Raising the Rhyne Brine

Money

2012-01-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

Money is a funny thing. I've been thinking a lot about it. Most people assume we are poor because of the size of our house. How do I feel about this? I don't know.

We live small on purpose. We have a plan.

~~Go small (live in 400 sq ft with 3 kids at the in-laws for a year)~~ COMPLETED
Stay small (live in 920 sq ft with 4 kids in a rainy city)...CURRENT (will be a rental soon)
Buy a medium size house in Texas to live in for a year (this will happen in 2 years,this will also turn into a rental)
Build our dream house with no mortgage (this will be completed in 3-4 years)

I guess I don't like "being thought of as poor", I don't know why. Why does it matter? And at the same time, I "LIKE being thought of as poor", puts it into perspective. I guess some people think we are poor because we have a small house, no matter what we have in the bank. What does it really matter anyway? We never want to be a slave to our house. We want our money to spread around, building our legacy and helping others. We plan to completely support both our parents and be the house that all gather to for holidays and birthdays and every day. We want to spend our money on our family taking trips and mission trips and helping everyone possible.

I think most people don't stay small enough for long enough. They are always trying to catch up instead of waiting til they can just really explode.

Living small is hard. I have 3 kids in one 8'x7' bedroom with no closet. All of their clothes are in one dresser and the coat closet. The baby still sleeps in our room and her clothes are in a plastic container under the bed. Our bedroom is 9' x 13' and housing a king sized bed. But we do have our own bathroom, that is nice. Ok... I lied. It's really not that hard at all, it's tight, that's all. Living on the streets, that would be hard.

Redneck and I both feel like we "have it all". We feel like we ARE the Jones's... you know the phrase "Keeping up with the Jones"? It's funny because no one but us sees us like that. Everyone thinks we are poor and deprived, but I couldn't be happier. A bigger house and living in sunny weather, that's just an added bonus.

We are spreading our manure right now... so our garden looks pretty bare to outsiders. But living in the "dirt" (the starting ground), we know the richness we have invested deep down and it's only a matter of time til everyone else will see why we invested in "manure" instead of a "ready made potted plant".

Rapunzel's Tower

2011-12-08T21:46:00.000-08:00

My first princess is turning 2 in a couple of days and she LOVES Rapunzel. She loves her so much she carries around a frying pan all day. So of course we are having a Rapunzel party.

It all started because I bought a pound of yellow yarn to make Rapunzel's hair. Spent an entire evening walking back and forth between our master bath towel hook and our back door handle, wrapping the yarn around so could get a giant 20' long, 2" thick, Rapunzel pony tail. Then I started thinking that the hair would look stupid just randomly hanging around the room. It needed to hang from something. So I started making up the plans. Plus, it would keep the kids busy during the winter and we can move it outside come summertime.

So, I got a 30" wide, 6' high concrete form tube. I don't know if you have ever built anything out of concrete, but liquid as a mass is strong and will break through almost anything. So this concrete form is strong, 1/2" thick, non-corrugated cardboard, and super heavy.

The kids loved it, even before I built anything with it.

But here it is as "bones".
Then I cut 2x12's to have a 30" radius and screwed 3" exterior screws through the form and into the stair tread. Looking up from the entrance. Each stair is about 12" high.

Then I wrapped the upper chamber in 1/8" hardy board. Then painted stones, faux plaster and wood on the top, then vines, and more vines. Then hot glued some old flowers on... and wha-lah!

Ok, so the frame took 2 days to cut and build (that's with 4 kids, no babysitter), then another day to paint, but all and all, for entertainment all winter... WELL worth it.

It stands 8 feet high now. But when we move it outside (in May or June), I'll build the vaulted cone roof and it will bring the total height to about 14 feet... I'll also be attaching a slide and swings. But as for now, we have working shutters and pulley...

Doorway to the stairs...

And the best part, the wall / door opens (not an easy feat) so we can get the munchkins out who refuse to come down when it's time for bed.

The boys... (guilty, didn't paint the tower floor (or walls for that matter)

And the stairs going down...

A little much to be considered mere "decoration for the party", still need to make a purple banner with suns, hang some "Wanted Flynn Rider" posters, but I think we'll be just fine. Got the hair draped aroud the room...

I'll be sure to get a picture of Luella in her Rapunzel dress carrying her frying pan, in front of her tower on her birthday. Gosh, I hope that dress doesn't restrict her climbing ability, hmm...
But there you have it... my own homemade Rapunzel Tower

Master Bath Progress

2011-11-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

So, Remodeling with 4 kids is SLOW. As as you can tell, blogging about remodeling is almost non-existent.

I am a Second Use stalker. It is an architectual salvage shop about an hour away and lucky for me, they post daily some of their new items online. So, when I saw this granite counter the perfect size with under mount sinks and faucets for $125, I called and bought it immediately and thus began our bathroom remodel.

So here is what we started with.

The ugliest red stone, nasty tile floors. And compared to our newly remodeled main bath (View HERE)... I hated using this bathroom. The cabinets were upper cabinets with no shelves and see that aweful nook behind the shower. What am I suppose to put there?!!? I swear the old owners searched the dump for this bathroom. And what's sad is this bathroom is a "new addition", built a few years before we purchased it. So pathetic. Please notice the single pane window. You could literally feel wind blow through around it.
So I gave it all away on craiglist. And while Redneck was picking up the counter at Second Use, I also had him grab some cheap awesome cabinets with awesome inset pulls...

totaled at $55 for the cabinets plus $125 for the cabinet = $180 for this awesome double vanity

But they would obviously need a facelift. I had to rip everything out. The drawers were standard 24" deep so I had to do a complete overhaul and rebuild them to only be 12" deep so they wouldn't hit the sink drain and install new 12" drawer slides.

A lot of sanding and priming and some "Swiss Coffee" Behr white paint (same as main bathroom) and we had some progress.

Then the window... the awful window that wind blew in around, single pane and single pain!! So, I found a wood casement window at Second use for $20 but the hinge was broken and it was about 6" more narrow than the old one. Repairing this window was one of the most complicated things I've done. There are hundreds of different sizes and types of casement hinges. Stupid me thought "one size fits all". Lucky for me, found a great site online (http://www.hardwaresource.com/) with the most helpful owner EVER. Took a couple weeks of emailing back and forth but got that fixed and functioning perfectly, then had to re-frame the window opening so that required ripping off all the vinyl siding. I planned on doing this all along because when we installed the huge slider (View HERE), there was a transition in the vinyl that we took off. But I wanted it to be all a continuous wall of siding.

Reframed the opening, put up the tyvek (wrapped into the window opening)

and installed the window, trim and siding went back up. Too bad I ran out to completely finish it, haha. I'll be putting up some specialty shake siding in the front of the house, so when I take off the current gray siding from there that will be replaced, it will be put here.

Ok, back inside....Of course I had to rip out the tile floor to install it properly and I had some left over vinyl from the main bath remodel that fit perfectly.

Then there was that awkward nook space so one day the perfect 15" wide cabinets with thick glass shelves came up on Second Use for $25, so you better believe I loaded all 4 kids up and headed straight to Second Use. With some more white paint and mod podge some fab fabric on the back...

And wha-lah... Progress.

Then I bought a fade translucent film for privacy, you can't see through at all at the bottom and it fades up so you can see out the window at the top. Of course I still need to install trim around the NEW casement window. There will be beadboard over the hole under the new perfume cabinet and around the entire bathroom... but its coming along. Don't even get me started on the ugliest track light EVER...

The Fruit Tree

2011-11-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

I have been wrestling with God a lot and I just realized something. You know when you are trying to change a baby's diaper and they won't stop squirming? "Child, I'm trying to help you" but the child wants to do what the child wants to do.

Ok, not the best analogy but all my life, I've been scraping by with "just enough". Way more than enough to be grateful for but never really enough to be able to bless other people beyond their wildess dreams. As a child, we went back to school shopping at Goodwill, my choice. I have always been very frugal, I didn't want my "wants" for cool clothes to come in the way of my parents bills. I had no clue how much they made a year, we had a nice house, but for some reason, I don't think I deserved it. Why? I have no clue.

I've always been very self-sufficient. I never want anyone else's help, I never want to bother someone else with my problems or my desires.... including God.

Now, I titled this blog "The Fruit Tree" because I am realizing that is what we are, that is what God made us. We are planted once, when we are small, things are more of a challenge and we hardly bear any fruit at all. It almost seems like the harder we work to grow, the less fruit we bear. I am 28 years old, and this is what I have felt like my whole life. I have felt like I will never get ahead... that's because I have been being pruned : A very good thing, but it sure looks ugly, doesn't feel very good and results are never immediate.

Don't get my wrong, I am blessed beyond words. I have 4 perfect,beautiful, healthy children, an amazing husband, a nice warm house, food in the pantry but never enough to be able to take the woman with two kids off the street and give them a place to live. Never enough to send my 62 year old mother who works 50 hours a week on a cruise with her sister.

Being a parent has taught me so much about God. If my children were sitting on the floor in the pantry eating a bowl of rice, completely content and very grateful they had food, but I had an entire Thanksgiving feast for them in the beautiful dining room; I would want more than anything for them to come partake. But they said "No mom, we are grateful for our rice and this floor to sit on so we don't have to sit in the dirt. Thank you so much mom for this rice." Seriously, what parent wants that for their child and I feel like so many of us feel like that with God. The feast is there, HE made it for YOU. And just because you partake, doesn't mean everyone else can't. There is more than enough for everyone, why do I limit God?

Back to the fruit tree analogy, starting out, it's been rough for us. We lived with 2 children on my parents property for about 2 years, paying rent only a couple of times. My parents were barely scraping by but still wanting to help us. Redneck was working about 60 hours a week and things just weren't clicking. We cried a lot during that time. My parents ended up foreclosing and we went to go live with Redneck's mom and step dad about the same time Redneck decided to start his own programming business. I was pregnant with Luella at the time and we moved into the upstairs bedroom that had a bathroom and a small attached nursery room. It was 400 sq ft for (soon to be) 5 people. Luckily, I have amazing in-laws. They were so generous to let us live there and to make matters better, Redneck' mom and I get along great, we are both very creative. I ended up delivering Luella in their bathtub. We lived there for a year and then bought our current house. Now we have 6 people in 920 sq feet. I love this house and Rednecks business is doing great; but for some reason, we feel like we are about to get kicked down again.

What we need to realize is we are a bigger, stronger tree now and the storm has passed. We grew during the storm and now we are producing fruit, just the way God wants us to. He wants us to thrive, get better, grow bigger and bear more fruit. We are a perennial, not an annual. He designed us to stick around, not have to get re-planted every year and start all over again.

