Little Tikes Playhouse Makeover....Doc Clinic Edition

A few years ago, I saw this playhouse sitting on the side of the road.  I never had one when I was growing up so I whined and pleaded with Josh to get it for me.  The day he went by to ask about it, he showed up at my parents with it crammed in the back of his Ford.  Kade was tickled.  And Kyleigh couldn't walk yet, so she wasn't the biggest fan.  It was faded out, missing a shutter, and had rusted hinges and knobs that had been replaced.  But for $30, it was a steal!! I have checked these houses out now. One similar would cost us at least $150.  

This playhouse sat at my parents for a while.  When we got situated in our old house, we took it with us.  And of course, it was rarely played in.  Mostly used for sitting on the roof and watching lightning bugs in the summer.  I told my daughter back then that I would turn it into a Doc McStuffins clinic for her.  Which, a year and a half later I have come through on.  Back in May, I got tired of looking at it sitting in the fenced yard.  Faded out and rusted.  I went online, found a picture of the colors of Doc's clinic and took a trip to Walmart.  I found Rustoleum Seaside, Marigold & Apple Red in High Gloss.  Spraypainting wasn't the headache on this project, taking it apart to paint it all different colors was.  

(Somewhat finished!!)

I ran out of the Seaside Blue (which I've been unable to locate, until now on Amazon.)  I'll be posting more pictures of the finished product.  I only have the tiny part at the base left.  Then i'll be moving on to the inside.  And I haven't decided what i'll do to it.  But this is a huge improvement from the eyesore it was before.  The kids also have another Little Tikes Playhouse at my parents I'll be doing once I'm finished with this one.  I'm thinking i'll let Kade pick out what theme we will go with for it.  Keep checking back for updates of the finished outside & interior ;)

I'm THAT Parent

Tonight my baby had his first real soccer game.  

It was chilly & super windy.  It had rained this morning, so I came to the game equipped with folding chairs to avoid a wet butt.

Aside from that, I became THAT parent.  The one who yells to guide their child in the right direction.  

"Kade get the ball!" 

"Kade go with your team!"

"Kade run, run, run!!"

Yes THAT parent. 

When I watched my little cousins play soccer and saw how truly obnoxious some folks can get over youth soccer, I swore I'd never be this kind of parent.  But tonight I realized this: my child looks to me to guide him in the right direction.  The coach has 7 children to watch over and can't constantly be directing my child the whole time.  If I don't tell him he's going the wrong way, he can't learn to go the right way.  If I'm not telling him how to steal a ball & what team we're against, he won't know because he's too big of a sweetheart to just take things.  If I don't teach him in each and every little area of life, I can't say I've really done my job as a parent.  From sports, to education, to relationships with others, I will be THAT parent until my children are both old enough to make their own decisions without my interference.  So, tonight I also realized it's okay to be this way.  They're only little for so long.  And I intend to serve them as well as I can until they're grown =)

We're....Buying a house!

My hubby and I finally put our house on the market about 2 weeks ago after looking at a house 3 miles down the road from my parents.  We had originally had every intention of building on the 2 acres in front of my parents' house.  But after living with them for the 7 months, we decided having our own little place with more acreage would be nice.  

This brick house has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath on the main floor & a full unfinished basement.  It belonged to an older couple who'd passed away & their children inherited it.  We looked at the house and land several times, got pre-approved & put in our offer (which was accepted!)

Needless to say it's just a tad outdated.  BUT my hubby & I have every intention to make it totally awesome & modern.  The house is the reason I haven't blogged as much as I'd hope to this year.  Bank paperwork galore, applications here, inspections there.  WHEW.  It's been an exhausting 2 weeks and that doesn't even include all of the kids' activities and sickness.  Kade had pinkeye, Kyleigh had an ear infection.  And, we also signed Kade up for soccer.  This is sure to be our busiest year yet.  But it's super exciting.

Just wanted to give you guys an update ;)

I am thankful to be busy

I am thankful to be busy.  

I, like many others, took on the 30 days of thanks on FB.  I got to day 18.  I plan to catch up, seriously.  But these past few days, I have especially been thankful to be busy.  I have spent my weekend shopping for my daughter's 2nd birthday & Christmas.  I have spent LOTS of time with my family.  And I've spent my Sunday with my church family & babies.  I have more than 30 reasons to be thankful.  If I listed each person in my life I am thankful for individually, I'd be here literally all day.  Also for the opportunities.  But most of all, to be saved & know that no matter how bad I may mess up, Jesus loves me enough to die for me.  

So that's pretty much been my frame of mind this weekend.  I know i'm behind.  And i'm about to catch up.  But i simply have TOO many things to be thankful for =)