Week ending 5-8-22 Office shed makeover, little girls' room makeover

This was a week full of projects! I planned to do a room update in the 3 little girls' room, the 2 little boys' room, the office add on shed, plus mow and trim the whole driveway, mow the whole yard, and plant more in the garden. We got a lot done but not everything as we kept running into little troubles like the sander breaking, tape measure breaking, losing things, not bringing everything to the job site, kids not helping, etc. But at least we made progress!

Last Sunday: Andy was quizzing Samuel on the Articles of Faith while we waited. I was the last to sit down because I was in the hall talking and it made me so happy to see them doing that.

A beautiful afternoon so we hung out on the porch a lot.

Monday: Moving all the stuff to the middle so we could paint the add-on building. The previous owners used it as an office and so far we've put extra tubs of toys or the girls' boxes they use for their NICU babies. After we paint it we're going to use it for all the girls' dolls, beds, strollers, kitchen set, etc at least for awhile. Then we'll proably swap it for the boys' toys of trains, cars and Legos. I love switching things up.

Thomas was an awesome helper all week, coming whenever I called him. Here he was removing all the nails and screws too high up for me to reach.

Tuesday: Checking on the garden, Talea wanted a picture of her with her potatoes growing.

Samuel plants cucumber seeds.

The missionaries giving us an object lesson.

I hate that this picture turned out blurry but I loved seeing Madalyn and Talea drawing treasure maps with each other.

Wednesday: While I got started on scraping a popcorn ceiling I told all the kids to sit and do some quiet reading time. When I came down an hour or more later they were all still reading.

A nice, quiet, happy room.

The sander broke on me so I didn't get to finish until I ordered another one, but here is a before picture as we started the 3 little girls' room update. We sanded the popcorn ceiling, painted the walls, filled 2 big holes, and would get new bedding, rugs, curtains, and decorations.

The big hole over there is where there used to be a wood stove that would join the chimney from downstairs. The other hole is underneath the white wood cover up on the far right.

I pulled off the white piece of wood to see what was under it and there was a big hole from where they maybe lowered the window?

Starting to paint. Makenna picked a pretty light lavender.

I'm guessing Kaitlyn took these pictures. Hard to see, but the light purple turned out the perfect color. We're excited to make the room nicer.

Thursday: Running out to the barn to get sheetrock to fill the holes I saw the boys playing "lazy."

I love the rhododendrons everywhere!

The add-on building/shed is all painted and ready for organizing.

Madalyn and I went on a temple trip together and it was great! I got 2.5 hours with her by herself in the car and 2 hours in the temple and then 2.5 hours home. Plus some time running into a grocery store for food. We left the house at 3:15 and got home at 11:30pm. On the drive home we wished we could drive all night we were having so much fun together. I'm going to miss her when she leaves on her mission in a few weeks.

Madalyn, soon to be a magnificent missionary!

Friday: All of Kait's and Kenna's stuff was moved into Thomas's room (you have to walk through Tom's room to get to theirs) so Kaitlyn was organizing it and vacuuming her mattress we threw in there too.

Thomas cutting a piece of wood paneling to patch a hole in the living room. While we're patching the girls's room two holes, we might as well patch this one too. It's been here since we moved in.

Thomas did a great job cutting a piece of wood paneling to match. Still need to do another coat of paint but it looks good. Not sure why the hole was there in the first place.

Makenna using the compass to draw a circle on paper for Thomas to use to cut a piece of sheetrock for the big round hole in her room.

Alexis doing something with her sourdough starter. I love going around watching everyone be productive.

Saturday: At a friend's 90th birthday party I loved seeing Andy pile his plate full of veggies.

Late into the night we organized all of Kait's fabric, folding and stacking it so it was easy to see and grab when she opened the drawer. She had a dresser stuffed so full you couldn't open any of the drawers.

The room all painted, both holes patched. Still need the bedding, curtains, and decorations. But it's coming along!

Week ending 5-1-22 Camping

 

Monday: Picked a bunch more asparagus for dinner. We love it!

Tuesday: I needed a quick run through the woods for a break and love seeing these 3 older kids Madalyn, Alexis, and Thomas hanging out on the slack line playing together.

It's been super fun seeing the woods change with the seasons. Soon the whole place will full of tall ferns, blackberries and vines.

The top of the hill after we climb what we call "the staircase" because there are sporadic limbs going across imitating stairs.

I hiked the back woods then crossed the top of the driveway and hiked the front woods and came out to see the sun shining through the dark rain clouds behind me and lighting up the trees in front of me. It was a lot prettier in real life.

Wednesday: Alexis has been learning the art of sourdough and I'm so proud of her. It's something I've never done but will be learning from her before she leaves for college. I haven't been into bread lately but her whole wheat sourdough is delicious!

Thursday: I took the 5 little kids camping in Jefferson National Forest and we had a blast. Here's where we just arrived and are ready to set up the tent.

The view from the batrhoom. The campground is higher in elevation than our house so there are still dogwoods and redbuds everywhere. It was beautiful.

There were 50 campsites and only 10 occupied--by RV's. We were the only ones tent camping. Everyone else were sweet seniors so it was a very quiet campground. We had our own woods and creek access which was great as we could do our own thing and I didn't feel like we were bothering anyone. Nobody ever came to the sites next to us and each site is pretty secluded anyway. It was perfect and we'll definitely go there again.

We took turns on the 2 scooters we brought and had a great time riding around the campground loop. I never got a picture but Kaitlyn would ride with Andy on her back and Talea standing in front of her. Then Makenna and Samuel would share the other scooter and that way all 5 could ride at the same time. :)

I took this for Madalyn when she asked how it was going. Sitting reading a book, perfectly content. The 5 little kids got along great the entire trip and found plenty to do to keep themselves occupied.

Taking a break from scootering and grabbing a snack and just talking.

Playing in the creek that ran alongside our campsite.

We hiked the 1 mile nature trail.

The dolls came along. :)

Cooking hot dogs for dinner.

Behind them is the short trail to the creek, maybe 10 steps.

After dinner Kaitlyn played her ukulele and we sang along.

Sam and Andy loved stirring the fire.

Friday morning: I got up and started a fire and read by it for a little while. Then I poked my head into the tent and found Tilly sleeping soundly while Andy lays in bed and Samuel reads.

Kait and Kenna reading too.

After breakfast I took the boys on a long hike for a couple of hours.

At a few places the leaves were up to Andy's knees along the trail.

Talea looked like a cute little orphan with messy hair and charcoal on her face. She must have been tired because she kept getting frustrated with her hopscotch she was trying to make with a burnt stick. I helped her out and we played for awhile. She's really good!

Skipping rocks in the creek.

We climbed a 100' rickety 75 year-old tower to see an amazing view.

We stayed another night and had a great time cooking grilled cheese over the fire, singing around the campfire again, and just talking. Guess I didn't take any more pictures. I'm so glad we went. It was so easy with just 5 little kids and it gave them extra time with me that they needed.

Saturday: After we got home and unpacked we planted flowers.