I know in this recession, a lot of people are going through the storm but it will pass. God wants us to bear fruit. I was raised in the "God wants you to be a millionaire" church then my parents started going to a "God wants you to have nothing and die to yourself" church. Why is everything so extreme? Of course God wants us to succeed. He called us to help the needy. How in the world are we suppose to follow HIS commandments if we are convinced that God will only ration us "just enough" for ourselves.

People help people. Money does not help people. A family puts aside $10,000 to take a needy family in and help them get on their feet, nurture them, love them, make them sure that they are equals. Give that needy family $10,000 and no people and they just feel like a charity case. They don't feel like they are worth more because of the money, they feel like they are worth more because of the people, because of the love. The best way to help the needy is not be needy yourself. God wants us as fruit trees to flourish, to feed others and to use our seeds to plant others. The bigger we get, the more we feed.

Trees : Grow as big as you can, produce as much fruit as possible, prune often and share your seeds.

Be used by God.

Disneyland Trip 2011

2011-09-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

We went to Disneyland last week. We took all four kids (Carter 5, August 3, Luella 1.5, and Magnolia 3 months) and Quadsie (our four seater stroller). We stayed for a week and it was a blast. We tried all the character dining and absorbed at much 80 degree California sunshine as possible.

First day we started with character dining with Minnie's Breakfast at Plaza Inn right in the park. So much fun.

I love this shot... Luella checking herself out in the mirror as we waited for Mickey.

Second day we ate breakfast at Surf's Up with Mickey at Paradise Pier Hotel and it was our favorite. Great food, not the most selection but the best quality of food, and by far the most characters. Our babes had a blast.

Then we headed to California Adventures for a bit, then back to Disneyland for the parade and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Carter's favorite ride)

Third day we went to the princess breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. Honestly, it was quite awful. Very rude staff, crappy food, and the princesses were not very nice and only spent about 1 minute at our table. Maybe we'll go again when Lue is a little older, in a few years, but would much rather head back to Surf's Up with Mickey.

Then we walked around a bit, did Tarzan's treehouse (one of my favorite parts of Disneyland) and watched the fireworks from our newfound favorite spot, at the beginning of Main Street. It was great.

(Love the picture above... I hate people staring at me... and people just gawked at the stroller all day long. It made me really uncomfortable but so worth it. That stroller made the trip so much easier)

Fourth day we at the Chip and Dales Storytellers Cafe. It had good food but definitely not child friendly. They had a few bear characters, pretty good food but nothing outstanding... but I'm definitely not complaining.

Then we met Jessie (from Toy Story), went on Toy Story Mania (super fun) and did the splash park.

We went to World of Color but it was so crowded, I could hardly reach in my purse to get my camera out. But here's me and my sleeping infant after the show on the pier. The show was great and we sat next to this nice family with tween girls who held the boys during the whole show so they got to see everything. It was great.

Fifth day we used our "Morning Madness" and got into the park and our early and rode "Finding Nemo" with barely any wait, and then Stephen took both boy on the Matterhorn and they loved it. Then we went for brunch at Minnie's Breakfast, so convenient and always great characters.

We rode a few rides, went to lunch at our favorite Mexican place, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante. So quiet and gorgeous... and amazing fish tacos.

And our sixth and final day, we started with Goofy's Kitchen in Disneyland Hotel. They had a great spread of food, great service but not quite as many characters as Surf's Up Mickey... so I'd say it was a tie for best places to eat.

Then we went to Wilderness Explorer Camp where the boys met Dug and Russell and became SENIOR Wilderness Explorers. This place was a blast, so much climbing, sliding, and swinging. The boys loved it.

Then we headed back to Disneyland to get Nolie her first pair of Mickey Ears (that don't quite fit), meet Tinkerbelle (and Vidia) and one last stroll down Main Street.

It was such a great trip. We had a blast. We stayed right across the street at Best Western Park Place Inn- Mini Suite and the service was great. I just feel so blessed that I get to let my children enjoy this. I have the most amazing husband in the world and he pretty much read my mind the entire trip, not to mention sponsored the entire thing. We can't wait to go back next year, I'm hoping with just a double stroller, but we'll see.

Curb Appeal

2011-08-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have been longing to build a roof over the front porch ever since we moved in. But 4 kids is turning out to be a lot more time consuming than anticipated, LOL. Who would have thought?

But we finally got around to rebuilding the front steps.
Only took 10 months (well,it took that long to wait on some sunshine)

Obiously the railing is yet to be completed

And with the left over decking, I build a planter box. I love free
And the shot from Google Maps... YIKES

So it's coming along... sloooowly but surely! I think next summer my rhodies will be the same size, (look at the difference in them in the Google Maps picture) And Redneck seems to think that it will be impossible to do a project as large as the front porch roof with 4 kids, so I have a contractor coming over today for a bid. Breaks my heart.

Oh well, it hasnt been all work

We went to see Thomas the Train

And lots of fun in the backyard

Beauty

2011-07-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is what occupies most of my time!

(Said with a huge smile)

She's 3 weeks old today and I love feeling that my family is complete.

Some 4th pictures

Luella is always a blurr. She does't stop moving... EVER. It's exhausting. The girls had matching shirts.. hard to tell through the blurr

We walked to town for the parade

Yes, everyone was staring at us

The kids had fun

And we've finally rebuilt the front stairs...

More to come on that later. The finished product looks great. Post pics soon!

What's a Brine?

2011-06-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Raising the "Rhyne Brine".

That's my blog name but it's much more than a cute rhyme.

[brahyn] noun, verb, brined, brin·ing.

–noun

1.water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.

And it's all based around this:

Matt 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I am raising my children to be very salty, much like a brine. I want them to be so salty that Jesus is all people see when they look at our family. Granted, if you looked at them at this very second, you would see a very cranky 3 year old whining something at his older brother who is bossing him around because he put the wrong toys in the wrong box. And a one year old who just trampled through her brother's train track creation, now both boys are upset... at least the 11 day old babe is sleeping peacefully. Oy.

So, this salt business is a work in progress. You have to sit in the brine awhile to get salty right?

So there you have it, that's whats in our name! :-D

Look what I got...

2011-06-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

Baby #4 arrived early this morning at 3:41am.

Magnolia Joy

June 18th, 2011
8 lb 8 oz
21" long

14.25" head

(my tiniest baby)

Contractions started about midnight and right off the bat were 45 sec long and 3 mins apart. (You are suppose to head to the hospital when contractions are 1 min long and 5 mins apart). I hoped right in the clawfoot tub, the most relaxing place to labor.

We had planned another homebirth but labor is a weird thing. Contractions hurt bad... but in between contraction you feel 100% fine. I kept telling myself that the contractions would peeter out and didn't end up having Redneck call the midwife until 2 am.

Turns out my midwife was just finishing up another delivery in Puyallup, about 45 minutes away. So she wrapped up there and got to our house around 2:35 (she sped, hehehe). Contractions continued to get stronger and finally had to push at about 3:30.

2 pushes and Magnolia was born at 3:41am.

The 3 other short people that I claim as my own, slept through the entire thing.

My awesome midwife, Ann Olsen, and her daughter (aka assistant) got me all set up in bed, everything cleaned up, baby weighed and checked out, to McDonalds to get us breakfast and back, and were gone by 6am... and my kids still hadn't woke up. We got about an hour of sleep in before they eventually woke up and the boys were very excited to meet their new lil' sissy "Nolie". Luella, on the other hand, could care less. I think she thinks I'm holdimg a doll or something, she hasn't even given her lil' sis a second glance, LOL.

But all is well in the Rhyne household and my family feels so complete.

Nolie is nursing great and sleeping a ton!

Living Room Fireplace Reveal

2011-06-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Oh my. How long as it bee since I've blogged??? First my camera went dead, just bought it (Nikon Coolpix) 6 months ago. THen my computer got a wicked virus and wouldn't let me on the internet.

Now I have a new laptop.... YAY!

So when we first moved in,we had the most dysfunctional living room EVER. The wood stove sat in one corner and took up 1/6 of the (already tiny) living room. So one day I ripped that out!

Then (since I am a SecondUse.com stalker) I found an older looking gas fireplace for $65. SOLD

So here is the progression.

That is the front door (on the left) and the door to the kids room next to it. The picture is taken sitting in the chair that now reside where the old wood stove was. The armoire was huge and took up sooo much space.

Another view, sitting at the desk. You can see on the right where the wood stove was.

So Redneck took 2 days off and we ripped out the wall. Yup, thats the kids room. (3 kids (and their clothes) in a 8x7 room. Lue sleeps in a crib in there (that was moved during construction)

Then we got it all framed out and wired in. It was quite complicated actually because I wanted to use EVER nook and cranny to store something or other.

But there she is NOW... photographed in HORRIBLE lighting. The wall color is actually this.

Behr "Lightweight Beige" but the lighting make the room look yellow (and using a camera phone since my camera is broken).

My favorite parts and why it took so long to build (6 weeks total). Behind the tv is a deep nook that is storage for the power and internet router and wireless modem. The mantel flips open (like mailbox) to store Comcast box and Blu-ray player. There is a channel behind the tv that goes down to the storage box to bring the cords up and hide them. And the fireplace sides swing open to hold all the dvds.

Another view from the desk. The floor is HIDEOUS, I know. It will soon be dark wood to match the mantel.

And just inside the kids' room (that would be the office or den for any normal person) are more built-ins.

You can see the power outlet and at the very top left, is a 'hole" that connect t the nook behind the tv, for in case the next resident has more components than we do.

So there you have it. And now, Luella can't reach to turn off the tv everytime the boys want to watch Thomas the Train. Seriously, every time it would come on, she would walk over, push the power off and walk away. Gotta love it!

And now I sit here.... 39 weeks pregnant and finally REST!! Hahaha, just kidding. Just fixed the garbage disposal and tomorrow will be installing our new dishwasher... Woot Woot!!

Servant's Heart

2011-03-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

"How do we know if we have a servant’s heart? By how we act when we are treated like one!" -unknown

As a mother of 3 (and another one on the way) and a husband who works from home (who leaves messes throughout the house during the day as much as the kids), most days you feel like a servant. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, repair (wo)man, grounds keeper, poo cleaner, and the list goes on.

I've always adored my mother. She has the best servants heart that I've ever seen. She always wants to help, give of herself, to help you and doesn't even think of what she will get in return.

Gloria

She is my hero and why I named my daughter's middle name after her, Luella GLORY

 "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." -CS Lewis

As a mom, it's so important to realize that you are awesome and just because sometimes you feel like a slave, you are NOT.  You are an heiress to the throne.  You were given a great responsibility that our culture seems to think is not very glorious. I would do anything for my children, I think most mom's would. Being a mother has taught me so much about God's love.  

I would do ANYTHING for these 3 beautiful short people

 The King of Kings thought that you were worth so much, that He died for you.  He purchased you. YOU are of ultimate value to HIM, the MASTER of the universe.  And He came to earth to show you His love, to be nothing for YOU, to serve you. 

