Ensign Ranch

This was one of the best camping experiences we've ever had. We went up to the Ensign Ranch near Cle Elum, WA with our friends the Nerland and the McConnels. The amount of laughing that went on over the 3 days we were there was therapudic. Words cannot begin to describe how much my face hurt from laughing at Alan's pants ripping incident. We know this is a camping trip our kids will remember for a very long time.

Before & After

You may remember this hideous mess from exactly 1 year ago...




I don't know why I haven't posted any after shots yet. This part of the house has been done for ages. Of course there's many projects still needing attention but we're taking it slow these days. We plan to repaint in a lighter shade of this olive green sometime in the near future. The paint has already taken a beating from our 4 kids...deep sigh. Hence the reason I'm sticking with plywood floors, this floor can handle the kids.
We also plan to replace the fridge with a black one someday when there's extra money laying around to replace something that's working just fine!







For anyone wondering...
- We did all the work ourselves with a few helpful hands here and there from family and Friends.
- We reused the old cabinets. Added beadboard, trim on top and bottom, painted, glazed and added hardware that was purchased on ebay.
- The granite counters were purchased on craigslist and installed by my hubby.
- The apron front farm sink and butcher block island counter are from Ikea and they were both a screaming good deal.
- The floors are made out of 4X8' 1/2 inch plywood. The hubby ripped them down to 8" strips then routered on all four sides. Then install them with screws. I then painted them black and sanded them. Voila, farm house floors on the cheap.

More Chalkboard Love...

I've been wanting to paint an entire wall with chalkboard paint but Alan was not feeling the chalkboard love like I was, so I haven't pushed it. But after buying my super fabulous chalk ink pens I couldn't resist any longer. So...while he was at work I went to work on a little wall in my kitchen. When he got home I showed him the wall and he was not so happy (he gave me the scowly face). I told him to read the quote so he looked up and then bursed out laughing. He said as long as I keep the Nacho Libre quotes up then he loved it. He wants me to take down the chores and just cover the wall in Nacho quotes...um no.

Family Pictures

Since my entire family was together in Idaho last weekend we decided to take a family picture. It was a little chaotic and we were in a big hurry but we got a few good keepers.

The Dille Reunion

We were finally able to make it back to the Dille reunion this year. I grew up going to Shoshone, ID every single summer. Alan hasn't been since Taylor was a baby and the last time the kids and I went was 4 years ago. It felt good to be back. We had a great time swimming in the irrigation canals that we call "the drops", swimming in the local outdoor pool, playing at the park, visiting with family and eating ice cream every day! It was blazing hot but we loved it. My entire family was able to go this year. My brother lives in Idaho and my sister and her hubby live in Utah. So the best part for me was getting to see my whole family. I miss them and wish I could just make them all move into little houses on my property so I could be with them every day!

This is the house my Dad grew up in and the one that we visited every year until it got to be to much for my Grandma to care for about 13 years ago. It was made from lava rock, how cool is that!!!

I did what I said I'd never do...

I got the kids a cat...no make that 2 cats! My friends cat had a litter and she hounded me until I gave in and took one of the kittens home as a surprise for the kids. We live in the country now and the threat of mice outweighed my dislike for cats. We took home this sweet adorable little thing and my kids were fighting over it like they were starving and it was the last slice of bread at the table!!! So we "borrowed" the cat's brother the next day and "borrowing" turned into keeping. I have to admit, they are ridiculously cute and sweet and patient. Maybe I'm more of a cat person than I thought. We've had them for several weeks now and I haven't regretted it one bit..surprise, surprise!

WARNING - PLEASE READ!!! This post reveals that my children run around in diaper/underwear with messy faces and mangy hair...I apologize, but that's how we roll around here!









P.S. They're names are Tigger and Pooh. We already had the name Tigger picked out so of course his best friend would HAVE to be named Pooh. I kinda feel sorry for the poor thing though, how would you like to be called Pooh? It's pretty funny to listen to Lula calling out Pooh over and over again.