Dining Room Table and Chairs

I received this dining room table from some dear friends before Jason and I were married.  It was used but Jason and I loved the look and shape of the table and chairs.  We knew we would have a lot of work to do on it though. 

There is sooooo much that needs to be done in this room.  That is probably the reason why I didn't begin refinishing the table and chairs for so long.  

This picture was taken after we stripped and sanded the table.

Here I am putting the first coat of stain on the table.  I was so very nervous!!!

Jason figured out a way to allow the table legs to stand up, which made for easier staining and poly-ing.

This is how we lived for about three months.  It was horrible.  I don't know how people refinish their kitchens from months on end.  We ate at this tiny table in our living room.  Horrible.

This is our dining room.  The corner cabinet is one of two that we bought off of craigslist.  We have since painted them but will post on those another day.

Here I am sanding the chairs in order to prime and paint them.  We debated staining them the same color as the table but I realized that with two little boys, there was not enough time or patience on my part to get them done.  We decided to paint them a dark gray.

Priming.  Enough said.

We finished around fall.  Here is the finished product.  I love them.  It makes eating so much more enjoyable!

Here is the table at Christmas time. 

Such a big project!  So thankful it is done!

Our Kitchen Coffee Art

Oh yuck.  (My apologies to whomever designed these prints.  I used to like them.  I really did).

This is what we have going on currently in our kitchen.  I have known for a LONG time that it has got to go.  I just haven't been able to find the exact "art" I'm looking for.  Enter: our new camera, my amateur photography skills, and my husband's "barista" skills.  

First my husband "frothed" (did I just create a new word?) some milk.

Then he ground some beans...

for a cappuccino. 

There he is, perfecting his "foam!"

I took tons of pictures.  I tried different settings and backgrounds.  This is the shot I chose.

Next up is the espresso.  Oliver supervises this one.

Final espresso shot.

We hung them in our original frames.  We're not sure yet if we're going to paint the frames white or leave them dark.  It depends on if we're going to get black or silver hardware for the cabinets after we paint them.  But that is a project for another day.  Let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Single shots.  I apologize for the horrid lighting...  Our kitchen walls do not look like mustard.

There.  Still not quite the color of our walls, but it is much better! 

Important to Me

I guess I am reminding myself of the reasons why I started this blog.  I did one post a couple of weeks ago and haven't had time- or made time- to post again.  I love my life.  I am very blessed.  I feel that I was given the perfect partner to share my life with.  God knew what he was doing when He gave me my husband Jason.  He knew that we would spend the rest of our lives together even before we were born.  My grandpa baptized Jason.  I didn't know him then, but I think that is pretty amazing.  My grandpa knew my husband even before I did. 

I'm getting off subject...

I was talking about the things that are important to me.  I will stress the word ME.  These things may not be important to some, but they make my life what it is.  Maybe it will help if I put it in bullet form:

1.  I love preparing good meals for my family.  My husband works long and hard at his job.  He teaches in the inner city and it is not for the faint of heart.  I think it is important that he come home to a good meal.  My mom is an amazing cook.  I learned so much from her and will always be thankful to her for teaching my sisters and I how to prepare amazing and delicious meals on a budget.  I also think it is important to share meals as a family at the end of a day.  It is so exciting to me to hear Jason and Henry discussing the day together.

2.  I love decorating.  I think it is important to have a clean and beautiful home.  I feel better when I know that my house looks and feels lovely and clean.  I know that my family feels calmer and happier when things look nice and tidy.  Plus, I am a neat freak.  Again, thanks Mom!

3.  I love being a stay-at-home mom.  Love it.  I couldn't imagine working and leaving my children.  I realize this isn't everyone's dream, nor am I putting down moms that work outside the home.  I am just a sappy lady who couldn't stand missing things that my children do.  Oliver said "sock" and "wait" today.  I was the one who got to hear him say it and tell him, "Yes!  That's a sock!!!!!!!!!!!" and "Yes, you need to wait for me so that I can help you go down the stairs!!!!!!"  They are my life right now.  I'll probably have to work again someday in order to put them through highschool, but right now I'm soaking in all of the little things my sweet baby boys do.  It is already going too fast.

4.  I love gardening.  My dad and mom have always had vegetable and flower gardens.  Not only are they beautiful, but they provide delicious food.  My boys loved going to the garden last year to pick vegetables with me.  Not only does it teach them where vegetables come from, but it helps them to learn to love eating them.  I can't count the number of times they ate food right out of the garden.  My mom taught me how to freeze and can produce from the garden.  It is wonderful not to have to buy cans of tomatoes or green beens from the grocery store and it is a real cost saver.  Plus, I know where they came from!

I hope to be more consistent in posting things on this blog.  Things that are important to me.  I don't need readers.  (Although it would be fun!)  God has blessed me richly and  I don't want to forget anything about my lovely life.