DOVE FAMILY

I love interior decorating, making old things look new, cleaning it up and seeing what I can do with it!  I love great finds at antique stores, flea markets and then bringing them home to see how I can change it up, clean it up or just add it to what I currently have.  I love mixing old/antique things with modern finishes.  Last fall, my building was moving to temporary office space and we were getting rid of a lot of things.  I snagged up an old pin-up board as well as a very old stool.  Since we moved in the fall and the my office moved, this was the first time I had to attack this project for Julia.  A friend of mine also gave me some left over fabirc she had in storage. Since I found these items and our friend gave us old fabric she had in storage...this project was FREE!  Don't you just love it!   So we went to work and here is what we did!

Julia holding up a very old pin-up board, this very old stool that has lovely flowers on it.  The bag of batting is in the back.  (By the way..the stool lifts up so we can put her barbie blothes in it!)

We added bating to the pin-up board to make it a bit softer.

Staple gun - READY!  Scissors- READY!

Julia and I started the project, but as soon as the boys heard the staple gun, some hammering they came up and wanted to join the fun too!

Daddy putting the top of the stool back on.

One more staple in the pin-up board!

Adding ribbons to the pinup board so we can put pictures in it.

See it?!  It looks great!

Beautiful stool!

She picked lots of different pictures from our Disney trip!

Her room!

Sunday, April 28, 2013, I had the pleasure of going mini golf with Matthew for the school PTA sponosred mom & son (or grandmom, aunt, special friend) mini golf date.  Although it was a bit cool, cloudy and gloomy outside- we had the best time.  Matthew was of cours emuch better than I was but he was so patient with me and helped me get the ball in the hole a few times.  I can't believe how tall and handsome Matthew has become.  He is a spitting imagine of David and I am so proud of him.  He is such a good boy, sweet, athletic, funny and just loves his sister to peices.  Some how, he grew inches overnight again and is now near my cheeks (when I have flats on).  Such a handsome and good boy and I'm proud to be his Mamma. Look at the picture above this post-- look at him closely- do you see David?  I do... and it makes my heart melt....

Our family at the Tidal Basin.  See the Jefferson Memorial behind us??

It's been a few years since Dave and I went to see the Cherry Blossoms.  I believe Matthew was just a baby and we took the metro.   Although getting there was a breeze with the metro, we didn't realize how LONG and tiring the return would be on the metro with a tired baby, a stroller and having to stand because there were no seats on the metro.  This year we opted to drive and although it took us a  bit longer to find a garage, leaving was a breeze and the kids could sleep comfortably in the car on the way home.

The Cherry Blossoms and DC monuments did not dissapoint and we had an incredible time.  You may think that we are a bit crazy to go with the thousands of other people down there but we did it and we had so  much fun.  Each time we go to DC, I always tell Dave that we should pack a picnic and eat near the Washington Monument and this year we finally did it!  We packed our blanket and enjoyed a family picnic by the monument - with the other hundreds of people that had the same idea!  The boys even played football/catch while Julia and I laid on the blanket and blew bubbles.  So many families, kids, adults, doggies, puppies, food trucks and our military men and women were just out enjoying the sites and the gorgeous day.

After our picnic, we headed to the Tidal Basin and we can't get enough of that place- its so beautiful and the cherry blossoms add that special touch.  We took lots of pictures at the tidal basin, checked out the tulips, and enjoyed the views of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

We then made our way to the WWII Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial- which was Matthew's number one place to visit on this trip.  He has learned so much at school about our Presidents and the American History that his favorite president is now Abraham Lincoln.  As we made our way down the reflecting pool, we noticed hundreds of people gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  We made it just in time to see the Joint Services Silent Drill Teams.  How incredible and truly magnificient to see the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Airforce and Marine perform their Silent Precision Drill exhibitions! It was such a treat and we were hootin' & hollarin' for all of them. They were throwing their rifles in the air with style and grace. Each move, each step was precise and they were so trained and extremely focused even though many of us in the crowd were yelling and cheering them on. Many of the rifles had the bayonets on them which was extremely dangerous- the louder the audience cheered the harder and more fierce the exhibition was.

After the Joint Services exhibition, we made our way back to the Washington Monument, laid our blanket out again , had some snacks while the boys played more football. We then headed back to the car. We were tired. I don't know how many miles we walked...I don't know how many thousands of people were down there to see the parade, to check out the Japanese street festival, to checkout the cherry blossoms, to see the joint services exhibition but it didn't matter. We had a great family day in our nations capital, we enjoyed the sights, the people, the picnic and we hope to come back next year!

We packed a picnic and ate under a big tree near the Washington Monument.  Although it may look like we were the only ones having a picnic, so many couples, families and friends were gathered around the lawn with their own picnic from coolers they brought or food purchased from the many food trucks.  It was great to see so many people out and about and having picnics with their families...something that doesn't happen too often anymore.