Not that our mothering can even compare to what Jesus did, like 0.0000000001% of what HE did, we get to do. 

SERVE

GIVE

Put ourselves LAST

This is a blessing

I think that most mom's don't like feeling like a servant because they don't see the blessing in it. They feel like they need "me" time and that is what our culture has taught us. But the truth is :

It's NOT about you

And the sooner we realize that, the sooner we can be the most effective, best mother and wife that God wants us to be.

It's like when you go on a diet. And eat really healthy all week, then completely gorge yourself every Saturday. 4,000 calories of cake, chocolate, bacon, pizza and everything you can think of.

By doing that, it completely ruins all the work you did the whole week to eat healthy and you feel like your weight isn't moving... because it's not. With dieting, the most important thing is to change your relationship with food. Treat it as just a fuel to keep you moving and keep you healthy. You can't hate everyday you are eating healthy and just dream about your binge day all week. You will go NOWHERE.

It's the same with being a mother. We need to realize that being a servant is awesome. It's a blessing that we get to have our children, mould them, love them, and SERVE them.... just like Jesus serves us. We can't be dreaming about our "ME TIME" while we are busy going about our motherly duties. We need to be dreaming about how we can serve better, not get out of serving.

This is a message to myself and anyone else who agrees. It is my daily goal... hourly goal.

Matthew 23:11-12

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 

I sometimes catch myself grumbling as I'm putting away the mountains of laundry or mopping the kitchen. 

 "I wonder what it feels like to always have clean clothes, clean kitchen, food ready at meal time and never worry about where it came from. I bet (Redneck) doesn't even know how to turn on the washing machine" Grumble.. grumble... grumble

Then that small voice says 

"Not as good as it feels to get to be with your children all day and make food with groceries from money that YOU didn't personally earn, or wash the clothes with water that you didn't have to leave the house to earn money to pay for."

. . : : END OF GRUMBLE  : : . .

There I went thinking about "poor me" when really I should have been praising God for being so blessed.  GUILTY.

The Proverbs 31 woman does NOT think of herself

A wife of noble character who can find? 
   She is worth far more than rubies. 
11 Her husband has full confidence in her 
   and lacks nothing of value. 
12 She brings him good, not harm, 
   all the days of her life. 
13 She selects wool and flax 
   and works with eager hands. 
14 She is like the merchant ships, 
   bringing her food from afar. 
15 She gets up while it is still night; 
   she provides food for her family 
   and portions for her female servants. 
16 She considers a field and buys it; 
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
17 She sets about her work vigorously; 
   her arms are strong for her tasks. 
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, 
   and her lamp does not go out at night. 
19 In her hand she holds the distaff 
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
20 She opens her arms to the poor 
   and extends her hands to the needy. 
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 
22 She makes coverings for her bed; 
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, 
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, 
   and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
   she can laugh at the days to come. 
26 She speaks with wisdom, 
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
27 She watches over the affairs of her household 
   and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; 
   her husband also, and he praises her: 
29 “Many women do noble things, 
   but you surpass them all.” 
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 

 VERSE 31 does NOT say

She takes a day to herself, goes to the spa, forgets about her children and husband and just indulges herself because she deserves it.

Our culture wants us to think it does.  

It's not about us  

Master Bedroom Plans

2011-03-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

We really really need a new mattress.

Nothing is as simple as that in our house. Our current mattress is HORRIBLE and a queen we were given by an old friend. The problem is that our Sleigh bed (currently in storage) is King size. Hubs is 6'4", and I am 5'10" and we usually have a child sleeping with us. A KING is mandatory.

So since our bed is tucked in what used to be the closet, there is 72" clearance. I need at least 76" to fit a king mattress. And I don't want to buy a new queen just to not use in a couple years. So, I am going to have to alter the closet. Remove some studs. Move some electrical. Replace with new trim.

I've always loved this fabric

And this Butter paint from BM

So, we'll see what I can do.

Need to get rid of our gloomy bedroom. In Seattle, we see enough gray blue in the skies, I don't need it in the bedroom too.

Frugal Friday

2011-02-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Today I'm linking up with "Frugal Friday" at

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2011/02/frugal-friday_24.html

Now, most wouldn't think that a complete overhaul bathroom remodel would be Frugal but you'd be surprised.

Normally, I don't like spilling the beans on money. We don't have a lot of it, and if I have some, I feel like I'm bragging. But our entire bathroom.. ripping out all joists, replacing all walls, etc totaled out at

$1,154

FOR EVERYTHING.

To me, that is a steal. My goal was to get it under $800, (I had $400 / month remodel budget) but you know how all the little things start adding up.

Vanity $100 (used craigslist)

Floor joists / subfloor $300

Vinyl and tape $85

Drywall and supplies $80

Beadboard $80

Pocket door frame $100

Pocket door Revamp (with plexiglass and vinyl sticker) $70

Paint $60

Trim $50

Chandelier $45

Electrical wiring/switches/outlets $20

Plumbing pipes, valves $30

Faucet $90

(2) Rob hooks $30

Screws, nails, misc $14

Seems like a lot of money to me but considering it probably adds about $10,000 equity in the house...

seems like a great deal to me!

And now I get to enjoy it, instead of doing it just to get it sold.

Bathroom Reveal

2011-02-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

It all started when I found this vanity. I thought I'd use it to do this...

Simple remodel. Remove the double vanity... replace with single.. gain space

Yea right~!

Ended up ripping out EVERYTHING, replacing joists (all of them), all subfloor, new vinyl, new walls, etc..

It was tricky because we couldn't remove the clawfoot tub down the 24" hallway. So we had to rip out half the floor, replace everything.. then move the clawfoot to the "new" side and replace the other side.

Some process.

In moving the clawfoot around, I realized it would work much better on the "vanity" wall. So I rearranged the plumbing to accomidate.

So... without further ado...

I made the door myself out of the old door. I cut a hole in the middle, frosted plexiglass... put moulding around and added custom vinyl decal. And now it's a pocket door. (I'll post a "How To" later)

The sink got moved to the tub pluumbing area. So much more spacious!

The large mirror right as you walk in is the old vanity mirror that was horizontal. I glued it onto some hardboard, let it sit for 72 hours. Then I screwed the exposed hardboard into studs then trimmed out the rest. The tub still needs a D shape clawfoot rod and curtains,

and a glass shelf over the toilet.

But it's been 7 weeks and my husband is done having a construction zone.

COLORS

The tub and vanity

Behr Eucalyptus Leaf

The upper wall in Satin

Behr Aqua Breeze

And the beadboard and all trim in semi-gloss

Behr Swiss Coffee

Making the faucet fit

2011-02-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I got my faucet in the mail from CSN. I got THIS one.

It called for a 4" holes and that is what mine were, so I thought it'd be fine.

But what I had was (3) 1" holes... and what I mainly needed was just a single 1.5" hole in the middle. With the water supply lines and the screw to secure it, it just wouldn't come close to fitting. I could dress all the kids (30 minutes), load them into the car (10 minutes), drive to Home Depot (20 minute), unload the kids (5 minutes), buy a 1.5" carbide bit (15 minutes + $20), drive home (20 minutes), and unload the kids (10 minutes). That's almost 2 HOURS!!! (and $20 plus gas) So I just decided to use what I had.

I do not own a hack saw... shameful, I know.

So I took my wood saw and SLOWLY sawed 1/8" deep into the porcelan. This took about 30 minutes but it seriously felt like forever, especially when 30 minutes = 1/8" progress!

That's ONE HOUR and $0. A much better choice!

Then I could start chipping away with my wood chisel, I know, fully equipped with all the RIGHT tools (**rolls eyes**) This took another 30 minutes and was quite messy with porcelain chips flying EVERYWHERE. I went about half way down, then turned it upside-down and started chipping from the bottom.

I sanded the edges and there you have it... ugly as can be!

But the faucet now FITS... and you can't see any ugliness at all. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this faucet, so old fashioned looking. All the old fashioned looking ones I would find had cold and hot levers. With kids, I am just afraid they would only turn on the hot and scald their lil' hands. So, I can't wait to get it all hooked up!

And I'm waiting for my February remodeling budget allotment, which is why the walls are still lacking drywall and beadboard.

Love me some TV

2011-01-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

In our house, we have one 32" LCD tv in our living room. That is all. Not that we are against more, we just have been putting our money towards the bathroom instead. So... since the boys bedroom is right on the other side of the living room wall, the tv get turned off as soon as they are in bed, 8:00pm.

We really need a tv in our bedroom. But right now, I just watch movies on the iPad (currently on Season 3 of Prison Break via Netflix) and Stephen watches movies on his iMacBook or works late. I really like the idea of corner TV stands because our bedroom has such a weird layout.

I like this one but it needs to be higher. I'd probably add legs to it to raise it up an extra 12".

I just want to start watching my shows instead of being stuck watching whatever movies are on instant netflix. We will probably be moving our 32" to the bedroom once we remodel the living room, add the fireplace and get a bigger 42" for above the fireplace. Our living room is so small, 12x14, anything larger than 42" would just be tacky.

I love the look of this one (tv is a little too big) but old world cottage feel.

And the frame built around this one.

Does anyone know where you are suppose to put the dvd player and cable box. I want it hidden.. but where?

Bathroom Insanity

2011-01-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

Remodeling so VERY slooooow when you are the only one working on it (ok Stephen helped with the demo)... and you have 3 kids, all 4 and under... and another one on the way.

We got the floors completely ripped out... all the way to the "joists"... they were actually 2x4's.

Fixed them with 2x6's and proper blocking

Then... turned around... had to move the 30" wide tub that wouldn't fit out the 24" door, to the new floor and repeat on the other side.

Remove flooring and 2x4 "joists"... look at nasty rotten wood, figure out to to "repair it"

Replace with 2x6 joists and blocking

And then add subfloor. We did 2 layers of 1/2", to keep level with the hallway.. then 1 layer of 1/4" birch plywood that had to be perfectly leveled and smooth .... screw holes had to be filled and sanded, along with joint cracks.

We had to cut the 12' wide vinyl to be 5'9". Carter (4.5) and August (2.5) were big helpers. We didn't have much space so we had to cut 3' at a time.. then roll it up, then roll 3' more out to cut... repeat for 12'.

Vinyl over my beautiful birch plywood. Perfectly smooth

Publish Post

Got the toilet installed and still waiting on the faucet for the sink.

Now for the outlet moving, switch moving, sliding pocket door installation, drywall, beadboard, paint, trim. I'm Tired!

We are having a baby _ _ _ _ !

2011-01-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

I had my 18 week ultrasound and the baby was VERY cooperative.

So we are going to have another baby GIRL!!! She measured right on track for everything 18 weeks, 3 days. My perfect lil' sweety!

So looks like we have a PINK caboose!!

