Thanks Ree...Great Idea!

Quick...I've only got a minute!
The girls are watching our favorite movie,
'Despicable Me.'
Seen it?
You should!!!
It's downright adorable!
SO in this quick minute, I decided to check out the other blogs that I read...and came across
The Pioneer Woman,
Ree Drummond,
and her blog.
She is, in one word,
FANTASTIC.
And she is a terrific writer...
and also the kind of woman that you wish lived next door
(that has nothing to do with the fact that she appears to be an incredible cook).
Her latest blog is devoted to pictures that she had on her cell phone and the idea that no one ever does anything with them...
'LIGHT BULB!'
She's right...or at least I haven't done anything with mine.
So here goes...
Get Ready...
lots of {random} pictures
and with just quick commentary.
Here goes:

This is A 'fishing' in a rubbermaid.
Oh this girl...and her imagination.

No commentary necessary.

Oh how I miss those chunky baby cheeks!

Some cupcakes that I made for a bake sale a few years back to help raise money for the sweetest little girl, Shaylee.

Blurry, I know...

but this is the first time that A had ever wrote 'I love you.'

Had and I earning our 'keep' around this place...
getting our 'mow-on.'

I don't know who she gets this from.

On a visit to Dawn's home to visit her new brood of babies.

A visit to the dentist.
Say "AHHHHH!"

Bikini Baristas?
You got nothing on Gardening in your undies.

I can't share with you the caption I would like to on this particular photo...
...sorry.

A very rare 'before' picture...
remodeling our dining room the spring of 2009.
Start to finish...3 weeks.

Getting closer.

Our motivation to finish in 3 weeks...
Had's first birthday.
I highly recommend throwing a party on the date that you want your project done...The three loves of my life!!!
(he is such an incredible daddy to our little girls)

From my garden...
notice the double swirls.

Eating breakfast in the garden
These raspberries belonged to Jas' Grandma Emily.
We moved them here when they moved out of their home and they have been
THRIVING!!
I think of her EVERY time we are enjoying them.

Driving out the gravel road at our river property...
Had loved the thrill of no carseat.
***shortly after this photo was taken,
her expression changed, as we put her back into her carseat***

Had exchanging {smooches} with Jill, our neighbors dog.
They were both such puppies.

A proudly showing off her prized winning (not really) purple broccoli.
How cool is that?
Great way to get your kids to eat more veggies.

And finally,
at least for this installation of cell pics,
Had looking a little nervous after being caught devouring my
Skinny Cow fudge bar.
Almost didn't see her,
she is wearing camouflage after all.

When I first began downloading pics for this post,
I had over 50...
so I have decided to do a few installments of cell pics to share with you.
Stay Tuned...

Camp Skaug

OK...Grandma Jill...I would like to humbly welcome you to your new guest room...
Welcome to Camp Skaug!!

In the past week or so, as you have probably read in previous posts,
we have done a little remodeling, restructuring and reorganizing around the Skaug House.
As Had moved up to A's room, and my sewing room moved down into Had's old room...
it freed up our existing guest room with a little more space and the need for a mini-makeover.
Now please forgive me for being so terrible for taking 'before' pictures.
I just get too caught up in the moment in what I am doing to remember to or want to take a break to grab my camera.
The guest room has ALWAYS been referred to as the 'knotty' room.
(take note that's
k.n.o.t.t.y.
NOT
n.a.u.g.h.t.y.).
When we purchased our home this particular room was specifically noted for it's knotty pine walls and built-ins.
It was a definite selling point for me.

Anyhow, since Jas doesn't give much decorating advice and is pretty laid-back about how I style our home,
I thought that I would give him a room that represents one of his biggest passions
hunting and being outdoors.
But of course I had to give it my own vintage twist and decided upon
a Summer Camp theme.
I LOVE IT...and so does he (or so he says).

The teal dresser on the right belonged to his Grandma Agnes...
and Jas' parents decided that since it didn't really fit the style of their new home,
that IT needed a new home and we were more than happy to welcome her.
Not only because we are crazy-sentimental about things,
but also because 'she' has style and class.
Looks a lot like a line of bedside tables that PotteryBarn has for sale currently.

This is what it looks like as you ascend to the top of the stairs and look to the left.
I have had the suitcases on the left since my college days.
I think that they set a good tone for visiting.

A and I have been collecting any sort of deer figurine that we come across.
This ledge created the perfect spot to display a few of our favorites.

This great patio chair has special meaning to me.
Last summer, while out scouring for treasures,
I met an older gentleman by the name, Frank...
HE WAS ONE-OF-A-KIND!!
...and had some of the coolest treasures.
Of course, he wasn't ready to part with everything...
...but he would always leave me hanging with...
"Nah, not this week. Check back in a few weeks. I may be ready then."
Long story short...
after stopping in every few weeks for a few months,
Frank passed away.
S.A.D.