Gosh- how sweet is this?  We were walking towards the Lincoln Memorial and I just love the scene of little Julia with her daddy.  He is so big and strong and she could eat him alive with her smile, sweetness and love.  Yes- there were HUNDREDS of people!



Me & my sweet baby girl chillin' by the Washington Monument

Julia with the Cherry Blossoms

My babies at the Tidal Basin




Tulips surrounded the Tidal basin- they were so beautiful and such bright colors!

The boys playing football at the Washington Monument

Matthew has been waiting patiently to see this...his favorite President (at the moment...Lincoln)

Lincoln Memorial

A fun moment of the girls that Dave captured....



My sweet loves at the Reflecting Pool with the Lincoln Memorial behind them

Kids always want to climb a tree especially when they see other kids are doing it!

My handsome boys

The Airforce!  What a sight-- Do you see the 18+ rifles/bayonets soaring through the air?!

The Marines!

The Airforce did some very dangerous stunts

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Go Navy!

So many of you know that I enjoy running- I don't LOVE running and I don't LOVE the 5K, 10K or marathons.  Three cheers for the people who enjoy participating in these marathoons but its way too many people crowding around me and I like doing my own thing.  I like being able to run without any pressure, on my time and in my own way.  It clears the mind, removes the stress and good for the heart.  I also don't diet- I love food too much.  So this was a way for me to eat the things I love like chocolate, pasta and bread but not feel guilty about it or give it up!

One of the many perks at working for a college is the ability to use the facilities like the gym.  It's not a top notch gym but it has the basics.  I run 4 miles five days a week or more depending on how much time I have.   The days I can't make it to the gym, my running partner, Julia, and I run a few miles around the neighborhood.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, she will run, skip, hop and pick flowers but she keeps up with me!

My school gym recently purchased new equipment and I got on this thing called a Cybex- thinking it was just a normal eliptical machine.  15 minutes into my run, I was grabbing on to the side of the machine, my butt was aching and sweat was coming out of areas I didn't think could sweat.

This is the beast. It looks like a spider thing that could eat people.  It should have a warning sign on it.  It's a good thing I was able to walk back to my office!

The one good thing about this butt-kicker is that it has a FAN!  See that black part above the CYBEX sign??  It's a fan but darn it-- it will only stay on if you are going a certain speed.  If you slow down the darn fan turns off!

I had gossip magazines and interior magazines I couldn't read while on this thing!

Dave and I celebrated 12 years on Sunday April 7th.  It was a beautiful Spring Day and we had a full day of events planned!  Church, Flag Football, lunch and yardwork/painting!

We are doing some updating to the landscaping and painting around the outside of the house- we are super excited about our plans so although it was our anniversary, we didn't mind doing a little yardwok in the afternoon. We went to church in the morning then I made an awesome brunch before heading off for an afternoon of flag football with the boys.  We then headed to Cheesecake Factory for our anniversary lunch and then tackled the yard work when we returned home.   Our friends and family were so great and offered to watch the kids so Dave and I could have a date- but we turned them down.  We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with Matthew & Julia.  We had a great day and look forward to another 12years, 24 years, and 50 years together.

Last night as we were winding down, we talked about how we have changed as a couple and as individuals in the last 12 years and we both agreed that we have grown and matured... some. Trust me- it may sound like we had this deep conversation but we were laughing and joking about some of our "old ways and antics" and some things that we still do that get on our nerves.  We have accomplsihed some greatness in the last 12 years as Dave no longer leaves his dirty socks around the bedroom floor which I hated AND I am no longer the neat freak I was when we first go together before the kids came.  Yes- I still like a clean house- who doesn't?  But I no longer feel the need to clean the bathrooms or floors at 10pm!  I would much rather cuddle up with my babies & Dave, watch a movie, play games wth the kids or find something fun in the area to do together.

Of course as any other married couple, we have our little disagreements but we are having the time of our lives, we laugh and we have fun.  We still have our own little issues like Dave's procrastination and my impatience.  Our focus is on our marriage, our health, our family and our children.  We support one another, we keep each other strong and we communicate. 

One important thing about our relationship is that we understand how short life is.   Dave and I both had fathers who passed away at a young age.  It is important to us that we spend as much time together as a family, do things together to make memories, enjoy the simple things and are so thankful and greatful for such a wonderful and loving family.  Whether we are outside playing ball, blowing bubbles, going to a park, packing a picnic, family game nights, vacations or just our family movies nights with a big bowl of popcorn- life is short and we want to make as many memories as possible and enjoy life. 

Matthew took this picture! Just a little sunny behind us don't you think?

Then we have this picture-- we are silly!

We were trying to take a nice picture of the two of us and Matthew PHOTOBOMBED our picture!

Anniversary Lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  The boys look a little tired after 2 hours of flag football!

The girls!

Beware-- my kids now like to photobomb other people's pictures!

Julia and I kept braggin' to the boys about Yolavie so yes-- they dragged us to Yolaive so they can get some FROYO!  We didn't mind one bit!