Two boys... two girls... D-O-N-E!

Bathroom Havoc

2011-01-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

I got a new vanity for Christmas for a great deal from a lady on Craiglist. (It will be painted)

My original intention was to remove the old vanity that was completely worthless as a double vanity because barely one person could fit in the bathroom with where everything was positioned.

But after I started ripping up everything and moving the clawfoot tub back and forth because it's 30" wide and we have a 24" door (yay me). But I realized, the tub will be awesome where the double vanity used to be and all I would need to do is just move the drain... With putting the vanity in the new spot, I would have to move the drain, and hot and cold water.

And the sink will go right next to the toilet (not moving the toilet.. not that crazy). But the floors are all different materials, not level, the tile was glued down, I think, but it didn't hold at all. I will be giving away all the salvaged perfectly whole tiles on craigslist. Hopefully someone will want them, LOL. They are heavy and I don't want to take them to the dump.

In the mean time, the floor are dry rot and will be entirely replaced tomorrow (by yours truely) and we will be installing new vinyl. And since the budget is TIGHT (like jeggins tight), the walls wont be finished til next month. But I just want to get the tub and toilet installed again, so the bathroom at least functions!

I'm so excited! I'll post pictures of the tub and floor when we get it in!

Living Room Dreams

2010-12-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

I have 3 children, can you tell? In a (blog) world where everyone's living room looks like a show room, lets get real. We live in 920 sq ft. The wood stove HORRIBLY placed in the right corner, takes up about 1/6 of the tiny floor space we have and it's got to GO!

I would go insane following my children around, picking up their toys, in between laundry, kitchen cleaning, meal making, etc.

But one day, (in the next few months), I will be installing a gas fireplace, right where the kid's bedroom door is. The armoir will be gone and the den door will be moved there.

The upper beams will resemble this, along with the fireplace and tv. (Beam not pictured but 14" down from ceiling). The windowseats will be the front door (left) and den door (right).

I'm thinking about a very beige/ warm palette. I'm not a fan of modern decor, you know me, I'm a country girl. But have decided that I will be getting this convex mirror and painting white, then sanding it.

I'm going to put it on the stair wall so "in theory" I can be in the kitchen, look back at that mirror wall and see the kids playing. (see it edited into the photo, haha)

Then there's the flooring. I was going to go with this IKEA antique

But have since found this Armstrong vinyl, that I could use throughout the kitchen, laundry, and bath, without worry of water damage. And it'll be seamless! I've haven't priced it out yet at Lowes, but I like it alot.

And since in about 3 years, we'll be renting this place out, we want the least maintenance and the MOST durable. From what I've heard, tenants are very nice to homes that aren't theirs, so I'm just thinking ahead.

What do you think, vinyl too lame?

We are EXPECTING...

2010-11-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

It's official..... due June 15th (although all my children like to be fashionably late)

I have one of these lil' humans growing inside me!

We are feeling so blessed!!

You are 12 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 10 weeks)

The fetus is now about 2.5 inches (6cm) length and weighs about 0.7 ounce (20 g).
The feet are almost half an inch (1cm) long.
The fetus starts moving spontaneously.
The face is beginning to look like a baby's face.
The pancreas is functioning and producing insulin.
Fingernails and toenails appear.
The baby can suck his thumb, and get hiccups.

From this week you may well be able to hear the baby's heart beat through a doppler monitor on your tummy. You will notice that the rate is up to 160 a minute, double that of a normal adult.

Your baby now has a chin and a nose and a facial profile. Vocal chords are complete, and the baby can and does sometimes cry silently. The brain is fully formed, and the baby can also feel pain. The fetus may even suck his thumb.

The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers. The hair is on the head and the fingers and toes have developed soft nails. The kidneys are developed and begin to secrete urine.

Christmas Shopping

2010-11-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

With all my friends Facebook status saying : "Yay, done Christmas shopping", I'm feeling quite behind.

Redneck: I have no clue. He has a MacBook Pro, an iPad, and an iPhone 4. What else could a man want. I could get him a briefcase for his business trips every couple months but I don't know. What does he want? Probably a .....

iMac 21.5-inch 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

But since I don't have $1,000 laying around... this will have to wait. Maybe I'll get him some nice $20 Smartwool socks, LOL.

Carter : He loves Buzz. He wears his short sleeve pajama shirt almost every day. So I got him the long sleeve version.

And that's all so far. He'll be getting a good Buzz with wings, a Woody, some tinker toys, and who knows what else.

August : He likes Woody (because his brother tells him to, so he does). So I got him matching jammies.....

And he'll also be getting a good big Buzz, since they always fight over it, and probably a Woody doll and some Lincoln Logs.

Luella : Not a clue. She turns 1 on Dec 14th, I think she needs a dolly stroller but we really don't have room for it.

I have no clue what to get her. She'll definitely be getting a Jessie doll, since we have the cloth Woody and Buzz.

But other than that? oy!

Hope everyone is having a great time getting all their shopping done!

Mud Room Wall Reveal

2010-10-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this mud room wall FOREVER, it seems.
So here is where we started. Plain wall. (ok, I forgot to take the REAL before, but you get the picture)

I put the ledger board up, a 2x6.

It stayed like that for far too long. But then I got the mirrors and rest of trim installed, all using leftover trim that the previous homeowners left us.

It took forever because what I really needed that I didin't have.. BEADBOARD. So once I got a day to borrow the van and my mom to babysit my babies, we were in business.

I got the hooks at IKEA. (5) for $10. Love them.

The seat is only 7" deep. (That's a sample of the IKEA flooring) It's enough for half a butt to sit on and take your shoes off but definitely not a "sit and relax seat".

But my favorite part is the seat is actually the old window sill from the same laundry room. (What Hubbys hand is resting on). You can read about that renovation HERE. I just loved the aged look. I had to scrap layers and layers of paint off and cut it to size but I love the outcome. The mix of old and new.

And it matches the flooring we are going to install.

IKEA. Tundra, Antique Effect.
And there you have it.

I absolutely love it. It feels like it's always been there. Can't wait to get rid of that ugly tile... oh well, another day.

Dining Light Revamp

2010-10-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

You may remember my post about CSN. I was so excited when I found this light for $ 27.92 (Marked down from $ 262.90)

Brass and all... I had to snag it up. You can always fix the color, but the seeded glass and shape were perfect.

Bright brass.

So I took it all apart and took it outside to give it a good coat of matte black with my FAVORITE BBQ paint, it's not glossy, I love it.

Note: I should have used primer. If I bumped the metal to metal is chipped in some spots so I had to be super careful. It wasn't a huge deal to me though because it's not like it's going to be touched a lot.

Reassemble

And there you have it.

So much better than the old fan, the lights didn't give off any light at all.

It defines the dining space so much better.
And here's the WAY before, so much has changed. It's slowly coming together.

I love it.
Another note: If you try to do a small project, that should take about 1-2 hours, times it by the number of short people at your feet that call you "mommy" and that is how long the project will really take. (2 hours x 3 children = 6 hours)

And A SNEAK PEAK of the laundry room wall that is soooo close to being done. I have a small piece of beadboard to cut but it won't stop raining, erg!! So, pics to come!

Carter

2010-10-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

This Carter. He is 4.5 years old. My first born. My independant know it all. He likes to take pictures....

OF HIMSELF.

And I let him, haha.

Children are so much fun, and leave you such nice surprises in your SD card. LOL

Chalkboard Creation from Goodwill frame

2010-10-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

I got this frame from Goodwill for about $5. It holds a 14x18, very odd.

It was wood

And very dingy but I loved the profiles

So some black paint, sandpaper, a coat of poly...

Then a custom cut 14x18 painted with chalkboard paint...

My oldest doing his coloring. I want the chalkboard to say something like
"Rhyne Diner" "CowTown Cafe" I don't know. I can't decide, so for now it sits plain.

But I definitely need some chalkboard pens.

Maybe I'll just keep it blank so I can always change it.

CSN Discovery

2010-10-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

There are so many things I need for this house. I can't stop thinking about redoing the backyard, it's going to be so awesome. I got a quote from a concrete guy to pour a 1,000 sq ft slab and broom finish would be about $4,000 total. Is that a good deal? I have no idea, but I know I can't do it myself. Definitely not a DIY project for me. But oh how I dream about how cool it will be to hang out out there.

I found these great barstools at a CSN shop, http://www.allbarstools.com/

I can just see myself sitting back with my ice mocha watching my kids play. And for $98.99 and FREE Shipping, you can't really beat it.

Online shopping gets me every time. I always get caught up putting everything my little heart wants into my basket. Like we NEED a chandelier over our bed, isn't this one pretty?

Then I decide I need this fireplace for our living room

Paint the wood white? Sand up the corners a bit. So cute, yes?
Then I found Beadboard wall paper.

This I MUST HAVE, and apparently everyone else thinks so too. So of course I click "Email me when available" But you can paint it and everything.
Eh, I hate having to have priorities. Can't I just have everything?

I have OPD

2010-10-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

I have OPD, it's pretty obvious and pretty bad. Couldn't hide it if I tried. OPD. Obsessive Project Disorder.

1. We are still working on our front porch, but it's been raining, DUH. It's October in Seattle. But it looks like we are going to have a few days of sun, so we may get it sudo finished this weeked.

THE BEFORE.... Makes me shutter to look it.

THE NOW. We just need to make the stair stringers, and put down the stair decking. The railings can wait, LOL. But the fence is gone and I got the grass planted.

2. The dining booth still needs another couple coats of paint, and 2 coats of poly.

3. My master bedroom "closet" still looks like this

4. Soooooo then why are am thinking about the living room, moving the boys upstairs, moving the door of the "office" and putting Lue in there?

Just want to decorate a girls room? Build a mini-kitchen? The office would be so much more functional without the huge bed in there.

Eh, Priorities. Finish deck!

The Booth Reveal

2010-10-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

I went with Hamilton Blue. But my big secret is I just had Home Depot match the Benjamin Moore color. They said they do it all the time for BM colors and I didn't have to drive 1.5 hours to go get it; Redneck picked it up on his way home from golf.

So here we are before and gold.

Benjamin Moore Hamilton Blue, so glad I went dark. By the way, I strongly considered using oil base. It's so much stronger and I think would hold up to a lot of wear. But oil doesn't have as much elasticity as latex so I'm afraid with the flex and flux of the vinyl when people sat down, the oil would crack. So once it's all said and done, there will be 2 coats primer, 3 coats paint, and 2-3 coats of matte water - base polyurethane.

And the AFTER. I am so happy with the result. Even the faux wood tabletop doesn't look too bad.

BEFORE and AFTER
Linking up to:

Ehhh, WRONG

2010-10-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

I really want these seats to be a shade of blue, I think it says "Country" best. But I had this "teal" from our last house. Just a year and a half ago, I would have painted everything this color, Laurel Mist. I LOVED it. I loved it soo much. Now, NOT so much.

