I can do hard things

My friend gave me a used dining room table and I decided to refinish it for my kitchen.  I have never done anything like this, so it felt overwhelming at first.  Dave didn't like the table at first.  He thought it was too "cabinny", but I had a vision.   My friend Karrie came over and helped me figure out how to do it.  

We sanded and sanded and sanded.

 Then we ran into a problem and were rescued by a friend who brought over a belt sander. That saved me.

After we got everything sanded - it took about 4 days off an on, Dave helped me take it all apart and we moved it to the garage.  I used a black stain with polyurethane in it.  It took 2 coats, and then 2 coats of just wipeone poly.  We roughly sanded the legs and did 2 fresh coats of oak stain on them.

 Then put it all back together.  I LOVE IT!!!!

We hope to find some unfinished chairs that we can refinish to match, but until then we will use what we have which match fine for now.  

The hardest part was waiting for stuff to dry.  I am so happy with the finished project.  It only took about a week.

Footloose

Our stake had an adult dance.  Dave complained at first, but we had a great time.  We went to the chacha instruction before the dance and then loved dancing the steps we learned.

It was very structured ballroom-ish, which isn't as fun when you don't know how to dance.  I was really hoping for some country line dancing.

But I got a new dress and we had such a fun time being together and enjoying company of friends there too.

A Very Special Weekend

Our stake does stake baptisms on the first Saturday of each month, but it was the scheduled date for our ward Father and Sons, so the Bishop talked to us and said that he suggested we have a private baptism the following week.  Uh, okay, we would love to!

After a titch of stress due to an unorganized city baseball league, we finally got the baptism time planned.  We would have it on Saturday, May 11th at 11:30am.  That would give us time to have a baseball game from 9 to 10:30, the baptism, lunch, and another ball game from 2 to 3:30.  It would be busy, but would be the best thing.

Grandpa and Grandma Peterson came on Thursday and brought Mitch and Madolyn with them. Matt and Cami flew in that evening from Las Vegas.  Grandma and Grandpa Mills came in on Friday afternoon.

Dave took Mitch golfing on Thursday night.  Grandpa had a bad back so he didn't go.  He came with me and Tanner to Tanner's ball practice and played catch with Colt almost the whole time.  He also played catch with Sabree.  She is a pill and isn't a big fan of Grandpa, but she would play catch with him.

Friday afternoon we went to the river and took the boat out for the first time of the season.  It was 90+ degrees outside (over 20 degrees above average) but the river was a chilly 54 degrees.  It felt nice to dip our toes, and a few brave/crazy kids played in the water and tubed and kneeboarded and such.  Sabree loved to eat river rocks and drink the water.

That evening Dave took Grandpa Peterson and Mitch sturgeon fishing and the rest of us hung out at home.

This is what they were hoping for....
but they got skunked!!!

Saturday morning Grandpa Peterson took Tanner for team pictures at 8 am and the rest of us went to cheer on the game at 9am.  Tanner was awesome.  He did such a great job and hit the ball clear out there every time he was up to bat.  He had a little issue one time when he ran from 3rd base to the dug out instead of home, but the kid behind him ran from 3rd to 1st, so it is okay!  Then we hopped home, got ready for the "main event" and headed to the church.

  

What a sweet program.  Cami spoke and Grandma Peterson spoke.  We had a full primary room of family and friends that have become family.  It was just the right amount of time, about 40 minutes from start to end.  Then the Webbs and Platts came over for a ribs BBQ and we enjoyed visiting and eating delicious food.  It means so much to mean when friends make us such a priority that they are willing to spend their busy day with us.

Then Colt went to team pictures with Coach Webb and the rest of us headed to the ball field and 3 to watch Colt's tball game in 95 degree weather.  IT WAS HOT!!!

Saturday night we all vegged out.  The kids were all so exhausted from the hot, busy day, and the adults laid on the couches and watched Cami & Matt's wedding video and Captain America.

What a special day!

Sunday was Mother's Day.  I got to sleep in, wake up to breakfast on the table, and not have to do anything.   What a treat to have both Grandma's here with us.  We had a lovely church service, and then a delicious dinner of salmon and asparagus all cooked by the men, and then cleaned up by them too!!  We had a nice afternoon playing games and being together.

Cami and Matt flew out tonight.  Everyone else goes home in the morning.  We are so blessed.

Piano Recital

Our Spring piano recital was lovely.  Tanner and Colton both did a great job!  They had their pieces memorized and both of them had a duet that they played with me!  It was so great!

We feel so grateful to have a piano teacher that is so fun and patient and awesome!!!!