Adventures Family Updates

Our Summer in the Midwest

April/August 21, 2018/ 2 Comments Edit"Our Summer in the Midwest"

Here’s a 5 minute recap of our summer in Indiana with family.  We had such a blast together and made so many wonderful memories!  The Greatest Showman soundtrack was kind of the anthem of our entire trip, both Florida and Indiana.  Enjoy 

Adventures Family

Our Weekend in California

April/August 14, 2018/ Leave a comment Edit"Our Weekend in California"

In June, we set off on a fun summer trip.  First stop, California for the weekend to visit with friends (who have since moved BACK to Hawaii).  Yay for California, and yay for friends!  Hope you enjoy this little highlights video 

Adventures Family

Lily is FOUR

April/June 6, 2018/ Leave a comment Edit"Lily is FOUR"

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating our four year old this year!  She’s at the age where she knows everything is for her and understands the concept of a party.  She was very excited!  A few months ago, I asked her what theme she wanted.  At the time (though it’s probably changed twice since then), she was ALL about Sheriff Callie’s Wild West.  It’s a show on Disney Junior about a cat who’s a sheriff in a town called Nice and Friendly Corners.  There’s lots of silliness–milk bandits, a deputy who’s a bird and talking cacti. I’ll spare you the details.  Just know that she was REALLY into all the characters, and lassos, and sheriff badges, and horses.  Need I say more?

We started early thinking about ideas and cupcake flavors and food to serve.  She really wanted cheese puff balls, hot dogs, watermelon and blueberries.  I thought that was a great idea, so that’s what we had! 

And at four it’s hard to know who to invite.  She’s is blessed to have soooooo many friends!  It’s kind of ridiculous.  Between longtime family friends, neighbors, our church ohana and our wonderful community of families through MOMS Club, there were just too many for our backyard.  And she’s not even in school yet!  I decided to invite our family group from church and her little Sunday School friends this year.  At her second birthday, we actually had two separate parties for her… seriously though, why?  

Anyway, back to her birthday.

Saturday morning we woke up and had cinnamon rolls, which has become sort of tradition.  We ate outside and let her open gifts from mommy and daddy.  She got a Sheriff Callie hat and swim suit and ballet slippers (which is her newest obsession).  It was a nice morning of just family time.  Then we started getting the yard ready for the party!  

Some friends who recently moved away gave us this amazing water slide, and it was the first time we had set it up!  Needless to say it was a hit!  Cary took a snooze in the swing (not always normal) while we set stuff up, and the girls occupied themselves with their ballet attire.  It was amazing!  

I frosted the cupcakes and the girls put the sprinkles on.  There was a small little melt down when daddy ran to the store to grab ice, but other than that the day was fabulous.

People started coming at 10am and the festivities were underway.  Noodle horses, lassos, bandanas, snacks, drinks, slides, playhouse and pool… the birthday girl had the time of her life!  We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful space to host parties, and we love when people can share in that too.  Here are some pics of the day:

Lily,

You are a gift from the Lord.  You are learning and growing each day, and it also seems you’re correcting and challenging me more these days as well.  It’s beautiful and sanctifying–for both of us!  You encourage me with your sweet cards, your drawings and your constant crafts.  You love people, especially the friends you know well.  You are caring and enjoy playing pretend.  Dad and I will continue to pray for God to reveal Himself to you as you grow older.  For now, you are learning all about Jesus’ life here on earth, his ministry, and how he calls us to treat others.  We are looking forward to another fun-filled year.  We love you sweet girl!

-Mom (& Dad)      

Projects

Dumpster Divin’ DIY

April/May 31, 2018/ 1 Comment Edit"Dumpster Divin’ DIY"

I use the term dumpster loosely.  It was actually bulk pick-up weekend.

I was on a run in the neighborhood below us and I noticed this little gem sitting by the side of the road, among other things. It was only missing a few pieces of hardware… knobs, shelving pegs, and a couple of screws.  Immediately I thought of a DIY rehab, but didn’t think I’d have the time or energy to take on this type of project right now.

I was kinda right. Except I was determined to finish it!  I even told Mike that if I didn’t start working on it the next day that we could put it right back out on the curb. 

His skepticism is what lit the fire, haha.  I spent several hours in the garage working on this baby…

I asked my neighbor if she’d go back down with me and pick it up in the van, and I snagged a few other items too!

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I knew I wanted to go with what is in:  dark stained top coated in polyurethane for easy dusting and wipe downs, white chalk paint, lightly distressed and sealed with finishing wax plus some cute knobs.  Give the people what they want!  I just happened to be at SoHa the next day, a local store out here with super cute beachy things and ran across these knobs for $5 each.  I HAD to get them!

It was a good find, I’m not gonna lie.  I didn’t have to do to much as it was really solid to begin with.

I took the doors off and lightly sanded them.

Then I sanded the top of the stand with a medium then fine grit paper.

The wood grain looked super nice, and I was excited to stain it!

Not looking too shabby…

Ready for stain and paint!

We had this in the garage… we’ve used it on a bunch of stuff inside our house – pantry and closet shelving, stair railings, mirror frames, etc.

It goes on so beautifully… and I forgot to wear gloves… again.

Stain is done.

Then I painted.  I like working with chalk paint because it’s water based and if it gets too thick you can just add water and get the consistency you want.

I did two coats of white chalk paint.

Then I did a wax finishing paste all over the paint.  The chalk paint is a matte finish, so to protect it and give it a glossier feel I did the paste.  

I probably should have distressed the edges before this step, but that was a last minute decision.

Almost finished.

Then two coats of poly over the stain.

And voila!  Posted it on FB Marketplace on a Friday and sold this bad boy for $150 the next morning to someone who was super stoked that it matched her dining room table!!  I impressed myself, and got lucky… and that, my friends, is my Dumpster Dive DIY 

Before and After…