Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hallelujah, we have internet.

Oh my goodness.  So much has been happening, and I haven't been able to blog.  And blogging is how I process.  Well, writing is how I process, but these days, writing = blogging.

So...we have internet, after ten days without it.  And much has happened since I last blogged.

I think I will do this in list form.

1.  We moved.  We are moved in, and very nearly settled.  And, we are adjusting very well, all things considered.  Scott and I each had our emotional moments, where the reality of what was happening overwhelmed us, but we moved on from those moments, and we are actually loving our little, 1942, rental house.  The yard is great, the "old house" of it is great, and I actually like the smallness.  It has been so much easier to stay on top of the cleaning because there is so much less to clean.  In fact, every night after dinner, we have a quick family "pick up," and by the time the kids are in bed, the house is in order.  Crazy thought, right?

And, amazingly enough, Ada and John are doing Great with sharing a room.  In fact, I think Ada is doing better at bed time.  I think she is comforted by the fact that John is in the room with her.  We put John down first, and we do our story and prayer routine in the master bedroom, and then we "sneak" Ada into her bed.  It has worked great so far.  Thank you, Lord!!!  We can feel his hand all over this move, and we are so thankful.  Let me show you a few parts of the house...

 This is our front room and play room/ "office"/ place I love to read a book or do my "quiet time."  I usually sneak away to the (freshly slipcovered) love seat during rest time, while John naps and Ada watches cartoons on the couch.  Though that is technically our front door, I doubt it will ever be used as such.  Our driveway takes people around to the back of the house, so I assume that people will always come through the kitchen door.  (which is a shame, because the kitchen is my absolute least favorite part of the house).

 more shots of that front room
 the front door leads to the glassed in front porch, which Ada and John spend hours on.  This is John playing "peek-a-boo."  Scott is going to borrow a pressure washer, because even after vacuuming and mopping the floor of the porch, it still turns Ada and John's feet black.  Years of dirt, I suppose. 
 Really, we spend the majority of our day on the porch.  I thought it would be too hot, but it's really not.  I am very thankful for that extra room.


This is the master bedroom.  There is not much else to say.  It is connected to John and Ada's room by a short hall, with a bathroom in between our two bedrooms.  So, a visitor has to walk through the master to get to the bathroom.  This is great motivation to keep my room clean!!  And so far, so good (other than the obvious "moving" clutter).
And the kitchen.  My old, ugly kitchen.  I don't know why they won't at least paint the walls and cabinets, but it's functional.  It gets the job done, and I am thankful for that. 
And just to give you an idea of the lay out of the house (mainly because I know family might be curious), this is from the front room looking all the way back to the kitchen.  From the front room, there is a door to the master, and from the dining room, there is a door to Ada and John's room (and the laundry room).  And, like I said, we are enjoying the house more than I thought we would.  It feels like home already.  Again, thank you, Lord.

There is so much more to report...

Ada started school, which means I started teaching at CC.  We have started watching a friend's little boy.  Scott starts work next week...etc. etc. etc.

I mainly want to write about Ada starting school, of course, so I will probably be back with a post about that tomorrow.  So much for my list, right?

Overall, we are feeling very, very thankful, and very, very taken care of by God.  Again, this is not how we would have "written our story," but we can feel God directing our steps at every turn.  Praise Him.  Over and over, praise Him!!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Praise. The. Lord.

I can't write long because we are up to our ears in moving, but I had to post to say...

Scott got a job!!!!!!!!  


We are thrilled and relieved and can't believe we are (it seems) at the end of this crazy year of one thing after another.  We both keep looking at each other and saying, "you got a job."

We will move forward with the rental house for lots of different reasons, so this doesn't change that (and we are okay with that), and we are thrilled because we will now be able to attack our debt with intensity.  Seriously, the combo of cheap rent and A JOB is going to be life changing for us.  Life changing.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord.

Oh, the job is with Home Depot at their headquarters in Vinings (right by the apartment where we were living when Ada was born--funny that life has circled around like that).

Okay, back to moving.

By the way, I haven't mentioned that I have been away from my kiddos since this past Sunday--the longest I have ever been away from them, and I am going nuts because I miss them so much.  They are with my mom for the week, so that I can actually get us moved, but I sure do miss those stinkers, and I am counting down the days until Sunday when I will see them again.  They are having lots of fun, though, and they got to spend some time with Scott's parents this morning, so I am not even sure that they are missing me at all.



I think John has mostly been happy and having fun, but in the above picture he is mad about something.  I had to post that picture because it is just so John--my moody (at times) little guy.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Quick Lamp Update


Okay, I finished the lamp with the trim.  And I am also showing you the pair of lamps that I did for the master bedroom.  The bases and shades were 75% off at Target.  The fabric (which was not as good for this project--too flimsy) was 30% off at Hobby Lobby.  I didn't have to paint the bases, and I already had the spray adhesive.  So, I think around 20.00 total for the pair of lamps.  Total.  For a pair of lamps.  Oh, and as you can see the orange lamp bases are painted ivory for those of you who asked.