I contacted his wife and shared with her 'our' story
and asked if she would mind if I had the chair.
And to my surprise, she was more than welcome to share.
So this will ALWAYS be
Frank's Chair.

These little lunch boxes were originally Bri's...
...then Margee bought them from Bri...
...and now Margee is 'loaning' them to me...
until she needs them back.

Another picture of our nightstand.

OK...NOW TO MY FAVORITE PART OF THE ROOM.
***quick side note***
I woke up this morning with an extra girl
(neighbor girl who had a sleepover with A)
and an extra boy
(neighbor boy who I watch during the week)
and EVERY anticipation of going out searching for treasures with my favorite
PARTNER IN CRIME...
Dawn!
She was loading up her 4 girls
and not to be outdone,
I was taking 4 of my own
(2 biological and 2 borrowed).
We had come across a sale that was sure to be one to go down in the history books.
Well, simply put...
...not so much!
However, I did find a few things that I
NEEDED for our 'new' guest room.How great is this???
A vintage paint-by-number coloring book
and of Wild Animals of all things.
This was without question
Meant to be!!!This is the color code on the back.
Now again, I am way to sentimental to actually paint in this book.
HOWEVER, I am clever enough to get copies of some of our favorite pages and create my own masterpieces...
...and if I am feeling particularly generous,
I may even let A do her own.
(cause let's face it...these are most cute when a young child has completed them)

I also found this cool water jug.
The pattern is PERFECT
to be included in our little hide-a-way.

And last but not least...
A set of leather tags that I am assuming were used for the farmer's heifers...
I {love} everything about them.
I especially love that every one of them in unique and different...
I just wish I knew what the starts symbolized.
Hopefully, it's not the number of calves they have had.
YIKES!!
***one of them has 13***

I know these don't necessarily go with the whole
'camp' theme.'
However, they do serve as a great bargaining tool to use later with Dawn.
I am sure that she'll come across something this summer that I will just
have to have...at which time I will forfeit these to her.
UH-UMMM....laundry basket.
(refer back to post titled: No Boys Allowed)

And last but not least...
this cute, little cast iron pot.
It's tiny...but it will be the perfect little votive holder.I know that I didn't find all that many treasures...
I did find some that were put to use as soon as I got home.
Oh and the price you wonder...
let's just say I spent probably 4 times as much in gas to get there as I did in purchasing my goodies.

Oh and last but not least...back to the guest room.
Let me introduce you to Jas' prized possession,
Carlos,
(No, not our cat)
a buck that Jas shot a few years back.

Although I don't know much about hunting (aside from how many points an deer or elk has), I am assured that this is a pretty awesome 2-point to have mounted on your wall.

So there you have it Grandma Jill (and whoever else may have happened upon my blog post)
our newly made-over guest room.

Each time I go in there, I can't help but get the camp song:
"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.
Here I am at Camp Granada.
Camp is very entertaining.
And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining".
I may have to find a copy of this camp song, frame it and put it on the dresser.

And if you would like to stay for a visit at
Camp Skaug...we are currently accepting reservations for the upcoming summer months...cause let's face it...
WE LOVE VISITORS!!

Happy Three-Day Weekend to You All..
Hope it is restful, productive (if you want it to be)
and spent with those who love you most

Outta My Way...Im on a Roll

I completely forgot how much I L.O.V.E. blogging
(and how much I love getting comments).
So here I go...
two posts in one week.
YIKES!!

A few weeks back,
Jas and I had begun discussing the idea of our two girly's
sharing a room.
It is something we had always thought would be a good idea.
I think that sharing a room teaches children to:
-compromise
-share
-be generous
-tattle
(the last one is something that I am thinking may come in handy more when they are near jr. high ages)
I am hoping that they will try to get away with less if they think that the other may tattle on them.
I'll keep you posted.

Here is a picture of what A's room looked like before I started the transfer.There is so much light in here...
I love it...
I think that it encompasses everything that a little girl's room should be.
Feminine without being too frou-frou girly.
(We don't do frou-frou well here)
I also love all of the custom trim work that Jas did a few years back prior to moving A up there.

Here is the after.
I know!...not that much changed...
I just straightened out A's bed
and threw a crib in the corner.
TA-DA!

I must admit though, I do like it.

Here Had is demonstrating how she is now big enough to crawl into her bed 'all by myself.'
Now don't go thinking that we leave the crib rail down all the time...
only before she climbs in...
and then up it goes.
That is until she falls asleep.
Then we sneak back up there and lower it...
sound crazy?
There actually is a method to our madness.
A is a VERY HARD SLEEPER
Had...NOT SO MUCH.
So in the instance that Had wakes before sissy,
she can crawl out and come downstairs without waking A...
who is not pleasant when woken before ready.Before too long, Had's crib and A's gorgeous twin bed will be replaced by...
get ready...
ready???
You sure???
TWO MATCHING VINTAGE, PALE YELLOW TWIN BEDS
Complete with turned spindled head boards.
Hard to envision...
Let's just say they are NOTHING short of INCREDIBLE!
They belong to my dear (and incredibly generous) friend JoAnn.
And as soon as I can get over to her house and help organize the room that they are currently in...I get to bring them home.
Trust me...there WILL be an entire post dedicated to them.
They are too great not to exploit.

