We follow this awesome blog called Knock-Off Wood. Ana provides free plans for tons of kick-butt furniture that would cost an arm and a leg if you were to buy it from a store.

We built our first KOW plan about 2 weeks ago. We’ve had the wood sitting in the garage for a few weeks, but didn’t have the time until recently to get workin on it. The plans we used were for the “Big Kids Picnic Table”

While we knew the kids would love it (they’ve eaten dinner at it every night since it was built), we had no idea duke would be such a fan. *snicker*

A few weeks ago, I finished a bench I’d been working on.

We found it on the side of the road, dying to be fixed up

so with some new wood, stain, and paint, here is the finished bench

Today’s the day of my big event!
I’m trying to raise $2k in one day! I’ve got nearly 60 blogs around the globe trying to help me make this happen.
The goal is to have each blog generate 3-4 $10 donations.
Since my blog is on that list, I need to generate my 3-4 donations to help hit that goal.
Will you consider donating just $10 towards my 3day fundraising today?!
DONATE HERE
See who is participating here

I’ve been neglecting the blog lately. For a multitude of reasons, really. For starters, I’ve had strep for almost 4 weeks. I went to florida for a weekend to shoot a beach wedding. Lily has had RSV 2x in 8 weeks. And I just got over food poisoning. Oh, and spring break was in there somewhere too.
I’d like a break please. LOL

Today Brendan had a great day at school. He had a small incident with a boy knocking him over, but he told his teacher that it was an accident so it was okay <3

Lily and I spent the morning finishing a project I’ve been working on. We found a broken and weathered old bench by someones garbage can on the way to the airport (for the trip mentioned above), and JR kindly dragged it home for me. I primed and painted the metal and bought/stained new wood and rebuilt it. It looks awesome and is finally done.

This afternoon we hung out around the house (I’m still really sick, so being up too much makes my head throb) getting stuff ready for this weekends garage sale. It’s a Charity garage sale with a portion of the proceeds going to the 3day.

The kids will be out selling water and pink lemonade to garage salers. Should be fun

Will do my absolute best to check in tomorrow, but don’t hate me if I fall off the wagon again. Time to go take some antibiotics… and NyQuil… and Tylenol. Ughhh

Several months ago we set up Brendan’s room space themed. Since then we’ve added several things, so I thought I’d share pics.
One of the things we added was a growth chart I made for him this week.
Here are some photos that show the entire room, as well as the growth chart.

When my parents thought they were moving, my mom gave me some boxes of stuff they had planned to get rid of. In the bottom of a box of old VHS movies, there were several pieces of clothing she had intended to donate, but wanted to know if I could use them instead.
I snagged a blue knit sweater and made them into little ugg-style boots for Lily.

except that there is no Chimney. lol.

I’ve got the stockings done, which is soooo exciting.

And the tree skirt is done too!

Mom has decided to make our Christmas Ornaments this year! She says she’s tired of generic store-bought ornaments and really wants the holidays to be about our family.

Here’s an example of some of the ones she made

This photo is my First Christmas Ornament and a picture of Mom, Dad, Me and Duke when we first moved to California!

Every Ornament has something significant to our family, like a part of their wedding invitation, or a photo from an important day.  Then every year, Mom will make a few more to go with the set!