The Fruits of Our Labors

March came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb.  In fact, we have been enjoying the weather so much we keep forgetting to get out the camera.

Spring is officially here though. The work we put in last Fall to plant some bulbs has come to full fruition and I have had a happy little garden of daffodils to greet me this spring.  They're so cheery, it makes me happy to look at them! 

Although we missed most of the month, we did however record the end of it.  We had a great Spring Break and Easter at home with my parents.  I don't know if they considered it much of a break though since we put them to work on a few major projects while they were here. 

You might have noticed that I'm not much of a seamstress, I don't even own a machine, however our trampoline badly needed some new pads.  My mom brought some material they had lying around and some heavy duty nylon thread, plus my friend let me borrow her sewing machine. So while my mom was here we made new pads together!  Okay, so my mom did almost all of the sewing because every time I sat down at the machine it had a conniption and the bobbin knotted up and we had to un-pick it all (I don't own a sewing machine, so I obviously don't have a seam ripper and it was very irritating, so it was better for us both if she did most of the sewing). They actually turned out great and I'm so pleased. Now the baby can jump on it safely without fear of his leg going through the springs.

Before

After

Before

After

My Dad wasn't left out of the fun of course.  I found a perfect project for him and my husband.  My husband isn't much of a mechanic, although he does own a very basic set of tools. I sent them to a salvage yard (my husband's first time) to find a new door for our car since when we bought it it had a huge dent in the side.  They successfully found one that matched, took off the old one, and put the new one on (despite the many "helpers" they had around) and voila!  It looks so much better! 

We definitely capitalized on their visit, I hope they don't feel too used.  I made sure to take care of them well though, feeding them good food and taking them to some of our favorite places.  

Mmmm... Crepes.

They were here for our Easter Bunny Saturday celebrations (we celebrate the true meaning of Easter on Sunday and try not to mix the two).  Since it was good weather, the Easter bunny decided to be tricky and hide the baskets outside.  The kids had fun finding them.  

 Bubble swords were a big hit.

We went for a walk by the fishing ponds and lo and behold they were having a free fishing event.  They gave us rods and bait and the place had been recently stocked.  Well, that still didn't mean we had any luck (we've talked about how it's called fishing, not catching for a reason right?).  I didn't mind that much since it was such a beautiful day.

We also had a picnic later at a park near the lake.  We ate in peril of the fuzzy worm things falling from the trees and into our dinner every time the wind blew.  Quite the adventure.  At least the kids had fun climbing the trees.

It was a good weekend.  (...Until I had to sing a solo in church as part of our Easter program, but that's for another post.)

$5 Chair

When my husband and I were first married, we were at the DI and saw this fantastically ugly pink chair for only $5.  As a joke, I sat down in it, and was actually amazed at how comfortable it was.  Since we were short on furniture in our tiny apartment, I talked him into buying it.  After all, it was only $5, and we could get rid of it at any time --like when we moved to a better place and got real furniture (Ha!), or I could possibly re-cover it.


Well, the chair stayed.  I discovered right after I had my first baby and the subsequent healing that went with third degree tearing (I know,TMI --sorry), that it was the only chair in the house soft enough for me to sit in (in fact I would tote the cushion around with me wherever I went in the house), and it also turned out to be the perfect height and shape for nursing in.  I actually tried replacing it, but no other chair would do.  So with every one of our 11 moves it has come with us.  I still hated the color, but really had no idea how to reupholster things.  The shape especially intimidated me.

BEFORE.   I forgot to take a 'before' picture until after the cushion had been covered.

For more than four years it has been an eyesore and the kids have added to it's colorful character via crayons and pens, (I think it also still had spit-up stains from both babies too) but alas, no more!  My lovely sister came and pretty much reupholstered it all by herself for me!  All I did was pick out the fabric (which I also needed guidance with, so my wonderful sister-in-law took me where I needed to go and pretty much held my hand the whole way.  I'm so helpless).  It's nothing fancy, just functional ...and not pink!  Yay!  So now, technically it's a $20 chair, adding just what the fabric cost, but it's worth much more to me, and will forever be a symbol of the kind and charitable acts of loving sisters.  Isn't it so much better?

AFTER. (With flash)

(With natural light.) It's actually a lot darker green in real life. These pictures do not do it justice.