Toy Kitchen Makeover

I wanted to get Adelaide a toy kitchen for her 2nd birthday.  Toy kitchens are expensive, and I was looking for a way to get one at an affordable price.  I was planning to use an old tv stand or end table and make it into a little girl's kitchen, so I started collecting Play Kitchen Ideas on Pinterest.

I never did find the right piece of furniture at a thrift store to use for the kitchen makeover.  However, my parents found an old and faded toy kitchen for me, which made the project even easier!  Here are the before pictures:

It was not so pretty, but was very sturdy - perfect for a makeover!

It even came with a little tea kettle, which was also in need of a makeover.

My dad sanded the kitchen down, removed the doors, handles, and knobs.  Will took me out shopping to find the perfect paint.  It took me two weeks to get everything painted.  It was hard work, much harder than I had anticipated.  Painting the little kitchen took a lot out of me, but the end product was pretty, and seeing the delighted expression on Adelaide's face was priceless. 

Here is the kitchen after its makeover:

The kitchen is now "Canyon Pink" from Olympic paints.  The knobs and sink are painted white (with a little bit of pink mixed into the white paint).  My mom recently showed me that Adelaide's kitchen looks a little like the Pottery Barn Kids toy kitchen!  I had no idea that pink was such a stylish color for toy kitchens right now.

I also sanded and painted the tea kettle.  The faded red, yellow, and blue of the original kettle would never do!  I mixed some black and pink paint in order to get a new color for the tea kettle.  I was hoping for a grayish pink color, but it actually turned kind of purple.

My mom found two wooden disks for me to use for the burners.

I painted them black and glued them on using wood glue.

Adelaide loves to wash her hands in the sink.

The pink kitchen is Adelaide's new favorite toy.

The paint job isn't perfect, but it is good enough.  Adelaide is thrilled with her new kitchen, and it brings me such happiness to see her play with it.  I am so thankful that the Lord gave me the strength to paint this little kitchen for her.

Birthday Fun

December has been a busy month for us with birthdays, graduation, and Christmas.  We have had some fun celebrations, and I am so thankful that I have been able to feel well enough to be present for the occasions.  I have paid for pushing my body so hard, but I am thankful that I was even able to push my body.  A year ago I couldn't have.

Earlier this month we celebrated both William and Adelaide's birthdays.  William turned 6 years old, and Adelaide turned 2.  We had a small family party for both of them with my parents and sister.  We often referred to this as the "practice party."  We were planning to have a Lego birthday party for William while we were in Louisville for Will's graduation.  I wanted to practice making a Lego cake and a pinata ahead of time to be sure that everything went smoothly for the party in Louisville.

William was thrilled to get a lot of Star Wars Legos!

Adelaide was delighted with coffee cups and toy food.

For our present for Adelaide we bought a used toy kitchen and fixed it up.

Before and after pictures will be coming later on this week.

My sister, Krista, helped me to make this Lego brick cake for William.

Adelaide liked her kitchen too much, and she wouldn't leave it even for birthday cake.

We brought her cake and candles over to her at her new kitchen.

The practice pinata was a lot of fun.

My sister helped me make this one and another one for the Lego party in Louisville.

The family party was a lot of fun!  Next week I hope to share about William's Lego party with his friends in Kentucky.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, dear friends.  May you have a blessed weekend as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14, ESV.

 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 

  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name     Immanuel” 

   (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. 

Matthew 1:18-25, ESV

Photo Credit: Maria Sormann

Christmas Cookies

I've always been sad about not being able to do Christmas cookies with my children each year.  It was something I had wanted to do every year with my children since before I was a mom, but now I'm too sick to bake and decorate cookies.

However, this year I found a great alternative!  We dipped pretzel sticks in chocolate and covered them with sprinkles.  It was so easy!  I sat on the floor in front of the microwave.  I was able to take the chocolate out of the microwave without even standing up.  I dipped the pretzels, put them on the cookie sheet, and the children put on sprinkles.  That was it!  Easy-peasy and so much fun.  William and I have decided that this will be our yearly Christmas cookie tradition.

William and Adelaide were in charge of sprinkles.

We didn't even get very many on the carpet!

My Handsome Little Chef

My Pretty Little Cook

Seminary Graduation

I am excited to announce that Will has graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary!

Graduation Ceremony, December 9, 2011

Southern Seminary

My friend, Adina, had a great view of the graduates from her seat in the balcony.  I was lying down (you can barely see the top of my head in the back corner), so I'm thankful for friends who could take pictures for me!

Seminary Graduation

Will receives his diploma from Dr. Mohler

Will graduated with a Master of Divinity.

I am honored to be this man's wife.

Will's dad, Uncle Eldon, and Aunt Doris came for the graduation.

My mom and dad came for the graduation also.

Chapel at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

We are thankful to the Lord for providing for our needs while at seminary, and we praise Him for His faithfulness to us.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us during this time.  We are so grateful for your prayers and gifts.

We don't know yet where we will be going for future ministry, but we are excited about the possibilities and we look forward to seeing where the Lord leads us.

Photo Credits:

Adina Caskey

Southern Seminary