more creative madness

I don't know why it tickles my fancy to recreate something useful from an item that would have otherwise been discarded, but here I was at it again! Once Emora had her bed done, I realized she needed a bedside table. We were using her toy chest, but that wasn't practical since it opens from on top. Every day we were facing sippy cups and books all a jumble. Brian, knowing my fits of creative lunacy, had saved materials from past projects. Like the square he'd cut out of countertop for a sink he'd installed and the sink cabinet from the bathroom downstairs. To my credit (or inability to conjure up a good concept), I am allowing him to throw out the old sink (plastic) and toilet (in bad shape).

So back to the latest... I made a butterfly design to go with her emerging room theme and cut the design into the countertop. The cutting of each line into the top was the hardest part.


Emora and I painted black on the edges where I had carved away the top surface. I sliced tons of slits into the wings (the very hardest part)- so that I could put color into the wings. I'd paint each wing the desired color and wipe it off so that the lines are fine threads of color. I screwed it onto the cupboard which we made shorter and added a shelf to inside, then painted the white dots and several coats of gloss varnish. Oh yeah, I used a couple of buttons for eyes.





I am going to get her a lamp and eventually paint some butterflies on her walls, but we are not sure if we are going to repaint her walls another color first. That might be nice, since they are a bit of a drab blue tone now, as originally painted when we'd moved in. It feels nice to be making her room into something since she lived in the crazy everyone's room for so long. The tricky part is that she does not have definite leanings toward colors like the others' did. That makes it easy in a way because she is flexible, but then I don't know either what gives her joy as opposed to her just following along with what the others say or do. All with time, we figure each other and ourselves out I guess.

One thing for sure, she does not lack in personality and loves to make us laugh. Here's hippy girl with our pathetic effort of a tree. This is the top of our tree. Since we will be gone so much of Christmas and I didn't want to deal with a tree in Jan. when we come back, I let the kids decorate the topper of our tree with their own ornaments. Each year I either make them an ornament or let them pick one out from the store that they will get to keep and move out with some day. A friend told me of this tradition of hers and I thought it was so precious, I adopted it with ours. They are getting a little treasure trove of ornaments loading with memories of Christmasses past.

from chairs to beds...

These were chairs that were given to us as a vestige from Brian's past. He grew up with these chairs and matching table. Unfortunately the chairs were getting damaged. The seats needed to be recovered again, but the mesh backs were disintegrating, plus they were very bulky for the space we had, so I thought I'd use them and the mattress supports from a day bed to build a couple of beds for the girls.

First I took apart the 4 chairs and cut out the mesh back. I used a jigsaw to cut off parts not needed, recovered the seats and then recruited Brian. I had a hard time screwing pieces together and so did he. We quickly discovered that oak is very hard wood and went through lots of drill bits, but after much effort, we managed to make some durable pieces. I really should have been more attentive to detail and done lots more work to finish them nicer, but lost motivation in that regards and was moving on to another project.


Dominique's is pink. It has the seat part of the chairs as further support on the end of the bed.
With Emora's blue bed, I used the arms from the one arm chair we had to make a foot board also. Her's was a lot harder since the mattress support was shorter than the mattress, meaning that I had to add some extra pieces to the length to make the mattress fit. I also used two side pieces that we had left over when we took our bunk bed apart to make Ivan's bed and the guest bed. I stained the length pieces so they would match better.

The head boards arch away from the wall, which gives a perfect spot for Emora's nighlight. It is so pretty lit up at night.

Project #1

The kids seemed to recover quickly from their colds although there is still some coughing and tiredness lingering, but it's taking me forever to get over it! I've been trying to rest, taking naps each day, especially on the days when I just have Emora, but I guess that doesn't make up for being up most of the night because I can't breathe or because kid's need help at night or both. Brian has had a couple of days off work and that may be what gets me over this. Yesterday he went to the city and did our errands. Today he ran kids to and from school and did lunch, supper... while I slept- all day and I'm ready for bed again. Thankfully I slept today without the aid of Nyquil, which I have been abusing! I'd borrowed some from the neighbor when we discovered the pharmasies close early in the winter and didn't have the instructions. I took the regular dose and it didn't do anything, so 4 hours later, at 2:30 am, I took another dose and was then able to breathe and sleep. I did that a couple of nights and we got our own bottle, big bottle of medicine, only when I read it, it said do not overdose and to have only every 6-8 hours! After a night of 2 hours of sleep, I decided I did not die by taking 2 doses so close together, and pray my liver can handle it in light of the fact that I so need rest.