So after the kids went to sleep, I threw a coat on. Too green... better than gold but still too green.

If I stay with a light color, I'll be going with Martha Stewarts "Robins Egg". What do you think?

But I'm torn. I think I may need to go darker, to ground it.

I love Hamiliton Blue by BM, but I don't want to drive an hour an a half to the closest BM.

So, then theres' Winters Lake by Behr but I much prefer the Hamilton Blue.

What do you think?

Smitten Restaurant Booth

2010-10-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

We have been "making do" with my parents table, it was tight and wobbly. I didn't like it at all, but it worked.

I consider myself a faithful customer to Second Use. Ok, maybe a bit more than "faithful", probably more like Stalking customer. Anyway, every morning I log onto their site and check for newly listed items and Ooooo and Awhhh over them. But last week, I had to dive in. At $95, I thought it was a steal. 66" x 48" would fit perfectly of where I'd been dreaming about putting a booth.

(the only picture I saw before buying it)

I thought it was brown, ugly 70's brown, but that was ok. I didn't mind. So I called in and bought it. I was soo excited. Redeck went and got it the next day, it's an hour drive and we had to borrow my dad's van. We got it on the back porch and I started to scrub 30 years of nasty away, luckily no smoke smell, just filth. So I finished scubbing and realized, it's not brown, it's GOLD. LOL.

(this shot combines the faux wood countertops, different faux wood tabletop and GOLD seats).

Oh well, ugly is ugly. But it was so functional. We ripped out the cabinets and gave those away in a day thanks to my best friend, Craig... Craigslist that is!

So it looked this way for a week. I couldn't decided if I wanted to pay $200 for vinyl paint and haul the whole thing outside and paint. Granted it's now October in Seattle, which means we have another 8 months of solid rain, and I do not have a garage or carport.

So I decided to start with a latex primer. I'll do 2 coats. Then 3 coats of the gray / blue you can see over the dishwasher. Then another 3 coats of a flat sealer. It will probably take me 3-4 weeks because I have to work at nap time and bed time, and in the mean time, it still has to function.

But as for now.. I am one happy momma!!!

Who I am

2010-09-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

Who I am ~

My name is Melissa. I am a child of God. Wife to Redneck. Mother of the Rhyne Brine.

I am a dreamer. I am a planner. I am creative. I am an optimist.

I am a support personality. I am a pusher. Not a push you out of my way, but a push you towards YOUR goal.

I am a bows(wo)man. Shooting my fire arrows to light the world on fire. Psalms 127:3-5My children are why I am here, to teach them and support them. They are my biggest blessing.

I love what Redneck and I have been through together, now we are strong. Built on the ROCK

I am a giver, learned from my mother.

I am simple, don't try to figure me out. There is nothing to figure out. I like you, I want to help you and am here for you. OR I don't like you much because of your negativity or narcissism. But I am learning to love all.

I love living small, it's the new big.

Where I live ~

Outskirts of Seattle, in Cow Town. We just bought our first family house. It's 920 sq ft of bliss. It is PERFECT. We are 0.8 miles away from my parents, can walk to town for ice cream or coffee. We have awesome neighbors.

What I love about my home ~

That its ours. We were in negotiations for this house for 4 months, it almost feel through about 5 times) but everytime something came up, inspector issue, loan processing, etc. GOD CAME THROUGH.

It was build in 1916, needs a lot of work. My family was "if-y" about the house, didn't outright say it but you could tell. With everything that kept coming up, they seemed to want us to back out. But the more things that came up, the more I felt that this house was God's, and He wanted us to have it. Every family needs an embassy. My family is going to do great things and we needed a home. I feel like our family is a threat to Satan and he tried everything to make sure we couldn't get this house. But God just laughed and the impossible became possible.

I love that my architecture background is turning this house into our home. I love being able to make a warm, functional home for my family who homeschool and work from home.

My favorite room is ~

The master bedroom.

Although by the time I get to spend time here, I am 3 seconds away from unconsciousness, I love how serene it feels. I love the built in night stands and my daughters built in co-sleeper that I built.

My favorite thing to do DIY wise is ~

I wish I could chose a favorite, but I love it all. I love painting, walls, murals, plaques, anything. I love building something from nothing. I love demolishing. I love reorganizing.

I wish I knew how to ~

CODE. Like build computer applications.

Then I could speak to my Redneck and actually understand what he's talking about 95% of the time. He is a genius. I am serious. It runs in his family. There has been a genius in every generation of the Richardsons (his mother's maiden name) as far back as they can remember.

I am not the book smart, I am terrible at memorizing anything. But I was smart enough to snag my Redneck before anyone else did. And that is my genius, I love creating something when most people would see nothing. When we were dating, Redneck thought it would be awesome to be a barista, really! But I quickly smothered that dream and shoved him a whole 'nother direction, where he should have been going in the first place. CHASING BIG Dreams.

Sometimes I wish I knew how to settle. I see other people coasting through life, just fine, no real obstacles. But I can't. I don't know how. I have to keep pushing towards the impossible, overcoming things that make me more reliant on God than every before. He has never failed me and never will.
Never mind... I don't wish I knew how to settle, it would be a waste of a brain and a purpose. I am a rhino, even if you tried to paint spots on me, I could never be a cow. I have to charge, I can't sit around and be happy munching on grass. Please read Rhinoceros Success. One of my favorite books.

Something you may not know about me is ~

My family was in a cult when I was in high school. I ran away to my aunt and was without my family for 2 years. And during that time, I met my Redneck. Don't you just love how God makes all things work together for good? I do.

Because of Redneck, I got into my dream college, University of Washington and rowed crew. (I'm second from the front, if you couldn't tell. Well, third from the front if you count the coxswain)

Then we eloped and got married in Hawaii.

Why I love to blog ~

I love to journal, helps me think. I love to look back on life. And I just don't have the space to scrapbook anymore, so this is working just fine.

This post was inspired my Funky Junk Interiors and I am linking to the party!

New Laundry / Kitchen Door

2010-09-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a new purchase to kick your butt into gear to get things moving. I had received this door for free when I picked up the huge slider in the laundry room. Solid wood, no osb and heavy as they come. But it was about 2" too side and 6" too tall. I have been procrastinating cutting it down to size and had it stored back in the gap between the cabinet and wall. Well, since I needed to rip out that cabinet to tall our new dinette, I had nowhere to store it, so I got my boooty in gear.

And the ugly before. Pretty sure they just cut that hole in the door and stuck in some plexi glass... EWWW!! Sorry for the different angle. Now that there is a huge window, you can see the ugly furnace from this angle, I need to do something about that.
PS. Can you see a peek of our new (to us) restaurant dinette set (in the first photo)? I should be done patching the walls for the reveal next week.

Top 2 Tuesday

2010-09-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

I've never really done this but it looks like fun. I'm linking up with The Undomestic Momma for top 2 songs!

I must say I am a HUGE country fan, couldn't guess that could you?? LOL.

1. Front Porch Looking In : by Lonestar
All about the beauty of what's inside the house

2. Anyway : by Martina McBride
This is about following your dreams, even if they may never come true. I just love Martina, she has so many great songs!!

Most country fans will know these songs. If you don't, you need to.

Kids and Togetherness

2010-09-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I want at least one more baby. And for some reason, I am in love with the idea of them all sharing a room. I want them to be BEST friends, I never want them to have their own room, at least share with their same gendered sibling.

I never in my life want to hear "Get out of MY room". It is their room, "our" room.

Ok, the bedding in the last picture is REALLY bad, but I love the layout!!

Ok, maybe when they are tWeenagers I'll let them have a girl room and boy room, LOL. They can all sleep in one place (of course change clothes in the bathroom), and homeschool together in another room. I think it will be alot easier to keep clean without school supplies scattered about, and putting away laundry.

Being a part of this Rhyne Brine is a team sport, the better you know your team mates, the more games you will win. I want them to be together, to whisper to each other at night about whatever is on their minds, to all learn in the same room, the older to help the younger ones. This is my dream!!

Presentation, presentation, presentation

2010-09-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

My mom always taught me: Food tastes better when it is well presented. As I am receiving more and more orders for paint jobs from my ETSY STORE, I thought it was time to bring it to a new level..

So I've been upping my game as far as my mail order paintings are concerned.

So I painted the crown at the top and wrapped it in a pretty ribbon. What do you think?

I thought it would be a nice present to be waiting on your front porch!!

12 hour Office Redo

2010-09-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

So Redneck (I call him that because his head is buried in the computer so much, that is all I ever see of him) got flown out to San Diego to meet with a head haucho about the computer application he's building. We (me and 3 very tired lil' babes) had him at the airport at 7:30am and he would be home at 10:00pm that same day. So that gave me from 9am to 9 pm to work on his office. So I called in the reinforcements, my awesome mother and father in law. They drove an hour (one way) to come help me paint and watch the kids. What a life saver!!

Stephen works from home, which I love and so does he. I just always feel so bad that his office has never been touched with a paintbrush, especially when he spends so much time in it.

And I sort of expanded my "storage area" to the back corner of his office.

It was about time to shove it all into the attic space. One thing I love about old houses, they utilize every bit of space possible.

And the worst part, the window / window trim. So bad, no caulk, too thin, puke!
So without further ad-due..

We gave it a nice grey blue color and built new window trim. You may reconize the oar above the window that I carved for him for Father's Day. You can read about that post HERE.

Put up a drawing Redneck's late grandfather drew (who was also an architect).

And packed away all the boxes of cords and books. Put up a drawing from 2004, I did my sophomore year at UW for architecture school.

Fridge loaded with ice coffees.

But most importantly, the new window trim. He stares out this window all day, ok, not really all day, probably a glance here and there when he is thinking about a new coding string, but still.

I had 12 hours. And ZERO money (leftover paint and molding)... So I think it turned out pretty good.
(Still needs bookshelves and a new desk, but for for new, it'll do til we can build his outdoor office)

Office Dreams

2010-09-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about hubby's office lately. It's disguising. Poor guy!

I wish he had a nice area to work in, working from home and all, I want to make it as awesome as possible. Hopefully next summer we'll have THIS built for him in the backyard.

Fingers crossed!

Drip drip drip

2010-09-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

When we moved in to our 1916 home, the kitchen faucet dripped, and dripped. We wrapped rubber bands around the handle to the spout to try to keep it from dripping, nothing worked.

Redneck was getting quite annoyed as I replaced the back slider, and built a front porch but didn't replace the faucet.

Truth be told, I want an AWESOME faucet, don't know exactly which one yet, but know I definitely don't have money for it and don't want to pay for one I don't particularly like.
I've been stalking FREE craigslist as always, and finally was quick enough to snag this one.

I know, it's not super cool but it works and does NOT drip.

