Table with some old fashion character - literally!

This is a view of the bay window area in our family room. As you can see, it's overrun by kid stuff. I'm reclaiming it as adult! My long awaited chairs from Arhaus are being delivered next week - very excited! I bought them about 8 weeks ago for a great price. They are now nearly double so I got them for almost a 2 for 1 price. I thought about finding used ones then recovering them but Scott has a serious cat allergy that worries me.

Today, on my always anticipated Mom's AM out, my partner in redecorating crime and I found an amazing table at Town and Country (a furniture consignment store I love). I saw it in the window as we pulled up and immediately loved it's shape. From the beginning, I wanted a round or oval table to nestle between my new chairs. Upon closer inspection, it had so much character. As you see above, the top has a old faint portrait of George and Betsy Washington.

The side edge has a flower metal running strip and the top of each leg has a painted bow.

The love the distressed look and shape of the table. It'll set higher than the arm of the chairs but I think it'll add the height the area needs especially with a lamp. I nearly passed on it because my husband now claims I'm added to much antiques. What does he know about decorating?!

Curtain panel becomes valence

I had these velvet dark green curtain panels in their original packages for years. In my last house, I purchased them for pocketing sliding doors. But, they weren't long enough so I just tucked them away. Several times I've considered just putting them up for Goodwill but didn't. Now I'm glad I kept them. I made them into valences for my living room. I didn't even need to sew. I cut them in half and stapled the top to a 2x1 board then L bracketed to the wall. Ok, I did have to sew several plastic circle pieced to the back to create the gathered affect. But, they were made in a matter of hours. I love them! They really polished off the room.

DC, here we come!

After surviving the Christmas holidays with sanity intack (sort of), Scott decide that we should take a train ride to DC. It quickly turned from a one day trip to see the dinosaur exhibit at the Smithsonian to ...well, we should just go from a couple nights so we can really see things and not be rushed. An hour after booking the train tickets and reserving a hotel room, I remembered! We have a dog! Poor Cody! I had completely forgotten him! Thankfully, our vet was open to take him that evening. So, off we went! Above is Jackson admiring the lion in front of Embassy Suites (which by the way rocked! Free buffet bfast in the AM!!).

The day we arrived. We went to see the White House. Julia and Jackson were thrilled just to be off the 2 hour train ride more than anything.

We toured the Natural History Museum. The rock exhibit was really cool! I love that they definitely have children in mind. And know they just need to touch things.

While Julia was taking a much needed nap, Jackson and I escaped to the Capital Building. This was his favorite! He talked about wanting to live here. But, after I said he couldn't climb a tree (just didn't think that was a good idea with a cramp load of armed guards around), he quickly decided there were too many rules to live in DC.

The Christmas tree was huge!! We never made it there at night to see it light up.

Jackson and I also ventured into the botanical garden (mainly b/c he had to go "pee"). He told me that Ms. Ann just lets him go in the bushes (again, didn't think that was a great idea given the armed guards). The gardens were beautiful. I'm glad he had to go to the bathroom:)

The last day was a trip to the Air Space Museum. Julia earned the "worst kid in the place award" that day. She threw her shoes and laid out on the floor over not getting marbles from the gift store. Two and marbles - don't think so! Anyway, we quickly forget those tantrums and focus on the adventure of fun! Scott has the dinosaur fossil pictures on his phone. I'll post once they are uploaded.

Christmas 2010

Santa brunch a few weeks before Christmas. Jackson was talking Santa's ear off. I literally had to pull him away so other kids could get a chance to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Julia had the opposite reaction. She tucked her head down a started to cry when I put her up in the chair. She was okay before that with walking around.

Christmas morning Santa brought several instruments!

Grandma and Granddad Rhamy picked out this puzzle for Julia.

Julia's opening the gift that Jackson picked out for her. Moon dough, which is a never drying playdough. But, it's extremely messy! It's already banned to the outside!

Hooray! Santa brought Jackson his violin. At first, he was a little upset that it wasn't a "real" violin. But, it has quickly become a favorite present.

Julia's 1st bike from Santa and Jackson has a real scooter. Both have been riding them around the house since it's been a White Christmas this year.

Safari exploring gear that is an incremental part of Jackson's wardrobe.

Cody even has a stocking from Santa.

Things I love....

I was lucky enough to catch this moment. I was just going through my pictures and saw this photo. It made me smile:)

Change in gears... documenting a near death experience

About 2 months ago, my husband went on a guys trip to Costa Rico with some of his high school buddies. One of them was turning 40 (as did Scott this year) and decided to take advantage to celebrate big. On of the adventures they did was white water rafting down the Rio Naranjo. Above, is Scott contemplating his decision to go. I swear I can see him thinking, "I rather be hanging out just drinking beer"!

And, now you can see why! It was a class 4 rapid in areas! None of these guys had rafted in many years, if ever! Scott said the guide gave them a look of "oh great" when he asked their experience levels.

I just want to yell "PULL" with the above shot. Scott is front left with biceps burning.

Scott told be to say "WTF"! They literally thought they were going to die. Apparently the raft went underwater several times! Glad I didn't know this as I was probably watching TV back home.

Scott, after the rapids, looks glad to be on solid ground again!

At Work...

This weekend I had my partner in redecorating crime come over so we could move, ponder, and attempt to recreate spaces in my house. It was so much fun! It's amazing what you can do with what you already have. You just have to move it around. We moved chairs, tables, and taped curtain ideas to windows. There was just the occasional yell for mom given that we did this with 4 kids under 5 in the house!

I came out of it with some many ideas and this urgency to find what I need. We later, with 3 of 4 kids (you know who was left at home), went to Izzie's furniture consignment shop. Early in the week, we had gone their to just see what they had and found 2 beautiful club chairs. At that time I wasn't in the market but now my family room chair is in the living room. I have a large bay window in my family room that I want to find 2 club chairs and an oval table two set in the middle with a lamp. The chairs were a pretty bluish green background with fine brown check stitched checks. Perfect to off set the dark brown rug and bring out different accent colors within the rug. Only problem - the fabric is silk! With 2 kids under 5, I don't think so! Needless to say, I'm still on the hunt.