shedding light on the darkroom

Despite many unpacked boxes, we have been in this house for almost a year. Some projects we planned on tackling last summer are wrapping up just now. When we first set up the sleeping arrangements, Aden insisted the darkroom in the basement would be his bedroom. After ripping out sinks and countertops, everything got a good dose of white paint.

Grandma Ellen was on board to help for not only one but two of her trips up here. She is completely undaunted by any DIY project. (We've asked for help on some nightmare situations.)

We added a chalkboard wall on one side. Aden has had a lot of fun with art in the past so I hope he will feel inspired to create in his space.

The concrete floor is actually in great shape so we left it alone. The walls are all crazy though so Matt & Grandpa Ken wrestled a nail-shooter-into-concrete-machine to add some molding.

The bed frame is new from Ikea and we have plans to transform the headboard into something soft and cushy for him to lean against while he reads in bed. For the time being it is raw pine and so is his long, lean shelf above the chalkboard. Then came another area that is specialty; custom murals.

 Aden had a really cool idea to do the Seattle skyline.

 Paint dried and things started to find a place. The dark box behind the apple painting (made by a friend) will be the window after we get our tax refund. The Mickey painting was something I did at Aden's request. He painted the American flag. The circle cubbies are Ikea, we bought them 10 years ago and the boys still like them.

 Aden painted the bird on the left of the doorway. A whole lot of trim work and lighting and adding that window to do still. I couldn't wait to share, though.

phobic

Aden has replaced Parker in the child-most-likely-to-refuse-having-their-picture-taken category. These are a few nuggets from the past months. I guess it's lucky then in the ebb and flow of life, that Parker has discovered the Facebook selfie thrill :)

making an entrance

I have been using an actual camera again. *gasp* Here is another house update I documented. 

So we are still living with the knotty pine in the front room. We use this mostly as a dining room and the boys also do homework in there. It is the room the front door opens into so it also has to be an entryway.

This one is kind of dark but it is from before the coat hooks and baskets were set up. The table need to be refinished but in the meantime I have some pretty tablecloths to cover it up. 

And look what I found! A picture of the other boys wearing the corduroy blazer. (It has leather elbow patches that are not shown.)

legend of the corduroy jacket

It lives on in Collin's Kindergarten portrait. All my boys have worn this Ralph Lauren blazer to Kindergarten picture day. Andrea has even called dibs on it for her boy. So it is kind of a big deal. Pretty great for a $5 thrift store score a decade ago!

Not sure if anybody realizes just how much of a cynic I am. I learned to curb it early on. (not everyone wants to visit the dark farm with me, go figure) But this boy. I tell you what, this boy is changing all that. He melts me. All those crusty bits where wounds haven't quite healed right, his delight in life chases them off. He is exhausting, to be sure, so I have to rest more. And I am learning that I am not so much a cynic as I am tired. Tiny wizard, that is what Collin is. A tiny wizard, pressing in on my heart in all the best ways. Plus that coat always puts a smile on my face.

switch-a-roo

Another house update. The dresser that was in our bedroom has relocated to the TV room. This is a great little space right out of our kitchen. It gets the most natural light in the house, which in Seattle is a BIG deal. We do most of our living in this room. Here's a look before we moved in.

And after the famous "A" made it onto the wall.

 Then we made the jump to a flat screen. And the dresser from our bedroom moved into the TV room. (Megan, I thought you'd be relieved to hear we repurposed it.)

Now we just need to stash those cords in the wall, kind of like this.

instagram ruined my blog

It is just too darn easy to document the everyday with Instagram whilst neglecting my blog, my real camera, and feeding my children. Just kidding, you see all that food up there? I mean, I have to make them something to eat... so that I can Instagram it ;)

This collage features the best thrifting score to date: 2 gold unicorns. Yahtzee!

Hilar.

 Collin tells me, " If I have twin boys, one will be Justin and the other, Bucket." This kid.

 On another funny note; I almost passed out soft porn valentines to kindergartners. Almost.

 We went with these instead.

Whew. That was a close one.

happy heart day

a good start

This is our bedroom on moving day.

 We found it fairly easy to set up our things like they were in the house we were renting before.

 So much stuff! And the dresser is really old and hard to maneuver.

Does anyone else's bedroom get neglected as you build a house into a home? Ours does. Even taking theses photos required cropping out piles and laundry. 

As we try to plan and envision something better suited for resting and well, you know ;) I have noticed a kind of thoughtless dumping ritual that happens. Company is over so I move a stack of papers from the kitchen counter to the nightstand. Or there is a school project due that one of the boys doesn't want ruined, so I stash it in the closet. So being short on storage in the first place, this room gets chaotic quick. 

Here is our first move in the right direction:

A functional dresser. No busted drawers or missing knobs. Great shape and size and quality. She has a few surface scratches but $129 at the local St. Vincent's had us hauling her home and I'll admit, swooning a bit.

I did a good wipe down inside and out with vinegar and we filled her up. Pairing down what we had that did not fit. (such a wonderful feeling)

I love the way she looks with nothing on top (why is this post full of weird innuendos?) But alas, I have a bunch of girl things that have to be stored there for now.

A way to go but what do you think? Find any thrifty treasures lately? Refer to any of your furniture as a "she"? Is your bedroom a black hole of clutter? Anyone?

3 terrors at the mall

 #1 This measly four feet of glass railings. Freaks me out every time. I totally envision being knocked over by some intense mall walker.

 #2 Completely cray cray outfit on this mannequin. I mean, I fancy myself fashion forward but come on!

#3 The kids play area. Enough said.

This post is brought to you by a Saturday morning last month wherein I thought a quick trip to the mall was a good idea. (in hopes that I will review it if ever that notion strikes again)