It even came with an awesome sink but I decided I didn't want and am trying to give away on CL, dang no-show people. ERG.

Anyone in the Seattle area want a cast iron sink?

Laundy Room Progress

2010-09-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Remodeling a laundry with 3 kids, a husband and lots of laundry is not fun. Let me tell you.

So here we are before

Vinyl siding gone. Awesome lapboard wood siding probably with lead paint... still cool though. (I saved the wall under the windows)

Windows gone

Wall gone. Please notice that 4x4 post. It supported the roof line. I had to put a matching 4x4 post next to it to support the weight, remove the old one and move it down 5', to where the end of the door was. Glad I went to architecture school or I'd probably have a laundry room disaster.

And here is the outside (still need to adjust / move the vinyl siding).

Did I mention this beautiful SOLID WOOD 8' sliding door was FREE. Had to drive an hour to get it, but so worth it.
I will also be wiring another light to go on the right side of the door, so there will be matching lights on both sides.

And onto the inside

Before (realtor shot with fish hook lense that I don't have)

More realistic before

And after.
I will be putting a shelf above dryer, with a large mirror and accessorizing.

I found this AWESOME milk can with a spigot. I'm going to put liquid laundry soap in it, well if the craigslister emails me back. I want it so bad.

And I'll also be putting in this great washboard. Then probably a small tin for dryer lint, a rectangle tin for dryer sheets, and a large vase with flowers.

Eventually we will be putting stackable washer / dryer where the dryer is and why we didn't put another window on the small wall. Then where the washer / hot water heater (replaced by instant hot) are will be counter space.

Laundry Room Dreams

2010-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy with the laundry room. We got a 8' solid wood sliding glass door for FREE and I have been ripping out walls, moving supporting beams, rebuilding the walls around it, installing insulation, drywall, plywood, etc. It's almost finished... but it's RAINY today! Ick!

When we bought it

Here it is a week ago

So, here I dream...

I will be building a seat and hook rack, like the above, on the wall that you can't see in the picture (well, you can see the outside of it). But I think I'll do a mirror on the top!

And I just love these shelves

And of course Home and Harmony's Laundry, so country. Love it!

My local salvage yard, Second Use, had a washboard just like the one below for $20 and stupid me, didn't snag it. Gosh... I've been having a lot of UNbuyers remorse... ERG

Loving the wood counter tops and vintage sign

And I just have to have that rooster, vintage from a weather vain

Salvaged window

2010-08-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

I love to salvage... especially from my own remodels.

This weekend, we ripped out the back door and windows to install an new (but free to me) 96" wood sliding glass door. Those 2 windows are 44" x 44" single pane and I love them.

So out they go...

And here we go.

Ok, I still need some pretty vases, glass containers to display cotton balls, q-tips, and hooks at the top for necklaces (possibly put a mirror behind it)..
But I am so happy with the result.

The other one is going in the living room...

BUT the question is: Should I give it a fresh coat of white or keep the shabby look?

And the laundry room / sliding glass door remodel should be done next weekend.

Covered Wagon... well almost

2010-08-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine what this 26 year old, mother of 3, wife to a technology guru has been drolling over all week?

What else but a 1965 Ford Country Squire

Seats 10 (3 in the front, 3 in the middle, 4 in the way back)

And the best part, it fits a 4x8 sheet of plywood FLAT

Now that's how to sell THIS momma on a car.

I've been hunting all over and can't find one in decent shape for less then $8k, and I don't want to spend more than $3k. So, I'm praying one shows up on craigslist.

Can't wait to say goodbye (that was a bad buy) to our 2001 Audi 2.7 turbo.

Dreams change - Castle to Homestead

2010-08-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Less than one year ago, this was my dream house. I wanted nothing more than this house.

At 10,000 sq ft, the floor plan was a dream. 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms. My parents could spend the summer in the downstairs 'master'. GG could be in the apt above the garage.

The kids could have their own rooms and their own bathrooms.

I wanted this house more than anything. I have an entire binder full of pictures of what each room will look like, the site plan, where the pool would go, etc.

TIMES CHANGE - DREAMS CHANGE

A year ago, we hit a rough spot and had to move our family of 4.5 into the in laws upstairs master suite. Bless their hearts, it was such a blessing. It was hard, don't get me wrong, but living in 400 sq ft with 5 people, you either learn to really love each other or well... divorce. Stephen and I grew so much closer, such a great thing for our marriage. Now, we own our own home, all 920 sq ft of it and LOVE IT! Well, the whole house is 1340 but I don't count the attic bedrooms because it's storage and Stephen's office.

ENTER NEW DREAM - (in 5 years)

2600 sq ft. Farmhouse 3 bedrooms, 1 office for redneck to continue to program from home. I would love to fit in 1500 sq ft but then we couldn't host holiday parties.

I still want it sitting on 40 acres but now instead of perfectly manicured lawns, I want 4 angus cows, 1-2 dairy cows, 12 laying hens, 12 chickens, 2-4 pigs, 1 full acre devoted to my veggies.

Bottom line, we love living small, keeps us close. And it's only going to get harder as the children get older to keep 'cool' with them. I don't want them to be able to just hide in their room, texting, vegging on the tv, so they will have to share rooms. I want a small house with a tiny mortgage (if any), so we can spend our time with our family, not at work trying to pay for a huge house. We can go on vacations, wherever we want, whenever we want. The beauty of the Redneck owning his own business and the children homeschooling. We see a lot of Hawaiian surfing, Costa Rican zip lining, African safaris, Australian rock climbing, Mt, Whistler snow boarding, Grand Canyon donkey rides, etc.

I can just see my kids at the kitchen table, doing their schooling, helping each other, getting ready for a couple weeks of vacation. I want them to be best friends. I do not want a big house. I want to start a legacy.

Ariel View

2010-08-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

What is now. We have 7,200 sq ft. Yes, it is small.

We don't have a front driveway. We have to drive up our neighbors driveway and turn into our pile of gravel. So we are turning our whole front into GRASS, nice and easy. We have back alley access so we are redoing (next summer) to be a covered carport that will double as an outdoor living room.

This nasty shed will be gone... once I build a new one. PUKE

Replacing this ugliness will be a great carport that doubles as an outdoor living in the summer, with a fireplace and kitchenette.

And along the back property line, will be Stephen's 8x16 office that overlooks the backyard. He can work and watch his kids play in the backyard. What a dream life. But the roof over the left and right will stretch a little further. On the right, it will be 16' and will be a storage shed. And on the right, it will be 16' but just be an open roof, where he can just sit outside and work. Like a front porch, but to his office.

Stephen's office will have a gambrel roof and be HUGE. I can't wait. (Imagine Grass and kids playing instead of the pool). That's a mother's dream.

Ripped out the Front Porch

2010-08-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I got a wild idea (ok, not so wild). But while the kids were sleeping, I decided I would rip the railings off the front porch. Literally, I could just hang on them from the ground and they would wiggle right off. But my neighbor saw me doing that and brought over a sledge hammer. I love my neighbors. So, off went the railings!

The kids continued to sleep through all the banging right outside their playroom window. I thought I would just alter the deck a little, make it smaller, move the stairs, paint it... but...

.....then we peeked under the deck and realized the deck was rotten. And it was Stephen's idea to just 'off' the whole porch. The decking literally just came right up, the rot was so bad.

So, we are without our front porch... til next weekend at least. We now just have the stairs right to the front door. Can we say "muddy". But I'm excited to get it built.

And of course some "Dream Time"

I won't be building the room yet, just the porch because it was definitely not a "planned expense". But I think I can get a 7' x 10' deck finished for $500... or so I'm hoping. I'll keep you updated!

My Painting in Sweet Savannah land

2010-08-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Melaine at My Sweet Savannah just redid her daughters bedroom and had me paint a crest on canvas for her.

It is her daughters initial and her birthday at the bottom.

All images courtesy of her site. You really need to go check out this room.

Then go to my Etsy shop and buy your own Crest on canvas! http://www.etsy.com/shop/MommaRhyne

Doilie Drop Cloth Curtains DIY

2010-08-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

In our old 1916 house, we have high ceilings. Ok, they aren't that high but that extra 6" does make them seem higher at 8'-6". I wanted floor to ceiling curtains. The fabric I want runs for $40 / yard.

(that's NOT it but pretty close to the pattern and color)

I would need 6 yards ($240) plus the black out lining $5 / yard ($30) which will grand total my dream curtains for $300 with tax and everything.

So I bought a 6' x 9' drop cloth from the paint section at Walmart for $10.

Ordered some paper doilies 4" and 12" ($10)

I cut out the numbers from the 12" then I did a practice run with white spray paint ($8). LOVE the WHITE

Figured out my layout.

But the drop cloth is about 2 shades lighter than the pizza box, and the white wasn't showing up, so I had to go with black. (wasted the $8 for white) and went back to the store and bought 4 cans of the BLACK bbq and stove paint (super durable and DARK) $20

Still cool.

Love the numbers

1916 (year the house was built)

I like it. Then I cut it in half and sealed the edges with some polyurethane.

And since a free sewing machine hasn't showed up on my beloved craigslist yet, I duct taped the back for the curtain. And cut curtain slips with my Cutco Super Shears!

$50

And there you have it.

Where does my Garden GROW

2010-08-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

Right where we will be seeding grass, as soon as summer is over (and we harvest these veggies). It was a nasty ol' weed bed, that we cleaned out and was just dirt. So I made some good use out of it, for the next 80 days, at least.

This is just a small portion, we will be planting something just like this, in another location in two weeks, then again in two more weeks, you get the picture. So we can have a continuous crop.

But don't let your children 'help' you garden BEFORE dinner. Bath time is not something that is easy to do while trying to make dinner.

I couldn't get a picture of Carter before he washed his hands, but that's what's left (before bath)

And well, the Princess just looked pretty.

Front Screen Door

2010-07-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

As much I loved the front door and my welcome sign, I also love the breeze. But look at that YUCKY motion sensor light... PUKE!

I got this screen door for FREE from craigslist about 2 months ago before we closed on our house. It is solid wood and is routed for a screen perfectly. (Some wood screen doors need a screen frame instead of a rubber spline)

But for $3 for the screen and $4 for the spline tool and $3 for the actual spline, already had the paint

$10 and hurray. I'll be moving the house numbers once I build a window planter box.

And Walmart has these exterior fixtures for (2) for $24, what a steal. They only came in bronze so I painted it black. LOVE it!

Stephen's Left Tackle

2010-07-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to say I joined a book club to read "Becoming the Woman God Wants me to be" You can join to at:

More Hours in Our Day Blog

I just posted my intro about being "Stephen's Left Tackle" and how it is my job, as his wife, to guard him against anything and everything that could keep him from being the Godly husband and father he is meant to be.

