{Project #1 Complete}

So I finished my first project and I am really happy with the way it turned out!

Here are the before pictures of Hayes's dresser:

I have loved this dresser and have used it for both Hayes and Parker.  (I changed the colors of course) It wasn't really fitting into our new big boy room for Hayes so I decided to update it for him.

I painted it black and distressed it and then applied a dark brown glaze.  I love the way it turned out!  You really can't tell the detail in my horrible iphone photo, but I promised I'd post the results.  Here's the after picture:

I can't wait to start my second piece of furniture!!

{mini project #2}

I am still working on my project for the weekend, but I did complete a mini project in between all the waiting for paint to dry.

We were given a few pictures that were Zac's when he was a little boy and I knew I wanted to incorporate them into Hayes's big boy room which is still a major work in progress.  Here is the before picture of one of the pictures:

It's a cute picture and Hayes LOVES that it is baseball but you can tell it is a little dated.  I originally thought I would just updated the maroon mat, but after closer look I noticed it was all one picture.

So I cut the paper backing off and pryed open the picture.  First thing I wanted to do was paint the frame.  His bed is black and that was the can of spray paint I had so we went with that.

So far, so good....

I then got out the only craft paint in red that I had that was not completely dried up and I painted the maroon mat a raspberry red color.  It took two coats and actually covered pretty well.  Don't look too close!

The finished picture is much better and more updated!  I can't wait for Hayes to wake up from his nap so I can hang it up in his room.

It was so easy and who knew craft paint would work on a picture too?

Stay tuned for my other project to be posted later today or tomorrow.

{project #1}

I'm am in the beginning stages of a project I've been needing/wanting to tackle for a long time! The list of projects is growing but this is a start.

Here is a preview and I will hopefully be able to post the finished product by the end of the weekend!



It involves a lot of this which makes me covered in this...



Check back for the end result!

{GG's Birthday}

Yesterday we celebrated GG's birthday!  The kids love their GG and couldn't wait to celebrate with her!

Susan is one of the most amazing women I know!  She has the sweetest spirit and is a true servant.  She would do anything for us or our kids and we love her more than anything!  I am blessed to have the most amazing mother-in-law!  Couldn't imagine it any other way!

We love you GG!!

{golf}

Of course we all love a little golf here at the Gladhills, so when we were playing outside this weekend i made a little golf course for the kids.



Zac had some flag in the garage for who knows what and we numbered them one through ten. The kids placed them all over the front yard and then had to hit the ball from one to ten.



They had a blast and practiced their numbers too!

Come play on the Gladhill course anytime!

{Mimi is 90!}

My wonderful, grandmother, or Mimi as we like to refer to her will be turning 90 on Wednesday!!  Can you believe 90?!?  When I think about that, it really makes me tired.  That is basically living my whole life over again TWICE!

The amazing this is that she is still so young at heart.  I really know what that phrase means now because I look and her and wonder how she keeps going.  She told Parker the other day that age is just a number (like Parker had any clue what she was talking about), but she is right!  She acts like she is 75.  Still reads People Magazine weekly and can ROCK the crossword puzzle in the back.  She goes for walks, attends about 5 group/committee meetings a week, works in the yard, drives, lives alone, I could go on and on. Simply put she's amazing!

I owe so much to her and my late granddad because so much of who I am today is because of the amazing influence they had on my life.  I can't imagine life without her in it and hope in 10 years I will be blogging about her 100th birthday party!

Happy Birthday MIMI!!  We love you so much!

{old things}

I love old things. Things with a history or some life in them. I have had some really old milk bottles for a long time now and didn't know quite what to do with them. I haven't allowed myself to part with them.

Today Parker picked a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me and as I was looking for a vase I came across one of my old milk jugs.





I think it looks pretty cute!

{a blog to check out}

There are many blogs that I read for fun and many that I read to keep caught up with my friends, but I wanted to pass on one from a woman in Ministry named Sally Clarkson. She actually happens to be my moms first cousin. She's a terrific writer and has a wealth of knowledge and advice to pass on. I have read many of her books and have throughly enjoyed them! The Mission of Motherhood and The Ministry of Motherhood are excellent!

Her blog is http://wholeheart.typepad.com/itakejoy/

I'd love to hear what books/ blog you read and enjoy for ministry purposes. (I'll post some of my other favorite blogs soon). So, go on and comment! Pass on your favorites!

{changes}

There are many changes coming to the Gladhill house. In a few weeks, I will be leaving my full time job to stay home with our kids. This has been a dream of ours for a long time and something Zac and I have been praying for but weren't sure when or if it was going to happen.