Now these lamps would not work in the home of a perfectionist.  They are defintely flawed.  But I am very excited about the cute little touch they will add to our "cottage" style bedroom at the rental house.  Yay for lamps on the cheap!!!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Moving Week

It's moving week, so I won't be around the blog much.  I'll see you on the other side of this craziness.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Lamp Update

We have success--almost.  I need to add trim around the edges, and I need to finish spray painting the base, but I am giddy on the inside that I have nearly accomplished the task at hand.

Okay, what I started with--base from Goodwill.  Shade marked 75% off at Target.  Fabric and spray paint from Hobby Lobby. I bought two yards of fabric to cover two lamp shades, and that seems to be just the right amount (with a little extra) to cover these large shades.

okay, here the fabric is glued on, but I still needed to trim the edges (which is what the trim is for, to cover the raw edges)
and the finished product on the non-painted base.
on the in-process base
here, you can see the raw edges.  All of the "tutorials" say to choose a trim to give it a finished look, so that is my final step.

Birthday and Open House

I'll go in order.

Thursday night was open house for Classical Conversations, and Ada was fired up.  This girl is ready for school to start; I hope it doesn't disappoint.  It was a fun night of meeting the other families who will come alongside us as we begin the homeschooling "journey."  I am eager to get started.

A few quick pictures of Ada as we begin this thing.



And yesterday, I turned 29.  It was a normal day, as these days tend to be after you have children or just become an adult in general.  Ada was very concerned about my not having a party.  She wanted to know who I was going to invite, what kind of cake I was going to have, etc. etc.  She could not grasp that it just doesn't work that way as an adult.

I did spend the evening at my friend Kate's house for a Thirty-One open house.  And while there, sweet friends loaded a cupcake with 29 candles.  It nearly burned the house down.
I can't believe I am one year away from 30.  I repeat, I will eternally feel 21.  I really think I will.

And in more birthday news, my parents sent me an Amazon gift card, which is super exciting.  And I made a quick decision to use the gift card to purchase a beginner-friendly sewing machine.  (I say quick; I've been thinking about what machine I want for about a year; I had a sewing machine given to me by a friend, but it wasn't very beginner-friendly, so I passed it on to my mom)  I googled best machines for beginners, and this seemed to be the unanimous vote.  (okay, best machines for beginners under 100.00)  I also ordered a sewing book and even looked up you tube videos to see if this specific machine was on you tube.  It is.  I fully believe if I can get the machine and bobbin threaded, I will be good to go.  I think you tube can help me with that.  My ex-fashion design self really wants to get back to sewing (very basic sewing), and I would love to be able to make a few simple things for Ada and John. and pillows.  just a basic pillow cover.  Also, because of my height "impairment" my pants are always too long.  Always.  So, I want to be able to hem pants.  That would be life-changing for me.



And that is what is happening with us.

Moving week is next week.  We are eager to get settled before "school" begins.  We continue to be blown away by gifts from friends.  They just keep coming in, and each one is a huge blessing.  God is so very good, and he has given us such good friends.  (and family).

Thursday, August 11, 2011

My attempt to recover a lampshade

We have a serious lack of good, solid lamps over here at the Moore house.  We have one that my mom gave me--a hand-me-down from her house--and one that I bought with wedding credit at Pier 1 right after we got married.  Everything else is flimsy, cheap-o, Ikea lamps, and they all drive me crazy.  But what's a girl to do?  Use overhead lights?  No thank you.

So...thanks to pinterest and the design blogging world, I now see the beauty of buying a 5.00 lamp at Goodwill and revamping it.  Or, a 5.00 clearance lamp at Target--either way.

So, with that in mind, and momentum from my shelf makeover, I decided to try my hand at a Goodwill lamp, using this tutorial.



that's her finished project.

She makes it sound so easy, so I bought my supplies (which luckily can be returned, other than the fabric) at Hobby Lobby, got John down for a nap, got Ada occupied   watching cartoons, and I "went for it."


It's not easy!!!!!


I can't even get my pattern drawn on paper.  Oh my word.  I am about to go crazy trying to do this.  Can anyone help me?  Have you done this before.  Anyone, anyone?  My visions of lamp cuteness are quickly vanishing.

I had such hope.

Update:  I have made progress.

I was bound and determined to do this thing, so I googled some more.  This time--how to make the template for the pattern.

And then, out of no where, it dawned on me--newspaper.  I just wrapped the shade in newspaper, taping it on as I went, (It actually took a combo of three sheets of newspaper), then I cut around the shade.

