Paint Make Overs

Before Paint. After 1999. Giant Armoire.

I am sure I have wrote about how paint is really the fastest, cheapest,most effective tool to makeover your home. After putting off some painting for a while, I finally got to it and painted my giant armoire. I actually took courage from my favorite blogger The Nester, who has the EXACT armoire and painted hers a cool aqua color. I almost went the safe route and painted this baby yellow but decided to go for it and went with a lime green.(thanks Kelly) And I absolutely love it!


And although I really Want a new coffee table, I settled for taking an old Texas-themed tray I never used(picture horse shoes on the ends). A quick coat of Heirloom White and some $3 flowers from Wally World. Ta- Da!

I have added my chistmas bling already!

So there is my paint projects and I will post my christmas decorations soon.... After I paint three more black dining chairs and two little chairs for the girls Santa present. SHHHHH

What's up with the Tuckers

You know have you get this idea in your mind of a great family outing? You plan to go to an awesome activity, you can picture the children laughing, having fun. You and your honey give each other a high five with your eyes, thinking we are the best parents ever? This was NOT one those times. AT ALL. I bought tickets to the air show about an hour away in south Houston. Super excited because we have been many times in Austin and the little girls have never been. First we were running behind, Dana was sad because we were "missing all the good stuff". Then we get down to the general area(less than 3 miles from the airport) and traffic stops. Dead stops. Two alternative routes and many swear words and TWO HOURS LATER we pulled into the parking lot. We tried to recover but it took a while to get our attitudes set right. But we did have fun, got to see cool planes and most Importantly we saw the Blue Angels and that was Almost worth the trip. Our motto is Making Memories and we have decided that can be good or bad ones, but memories all the same.

Mia really impressed to be in the helicopter
Mia , Chloe and Cole in our white trash seats AKA a wagon.

Mallory and Cole ready to fly

Cute pic of the girls taken by Chloe. I love this picture.

Chloe takes better pictures on a self timer than I can on my own.

All in all the kids are great, we are healthy and are blessed beyond words.

It Is All About Love

It is OFFICIAL- I have fallen to a NEW LOW that I can barely speak about. I have sworn for at least the past 6 years that pets were not going to happen. I have had pets and it was never a successful venture. Was it terrible pets? Most likely not. It was me. I am not a pet lover. I don't even think I am a pet liker.(grammer...what??) So how is it that you are staring at a picture of a dog??

Chloe rescued this little pup from a pool and brought her home. I thought for sure the owners would be found but that has not happened. But as the days turned into weeks, I discovered something. I still do not like dogs(too messy, too crazy, too smelly) but I DO love my children. And seeing them so in love with this little dog melted me to the point of no return. Love always wins, right? They are already fighting about who is going to take the dog when they move out- 11-15 years away! So Gracie is part of our family, a family where five people love her and one person tolerates her. But that one person adores her children loving their dog.

What could I say?

Fall is here...at least in my house

If you wait for it to LOOK like fall or FEEL like fall in Houston, you might get lucky around the end of November. So if your sweet hubby tries to act all I know what season it is and why are you putting out pumpkins. Just Smile. A Really sweet smile. And say," Babe, it is fall on the calendar, so I am trying to teach the children seasons, even though we don't have them here in Houston."
Try it.


Here are some of my fall favs. Cute garland from the Hob Lob.

Little pumpkin from last year. Love him.

The entry table in all her glory. I just love all the colors in this season. Did you know I luv orange? Yes, it is true.

I am not finished with the mantle. I need to white pumpkins on the candle holders and a better ribbon for the wreath.

And my last little tip is to get a great smelling fall candle or plug in and whatever. That always helps fill in the gap when there is no fall to be found except in your home!

Cheap Curtains

I went to Home Depot to look at paint samples for this and I saw this package of drop cloth. There was a big sign that said SPECIAL which means to me I must stop and see what it is all about. So the special was 2 drop cloths for the price of one. 6x9. SPECIAL really meant something to me now. So for $9.98 I walked out with my dining room curtains. And paint samples. I got home and pulled out this curtain rod that my neighbor found on clearance at Wal-Mart. Can you believe she called me and told me? What a great friend! I have had it for 3 months.

See, even the package said SPECIAL!

I know. Things this cheap really do exist. I finally have found something cheap enough to brag about. And yeah, it is a double rod. Ouch!

I sewed a line across the top after I folded the top over itself. I didn't even sew another line to make a true pocket for the rod.

Then I was able to pull the fabric this way and that way to create this lovely puff. That is a real term, right? The canvas is so thick it was super easy to work with. And I love the color and texture. Now I know what color to paint this room. White. I don't think I have ever painted anything white. Seriously. So for a grand total of 16.98, I have new curtains and the room look so much more complete. even though it is not. Is a room ever complete?

Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH TIME?

I can't believe I have not posted about the biggest event that has happened to me since I last gave birth. Really. It is that BIG! Yeah, you are on the edge of your seat. I have all 4 kids in school.....2 days a week. And 3 kids in school 2 days a week. Are you disappointed? Well, I am not. No tears, no sadness, no regrets! Tuesday and Thursdays are like my heaven. For 6 hours I am free as a bird. And Wednesdays are a blast b/c I just have little red. And we are both enjoying our tome together. Here are a few pics from the first day of school. I know I have four kids but I have no excuse. Two had the picture taken, two did not.


