Threenagers and tweenagers

Our youngest is a threenager. Our oldest is a tween. They are giving us a run for our money. Lord, all day long...arguing, whining, grumbling about chores or simple tasks, bickering with each other. But then, by some miracle...they snuggle on the couch and watch an entire movie without one single peep. What?! Or I wake in the morning to hear them (they are always up before me as early dawn risers) working together to get breakfast. I hear S sweetly asking C what he wants for breakfast or to drink. They are capable...of being sweet, of being caring and kind. Thank you Lord.

With us, we can battle all day and then they throw their arms around our necks asking for extra hugs and tuck ins and snuggles and kisses. Amen and Thank you Lord. *sigh* We let out our collective breaths and heave ourselves onto the couch and...usually fall asleep. ha!

The sweet requests for bike rides, playing catch, going for a swim often interrupt adult tasks. We are trying harder to say "YES" more and "wait" less. It's not easy, programmed as adults to do do do and go go go. It's just a different kind of do do do. One that doesn't have a visible result at it's completion. BUT it does, very much so, have a feel. You can feel the results when it's over. It is sweet, big, swells, loves...and also stings a little. These days are fleeting. S is 10. It wasn't too long ago he was 3 like C. He's headed into 5th grade. WHEN did this happen?

So, we have a threenager and tweenager. So different. So same. Both trying to assert themselves. Both headstrong and independent. Both sweet and looking for love and adoration. Both , due to having 7 years between them, only children in their own rights, but learning how to navigate life together. Both amazing, loving, growing boys. Boys. Boys. Boys. ;-)

Deckover

Well, time to redo the deck again! Hurray! 

This will be a multi-part post.

Let's start with the befores:

From one corner to the other

From the steps looking up and across

Soooo yeah. If you read the Deck Rug post, you know what our deck looks like, saw the "rug" and our furniture as well. Not much has changed. The deck here is freshly powerwashed and cleaned. I went over to Pinterest for inspiration and liked decks that had a dark top and posts. Similar to this one. I realize in this one the posts and spindles are reversed than what I ended up doing. Like I said, work in progress...

So, I took a quick inventory of paint we had. I am unconventional in that I just use what is around. I don't go shop for special paint or stain, etc. I figure if I'm going to change it up every few years anyway then may as well use what I have. I realize others want it to last. Anywho... the darkest color I have is a navy blue. So away I went. 

Painted spindles with a deck white stain (had it) and went to town on the rails and posts with navy blue. 3 coats, the 2nd two applied with a 3" sponge roller.

Now looks like...

Yes these pics were at night. It was like 10pm by the time I finished this part. Also realize in these pics the deck does not look powerwashed. Yay. It was. Twice. I swear. So, you can see how crisp the white the looks. I love the contrast of the navy. Our son was working the hay trailer all day and came home and told me he loved the difference of the white and dark and that it was "cute". ;-) Boys. So...the deck "floor" will be a chevron. Soon to come after a series of 3 days of storms predicted. Stay tuned!