Kitchen Renovation

I'm in the middle of a tedious kitchen renovation...but it's not my own. It's for this sweet girl (who fell asleep reading this afternoon):



Gigi and Grandpa gave Landrie a toy kitchen for her 3rd birthday and the girls have loved playing with it. It's got several bumps and bruises so I moved it out to the garage until I could decide what to do with it. That's when the girls started begging to play with it again. So, I decided that before it came back in to Karsyn's room, I would repaint it to match. Sounds easy, but it's taken a lot more time than I expected.


Here's some pictures as I started the project:



Day 1:

Landrie caught a picture of me in action. I was able to spray paint most of it, but there was some detail work that I had to do by hand.

After picking up some more spray paint, I've gotten this far:

I still have one more side to paint and then I think I will paint some flowers on it to cover up some spray painting mistakes.

I can't wait to have it finished and back in Karsyn's room!!

Inspired

I've been inspired by my creative cousins to turn some fantastic finds into some priceless decorations for my house. They've now taken their craftieness to the World Wide Web! Introducing - Shanty2Chic!


My first creation were cabinet doors (Thanks Missy!) that I crackle painted and embellished. I'm still trying to decide where to hang them, but I love the way they turned out.



I've got a few other projects in the works--cabinets for the girls' bathroom, picture frames and old shutters. I'm not sure exactly what they will turn into, but I know the finished product will be great! I also just spotted 2 chairs in front of a house down the street that I'm going to nab before the trash men pick them up tomorrow! One will be my new desk chair and I think one will go in Karsyn's room.

The Circus

Last Sunday, we wrapped up our week of fun by heading to the Greatest Show on Earth--The Circus! The girls have never been before and were at the perfect age to go. We got a great deal on the tickets too, so it made the show even better!

We got to the AAC at 1:30 so we could go down on the floor for the pre-show. They had activities going on in every ring.

Landrie's favorites were the tigers and Karsyn loved the "ephalents". Landrie has added an acrobat to the the many things she wants to be when she grows up, and Karsyn wants to be one of the girls who rides on the elephants.

Even though they were super serious at the show, they have not stopped talking about it since. I hope to make the circus an annual event!

PS: I've promised not to post a silly pic of Lolly, but just know that she donned the clown nose too!

Making Memories

This summer has been so great!!! We have enjoyed so much and packed in great things into our final week--swimming, playing with good friends, and the circus! We've made so many memories from the fun planned things to the little unplanned times.

After dinner with Lolly and Pops, we came home to lots of puddles. We got some much needed rain and sent the girls running!!! Letting go and letting them get a little dirty, turned into some of my favorite pictures of the summer.

Landrie in her new glasses!

VBS

The girls went to Bible Bootcamp last week at their preschool. They had so much fun with their friends and learned a lot! On the last night, they had a program for the parents so we could see everything they did during the week.

Marching in

Paying close attention to the drama


At the end, they were presented with Training Manuals with all of the verses they learned during the week. It was really cute and great to see all they had learned. We will definitely go back next year.

This is what happens when Karsyn is the photographer...

I think we have a future photographer on our hands!

More Summer Fun @ Putt-Putt

Last week, we took the girls to play Putt-Putt. Even at 8 o'clock it was still close to 100 degrees!!! We had a good time, but man it was just too hot!

Landrie and Karsyn picked the "Adventure Course". After about the first 5 holes, they were more interested in the scenery than playing golf. Karsyn, of course, played by her own rules. She would hit the ball from the 'tee', but then would move it closer to the hole for her 2nd and 3rd shots.

Landrie was trying too hard and got frustrated when she didn't get it right the first time. We're definitely going to have to work on that!

Karsyn was so proud that she got it in the hole!

Landrie wanted her picture by every animal on the course.

Silly faces on top of a very large elephant

It's all Lolly's fault!

Lolly bought a new toy last week and it was love at first bite for me - a new ice cream maker! She's made every flavor under the sun - peach, strawberry, banana and coffee. They were all so good, so I decided to get Lamar one for his birthday. It was more like a gift for all of us, but still...

I gave her a chance to perfect the recipe and tonight I made my first batch of homemade strawberry. It was delicious.

Here's the recipe for the ice cream base that we're using:

(for a 1 1/2 quart maker)
2 cups milk (2 % is fine)
2 cups half-half
1 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk

After you make the base, you can add whatever flavor you like. I pureed frozen strawberries and added a cup to the base.

I might try the lower fat products next time, so I won't feel so guilty for eating ice cream every night!!!

For my next batch, I want to try pina colada with pineapple bits.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

Summer Update

This summer has been full of fun so far! With Karsyn being potty trained and both of the girls at an easier age, we're able to go and do a whole lot more than ever before.

We've gone to the park, swam A LOT and had a great 4th of July! I've been enjoying my time with them and haven't documented a lot of it, but here's a few pictures.



We were at a park in Keller and the girls saw this and ASKED to have their picture taken!! They're modeling their new summer haircuts too!!!


Here's the girls at their first day of swimming lessons. I was very discouraged at first, but since lessons have ended, the girls have done great with their swimming! Landrie even swam across the pool yesterday. Karsyn is floating all around in a ring and kicking to get wherever she wants to go. I need to get some more pictures of their progress.

I've been on a cookie baking/decorating kick. My first cookies were for Janelle's graduation party and I've now made them for Father's Day and the 4th of July.


For our Super Star Dads - Lamar & Pops!



I did flip flop cookies for the 4th because they were more fun to decorate. Everyone had a cookie with their name on it. The girls just loved to eat the icing off the top.

Our 4th was great!! We swam during the day and then went to church. FC is doing a series called "At the Movies". After church, we ate at Jason's and then walked to the Boys Ranch. The fireworks were great--the girls were in complete awe of them!

Landrie, Channing, Karsyn & Campbell