Anyhow, back to my original motivation in getting Had upstairs...
it cleared up a room downstairs.
Hmmm...what ever shall I do with a free room.

WOOT-WOOT!!
New sewing room for me!!

I had outgrown my previous sewing space a LONG TIME AGO.
Mainly, because that space doubles as our guest room and is not a large space to begin with.
And although, I had used every spare inch of room available and it forced me to stay incredibly organized...it just wasn't the most convenient.

Which brings me to this!!!
MY NEW SEWING ROOM!!!
This is my cutting table.
It is an amazing vintage drop-leaf table that Margee so generously traded me for.
I love it.
It's very sturdy...but also has femininity to her...
I mean look as those legs.

I am in love with the amount of light that comes into here.
It keeps me cheery and motivated to get my orders complete.

I know...orders, right?
It's true.
My sewing business has been slowly flourishing.
For instance, these cute 'tie-tees.'
The two on the outside are for an upcoming wedding
for the ring bearers.
And the one in the middle is for a friend of a friend.

And of course, my new sewing table.
This too came from JoAnn...
...in it's previous life it was a vanity in the bathroom of one of their rentals.
It was green and had a giant gaping hole in the top from where the sink had sat.
So I sanded it down, Jas gave it a coat of white paint and a concrete top (leftovers from our kitchen counters) and I got some butterfly knobs for the drawers.
It was previously in A's room
(you can see it in one of the above pics)
But it works perfect down here.

And our current computer desk.
I know!
It's not the cutest and does not continue with the theme of donated vintage goods that the rest of the room carries...but for now it'll just have to do.
That is of course unless you have something incredible that you would like to replace it with...
in which case,
I am accepting donations!

Here it is as you stand in the doorway and look in.
I smile each time I walk by it.
I can't help it.

I decided to create my own make-shift clothesline to display my current creations.
Turns out to be a great place to take pics of them and upload them to my facebook album.

Here is a picture of my new, dear friend Kristal.
Actually, we have known each other for quite some time...
it's just recently that we have gotten a little closer.
She's an incredible mom (she had a great example) to these
absolutely adorable boys...
and although you can't tell...
there's one more on the way.
Pink, maybe?
Her boys are both wearing one of my 'tie-tees,'
and couldn't have been more handsome models.

Did I mention that Kristal has her own photography business that she has recently launched?
She's amazing gifted and down-right affordable!
Check out her blog:
kristaljoyphotography.blogspot.com

This is the very first creation completed in my new room.
It's an address banner for a friend.
I will soon be starting on some more goodies for her front porch!
Can't Wait.

Another 'tie-tee.'

A pillow from my newest collection.
Perfect for spring and currently available at
Windmill Gardens in Sumner, WA.
There are others similar to this that say:
egg and nest.

This one was created just in time for Valentine's Day!
I love the contrast!

Another set of custom ordered and designed shirts for a friends twins.
I know what you're thinking...
twins??
Are you kidding me?
The shirt on the left is twice the size of the one on the right.
He's just growing a little faster...
but from what I hear...what she lacks in lbs,
she makes up for in 'sass.'

Aren't they the cutest things EVER?
And red-hair to boot.

I AM IN LOVE!

They are also the first of 3 sets of twins that 3 of my friends have had.
I don't think I want to take that chance...
...I think we'll be done with two...
...maybe?

These are some name signs that were ordered to hang on the doors of each of these kiddos nursery rooms.

So there you have it...
in a nutshell.
A VERY LARGE NUTSHELL,
with a lot of pictures and long-winded commentary,
some of the recent changes that have been taking place at the Skaug House lately.
I figured I had better get them done now while it's...
cold,
wet,
windy,
dreary
(can you tell February is NOT one of my favorite months)
...because spring will be here soon and then we'll be outside playing and planting.

But amidst all of the physical changes happening around here,
there are still a few constants:
-I am humbled by God's love for my family and I
and the Blessings he so generously allows for us,
-My husband is my best friend and helps me to be a better person
-My girl's are sassy, caring, smart and downright hysterical
-I have some of the best, most generous and sincere friends I could ever dream of
and
I STILL LOVE ME A GOOD STARBUCKS GRANDE, NONFAT CARAMEL MACCHIATO.Yummy!!

P.S. Coming soon: Pictures of our NEW AND IMPROVED guest room...
Grandma Jill...get excited!