Monday, September 15, 2014

Back to School

This new school year Brielle started 4th grade and Dawson started 2nd grade.  We got back to school haircuts and had all our back to school shopping done in plenty of time to be super excited about the new year.   



Dawson desperately wanted a faux-hawk but I really love short hair that requires no work. :) I gave in and so far it has been easy.  He does his own hair in the morning so its no added work for me.  Brielle just wanted a few inches cut off.  She is looking so grown up.   



Clothes all laid out ready for the first day of school!

Getting them both to pose and smile, impossible. 


  Love these kids and they were pretty excited to start school!


My silly spiderman boy!  (so much like his Daddy)



Brielle has Mrs. Berry and she sends home HW Friday and it needs to be turned in the following Thursday.  We are pretty excited that we have some weekend time to do HW since weekdays can get pretty busy.  Brielle was asked to be in SEM again this year for Language Arts.  Based on testing done during the year kids that show advanced skill in certain areas are asked to be part of a small group that does harder work/projects.  She was very excited to be chosen again.  Now she needs to challenge herself in other areas and maybe she will get picked for those next year.  Dawson has Mrs. Pectol who is very electronically savvy which I LOVE.  All of his HW is online!  Which, so far, is exciting for him and feels like playing.  He has MUCH less HW this year than last year and that is also a very good thing for him because after almost eight hours at school his brain is pretty tired.  Looking forward to another great year of learning for this kiddos.


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Dallin Gary Milius starts preschool!!!

I don't like to say we have the BEST ...... but in this case we do!  We have the BEST preschool ever!.. All my kids have attended Jelly Bean Junction preschool and have loved it.  So excited for Dallin to love it too.  

Dallin is by far my most different child.  His personality is much more reserved and shy than my others.  He doesn't usually warm up to people well.  Does not talk to people he does not know.  Doesn't like to leave my side so I have been worried about preschool.  But much to my SHOCK he has been so excited and absolutely loves preschool!  Runs out of the car excited and never looks back!



This picture is soooo Dallin.  Shy to even smile.  :) Oh how I love this boy!



 



 Hanging his backpack!                    His first preschool paper!!







Now for some comparison throw backs!!


Brielle 2008



Brielle 2009

 


Dawson 2010


Dawson 2011





Sunday, August 24, 2014

Entertainment Center Tower Redo....

Yes, its been two years but I wanna play catch up because I want to print blog books in the near future.  So for now I will do current updates and catch ups.

DISREGARD THE MESSY GARAGE (WISH I HAD A SHOP)

My friend asked me if I could do anything to spruce up her entertainment tower and because it was solid wood I knew I could bring it back to life!  I love a challenge.  I love making old things new.  I'm no professional by any means I still use a brush and roller as opposed to a sprayer but I still love how they turn out! 

Here is the before of the cabinet.  The smokey glass is lovely.  The broken door adds character :) and that 90s oak is to die for!

I knew instantly I would remove it all.  Then add baseboard and crown molding to make it more from this decade.  A quick google search and I found a couple pieces that were exactly what I was picturing. 







After removing the smokey glass and broken doors it was already improved!  I sanded the entire cabinet.  You have to remove the sheen on any piece of furniture to get regular paint to adhere.  I use an automatic sander and it makes all the difference.  After a good sanding I added the bead-board backing.  I simply cut bead-board to size and glued them on!  I used Liquid Nails construction adhesive laid the cabinet down and just let the glue dry. 



It's already a transformation, right?


After the glue had dried and the bead-board was secure I moved on to the base board.  This is just builder grade standard here in Utah.  I used my miter saw to cut the base to size, used Liquid Nails and my brad nailer to attach it to the cabinet.  This was the easiest part because I had just spent a week adding baseboard to our basement so cutting it was fresh in my mind. 



Because I didn't have any crown molding on hand I decided to go ahead and prime the cabinet first.  I use Zinsser primer.  It's the best.  Nothing else compares.  It is a little more pricey than others but most of the time needs one coat and the paint adheres beautifully saving you money in the end.

I got the crown molding up but it was challenging.  Crown Molding is tricky to cut.  I've done it before but it usually takes me several (4-5) mistakes before I remember.  Ugh.  So google it and watch videos.  I glued and nailed it on like the base.  Gave the unit one coat of primer and one coat of paint. 
 



The insides of the cabinets got a second coat and then I starting playing around with glaze.  I use Kwal glaze, in Raw Umber.  (I had to wait for all the caulking to dry before giving the whole thing a second coat)  Caulking really is your best friend.  Makes your seams look perfect and flush.  I also used some wood filler to fill in the holes where the doors were connected.  


I'm a bit of a perfectionist so distressing and glaze can give me anxiety.  I have to learn to be ok with imperfections because that is what is supposed to happen!  I took a hammer back to he cabinet to add indents where the glaze would catch and look worn.  I also use a screw laid flat with a little tap from the hammer to get rivets for glaze enhancing.   

 BEFORE AND AFTER



In my friends living room waiting for the last two shelves (I took a break because of summer heat) and accessories.  This took me a couple weeks because I have kids that need things off and on.  :)  What do you think?