Happy that today, I got rest and I'm hoping for a good night of sleep. I think I'm finally on the mend...

Meanwhile, Brian got the bathroom done. The girls thought it was funny having a toilet in the guest room.


From a kid's perspective as they took the camera to document progress.












We are still going to make a couple of box shaped shelves and I'm going to paint designs on the white cabinet/bench hiding the water softener and sump pump.

Next up... bed pics and a side table...

more pics by Sheena

I loved how Emora was posing here. It was so ladylike and grown up. We didn't put her in this position, she did it all her own.


The did these poses on their own too.







And these ones!
My sweet girls are sleeping in their completed beds tonight. I'll have to upload the pics to show you the slow, ever so slow transformation. I'm a bad judge of time. I would think it would take us an hour to screw the pieces together and it would take half a day. I have to give tons of credit to Brian who was the brawns of the operation. He was also a bit picky about things like- it not falling apart or being weak- piddly things like that!! So now we have super sturdy new beds recreated from the bed supports of a day bed and 4 dining room chairs (all of which were falling apart). So exciting.

We are still recovering from our colds, so it may have to be a bit of a calm week again, although my cousin and I are swapping kids a couple of days so that I can get into the city solo on Tues. and she can go with just one baby on Thurs.

Still recovering

I've felt a cold coming on for some days now so I've been resting lots, and trying to ditch sickness quickly. I don't feel so bad, but after a nap, I feel WAY better. Unfortunately, Ivan seems to have gotten it too. I kept him home from school today. This morning I was wondering if he really should be home as he was watching a video, wanting to look at picture albums and read, but he had a great nap this afternoon and has gotten worse. He now has a mild fever and sounds like he's got croup. We just picked up some more children's tylenol, but he took one taste and is refusing to swallow it. He is terrible with medicine he doesn't like- even if I get it down him, he has a history of immediately throwing it up, so that makes me leery of forcing it into him.


Poor guy is groaning and moaning and finished 3 chapter books. I sure hope the girls don't get it.

Here are some more pictures taken by my cousin Sheena.

Our hearts are with several of our friends going through very difficult situations, so even as we are joyful that the bathroom is nearly done or that we are generally healthy and so thankful for each other, our hearts are heavy for others who are grieving relationships and dealing with their brokenness. We could all be there so easily so we are also humbled and reminded to give thanks as well as be a friend and most of all follow the path the Lover has placed us on and not give into the ways of our broken world. We are so ingrained in our culture to place ourselves first, but that is the fastest way to fall fast and hard and drag down a host of people with us. It's a delicate balance to be healthy, careful to love ourselves without putting our own needs above others.

pics by Sheena Koops

My cousin took some pics of us.

I'm fighting a bit of a head cold, so I'm trying to rest lots. Yesterday I let the girls do computer and crawled back into bed. A couple of extra hours really helped.

Today, Ivan and Dominique are in school and Emora takes a nap anyways, so I'm hoping we can nip this little bug and be done with it.

Brian is getting the basement bathroom renovated, so that is exciting and I've been slowly getting the girls' beds built. It's slow going since I need Brian and his tools to do it too and the bathroom has been the real priority.


We are racing a bit since we want these done before we leave for Texas and the weekend before we go, we'll be going to Stoon to see everyone real quick and drop off Saba for her vacation with the grandparents ;) Thanks mom!