Can't wait til Monday, August 2nd

Farm Fresh EGGS

2010-07-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

So decorating is kind of like Sudoku, if you can't figure out one part, just move onto the next and it will help you figure out the first.

Redneck (Hubby) hates me for posting this picture but it's the only real "before" picture that I have

I found some old wood 6' by 12" in the shop that would work PERFECT.

SO I drew out the plan on vellum and put it up to make sure it would look alright, scale - wise.

And there you have it. (Please ignore the cluttered kitchen, 3 kids, 4 years and under make your kitchen a little less than a show-piece.)

Bathroom dreams

2010-07-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

While surfing craigslist today I came across this beauty. How amazing would this be to be a REAL sink.

Plumb the water right out of the wall under the mirror with something like this.

I might have to remove the beautiful pitcher below (that would look fabulous in my kitchen with sunflowers) or my children will shatter it into a million pieces.

But my oh my. They want $100... fair price. I sent them an email to see if the mirror is tall enough for us (Me 5'10", Redneck (Hubby) 6'4")

But I am moving the sink to be on the far wall so I can move the door to where the current "left sink" is. The new sink will be right where the hanging towels are. Can't you just imagine it there? With the beadboard running all the way around, in all the vintage glory.

Hazelnut NO more

2010-07-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hubby woke up this sunny Saturday and walked over to our neighbors house, Lonnie, who said he would gladly help us remove the tree with his truck. So Lonnie, got his neighbor behind him, Rob to come help too. (I just love living in a small town).

And now it's gone. Our front will soon be ALL lawn, not even a driveway because we have alley access for parking. Now I just need to rebuild this deck... and then a real roof for a real porch.

Just remember where we started. YIKES. The hazelnut was there but it was winter (you can kind of see the branches. Awh, love process photos.

Country Kitchen turns BEACH?

2010-07-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

So here we are before... dark red walls, white cabinets and trim and beige beadboard.

And here we are now. Buttercream walls, grey blue "backsplash" and white beadboard. Sorry for the poor lighting.

Over the sink window, I want to put a worn vintage sign, mostly black "FRESH EGGS" or "DAIRY" or something like that. I really want to continue the white beadboard around and use as backsplash but that's just another thing to rip out in a year when we ACTUALLY redo the kitchen. I've seen faux beadboard wall paper. Maybe I'll look into that.

What do you think? Needs more "COUNTRY" and less "Beach" but I think it's better. Hubby, however, like the red better. Yuck. And that is why we keep him upstairs programming web applications, not desiging the house, LOL.

I was actually considering painting the lower cabinets BLACK, now that the walls are so light and there are so many windows.

Clawfoot LOVE

2010-07-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love a classic clawfoot tub?

I know my babies certainly do.

It's so classic. 3 kids in 60" clawfoot.

Notice the rust on the bottom right of the tub... thinking of painting the underside navy blue.

And look at the wainscotting, previous owners thought they'd try to spackle over the grooves to make it smooth... ERG. What the heck? (the bathroom is on the left margin)

Anyway, I can't find any NAVY inspiration, but I love the painted underside.

What do you think?

Kitchen HELP

2010-07-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

These were the listing photos... obviously using a fish hook lense because it is a SMALL kitchen.

And here is the day we moved in. (Hubby washing the windows)

It just feels so cold and I hate the tile. But the tile and cabinets have to stay for about a year til we have $5,000 to rip out all the flooring and re-do everything.

HELP... I'm thinking of painting the red to a BUTTERCREAM Yellow.

Maybe I'll paint the tile to look less Mediterranean, we live in Seattle afterall. I like the checkered look (above) but my tile is NOT on an angle and it may just look wierd.

Perhaps I'll paint the cabinets like this (above)

Or these? (above)

I just want a fresh kitchen, to hold me over til we can redo to achieve this.

But the RED is GONE

Any opinions?

Master Progress

2010-07-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

This was the day we moved in. I immediately had Stephen rip out the closet so we could shove our bed in there and have a place to sleep. Nice faux wood paneling on the window wall, huh?

So, here we are now. These are the decorations I already had but need much re-vamping. Not into the dark anymore. The sconces will be painted white, the lights will be painted white and the frames will be black with a pearl-y shimmer glaze over the brown But will definitely be keeping the plaque I hand painted above the bed that says "All because two people fell in love"

Here's Luella's bed I built for her. She's only 7 months and still nurses at night. We couldn't fit our Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper next to the bed, so I built one myself.

And of course, I build Hubby's side (with accompaning iPad), that still needs some paint touch up.

So, next cheap project will be to paint it all dreamy... that's cheap... and maybe next month, when I have more money... I will actually have to build walls around the closet I built and put a door on the bathroom.

And print out the pictures of the black and white pictures of the kids sleeping to replace our wedding pictures that don't match anything.

The Exterior PROGRESS

2010-07-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

The BEFORE. You can see the ugly red door and metal screen door.

I found this picture on our county's web site, don't know when it was taken but before they put up the shutters and before the hazelnut grew to disgusting proportions

And a before that the assessor took.

White Shutters

Ugly front fence

And our "now" (not "after" because it still has a long way to go)

Fence gone

(posted for free on craigslist and they came and tore it out, post and all, save me the hassle and dump trip)

Navy Shutters and door

(Hubby ripping out the weeds)

We are going for a much more friendly look. Not the grumpy old lady who the kids are afraid of when they accidentally kick the ball in the yard, LOL.

And a more close up of the front. There will be a white screen door, that I am yet to paint and install a new screen. Along with replacing that UGLY motion sensor.

And of course, we will be building a roof over the completely rebuilt deck... when we have money.

Drool !!

I have my computer back

2010-07-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

We closed on this WONDERFUL house on June 18th. Three and a half weeks ago and it has flown by.

Just today I finally got my 40' ethernet cord in the mail so I could connect to the internet (that is next to the tv so we can watch Netflix on the blu-ray because we don't have tv yet). Not that I have had time to be on the computer, or that I have time now. So far I have...

1. Built the boys bed (the night we closed, so they would have a place to sleep once we moved in)
2. Ripped the closet out and built a new closet on the other side of the room. The head of our bed is now in the old closet. I built in a co-sleeper for Lulu and a nightstand for Stephen on the other side. It's awesome.
3. Painted the red door to a Navy Blue, painted the white shutters to Navy blue.

Remodeling is expensive and like my previous post, we are holding off on pretty much everything. So... gardening is FREE

4. Ripped out the beds full of weeds. Ok, really it doesn't sound all that special but it has taken forever.

Stephen rented a rototiller and got busy... now we are both VERY busy mangling through all the roots. These old owners sure had some ambitious garden plans. I found a BANANA tree tag, you know, the kind that is stuck in the dirt when you buy it, but no sight of a banana tree.

Fitting a 3,000 sq foot house with a car port into 1,340 sq foot house with a dinky shed, is quite difficult. 40% of the boxes went straight from the storage pod to the giveaway pile on the front deck. St. Vincent de Paul came to pick up sooo much stuff.

Anyway, I will post pictures once I find a USB plug for my SD card, hmmm.

Those who wait...

2010-06-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

It's ours...the house is all ours and I love it more than I thought I would. So does Stephen. It's perfect. And here I am without Internet on Stephen's iPad tryingto connect to the outside world.. Not thAt I have time, our moving pod ( that has been who knows where for 11 months) is almost unpacked, thanks to my awesome in laws who came over yesterday with their truck so we could take 500 Lbs of the previous owners left over crap out of the shed, so I could have a place for all my saws, strollers... Maybe I should rename my blog "Saws and strollers", hehe.

Anyway, made some awesome changes to the master and office... That's about it. Decided that I will NOT be doing any major renovations ( more than $1,000) until our credit cards and car are paid off. So, next summer I will be having a ball, no debt payments and tons of money saved up for remodeling.

But first since summer is here, the backyard needs serious help, the boys don't even like to play on it because it's so pokey. Then that's it.

Then come next May? 2011( as soon as everything is paid off and I have $10,000 saved up) I'll be completely overhauling the backyard to build Stephen a detached office and two storage sheds to be our fence to the back. And paving the alley back driveway and building a carport.... Pretty ambition for $10k, I know.

Then another $10k to rearrange the bathroom and kitchen in July?..

If I have learned anything, it's patience. Good things come to those who wait and as much as I want to dive head first into an extensive remodel, I need to do it right, with licensed contractors, and with cash. We haven't used a credit card in a year and a half and have been chipping away at paying them off. I'm not about to loose all the ground we just gained because I can't be patient...

So free craigslist... I'm looking for a kitchen faucet that doesn't drip, lol.

Tomorrow we sign

2010-06-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

The day has come... well, it actually came 2 weeks ago then USDA ran out of money, so here we are again with down payment in our hand and ready to spend an hour signing our life away.

Then we should close by Friday... hopefully. Pray everything goes though and we can move this weekend.

I've have thought we were finished so many times before and they kept needing addition paperwork, to verify income etc, that I really won't believe it til we have the key in our hand. I haven't even started packing... probably should have some faith.

PRAISE THE LORD we will have a Rhyne Embassy

The FREE Desk Facelift

2010-06-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

I am a "FREE" craigslist stalker. Anyway, this desk was for free and it was just down the road.

I had hubs pick it up for me and a coat of primer, 3 coats of paint and new hardware and wa-law.

A lady is coming to pick it up for $40 tomorrow. Probably could have got $60 for it but we are moving in a week (fingers crossed) and I wanted it gone. Hubs would kill me if I made him pack this into the moving van. It's laminate and heavy!

White paint fixes EVERYTHING

Even UGLY faux wood laminate desks.

And new hardware makes it 10x's better.

Can't wait to finish my retro-fitted redesigned computer desk. I'm hoping to finish tomorrow, if it ever stops raining (dang Seattle), so I can fnish cutting the shelves.

Father's Day Present

2010-06-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Shhhh, it's a secret.... look what I made my hubby. Since we are moving and he is going to FINALLY have his own office, I wanted to make him something for it. He really likes the coastal / beach style, but he is in love with Mac and is a program application engineer ( or something like that). So this is what I came up with to combine the two worlds...

What he does is WAY over my head, seriously, it's in a different language, like 8 differnt languages, json, um.. ok, I can't remember the rest. Just give me a blade and some paint.

So I got this oar from craigslist for $10. It's pine (I think). Not the best carving wood. I had been searching high and low for a chisel set and never found one cheap enough.. so I carved the whole thing with my Exacto knive (don't laugh).

It seriously took me at least 20 hours to finish over the course of a month and a half. But I finished it.. and early, at that. Wahoo...

I hope you like it, and more importantly, I hope he likes it. Check out his website, that he never had time to work on because he's too busy working, LOL http://stephenrhyne.com/

I'm so blessed to have such a great man to be the FATHER of my children. He is the smartest, hottest, hardest working man I know.