I carefully removed the newspaper pattern, and I cut my fabric.

Now I am trying to figure out how to tackle actually gluing the fabric to the shade.  I'll post when I have actually succeeded 100% with this project.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Thankful #s 162-170.

Thankful

162.  for God's provision and obvious hand on our lives at every twist and turn.

163.  a rental house that will provide some stability in the midst of the crazy

164.  Classical Conversation and beginning the Homeschooling journey  (and having friends alongside me as we begin!!)

165.  A fun birthday party for my big four year old, and friends who celebrated with us

166.  So many gifts from friends and family.  I will say it again and again and again, it has been overwhelming to the point of tears. I went to Publix last night, using a gift card from friends, and thanks to sales, the gift card should last us for two weeks worth of groceries.  I have story after story after story of ways that friends and family have come alongside us over the past year.  Chili's for lunch yesterday, thanks to a gift card, really, story after story.

167.  Work for Scott that will pay rent and put food on the table during this transition period.  So thankful for work!!

168.  Several interviews and job possibilities--hope.

169.  5.00 lamp shades at Target--marked down from 25.00.  Affordable ways to make the rental house feel cozy and like home.

170.  Spray paint--amazing what I can transform with spray paint (the lamp bases are next in line).

He is always sovereign.  He is always good.


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Friday, August 5, 2011

Birthday Interview with Ada



I saw this idea on pinterest, and I love it.  I plan to do this on every birthday from now on.

I followed the pinterest questions exactly because I was curious to see how she would respond, hence a few random questions.

1.  Ada, what is your favorite food:  cake, banana, gummy bears [she never eats gummy bears, ever]

2. what is your favorite sport to play:  princesses

3.  What is your favorite thing to watch on tv:  princesses [here is where I pointed out that she doesn't watch princesses on tv]  okay, Caillou

4.  Who is the coolest person on earth:  space man

5.  What is your favorite thing to learn about in school:  princesses [I ask, do you learn about princesses in school?  Is there anything else that you learn about?] okay, letters and numbers

6.  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?  Outer space, because that's my favorite place to go.  And the park.  [until this interview, I have never heard Ada talk about spacemen or outer space.  She does love the park]

7.  What is your favorite color?  pink, red, and purple

8.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  princess

9.  What is your favorite song?  Jesus Makes a Difference [from VBS] and princesses.  Those are both my favorite songs. [we don't have any princess songs that we listen to.  none.]

10.  Book I'm Loving Right Now:  princess and dora books.  Maisy and Olivia [really, she loves any lift-the-flap books, Maisy, Bernstein Bears, Olivia, and yes, princess books--we have Tangled and Cinderella]

11.  Three words to describe me:  I'm like a kid.  I'm like a princess when I dress up.  Happy that Near is coming.  [my parents are coming today for Ada's birthday party tomorrow]

12.  When I was little I used to: wear diapers

13.  Favorite season:  Winter

14. Absolute best thing about camping:  [just curious to see what she would say, we have never been camping] marshmallows

15.  favorite snack:  goldfish, cheese, carrots, grapes

16.  food I really don't like:  ostrich [?!!!!], laughs, I mean tomatoes

17.  My best friend is:  Hannah, Grant, and Baby Kate [Harman kids]

18.  One wish:  I could be a fairy flying up the whole wide world

19. My best memory: Doing a pacie.  Because I love pacies.  I just wish I still had one.  [she means pacifiers; it's been a year since she gave them up, but she hasn't forgotten]

20. Is there anything else you want to say?  Happy Birthday to everyone.

And that just about sums up our Ada. She does, indeed, love princesses.  She is your stereotypical girl in that she adores pink and princesses and dress up and glitter and make up and all of those things.  She is very inquisitive, and I often find myself impatient with her endless questions (I wish that wasn't true--my impatience)  She is going through an extremely shy phase, and she is super attached to me.  I am hoping she will outgrow this and that Classical Conversations will help a bit.  She struggles with disobedience (obviously), and I feel like I am not consistent enough with discipline.  She also has a tender heart and is quick to "break" after a spanking and prayer.  She continues to be very small, but healthy--in the lowest percentile.  She loves ballet and is excited to get back to it in the fall--she asks about it a lot.  As I have mentioned, she is beginning to read, and can sound out most three letter words.  She loves John so much, though they are starting to have some sibling conflict.  Mostly, though, they adore each other.  They are both so full of energy, and they just feed off of each other--John copying almost everything she does.

It's been a doozie of a year for all of us, and I believe that much of it will be used to shape her little heart.  We are beyond thankful for our precious girl--there really aren't words, right?  She is our treasure.  A gift.  And we are heavy with the responsibility.

Pictures

Happy Birthday, Ada and Scott!!!!

Four and 30.  Everybody's growing up.

I'll be back soon with more thoughts.