Spring Break


Couldn't you just dance? Couldn't you just kiss the ground? Couldn't you just cry tears of joy? I certainly could - because spring is officially HERE! For me, it has been the longest winter, and honestly, I'm having to check my calendar twice to make sure that it really is over!

Tomorrow begins spring break for my girls and I'm not going to spend all my time working on projects (though I'm chomping it to bits to get things done...). We did buy them new twin mattresses earlier in the week and I've been trying to spruce their room up a bit to ease them into the change. You see, they've shared a bed since they were very little, so now having their own bed is a really big deal. They actually cried themselves to sleep the night we ordered the mattresses, not because they would miss sleeping with each other, but because the idea of throwing out their old mattress just devastated them. They begged and pleaded with me to at least keep the mattress in the garage or the attic. They left protest notes. They called their daddy Mr. Bologna (I don't know why), and they said they were on strike against their new mattresses and would not sleep on them unless the old mattress was stored somewhere in the house.

I felt for them, I really did. But I held my ground. The old mattress must go, much like our old van that died last year. I told them I loved that old van - the one we bought when they were babies and held so many memories, the one we had to replace no matter how much I loved it, the one that made me cry when I even thought about replacing it, even long before it finally keeled over. Change is hard. But realizing that our memories are kept within our minds and hearts and not within 'things' helps. So the old mattress was hauled off on Wednesday and replaced with two new twins. And the girls were excited, though they were sure to tell me that they "still missed their old mattress".

On Monday, I spent the day painting their room a pretty shade of purple - the color they both agreed on. It was a surprise for them when they got home from school and they actually began to get excited about the changes. I also primed their bookshelf and french provencal dresser in preparation for a white coat of paint or two that hubs will be working on later today. We're hoping to have it finished by the time they have their sleep over this upcoming weekend. This bedroom spruce up wasn't on my current mile long project list (goodness knows I have too much going on to begin with), but sometimes you just have to drop everything and change directions, as parents especially know.

Here is a before photo of the dresser. This is the picture pulled from the Craigslist ad where I bought it and isn't my photo - I apologize that it's so small. But hopefully you can tell that it is really sweet. It's solid wood and perfect for a little girls room. There is just something so fresh about white against light purple.

I may be scarce for the next week or so (as I have been for the last week or so) because I have some fun things planned for the girls next week and I'm also trying to make sure some important things get finished before the sleepover.

I hope everyone is enjoying springs arrival as much as I am and we'll see you soon!

P.S. The photo above was taken on the last day of winter...time to put away my signature wool hat till next year and get out the sunglasses and sandals! Spring is here - and change is good!




10 comments:

beth said...

Yay for spring! I am so excited for the change in seasons. I'm definitely ready to get out my tank tops and shorts, aren't you? that is so sweet that the girls cried about their old mattresses. I bet that they will adore the room when it is all finished. That dresser is going to look so great in there. Can't wait to see the room all finished. Have fun!! And Happy Spring. :)

March 22, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Marilyn in NM said...

I'm ready for Summer, actually! Never thought I'd say that but it's been a long Winter.
Sounds like the girls loved their old mattress. It's hard getting rid of things we're attached to.
They'll love their room when you get everything finished and in it's place. You have such a knack for that. Everything always looks so pretty in your pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Take care,
Marilyn in NM

March 22, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Greg said...

Hi
The dresser looks like ours. Does yours have a glossy laminate top? I am wondering exactly how you are going to refinish this piece.

March 22, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Marfa said...

That dresser is adorable! I love Craigslist as well. That is how I found the lamps on my night stands. The girls learned an important lesson with that mattress. Change is hard, but without it we can miss out on lots of blessings. Buddhists believe that suffering begins when we start getting attached to things. Not that I'm a Buddhist, I just happened to hear that recently and thought it made a lot of sense.

March 22, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

I would love to be able to decorate a little girl's bedroom again. My girls are all grown and into their own thing now. lol.
Have fun and I hope the girls transition to their twin beds easily and with even less fuss.
I'm so happy for Spring. It's my favorite season and I've a bad case of Spring Fever.
Love the photo. You're very pretty.
Well, we'll see you when we "see" you and I can't wait to see the finished room.

March 23, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Anonymous said...

One thing that I do (now that I have a digital camera) when I NEED to get rid of something but I'm sentimental about is to take a picture(s) of it. Then you can always look at the picture and remember it without cluttering up your life with things that have no use.

March 23, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Allidink said...

LOL that's an adorable story. It's sweet that they are so attached to sentimental things, I am exactly the same way! So I feel for them lol. Happy Spring to you and your family :)

All the best,
Allison

March 25, 2009 at 2:06 AM
Sonya-Dime Store Thrift said...

Enjoy your spring break! It sounds wonderful.

March 25, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Karen said...

Yes, I am enjoying spring! I LOVE the kitchen curtains (on your header)!

March 25, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Molly said...

Lovely dresser. I bet the room will look fabulous when you are finished with it. My girls share a bed too. One is 3 and the other is 19 mos. So precious. I shared with my sister too. I think it is great. The sister bond is so cool. Built in best friends. I am psyched for spring as well, can't wait to be planting again. Enjoy your time with the girls :)

March 27, 2009 at 9:57 PM

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