I realized that it's been several weeks since I've journeyed into Blog Land, & I wondered, "What have I been doing?" I guess my biggest & bestest excuse is that #1 and #2 were home for Spring Break during the same week! They boys' spring breaks really snuck up on us-it wasn't until a week before they came home that we realized it was almost break time. Mr. Man said to me, "Sweetie, I think we've turned a corner; we haven't been counting down the days until they come home!" He was absolutely right-we've become busy with our own lives, something we haven't done since January 1991! Yikes! Anyway, it was so good to have all 4 of us under the same roof. I was a bit bummed because I was NOT on break, so I had to go to school every day while they were home, but it was great to come home to a music & tv filled house, complete with empty water bottles, dirty dishes, & shoes everywhere! #2 was home for about 5 days & then he returned to Cinci, while #1 was home for a full week. I know I say this every time I write about them, but darn it they are turning into two really great guys! They are the kind of guys I'd like to get to know if I met them out in the world somewhere. Definitely different as night & day-it's fun to hear them tease each other (good heartedly) about their passions-art, politics/government, & weightlifting. Isn't it amazing how 2 kids can grow up with the same parents at basically the same time (they're only 18 months apart in age) & be so totally different? I see parts of Mr. Man & me in both of them, but they are definitely their own people, not clones of us at all. I like to think that they got the "best parts" of both of us. Today at church was a little rough though. They were taking pictures for a new church directory & we had to have our pictures taken without the boys for the first time-I kind of just wanted to skip it & not acknowledge that our family has changed. Another couple who are friends were having the exact same feelings-we joked that maybe they could Photo Shop our kids' heads into the pictures!
Two weeks ago I had the blessing of being involved in The Scissor Sisters' 6th Annual Charity Crop (scrapbooking). We had 87 croppers & raised $4,000 for Pickaway County Special Olympics!!!!! I was shocked to learn that PCSO receives NO FUNDING from the state or national Special Olympics-they must do all their own fundraising-unbelievable!! I am so proud & blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of Gal Pals/Sister Chicks! Each of us has our own talents that we bring to the event, although I have to admit that my talents pale in comparison to those who oversaw the event & took care of preparing absolutely delicious brunch, snacks, & dinner for over 100 people! I try to look busy so that no one realizes how "untalented" I really am. So far no one has noticed-shhhhh!
We are headed into the craziest part of the year at school as far as meetings & paperwork go. It has really been stressing me out, so Spring Break couldn't have come at a better time! My plan is to get all of my paperwork for April completed this week so that I am not writing IEPs at 10:00 at night! I'm also hoping to get a few projects completed, the biggest one being getting my scrapbook room organized-it has turned into a dumping ground for all of my sewing, scrapping, & miscellaneous projects. That could take all week by itself, so I guess I'd better be getting up early this week!
Last weekend I went to the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market. I had to go solo because my pals Lynn & Carla were busy. I was curious what it'd be like going by myself....not nearly as much fun is what I discovered. No one to talk & laugh with on the drive, no one to dig through piles of stuff (Lynn) & no one to sweet talk the vendors for me (Carla).
However, I spent my allotted cash in a mere 2 hours & was headed home by 11:00! I bought a really neat metal cabinet, that I was able to get for $25 less than the original asking price. Think it might be going into my scrapbook room. Considered painting it, but I really like the industrial feel & the "personality" of it, demonstrated by its' scratches & dents.
My favorite find of the day was this old, metal rocker (no, I don't mean a washed up rock star!!). I guess it's actually more of a bouncer, than a rocker, but it was love at first sight! I was also able to get it for $25 less than the original asking price (my Dad, the salesman, would be so proud of my bartering skills). So I gladly handed over my cash & then thought, "I hope this will fit in my car!" In a perfect world I would've hard our conversion van, but it was in the shop getting a new transmission, so I had to fit the metal cabinet & the rocker in my HONDA ACCORD! Thankfully the man I bought the chair from & his helper were able to fit the rocker in my trunk & secure it with a bungee cord. You should've seen me driving on 70E toward Columbus-I felt a bit like Ellie Mae Clampet (if you don't know who that is, you may be too young to read this blog!), but we made it home without any issues, although I did have visions of the chair flying out of my trunk & through someone's windshield!
I stopped on the way home to pick up a wire brush & spray primer & paint. I had the brainstorm while driving to paint the chair an eggplant/dark purple color so that it would compliment the green shutters & door on our house. Well....who knew there were so many shades of purple spray paint? After about an hour of using the wire brush I realized that I need something more powerful & also that I might need rotator cuff surgery! That night I purchased some spray paint stripper & I've been worked on the chair during the week when I had time (insert not very much got accomplished). I have determined that the chair has been black, green, orange, & white, and the armrests are wood, not metal, which you couldn't tell before the paint was removed. I know people think I'm silly for spending so much time on this, but I just love doing this. I wish the chair could tell me its' story! Hopefully by next week at this time I'll have an after picture to share with you!