Spring Days

So, blogger has changed its format in the past two weeks.  If I can't figure it out, I may have to move to Wordpress. Hmmm. Anyway, highlight of the day was milking a cow.  Something so commonplace one hundred years ago is a pretty exciting event today. Milking is not too hard- who knew?

A Busy Week

We had a nice Easter celebration. We enjoyed church in the morning (and on Good Friday, too).

Then there were twenty of us for Easter dinner.

We had enough ages for both an Easter egg hunt and several rounds of the game "Pit".

And then target practice with air-soft guns (!).

Yesterday we made the two hour trek for end-of-the- year evaluations. This was the first year that we had three evaluations on the same day. Since Jacob skipped 8th grade, he had testing two years in a row. Next year, no evaluations and the following year, just two.

We enjoyed the scenery during the trip- lots of farmland and barns.

I was amused by the church sign. We follow Jesus on Sunday at 10am- all the other times we just do whatever we want! (I'm sure that's not what they meant).

Sigh of relief- testing completed! And for Abby, her final test for high school as required by Colorado law.

For All You Downton Abbey Fans

Etsy

I haven't looked around Etsy in quite a while, but while pinning on Pinterest, I came across a pin that led me to a seller on Etsy. (I bought this frame, above, for the family room).

She has so many cute things- little stocking stuffers or birthday gifts or baby shower gifts.

I'm just putting this here for reference so that I can find her again when I need a baby gift :).

So cute!

I can see these selling well at the antique shop where Hannah has her booth.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mmim

Spring Snowstorm

Ice coating the trees

And spruce tree needles

And twigs and branches.

Snow angels. Note the halo at the top.

Mysterious nocturnal visitors leave traces of their presence.

The Girls' Room Gets A Makeover

This room was the first one we painted when we moved in eleven years ago. I love the pink, but after so many years, it was looking a little worn.

It's time to finally fix the floor we took up after the thermometer/mercury spill. We have had the wood to patch it now for a couple of years...

A room in transition. The pink will be painted over this week (sob).

It was *last summer* when the girls started thinking about what color they wanted their room to be. I drew the line after going to the paint store 5 times (or more, I lost count somewhere along the way) for paint samples.

As of last month, the room was going to be grey. But Abby wasn't ever happy with that. She wanted something more "cheery". So *she* went to the paint store (with her father because I gave up!) and picked up her own paint samples. And this mint green was the winner. We thought about painting in some chocolate chips for an ice cream theme, but thought better of it later :).

Hannah's Pictures

Hannah is playing with photoshop elements- taking some photos in black and white and then adding a pop of color.

And some pictures just for fun.

Hope's New Bed

I found this antique bed through Craigslist last month. It is perfect for Hope's bedroom update (since she is a young lady now and not a little girl. The kitchen set has been moved out - sigh- and a double bed and armoire- also from Craigslist- are moving in).

Since the bed is old, it has an "old" smell to it, so Brian wiped the frame down with mineral spirits to see if we could help it smell better. It's not terribly stinky, but when it is in her room, we would probably notice it.

The mineral spirits did take off some of the oil finish. If we can de-stink the bed, we will refinish it. If not, we will need to paint it to seal in all the "old" stuff. I think the bed will look nice with off-white paint, although I would miss the nice stained finish, too.

AWANA Grand Prix

Hope's car.

Jacob's car- shaped by him, painted by Abby.

Lots of creative cars this year!

Brian sent the cars down the track. We are happy to report that Hope did *not* come in the very last of all the cars again this year.

I made Taco Soup for the chili cook-off. I didn't' win any prizes, but a lot was eaten by the end :).

For Christy

Men in Ties

Since Jacob wore his new tie to church, he insisted that Brian wear one, too.

I think they were the only men at church with ties on.

Maybe what Kate Middleton is doing for nylons, Brian and Jacob can do for men's neckwear?