Hats [on] to You!

Details

I just got these smart looking dishes at a thrift store. I used them at my Habitat for Humanity luncheon table. I guess this picture seems to be actually showcasing the summer kitchen through the window.

I forgot to note the fixture in G's room. It's original to our little 1920's farmhouse, though i spray painted it and rewired it (with a little coaching from Andrew). The nursery rhyme figurines are a mobile that doesn't stand a chance against its owner (not me! The George-meister!), so I jimmied it onto the light.

Another stoic piece- a wing back chair in like-new condition from a garage sale. I gave it a sense of humor by painting the dark wood legs a peppy yellow. It rooms with Oliver, and the family piles on it every night to read our excitingly brilliant children's Bible.

Oliver's verse.

So these are just a few things I wanted to give special attention to.

Home Tour: Gigi Edition

This piece of pressed tin hangs above Georgi's bed. We bought it at a flea market to go over our couch at Little Pine, but I always thought it would be fun in a little girl's bedroom. After I hung it, it seemed a bit serious for my girl George, so I magneted some old family photos to spunk it up a bit. That's my momma's momma in the fishing boat. I never got to meet her, but doesn't she just look like an intriguing beauty? Some day I'll fish with her in heaven...if we're not too busy having coffee and laughing.

No, homegirl is not potty trained yet, thus the changing table mode of the dresser. History behind some of the hangings: the double oval photo frame is from Pottery Barn outlet, the 'M' (for Margot, if she is ever brave enough to enter Georgi's lair), is actually an inverted 'W' that Andrew made while experimenting with personalized Cribbage boards. The large painting of the little girl was a gift from my mother-in-law when I was pregnant with Olives. She was just sure I was having a girl.:) The little African American boy and girl looking up at the sky came from a Little Golden Book About God, just pinned to some burlap and framed in a garage sale find. The white oval-centered frame was also a garage sale number, without glass. I had gotten a different gilded oval frame at a thrift or garage sale, popped a picture from an old book in it, popped that inside the white frame and ta-da! The plate is second hand and the baby sleeping from a local antique shop.

A shelf nearly overflowing with books and other sweet treasures- a Raggedy Ann piggy bank, a Trixie Beldon installation, some hymns of the faith. That bright red book there is one of my favorites- Thank You for so Many Things.

Do you notice the Home Interiors multi-heart shelf to the right of the window? I used to make fun of my mother for it...then I stole it from her, painted it, and topped it with heirloom colored glass dishes and a glass from Pier One.

So there you have it.

Helmet head

Gigi and Grandma Kasper, a.k.a. 'Bobby'

My main man on his birthday, Jeshua observing Andrew opening his cards.

No, I'm not an over protective parent- I didn't make Oliver wear his helmet to climb the tree, though that wouldn't be a bad idea for this rough rider.

Buttoning up my Gigi girl.

Editorial

Georgi, with hands in her pockets, obediently following her big brother Oliver, who was graciously teaching her about planting. Okay, so that's what I imagine is going on...but experience tells me otherwise... Heaven only knows what these two are capable of.

Babies Roro (Roman), and Gogo (Margot), enjoying a little cousin time.

I learned a tricky little way to edit my photos -- look out picture world! I feel like I should be able to upload them faster, but the fact that I can get them up here at all is a minor miracle, so...

I still haven't finished my house tour, I know. I've got a lot on my plate, as they say. Mainly trying to raise these three kidlets without messing them up. It's crazy- being a mom. I feel foolish for taking my own precious mother for granted all these years. I have 3 kids, which is only .5 more than the national average, but so often it feels like 5000 more. NO ONE TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS HARD! And the 'wife of noble character...whose children arise and call her blessed' probably doesn't yell. Oh dear. It gets me overwhelmed. My life is over and whelming. UNTIL I consider Ephesians 6, which we studied this week in our women's Bible study. Paul is telling the Ephesians to put on the armor of God. Though my house sometimes sounds or looks like a physical war zone, Paul is actually talking about a spiritual war. Our armor should include the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, and shoes that are the readiness of the gospel of peace. Now, in my pre-class studying, I messed that last one up. The readiness of the gospel of peace is referring to our own peace. Not being a peaceable person, but having peace in your heart knowing that the gospel- the good news- is true. And in embracing that peace you're telling Jesus, 'I trust you. Thank you that your promises are true, that you have my best in mind. Thanks for having a plan for my kids.' I hope I remember this!

Margot Meg: here I am!

Look, it's a pumpkin! No it isn't, it's Princess Pukesalot. This dear little girl has a sweet disposition with a sour smell. Sweet and sour sauce. Saucy sissy. Sissy pie. Mag pie. Margs. She's a whole lot of all those things, soaked in a whole lot of love...and puke.:)

Etc.

Main floor bath- I have a fondness for emerald green.

Oliver's bed- he has a matching 'friend bed' on the other side of the room. Andrew and I ripped wood out of our barn for the beds and the kids' bathroom vanity. I saw an idea for a roll-up school map in a magazine once, so naturally when I found some maps at a school garage sale I snatched them up. When we moved to our new house- bingo!- one fit Oliver's window perfectly. Providential.

This is the office area at the top of the stairs. I'm thinking of converting it into a little reading nook/guest room with a daybed. Andrew built that sweet desk out of an old industrial ironing board base and an exotic wood called bubinga. How funny is that word? Anyway, this room has the best view in the house.

A verse I wrote over the window on the landing going upstairs. You can catch a glimpse of the makeshift railing on the right there. One of our remaining projects: stairs/railing.

I forgot to mention these pendants in the previous post-- we fashioned them out of a few things we found at Menard's and some other thing Andrew had to buy online.

That's all I've got at the moment. Gigi was sleeping when I was sneaking around taking the pictures, so I'll have to snap some of her room tomorrow. The master bedroom is sort of lacking right now...well, the opposite, actually. It's stuffed to the gills with stuff. Margot is still in there in a mini crib, and all of her gear along with her. When it clears out a little I'll take some pictures. Andrew did a pretty neat closet unit in there. Everything about our house is petite, so we have to create storage...let's just say 'master suite' is not applicable to our bedroom.