It's here...

...partially. And I love it. There will be six chairs but we were missing some pieces for one of the chairs, and John didn't have time to assemble the other two last night. But we finally have a table that will fit our plates and our food! This picture is with the leaf in, John is currently wanting leaf in all the time, and I'd rather have it out since the table is big enough for us without the leaf. Ah, if only we had an enormous dining room, then there would be no battle! So there you have it, our first piece of new (not Walmart quality) furniture in our home!

Going, Going, Gone!

I listed my table on craigslist last night and now, less that 24 hours later, it is out of my kitchen for no less than the asking price! Our new table to be here Monday or Tuesday. Yes, we bought a table on Saturday! I'm super excited. It was reasonably priced, (I've exhausted my efforts of trying to find a used one that would work) I really like it, it is the first piece of new furniture we have bought that isn't scratch and dent, and it will be here shortly. More pictures to follow!

My Bad

Today I caused Owen great pain. As if he wasn't already miserable enough due to the cold he has had all week I had to go and make it worse. I was getting ready for church and Owen decided to join me in the bathroom where he pulled my flat iron cord and then tried to pick up the flat iron and burned 2 of his fingers. He has big blisters (you can't really see them in the picture) and I could tell he was in pain for quite a while. Needless to say, I'm not at church. This all happened about 45 minutes before we needed to leave and Owen didn't stop crying until about 2 hours later.

It's funny the things you come up with to get a one year old happy. First we took him outside which made him forget about his fingers but then any time he touched anything he would start crying again. Then, for a short time carrying around a baggie filled with popcorn seemed to soothe the pain sporadically. After 2 hours of almost constant crying I put him in his high chair and gave him a sucker. Though the sucker wasn't enough to stop the crying, the whole bag of leftover Halloween candy was....so he got it. He sat and played/ate the candy for a long time and was finally calmed down enough to remain happy for more than 30 seconds. In fact he hasn't cried because of his fingers since the candy. Maybe sugar is the solution to all problems.

A day home

Lately we have been doing a lot of shopping due to the approaching holidays. The kids have been a little under the weather and so I decided that we would spend a day at home (except for dance). I guess the kids had to work a little harder to find things to do that weren't boring since we were here for so long, because they explored new depths of the house today. I was a little startled when Owen came out of Ainsley's room with a binky! We haven't used binkies in a while now so I was surprised, then I was completely baffled when I realized that it was one of Owen's newborn binkies. How long has that thing been hiding in some random corner I wonder? The nice thing was that he didn't suck on it. He just thought it was something to chew and got bored with it after a minute or two.
Ainsley resorted to playing in her closet under all her clothes after I made her clean up her project. I wish I would have gotten a picture of that. When Ains does a project it involves pencils, glue stick, and scissors. Nothing is really made. Paper is just cut and re-cut, occasionally glued, and every so often there is some sort of writing. The result is a MASSIVE quantity of teeny tiny papers COVERING the floor. The cleanup after a project is always fun!
Owen also decided to do a project of his own today. It involved a crayon and my couch. Due to the fact that my couch is canvas, and canvas is the least kid friendly fabric out there, I didn't dare scrub the crayon out because it would have left a huge bleach stain. So I removed the covers and attempted washing them in the washer. They are already reaching the point where they will need replaced so I hope I didn't ruin them. Actually, I guess ruining them would mean I might get new couches, so that might not be a bad thing. I guess we'll see!

Owen the Comedian

This is just a funny video we took of Owen a little while ago that I just discovered. As a little preface, Owen thought it was hilarious when, over the summer, I picked up a magazine to swat a fly that had gotten in the house. We always know that he will bust up laughing whenever we hit a magazine against the wall, and occasionally he'll join in the hitting and think he is super funny. I especially love the look he gives the camera at the end!

In Need

John claims that I use the term "need" lightly, but in this case I feel that our family has reached the point where we NEED a new kitchen table. I am a firm believer in having dinner on a set table where the food is brought to the family, not the other way around. I grew up having to set the table properly for every meal (even if we were just setting paper plates, cups, and napkins for take out pizza). I guess it grew on me because I hate having to stand up if someone needs something during dinner. Maybe I'm weird, but I remember a woman making a comment once in RS about the dinner table being a place where the family should gather for quality time. It was important for her to take time to set the table and have things prepared as she gathered her family in the evening. I guess I just feel like it's hard to have an enjoyable dinner if everyone is hopping up every minute or two because something is needed. So even though I don't make us set the table for take out...I try to make dinner time as nice and organized as possible when it comes time to actually sit down and eat (even if my family isn't interested in being cooperative).

Lately our dinners have been crazy just because we don't have room for plates AND food. Our table comfortably sits 2 if you want to have your food on the table, we can squeeze 3 on there, but now that Owen requires a plate we are all out of room. Don't let the 4 chairs sitting around the table fool you, this table is not meant for 4 people!

I have been looking for a table for quite a while and have had no luck whatsoever. A lot of the problem is our dining room. It is very small, and to find a table that fits there nicely and will also hold a growing family has proven tricky. I have decided that the table has to be either 48" round with a pedestal leg and leaves, or it has to be one of the tables that is a 54" long rectangle and extends out to a square. I have been searching second hand shops, craigslist, and consignment shops hoping to find one I could refinish. Although I have had a couple of good leads nothing has panned out. Also, it's amazing what people think their second had tables are worth. When I started looking second hand I thought I was looking at good deals when a table was nice and $350-$400, then I happened into RC Willey one day and found a square table (that I wouldn't have to put time and money into to refinish) for less than $600. I'd rather spend the extra $150 and get a table that is new and doesn't require hours of sanding. So the hunt continues. Hopefully I'll find something before too long because I'm tired of my squishy table and I can't wait for something bigger!

Pay It Forward

Okay...I agreed to do this pay it forward thing so here it goes.

"......Here's the Pay It Forward Idea:I will send a handmade gift to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. You may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. (so, you must have a blog to participate.) I can't wait to see who I will be giving to. To join, just cut and paste this on your blog and comment away. So get posting......."

I guess I was being a little greedy and decided I really wanted something handmade from someone else, and not thinking things through thoroughly, now I have to come up with 3 things to make for someone else. But I think it's a really cute idea, and even though I can't guarantee that the thing I will make for you will be grand or amazing, I will send you something! So, who wants it?!?