Stupid...Stupid....Stupid!

Disclaimer: This is a long, dramatic post, where I whine and complain about temporal thing....mixed with a little (lot) of rambling.

Anyone that knows me knows I am obsessed with home improvement. 

That's not to say my house LOOKs like I am obsessed...

just that it is constantly on my brain. 

For the most part, I'm too scared and insecure to try something out. When I finally get up the guts, sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. 

I see potential...but not sure how to get it there. 

Especially in my own home. 

I loved the architectural interest of these niches when we moved into our first home. 

Not crazy about the oak cabinets...but thought we could change that up...if we wanted. 

But those niches have caused me a lot of mental grief. What to do with them?! 

Then after a few days of the Parade of Homes, I was inspired!

Mirrors!

I picked this one up at Lowes. I was surprised I liked the modern design. 

Warning: Excuse the cluttered mess!

I also got a round one from HD, but decided I liked the Quatrafoil one best. 

So, I returned the round one. 

But it still didn't look right. 

It just looked busy and cluttered. 

We are getting our carpets cleaned today, so we're removing as much furniture as we can. 

I thought while I was at it, to completely remove everything from the niches. 

I was liking the clean feel. 

Almost 99% sure I was going to return the mirror and spend that money elsewhere. 

Then it happened.

I was moving some accessories, when I heard this huge crunch.

NOOOoooooOOOOooo!!!!!

I just stared at it with tears filling my eyes. All that $$ down the drain. 

On something I just decided I didn't want. 

I was even more dissapointed as I removed the glass to find out that the frame was made out of plastic. 

ARGH!

So, any ideas for what I can use this for now?!

Or for the niches?!

Maybe we could make them look like bookcases...

or....

just put a vinyl quote in each one?

(Sigh...)

What we learn from our children...

When Dan picked up Michael from his church class today, Michael showed him what he learned...

They were given magazines and asked to cut out things they were thankful for, and things they needed. 

Yeah....you're asking for it if you ask 5 year olds that...

Michael is thankful for girls, and wants a guitar. OH. boy. 

First days of school!

Is summer over already!? Actually, I think my kids are starting later than most of yours, but still, the summer went by fast!

I wanted to make their first day, extra special, so Chelsea got her favorite for breakfast: crepes and suausages!

THIRD grade already! She is super excited about her teacher, Mrs. Calvin. She wishes her good friend Cloe was in her class, but I'm sure she'll make more friends quickly.

 The kindergarteners have a slower start. On the first day of school, they come in for a 15 minute "assessment". Here is Michael cramming for the exam. :) Last year, we started the "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" that my sister uses in her preschool. We still have 3 lessons left (that we should finish up this week), but he has become a pretty good reader!

After the kids are assessed, they are evenly distributed among the classes, to have well balanced classes.

The next day, Wed., they called to tell us who his teacher would be. This year, he will have Mrs. Scherer, who actually lives down the street from us!

On Thursday, I went in with him to find his classroom, meet his teacher, and have a brief orientation. 

His "locker". 

The school!

On Friday, was the real deal. It was his turn for his special breakfast: blueberry muffins. 

 This was his first experience on a bus, and he was soo excited. He gets picked up at our driveway, and then dropped off at the regular bus stop, which is our backyard. 

After those doors closed, I started to cry. I really did not think I would. But watching that bus drive off with my little guy, made me realize how much he has grown up! I'm excited for him and for everything he will experience and am also looking forward to some down time with just Brinly and I (and just me when she naps....yay!). 

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

We never had the chance to go camping this summer, so we decided to utilize this long weekend and go camping. Dan found this beautiful place about 3 hours northwest from us, called Banks Lake.

Reminds me of Utah!

This is an aerial shot of our campground. Now to get technical: If you are standing in the lake, facing inland, our campsite was to the left of the boat dock, in that little niche. Perfect, right?

(campsite to the left...not pictured)

Well, apparently, they draw down the lake to work on the dam. We did know this in advance but had no idea how much the lake would be affected. 

Here's what we found:

Yeah, NOT this:

but, THIS:

Takes the wow factor out, don't you think?

WE could have had such a beautiful view!

What should have been covered in beautiful water, was swampy dirt. In fact, Michael got stuck in the mud shortly after we arrived. Lost his shoe, but dan was able to dig it out with the shovel we brought. 

The kids didn't mind one bit, though. 

Here is the "niche"as described above in the arieal photo.

GAH! And evidence that we DID have both her shoes. We came home with only one.  Well, I guess another camper will wonder who the lone shoe belongs too.... Ugh. I bought these shoes for her to play in the columbia river so the rocks won't hurt her feet, but the few times we have gone, we couldn't find the shoes. So frustrating. 

Moving on...

The permanent "low" tide, made sea-shell finding a breeze! Michael had a cup full in about 10 minutes.

We did have a great site, despite the noisy, foul-mouthed, constantly drunk neighbors. 

We had plans to rent a boat on Saturday afternoon, but due to the draw down, they had us go to Lake Roosevelt, a reservoir created by the Coulee Dam.

Ahh...water! :)

We were supposed to raise the flag whenever we had someone in the water. 

I take my boating navigating very seriously. But....I could never find the brakes!

Chelsea and Michael had a blast on the tube. Dan and I both went too.

Briny tried too, but was more content to just sit and ride.

I got up on water skiis! I've only been up once (when I was 15 years old)  which was also the last time I tried, so I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it. I was so excited, I yelled from the skiis for someone to take my picture, but they just thought I said "Go faster!" which promptly ended in a wipe out for me. 

Dan did take the kids out on the sunbanks lake in our little raft. 

And they actually caught a fish!

Sunday we went to church in Coulee Dam. Afterwards, we visited the dam  and the visitors center.

This hammer actually vibrated. It was hilarious to watch Brinly!

We all had a great time, and definitely wore ourselves out!

Notice the leftover s'more on Michael's face? 

Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day!