Our dining room table...

We have had our lovely pine dining room table since 1999, I believe. It's a great sized table, but it's condition-not so great. It's taken years of abuse from forks, hot wheels, and numerous art projects, among other things. Let's just say it wasn't looking too hot. It was sad, tired, and ugly. I have appealed to Dave over the last couple of years for a new table, but Dave just felt a new one would sustain the same abuse. Guess I can't argue with that. So I had every intention to one day refinish the table. These good intentions had been mounting up for months, until last week I just couldn't take another day. Does that ever happen to you? I have been looking at the dumb thing for years, yet in my mind, I just couldn't handle another day. Not even another minute. I had a plan that would cost under $50. Since refinishing our chairs and the legs of the table would be a hideous task to say the least, with all their detail work, I decided painting them would be the solution. And I would stain the table top darker. So for a gallon of paint and a can of stain, I was ready to embark on my latest obsession-I mean project.

Footnote about the above statement: "I" was about to embark on this project really means Dave and I, as he has very well learned. But he was so happy and sweet to oblige at my asking to help. He's so sweet and understanding!

So we began by sanding the table top itself, and after several hours, it came out beautiful! I was so surprised how much of the damage sanded out. Pine is a very soft wood, yet I was still happily surprised! I hand painted the base and legs of the table. Dave extended the table length buy moving the legs further apart with the help of about $5 worth of wood. Now my table will seat 10! Yippee! Last night we put on the stain, and this morning I applied the first coat of polyurethane. Dave painted all the chairs last night with his power sprayer. I am so thankful I did not have to paint those chairs by hand. That would have taken forever! Today we will finish the last coats of poly, and by Wednesday it will be back in my house, making this Mommy very, very happy. Did I mention that the same $6 can of stain will also refinish my oak butcher block countertops in the kitchen (that's next week's project). What a deal. Pictures to come when it's all finished.

With all that to say, who needs to buy a new dining set? Sometimes you just have to be creative with what you have. And after putting in a bit of elbow grease, I see now that my table can be practically brand new looking as the reward for our sweat! I am so thrilled.

Dave is on the loose again....

This is the new device that Dad built. This is the device that entertained the boys that Dad built. This is the device that entertained the boys on a hot summer day that Dad built. This is one of many devices that have entertained the boys that Dad built. OK, are you getting irritated with that? I am.

Well, Dave is on the loose again....he was just itching to make this water

bottle cannon that he saw online made out a few pieces of PVC and a couple of other parts of which I have no clue what they are or what they do. Let me preface this by saying that several months ago, he was dying to build a pneumatic tennis ball shooter (or apple shooter, stuffed animal shooter, potato shooter, or whatever floats your boat shooter). The kids had SO much fun with that thing. I am not kidding when I say it can shoot a tennis ball over 200 ft. in the air. Hilarious.

Well, back to the water bottle cannon, all it takes is a little pump of air with the tire pump or air compressor, a bottle filled with water, and well, some clothes that you're willing to get wet. Oh, and a neighbor who doesn't get mad when several water bottles come crashing into her backyard, virtually out of nowhere. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a......water bottle! I tell you, God knew what He was doing when he gave Dave three boys. I have to say, he is a great boy dad. He just loves making these concoctions for them to enjoy. I'm convinced he is living vicariously through them, as well. Dave really just wants to be a big kid with them and have fun.

Keep Austin Weird

Now, I know you may think we are being unusually cruel to our child, making him wear a T-shirt labeling himself a weirdo, but if you could have seen his face when this shirt came in the mail yesterday. I don't think he could have laughed any harder. It was just too much excitement to harness. My sister found this shirt, and just HAD to get it for Austin. Fitting, ain't it???? Anyone who knows Austin knows he is a happy-go-lucky-goofy-nerdy-geeky-wonderful-did-I-mention-geeky-kid! (This shirt is really an advertisement to support the local businesses in Austin, Texas). But I vote to "Keep Austin Weird". My Austin, that is. I wouldn't have him any other way but weird. It's what makes Austin "Austin". He's always got my vote. I'm his #1 fan.

The most delicious breakfast......Mmmmmm........

I tried a new recipe when we went camping last time, and I enjoyed it so much, I had to just make it again. All I have to say is, how can you go wrong with bacon, cheese, eggs, green onions, hash browns, and half and half???? And that is literally all the ingredients in this recipe, so it's not hard to make at all.

It's my newly beloved "Hash Brown Quiche", and I thank the Food Network for providing such a delectible recipe. It can easily be made the day before and then just reheated in the oven to make for a simple and quick breakfast. It will also freeze quite well, so you could enjoy it in the future, as well. I served it with a beautiful fruit salad this morning, and we were all quite happy campers.

Here's the recipe:

Hash Brown Quiche

3 cups frozen shredded hash browns, thawed and patted dry

4 tbsp butter, melted

1 cup cheddar cheese

3/4 cup cooked bacon, crumbled

1 cup half and half

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup chopped green onions

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450. Make sure the hash browns are patted dry really well, and then mix them with the melted butter. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a pie plate. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients together and then pour over the hash browns. Lower the oven temp to 350, and bake for 30 minutes. Eat, drool, enjoy.

