to.

Them: Yes, he does, that's true.

Me: So will you come to church with me tomorrow?

Them: Si Dios Quiere.

I should have just succumbed to THAT part of the culture and not triiied sooo haaard to fooorce people to understand. In the end, it didn't change anything or make more people "choose the right." But it sure is funny to think about now. It's good to just let certain things "be."

Crystal Springs

A town newsletter came in the mail indicating that a new park had opened up. As far as entertainment goes, Wytheville doesn't have much to offer so we raced over to this "park" immediately. After driving down some gravel roads in the middle of the country we parked by the sign that said "Crystal Springs" and walked inside. I scanned the scene for the swings and slides but they were nowhere to be found. What we found was better.

We walked across the field.

We headed for straight to the trail in the woods.

Upon entering, we found a box with a back pack inside. In the bag was a magnifying glass, binoculars, jars, nets, and all sorts of instruments and tools for catching bugs, exploring nature and watching the birds.

There were pamphlets with pictures of things we needed to look for and a journal for you to write down what you found. We trekked across the bridge with our borrowed pack.

We started on a little family hike.

We looked for bugs and mushrooms.

We found spiders,

and tons and tons of butterflies.

We found a wild pear tree and had a snack.

Enzo with the magnifying glass.

After a short hike I quickly realized that my skirt and sandals weren't cutting it in the woods. So we decided to go back the very next day. This time we were prepared with walking sticks:)

And jeans.

We stopped at one spot that had a fire pit, picnic table and a stream. The boys found frogs, water striders, salamanders and craw fish.

We roasted hot dos and marshmallows over our fire. As we relaxed and explored another family was passing through. We invited them to have some marshmallows with us. We ended up hanging out together for a couple of hours.

We went again two weekends later and roasted marshmallows again in the same spot by the creek. And that SAME family just happened to find us there again!! Totally by chance.

As much as we enjoyed this place, and hiking and roasted marshmallows...being with these guys is the best part.

Wish you were here with us.

Pollo

In case you have never eaten at a Mexican restaurant, pollo is pronounced 'poyo' which means chicken in Spanish. Freddy invented a game with the boys where every time I cook anything with chicken in it they hold up a stiff hand and say, "P-p-p-POLLO!" When they say the last POLLO they have to karate chop their opponent in the jugular.

This game is played throughout the entire meal. They know the karate chop is on its way because the person has to start off with the "p-p-p" before they can chop, so they sit there with their chin as far up against their chest as possible to protect themselves. When the kids get bigger I fear someone will end up in the ER. It's all fun and games until you bust a windpipe.