Cole's first day of second grade.

Mia's first day of MMO. She has not dropped a tear and loves it. Her teacher asked if she likes to play alone. I said probably, she never has the chance at home!

Backfiring Behaviors

I have known for some time that I tend to want the house, car, clothes to be as close to perfect and clean as possible. This behavior was easily obtained when just having one child. I know I was made fun of by others b/c when I had Cole, people were snickering and laughing about my fall from grace. Well, 4 children later I have still tried to maintain an orderly life, although less than before the others.(others=Cole, Mallory, Mia) Well, I have noticed some behaviors that have me thinking my intentions may have hurt my children. The first sign was figuring out that my children all prefer to play somewhere other than their house. At first I was offended but then decided to investigate. Turns out they just don't want kids to come over and mess up their rooms. Case in point Mallory and Mia were told to invite Aubrey over so they can remember what it is like to have a friend over. They "let" her play in their room for about 10 min
and decided the best plan of action was to relocate to Cole's room. Pretty clever, huh? Notice his room is much more played in. Then I see a post from my friend Debbie and I think I am so glad my kids have not done that! Although a sweet little boy I watched did it was and I actually cried.

Well, I am in the girls closet today and I never shut the door b/c it is so small but I am getting a toy and see this. Blue crayon on the BACK side of the door. Oh, little sneaky girls. And pencil on the back side of the laundry door. Upon investigation, Mallory stated that she did it but didn't want me to see it b/c she new I would be mad. The mean face kind of mad. Ouch! Maybe I have created some monsters.

Designers Challenge

I am hanging all of my designing dilemmas on anyone willing to put their opinions out there and give me some help! I do really need advice.

1. In the kitchen I can't figure out what to put up there in no mans land above the cabinets. I know that fake greenery is not for me and other than that I have no idea! The large piece of wood was a lame attempt last week to fill the space but clearly not doing the job.

Red wall in kitchen

2. On the Bigger problems in the living room. The room is completely open to the kitchen. All the walls are painted brown bag except for one wall in the kitchen which is painted red. The problem is all my furniture is also brown. I have red accents here and there but really need some help. I can't buy new furniture so I am thinking of painting the armouire like the Nester did and maybe the coffee table. Or possibly replacing the table. But what colors? Is it a mistake to paint?

Office area behind the couch. Need some old suitcases to put the printer on.

Brown Brown Brown

More brown with a splash of red.

So there is my sad brown room for all to see. Now let's see some great advice to help me out!

Princess Party

Mallory had her 5th birthday at the cutest girl store ever. They dressed up, got made up, played games and I didn't have to do a thing! My kind of party!

Mia looked like she had died and gone to heaven the entire time.

All in all, everyone loved the party and they are still talking about it at my house so I guess it was a success!

Sprinkler Park= Free Fun

By mid July we are getting a little crazed here in Texas. To say it is hot does not really do justice to what it actually feels like to be outside. So as the summer goes on, we get more bored and more broke trying to entertain. But luckily I have a super smart GiGi(Dana's grandma). She suggested we meet in downtown Houston to play as the sprinkler park. It is free. She will bring my kids favorite cousin Meghan. Nough said.


Here are the results

Smiling

More smiling

Getting wet

Getting more wet

And having a great afternoon enjoying life. AHH, summer.

Good times in Austin

Me and the crazy monkeys that reside with me headed to Austin for a few days. We had a blast hanging out at some our our favorite spots.

One of the highlights was the kids got to ride a 4 wheeler at Nana and Pop Pop's and the horse. It is amazing what kids will do in 105 temp when they are having fun! Here is Chloe and her friend Brandi.(Hint to those without older kids yet, they only travel in pairs so you have to bring a friend.)

Me outside our favorite place to eat in Georgetown. Why am I posing by their newspaper rack? Because I used to deliver those papers every morning around 5 am.....pregnant. Oh the good times.

Just a cute photo of the kids in front of the "lake" in our neighborhood.

Anyways, we had a blast, even went to Barton Springs(famous Austin hot spot). Me and Chloe were a little sad coming home b/c Austin just still feels like home and probably always will. Sniff Sniff

Beach Bum Alert

We decided to head down to the beach on Thursday. One of the perks to living in Houston is the ability to head down for a day trip since the beach is close by. The water was nice and refreshing. I was disappointed that the city beach we go to for the awesome bathrooms and showers has not recovered from Ike. The boardwalk up to the showers was gone and there was no running water at all. But the town was looking good and you could tell there was lots of work still in progress.

Hanging out
Mallory got stung by a jellyfish the first 10 minutes b/c she was playing with it!(we told her not to!)

Me and the girls

Mia played the water with the boogie board almost the entire time!

Mallory being Mallory

Cole digging in the sand. Shocking

All in all everyone had fun. And no one got sunburned! Yippe! We all are a little closer to being so tan it is sick and can't wait to go back.

P.S.

No pics of Chloe. It is her new move to avoid the camera!