Vance goes to the San Diego Zoo with Papa Steve!

Vance's Trip with Papa Steve

Last weekend, my Dad took Vance on a very special trip. He has taken all of his grandkids on special one-on-one getaways, and this time it was finally Vance's turn. He had been patiently waiting, and his day finally arrived a week ago last Sunday.

Together, they drove down to San Diego and stayed with some old friends of my parents, the Blooms. Monday he was off to the San Diego Zoo for the entire day, and then Tuesday to Sea World! It was a fun-filled two-day extravaganza any 7 year old would adore. Wednesday he returned home, with goodies and gifts in hand from his time with Papa.

He had a blast, from what I heard, and had fun exploring all the animals, rides, eating, swimming at "Auntie Lois's" house, etc. etc. I'm sure it will be a time he will not soon forget.

I hope to post some pics that my Dad took shortly. In the meantime, stay tuned for a Summer 2008 Summary of Events!

Pictures of the Boys

Emma's friend Beckie is an amazing photographer. She is here visiting Emma this week and took some unbelievable pics of my children. Click on the link below to see them.

http://beckajaynephotography.blogspot.com/2008/07/deshongs.html

Big Bear-4th of July 2008

Over the 4th of July weekend, we joined my sister's family, the Brooks family, and the Tubbs family in Big Bear. We originally weren't going to take this trip due to expenses, but my sister invited us to just stay in her trailer for a couple of days, and share in the activities with them so it would be of minimal cost for us. Well it turns out that on my sister's last camping trip, they suffered a tire blow out, causing some damage to the side of their trailer. So it had been in the shop and was supposed to be finished by the time they went to Big Bear. Well, it wasn't, so Karen and Rich borrowed our trailer! Which made us guests in our own trailer. That's really funny!

Anyways, we headed up after Dave finished work on the 3rd and stayed until early evening Saturday. We had such a great and blessed time. These are some of our favorite people on the planet, and we always have such a wonderful and relaxed time together. Some of the highlights of the trip:

FISHING: The boys had a fantastic time fishing just steps from the campsite. A lot of the kids caught various small fishies, but Vance and Rebekkah Brooks both caught a good sized catfish. We cooked up their fish, and they partook of them together. It was so cute. Vance didn't leave a tad of fish on the bones. I think TJ ended up polishing off Bekka's.

FIREWORKS: On the evening of the 4th, we drove around the lake and found a beach spot to sit and view the fireworks. We weren't really sure if we were going to be able to see them from where we were at, but it proved to be a great spot. We enjoyed the long fireworks show together right there at the edge of the beautiful (creepy and dark) lake!

JETSKIING/PONTOONING: The Brookses brought their large jetski and everyone rented a pontoon, so we spent the day after the 4th going on the boat, jetskiing, and swimming at the beach area. It was beautiful weather, couldn't be more enjoyable.

JUMP-ROPING: The kids all had a ball playing jump rope games. Some of us adults (go Uncle Rich and Mrs. Brooks!) even took part. I guess it just brought me back to a place I haven't been in a really long time. I had a lot of fun (and proved I still have some inkling of coordination in this body of mine-quite a surprise).

EATING: This is always one of my favorite things to do camping. We always try new things and share meals together. It is such a memory-building part of our trip. This time we tried some new desserts in place of the boring old s'more. We did "banana boats", apples and caramel, and peach cobbler in foil packets over the bbq. Amazing. And it had fruit in it. So that means it was healthy. And don't try to tell me any different. Hey folks, that's why I work out. And as the Pioneer Woman would say, "Don't you judge me!"

All in all it was such a great time. I am so thankful for family and friends and the beauty of God's glorious creation.

I have been TAGGED!!!

My sister, Karen has tagged me. I was wondering when the day would finally come! I need to reveal 6 unremarkable quirks about myself. So here they are (in no particular order)!

1) I absolutely HAVE to tie my hair back in a bun or ponytail before I go to sleep. I cannot stand my long hair wild and free while I sleep.

2) Speaking of sleep, I am not a good sleeper and never have been. I am an extremely light sleeper, and anything wakes me. To sleep all night long without interruption is my lifelong dream.

3) I have a secret love of macaroni and cheese of any kind. I even like the kind in the box, and have even been known by my family to eat.....Easy mac.

4) I can't leave the house unless the bed is made. I will shrivel up and die.

5) I eat a breakfast sandwich every Sunday morning on the way to church without fail.

6) I can't stand tomatoes. Although every day I wish I loved them.

Now I have to find 6 bloggers to tag. I will tag Austin, Luke, Vance (well that's three already-yippee!), Kim, Georgina, and Drew.

Here are the rules:
* Link the person who tagged you
* Mention the rules in your blog.
* Tell about six unremarkable quirks of yours.
* Tag six bloggers by linking them. (They shall be "it")