These pics were taken by my cousin in the high school library. We do have some little readers in the family and that makes me very, very happy. They are such sweetums.

video time

Sorry I've been so delinquent. We had a super busy weekend with 2 sleepovers of 2 sets of cousins and a trip to the city with a library story time in town, then a library visit in the city, swimming all afternoon (4 hours) with the kids jumping off the diving board (big highlight), a run to get groceries, 1st cousin sleepover, then other cousins coming from Saskatoon for fun and sleepover. Yesterday we got to visit the Community Outreach Center as a big gang and later I took the kids skating. Ivan and Dominique are getting better and better at skating without the assistance of a bar, so that is so fun.

Today I'm fighting a cold, so trying to rest up-- but outside it's totally gorgeous so I feel bad missing out on the nice temperatures.

friends and family

Dominique took Emora and my picture one day. Can't remember what the occasion was.


It was fun to watch Neve light up to this book. Babies are so amazing. She was totally getting into it and it's so incredible to think that this little person is understanding things and relating to people and her world in her own way.



Dominique's got a best friend in her class. She and Sierra love to play together and they are quite sweet. But Dominique does drive me a bit batty when she begs everyday to play with Sierra!

Today started off a bunch of uncertainties and scheduling mayhem, but smoothed right out with some help from the neighbor and promises of help from others, that we didn't actually need in the end. Sometimes I like a quiet day-- especially when it starts off looking a bit too crazy!

she wore her jeans!

I don't know how I managed to have 3 kids so particular about clothes, but then I don't like fussy clothes, so I guess that is my own particular taste too. Dominique and Emora like "fancy" clothes and Ivan likes tight pants (tight on his waist) and t-shirts. Even though it's cold, he has yet to wear a long sleeve shirt. So Dominique and I painted on some of her least favorite pants that she thinks are too boyish. She will have to wear them because the only pants she has been wearing are knickers and socks or knickers and skirts and socks. One school day I made her go back to her room and tone down her clothes. She had tights, knickers, socks, a skirt and dress on all in bright contrasting colors. She looked like a clown! Really, I'm trying to encourage her free spirit, but not so much on school days. Then I try to give her a bit more guidelines clothing wise. Today she tried on her jeans and a long sleeve shirt. She looked so normal and so schoolish- it made her seem older-- so strange! It was cute, but we love her wild ways too. Hopefully she can be some of both and find lots of avenues to express her love for color.

We get lots of hand-me downs, which we so appreciate. Emora got this in a bag of clothes and she is so proud of it. She wanted me to get the camera and take her picture. Well, of course, I had to oblige. I thought it was cute how she kind of looks like snow white too.








The big kids and I had a blast tonight. I left Emora and took Ivan and Dominique to the public skate. I actually got to skate some and the big kids got some personal attention with me too, which we never get when Emora is along. By the end of the evening both the big kids went across the ice without the bar to assist them! It was glorious. They had the biggest smile on their faces and are all excited to try again next week. We will get to go to the pool this week too. We have Friday off from school, so we're going to all go to the pool and we'll see if Ivan will brave the diving board. I'm sure Dominique will want to do it again. I LOVE seeing them learn something new. So amazing!!

Snow pictures!!

This was after our first snow. We didn't have much, but enough to pull the sled and make a little pile. An Abilene, Texas size snow fall- when we used to borrow snow from all the neighbors to make a half snow/half grass snowman. A day or so ago, we got a huge dump. In fact, I shoveled snow for about an hour today, but haven't taken pictures of it yet.


I used to joke with the Texans that we went to school being pulled by sled dogs. I guess the truth now is not so far from my story then as the kids pulled Emora to school.








My mom and aunt Carmen came for a quick visit last weekend. We showed them around a bit and got a pic. beside the icy water of Echo lake.

Better go make some supper, hummm may be pizza night since we are having a fun inside day. After shoveling, Dominique and I painted flowers and butterflies using stencils on several of her pants that she refuses to wear because they are not pretty enough!! And our big excitement for the evening will be a movie from the library and desert of hot chocolate with ice cubes laced with cinnamon and marshmallows. Dominique wanted to do an "experiment" today. She saw a video where kids put grapes and cereal in ice cubes, but since I didn't want to drink soggy cereal and I didn't think the kids would either and since we don't have grapes right now, I figured cinnamon and marshmallows would be fun in drinks and oatmeal to cool them down- after they are heated. Kids are so complicated some times!!