Patience has never been a strong suit of mine and I feel like God has really been stretching me in this area. I kept asking him to make my dream a reality and it just wasn't coming together. I really struggled with why something so good wouldn't be something God would give me or want me to have. I kept going round and round with him pleading to give me what I wanted.

I realized that there may be some things that even though they are good just may not be in God's plan. So I changed my prayer to please let me be pleasing to You! Let me glorify you in whatever I do and wherever you will have me. All I have wanted my whole life is to be at the center of God's will and live out my daily life for Him. That, I realized, isn't always exactly how we picture it even if what we see is a good thing. God can use us no matter where he places us and no matter the situation!

So as I transition into this new role I am filled with anxiousness, sadness (for losing our amazing nanny), but mostly a great sense of thankfulness for God providing me the opportunity to spend the precious time that I have remaining with our kids before they are off to school. I know there will many challenges but I'm embracing them and looking forward to walking in God's new path for my life!

~Mel

{baseball}

We have been all consumed with baseball at our house lately. It has been a daily activity. Hayes and Zac love to play catch! It warms my heart to see Zac do something that he loves with his little boy!



He caught the ball!




Zac ready to catch the ball on the other end. He's going to love me for that one.



Look at that arm! Major leagues here he comes!

This morning Hayes woke up and this is how he came downstairs. He was ready to play ball! I was laughing out loud!



You can tell he just woke up!

{FAIR!}

We moseyed on down to the fair this morn and had a grand ol' time!

Parker and Bekham looking at the Pigs on show.

Hayes and Parker getting to hold a chickie.

Bekham and Parker holding the rabbits.

Love how proud Hayes looks standing next to the 3 week old cow!

Going for a ride in some barrels?

Merry-go-round!

And their favorite...the Gator!

I just love their faces!!

We can't wait for next year! 

{silliness}

We had a fun time playing at the park tonight. Here are a few pics to share!










I love their face in this one!

{ ;) }

The wink. It's such a crucial part to non-verbal communication. At least at the Gladhill house it is. Hayes has picked up on this and has tried to perfect his wink. Tonight I got a snap shot of it.



How stinkin' cute is that!! He tries so hard to make it just right.

The funny thing about this picture is that if you look closely you can tell he's sitting on the potty. I promise it's a wink.

On a side note, he did go on the potty tonight! Yea Hayes! He will get me one of these days for sharing such details on the web!

{beautiful holiday}

It is just gorgeous outside! I woke up early, early to get my long run in for the week. Marta and I are training for a marathon in November so we are adding miles every week and spending lots of time running. I really think it keeps me semi-sane.

After the run, we all went to the new park at First Baptist and played. It is one of the nicest parks I have ever been to! The kids have a blast!










Check out the outfit all the way down to the shoe selection. I think she has her mom's fashion sense!




There is tons to do there! The kids never get bored!




This is some rolling contraption that Hayes loves! He kind of acts like he's running on a treadmill.

Now we are off to swim and lay by the pool at grandad and BG's. I just love days like these!!

{Grandma Gladhill is 80!}

We spent last Saturday celebrating Grandma Gladhill's 80th birthday.  It was so great to see all of the family and such a special day to celebrate an amazing woman!  She can make you laugh, she has a heart of gold, and is a tremendous servant!

Monta Lee and her three children Laney, Vernon and Sharon.

 

Parker and Charley (or Katie as some call her) always have the best time together!

Daddy and Hayes having some special bonding time.

Here we are all singing happy birthday to Monta Lee Gladhill.

Cousins!!

Parker was in HEAVEN that they had real horses that she was able to pet!

We had such a great time celebrating such a wonderful lady!  We are blessed to have her in our family!

{more pics of Hayes}

Here are some more pictures of Hayes and his first day at school.

Hayes is posing outside before heading off to his first day at OU preschool.

Here his is running into school because he can't contain his excitement!

Mom made him stop and pose outside by the front doors. 

He went right in and immediately started playing with the blocks.  Such a good boy!

{Hayes is off to school}

My baby is officially old! He went off to preschool this week and he might have well have left for college! I'm sad and happy at the same time but mostly sad.

I was worried what this first "school" experience would be like. It could have easily gone either way with this one. He is so much like his sister but also so different at the same time. She is very independent and confident and Hayes is a little more sensitive. He really doesn't like mommy to leave him so I thought it would be hard for him to see me leave the first day. It was completely opposite! He walked in like a champ and found his cubby. Hung up his backpack and headed right for the blocks.

When it was time for me to leave he said "goodbye mom. See you later" and waved. As I took a few steps away he tried to stall by saying "hey mom, look at these blocks" or "hey mom, come look at the kitchen." I could tell he was trying to be tough and keep me there as long as possible.

I just love that boy so much! Can't wait to see how much he changes this year at school!







Busy, busy! Playing in the kitchen!