Mickey Mouse Toddler Bunk bed.. Good-bye

2010-06-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's a bittersweet day.. .I have listed my custom made Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toddler bunk bed on Craigslist for $500.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bab/1775226333.html

Seems like a reasonable price to me, comes with slide and a mattress. The windows are real, everythign is hand painted. My boys have loved this slide. (Picture from Christmas 2008 when we gave it to Carter).

But I will be building a twin size one, so might as well pass this one on.

Quite honestly, I have no idea how I am going to get this out of their room without a total meltdown from both of them.

Glass Block Diversion

2010-06-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

I wish this post were a Before / After of these not-so stylish glass blocks in the master bathroom. But since we are currently living in my mother in law's house (bless them for hosting us for almost a year now) this is their bathroom. If we had the money, I just might remodel this bathroom for her because I think she agrees, it needs some revamp.

Anyway, apparently my 2 year old agrees that the glass blocks are not so cool so he decided that he would jazz them up with some RED crayon in the grout line.

But the not so funny thing is, this happened because I took a shower while the kids were still awake. (Usually I shower at nap time). But I wanted to get some work done on the desk during nap time.

JOKES on ME

Like most mothers, there is no such thing as privacy, so Auggy was playing peek a boo with me around the glass blocks while I was showering. Little did I know that it was just a diversion and he had a crayon in the other hand and was hard at work with one hand, while distracting me with his cute "Bek-a-poo" (as he calls it).

So needless to say, I spend their naptime scrubbing grout with a hair dryer and some Ka-Boom. It's clean now but wow, I hate grout.

I hate it that...

2010-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I hate it that there are single homeless mothers out there. I can not stand the thought of a freezing cold child, clinging to his mother under a bridge. It makes me sick to my stomach.

This post is inspired by another fellow blogger, Farmer's Wife. God gives us Holy Discontent, like a holy hatred that we are to use for his kingdom. Being a mother is the best thing in the world and not being able to give your children what they need is a gut-wrenching feeling. I have never been a single mother, my children have always been feed but I have a passion for HOUSING.

God wants us to have an Embassy for our family. (see previous post on Raising Kids). Right bow our families "Embassy" is the upstairs of my in-laws house, all 400 sq ft of it, for one more month. I am grateful for family who have helped us in our transition of Stephen starting his own business and buying our house, but it is rough not having a house to call our own. I can't imagine the heart-ache of calling the underpass of a bridge "home".

I am 2 quarters shy of my BA in Architecture and worked for an architecture firm for 4 years and completely understand most things construction.

I have this dream of owning a ton of rental houses, cute lil' 3 bedroom 2 bath houses that I will furnish and decorate. They will house homeless mothers -FREE OF CHARGE - so they can get on their feet. They will have their own house. I get all teary thinking about it. It wont be a bunk in a large room. It will be theirs.

I know what houses to buy and for cheap (foreclosure, short sale). I will fix them up, not just throw down some new carpet, but really fix them up, nice furniture, beautifully decorated so they feel like a real person, not just a charity case. They are CHILDREN of GOD and I want them to know that they deserve the best and that GOD LOVES them.

Oh, I could go on and on but that is what I will be working on once we have the funds. What a great way to homeschool and really teach our children what matters. Teach them to build, teach them to give, teach them to LOVE.

Drag me (a more personal note)

2010-05-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that buying this lil' dinky house in the country would be so difficult.

Apparently, USDA (who we were getting our loan through) has run out of funds... .Isn't that just GREAT news to hear the day after we were suppose to be signing? So after 3 months of underwriting and negotiations, no USDA loan for us.

So now instead of 0% down, we have to go with a FHA loan and come up with 3.5% ($6,500) out of thin air in 2 weeks and pray we can close before the June 30th deadline and that the sellers grant us the extension.

Our Skype Converstation from yesterday:

Stephen Rhyne: We will get through this
Stephen Rhyne: I am big strong manly Husband leader
Stephen Rhyne: I will pick you up
Stephen Rhyne: and drag you across the finish line
Stephen Rhyne: if I have to!
Melissa Rhyne: you already are...
Stephen Rhyne: NP, I have been riding on your back for how many years?

This last year could have ruined our marriage completely.

Launching a new business endeavor

Living with 5 people in 400 sq ft

Living with the in-laws

But we are going to make it through. Stephen is my rock (after God, of course). But I am truely understanding the power and God's intention of marriage. He is my strength when I am weak and I feel so blessed to be his wife.

Who would have thought, that after an impromptu-eloped marriage after being engaged for 5 months would be working out like this? Stronger than ever?

Looking back at these pictures (March 3rd, 2005), I can't wait for our 10 year renewal, in 5 more years. Since none of our family was there the first time around, we are doing the whole thing over again, in the same place, in Waikiki, HI. The kids will be in it, and it will be a blast.

Ok, now I feel better.

Disneyland 2010

2010-05-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

And there's the whole gang. We were at Disneyland May 14-21, it was awesome!! The kids had a blast. We bought my mom (blue dress) so she could relax at our hotel by the pool, but instead she came to Disneyland all 5 days, what a trooper, it was exhausting. Also, Stephen's step dad's favorite place in the world is Disneyland, so he and Stephen's mom came too. It was great having someone to wait with Luella in the stroller while we took the boys on rides.

But a good thing about Disneyland, there are so many rides that you can take a baby on in the front carrier, so Luella didn't miss much.

Luckily, my mom bought us "Quad-sie" our 4 seater stroller, so the little ones could nap and we wouldn't have to go back to the hotel for nap every. But EVERYONE stared at us, it was weird. I'm a shy, hide in the shadows kind of girl, so it was a little odd for everyone to be staring as we passed by like we were the Duggars or something. One gentleman we were passing said

Man "Wow, that's a lot of kids"

Melissa "There's only 3"

Man "Only?????"

Three kids is a lot, really??? They are all about 2 years apart, it's not like they are all Irish twins or something.

Anyway.. for your viewing pleasure...

We love Disneyland, it is a blast. Can't wait to next year!

Giveaways!!

2010-05-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just love giveaways!! I love to give them and receive them, hehe!!

One of my favorite blogs My Sweet Savannah is having a $75 giveaway for Lisa Leonards jewelry.
http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2010/05/lisa-leonard-giveaway.html

Go check out her site and sign up, Love it!!

Burlap love

2010-05-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have this new found love for burlap.

These are Pottery Barn. Just the slip covers are selling for $25.

I found some awesome burlap sacks at the architectural salvage shop. Second Use. The burlap is chunky and authentic, I just love it. I looked like a crazy woman digging through the pile of burlap sacks that everyone was passing by. I wanted to buy all of them. The clerk asked what I was going to do with them, I said, "Make pillow cases". Cue more crazy looks. Oh well, I'm used to it!

I kept the original print. I loved that it said "German" and "Coffee".

Then, I took the back side with no printing, and made this. I just love it.

"Chaumiere" means cottage.

It would work great in the garden or in the kitchen / mud room to hold letters and keys. Too bad the decor of my mother-in-laws house doesn't fit with this style or I'd take a few shots inside.

Check them out at my Etsy Shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MommaRhyne

Maybe I am crazy, oh well!

Coffee Cheapskate

2010-05-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

They look the same. They look EXACTLY the same.

One costs $2.50 more. One is "Custom Roast" and one is "Classic Roast"

Why do I feel the need to save $2.50 for my addiction. I brew one cup of my cheap skate coffee and spit it out. It tastes bitter, burnt and old. I live and grew up in Seattle so I have to have my fix.

Custom = NASTY : Classic = YUMMY

So for the $2.50 I thought I was going to save, that can is now up in the cupboard, almost completely full and will never be used. So I didn't save anything, in fact I just wasted $6.00 on a can of coffee that will never be used (unless some unpleasant relative is coming over, hehe).

Note to self : Going the cheap route will NEVER save you money!

Here and now

2010-04-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Most of my thoughts are in the future. I am a dreamer. You know those people who live in the past and just sit around thinking about how great it used to be, I plan for how great it is going to be, not that life isn't great now, but you know what I'm saying.

But for now:

We live in 400 sq ft with Hubby's parents
Hubby just launched his application that he has been working 80 hrs/ wk on for the last year
He now has 80 users that and it will continue to grow!
We made a WISE choice to live with the in-laws or the above would have never happened
We are closing on our second house in a month (built in 1916)
We are leaving for Disneyland in 15 days (staying for 7 days)
We have 3 amazing children
Once we move, I have no idea how I am going to get the remodeling done (ooops, there I go in the future again)
August just wedged himself between the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper and the bed.(now that's funny)

All things COUNTRY

2010-04-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

I am in LOVE with this picture!

It is my essence. CowBoy Boots, girly skirts and aprons, and a tough jean jacket!

I miss my boots, they are packed away in our storage pod. I want my boots and my table saw, that is all I want back. Out of a jam-crammed 8x16 storage pod, those are really the only things that I want out. Maybe I'll have them droop the storage pod off at Goodwill.

I love the simple life. Living in 400 sq ft with your in-laws will do that to you (or it may do the opposite). All I want to do is drop everything off at Goodwill, even the minimal stuff we have now, more needs to go. Why collect junk, things you use once a year, things that aren't essential?

Anyway, I'm so glad we actually found a house in cow town country, not the neighboring cities. The house we are buying is smack dab in the middle of "Old Town District", hence the "built in 1916". The streets look like they are straight of of Mayberry. The biggest store in town is Del's Farm Supply. I just love it, wide open spaces.

I'm just so excited to live and create my little farm cottage: To bring it back to life. Most would say that about an old 1916's Victorian, not the carpenters house who built the old victorian, LOL. It's the simple life that I love. I am happy to buy under our budget, to live without the stress of a huge mortgage in a small house that will make our family strong, keep our family close. And when we do move, it will be the perfect cute rental property.

I have this dream of having 10+ rental properties, all in cow town that we own outright. Each property will be $1,200+ in our pockets each month. We will be living on 40 acres in our RhynEmbassy, see previous posts to view floorplans. The exterior will be redesigned to look like an old farm house, nothing will look new, it will look like it's been there for 100 years, and it will be around for another 100 years. We will have a huge barn with all the animals to teach the children about hard work, getting up early to milk the cows and collect the eggs before breakfast and school lesson. I want my boys growing up knowing how to be a real man, works hard and love God and his family.

I want my girls knowing how to be real women, real support systems, strong, smart and hard working. Our children are our legacy. I don't want them to know of the millions in our bank account. I want to train them to make their own millions, create their own jobs, sell the eggs they collect, etc.

Raising our kids in today's technology, to appreciate the simple things in life will be quite a feat, especially since it is hubby's business to know all things technology. But I think we can do it. I am just so excited to give my kids the life I always wished I had. Parents who love each other and are together til the end of time, 40 acres and creek to run free around, giant oak tree to swing from

Hubby and I will be sitting on the front porch, resting in peace in God's country.