Stella's New Dress Up Storage

Stella's dress up clothes have been housed in a cardboard trunk who's lid had been torn off and an empty diaper box.  Glamorous. Or not.  Anyway I had seen this thing on Pinterest.  It was a converted dresser.  I was stoked.  I repinned it to one of my boards and then I went to see if I could find the original location... and I couldn't.  I clicked through the pin and it took me to google reader.  Well, that is less than helpful.  Besides that I had just read this thing about pinning with integrity.  Which basically means I will find the original post and pin that instead of the link to the link to the link, or whatever the case may be.  So in any case. 

I have a very talented and handy husband and I said "Can we do this?  Would it be easier than building one from scratch?"  and he said, "Yes."  I said " Sweet.  I found this $10 dresser on Craigslist.  Will it work?"  he said "Yes." I said "Should I call her and see if it's sold?  Will you go with me to pick it up?" He said "Yes."  Anybody see a theme here?  I have the best husband EVER!

Anyway...We bought the dresser.  It looked like this: 

 Then We pulled the top 3 drawers out and cut out the front supports.  We opted to leave the side supports in so that when it has outlived it's usefulness as dress up storage in Stella's room it can be repainted and re-repurposed into mostly open shelving.  He's smart.  And it was easier than cutting them out.  We added a bottom "floor" to cover the bottom drawer, and put on a new, sturdier back.
Then we sanded it down, painted and added a bar to hang clothes on.  Easy.  And functional.  And very well recieved!  

 Here it is in all it's glory!

  

Also, I did find the original post about the inspiration piece.  It can be found here at Rambling Renovators.  You should check it out. It's way prettier than mine. And the rest of their site is pretty cool too! 

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was fun!  With 2 little ones old enough to enjoy every part of it, we had so much fun.  We (again) did 4 for Christmas.  Which is an idea I read ages ago, somewhere.  I can't remember where or I'd share.  Anyway the idea is to only get your kids 4 gifts for Christmas.  Something they Want, something they Need, something to Wear, something to Read.  This helps me to keep from going overboard on the gifts.  Because I would! 

So, Stella got a new dress-up dress, a new dress-up storage... thing. (That Sid and I made by re-purposing a craigslist dresser, inspired by something I saw on Pinterest).  Also a pair of the cutest little navy blue corduroy pants (I went into Osh-Kosh for jeans and came out with cords). And the book  The Clown of God, by Tomie DePaola. 

Bruce got a wooden train set (which he couldn't wait to open and play with).  A Higher chair (since he loved Stella's so much, and since he wanted to sit AT the table with us during meals).  A new pair of jeans, and his book is The Story of Jesus which is a little golden book. 

And I was super proud of myself because I surprised Sid and got him a GPS.  He loves it.  And I love it.  And it still makes me smile when I think of his reaction when he opened it!

He got me a date to go pick out new boots.  Cowboy girl boots.  It was a fun morning.  We went to Green Dragon which is a large farmers market/ flea market/ defies acurate description market.  We had a lovely breakfast and I got boots!  They make me happy.

Since it was a Sunday we also did the church thing. You know since it's about Him and all.  We waited to do gifts after church, and Henry came with Kerri.  It was lovely! 

I am so abundantly blessed by my God and my Family.  I am so thankful that Jesus would come.  And as I was reminded so many times this season He came as baby, but He didn't stay one.  He grew up, to die on a cross.  And that is why I can celebrate His coming!

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So, I'm a few weeks behind.  No surprise there.  I feel like I'm always a few weeks behind!  Anyway.  Pictures.  Of my kids.    Here they are. Filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Which Stella loved.  And I loved that she loved it!  I told her it would go to a little girl who wouldn't get a Christmas present and they would tell her about Jesus.  She was pleased about that.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning this year I woke up at about 7 with Bruce.  At 7:30, after I had changed the blowout diaper, I went in to get Stella up!  She didn't know what day it was, and when I told her it was Christmas my sweet girl said "Christmas?!  I get to go to Aunt Ginny's and see my cousins!" It was adorable.  And I realized she had no idea what was waiting for her downstairs.  So I told her to go get her Daddy up, and I went downstairs with my camera.  She didn't even see the presents until after she had greeted Mom-Mom and Bruce.  Hence the picture taken from the side, but you get the idea!  She was surprised and excited.  These are some pictures of the morning. 

Mom-Mom and Bruce, waiting for everyone else to get up.

Stella's reaction to the presents under the tree.

Stella playing with her new baby doll. (No word yet on a name)

Bruce playing with his new toy from Grandma and Nonna.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas presents

As I watched Stella get excited about Christmas this year I began to worry about her getting the gimme's.  So I  decided to nip it in the bud and we made presents for her to give.  I bought some little wooden stars (of David, accidentally).  We spent an afternoon ripping up tissue paper and gluing it on the stars.  Really fun and messy!  The accident of stars of David worked out well.  They looked like poinsettias when they were finished.  I stuck a peice of magnet to the backs and wrote the year on them.  We had fun, and she can't wait to hand them out!

Christmas Outfits

Well, Christmas is almost here. So since it was the week before Christmas, I got my kids all dressed up for church.  Too cute.  Stella fell in love with this dress in the store. She calls it her "lady bug dress." Thanks mom for the Kids Christmas clothes!  These are some hastily taken photos.  We should have left for church already, but I knew they wouldn't be up for it at all afterward.  And since we went to La Roca to visit our Spanish-speaking friends in the afternoon, I was correct.  Enjoy!