The Mountain House

 What a perfect trip!  Besides me breaking the bench the in the kitchen and my camera battery dying half way through, I dont think I would have changed anything about it.


Back in the fall, my brother, Nolan, suggested that we do a mountain ski trip instead of a beach trip.  We all agreed.  This past weekend we went to Banner Elk and stayed in the a perfect house that housed 7 adults and 7 kids.  The house had enough room for everyone, a hot tub outside, and gorgeous 360 degree views. 

The house was at the tip top of the mountain and both vans (ours and Zachs) needed help to get to the top.  The boys were funny as they were a bit nervous we were going to slide off the mountain.

We got up there safe and sound Thursday afternoon.  We decided to do the skiing part of the trip on Friday when it would hopefully be less crowded... plus Saturday was supposed to be pretty warm (especially to ski).

We decided to put Hunter and Ashton in ski school for a couple hours.  Nolan took Shepherd and helped him learn the basics.  I was so proud of the boys, they all did great!  The ski school was a bit boring for the older two but I do think they picked up some essentials so it was worth the money.  They had time to play around on the skis after the session.  Here are some of the pics... unfortunately, I didnt get more good pictures of Ashton and Hunter since they were in ski school most of the time.

God Bless Nolan--- he did a lot of this.

Getting the basics

This was the reaction we all had to Shepherd.

Shepherd LOVED it!  He was actually pretty good too.

Aunt Anna with Caelum.

Uncle Zach and Owen... Owen and Caelum both did a really good job too.  Zach was very serious with his instructions.

Ski school picture.  Ashton is in orange helmet and Hunter is to the right.

Hunter getting some lessons from Zach

Hunter wipes out going down a practice hill.

Ashton getting ready to go

Going on a side angle down the hill... Nolan was just off to the right

Taking a break--- skiing wore the adults out! 

And here are just some extra shots from around the mountain house. 

Look at that view! so pretty

7 snow angels!  :)

Hot tub fun  (Zach had them the first time and Chad had them the second time).  There is not much better than a hot tub in the dead of winter, in the mountains on a crisp clear evening with a glass of wine waiting on you inside.

 The rest of these are from right before we left... my camera battery was dead so it was all iphone pictures... I know some of you swear the an iphone can take just beautiful pictures.  Let's just say, I am quite bummed my battery died. :(

Great pic of the boys... wish I had my camera!

The original 5!

This picture right here is the one that I would give anything to have had my camera... such a sweet picture of my brother and pretty  little niece, Esme.

Cousin life

If you are just dying to see more... here are a few video clips of the boys skiing.

Hunter

Ashton

Shepherd

And just an absolutely adorable picture of Bennett... this one might just get blown up!

 We had such a great time... I know that my crew was not ready to come back (well maybe Chad was but he is a stick in the mud... hahaha).  We made some memories and the boys are already talking about the next time we go to the mountain house!

A Taste of Snow

We have ski trip coming up soon so I didnt go all crazy taking pictures of the boys in the snow but since it is officially Bennett's first encouter (and only Shep's second or third... crazy) then I thought it needed documentation.

Ready to go... he looked like a big Puff Ball... actually both of them did. haha

I dont know if I have mentioned it or not but our lot is flat... and when I say flat... I mean F-L-A-T.  So sledding didnt really happen, instead it was pulling a sled around the yard.

All 4 of them... and yes, Shep's coat is too small but I refuse to buy another one.

 The trampoline... it was great because the snow stayed on it even when they were jumping

Individual shots

Bennett safe on the playground... he had a hard time walking in it and face planted it twice.

Shepherd loving the snow

Ashton, though not one to normally enjoyed the cold, stayed out the longest.  He really loved it.

Hunter- definitely the most excited by the snow.  He was out in before any of us were ready

 Bennett and I stayed out for about 20 minutes.  Apparently that was absolutely exhausting.  He was squirming in my lap and I let him down.  He grabbed his blanket and fell asleep on the floor in seconds. 

Crashed.

Enjoy the snow and be safe! 

Dresser Facelift

I just love it when I have an idea that turns out to not work only to discover that Plan B is perfect! :)

BEFORE

AFTER

This dresser was Chad's dads dresser when he was a kid.  It has sat empty and unused for awhile now and Hub brought it up to us last time he came.  Nothing overly impressive about the dresser.  I liked the legs and the 9 drawers but knew the darkish wood veneer would not work.

My first plan was to strip it, stain it... keeping the old feel of it.  The corners were already in bad shape and the veneer was peeling off in spots anyway.








I looked around for a tutorial and found a couple.  In my mind and on the tutorials I read, beautiful or at least plain ol wood was going to be under the veneer.  NO, not the case with this little dresser- I got rough, splintery plywood.    Staining was no longer an option and questioned whether painting was going to smooth out the top of the dresser enough to not cause splinters.

I pressed on though.

Here is what I did.

1- Wood Compound to smooth over some of the stripping veneer on the sides

2- Rough sanding 

3- Prime


4-  I chose to go a little Pottery Barn/ Restoration Hardware in the look by showcasing numbered drawers.  There is surely a better/ cleaner way to do this than my method but I am too impatient and cheap.

I traced the numbers off the computer onto computer paper.

Cut numbers out.  Placed numbers on drawer and then painted over it...

yes, I had a TON of paint on my hands and yes, my eczema is not happy about it. And yes, the paint did bleed under the numbers a tad.  But, a damp sock easily got the bad mistakes and the smaller bleed throughs add to the character, right?  :)

5- Paint (2 coats on sides and 3 coats on the top.  The top was the only part that had the rough wood).  The paint was a find. Every time I go to Lowes, I check the paint section for the "mess ups"... the paint that people have mixed but wind up not buying.  I have found some awesome deals here.  I actually couldnt decide what paint to use, but once I saw this little quart of paint sitting there for $2.50, I knew I found it.  It is actually a flat, exterior paint but it had primer in it as well... which this little dresser needed all the primer it could get. 


6- For the hooks.  I was going to spray paint them and still might if what I did doesnt hold up but...  I went to Dollar Tree and bought a thing of thinnish rope and just double knotted it through the holes.

My goal with this dresser was to finish so that I could put it almost anywhere in my house though its first home is going to be in Ashton and Shepherds room (as they share one small dresser).  And I am happy to say that I achieved it.  I could put it in the den, the boys bathroom, the foyer, or even make it the computer desk... so may possibilities.  But, for now, here she is in her new spot. 

Rearranged the room a bit.  Small table is on the other wall now.

Total Cost
- Medium block sandpaper $5.00
- Tube of Wood Compound $7.00 (this busted my budget, looking back, I could have probably been ok without it)
- Quart of Paint- $2.50
- Rope - $1.00

TOTAL- $15.50

Thanks again Papa Hub for the dresser (and nightstand).. they are perfect and very needed!