I've realized my life is always going to be a mess. Not a bad mess, the good kind of messy. Like a haphazard bun I throw my hair into that's disheveled and still looks good. Like toys scattered throughout my home because Lila insists the Polly's need homes in every room of our real house.
Like Ethan's room Friday night. As I walked by Emry was tying sheets and strings and zip lines for the Lego Men and although my first instinct was to tell them to stop, I quickly hushed that voice and let myself enjoy the creativity of it all.
Like a kitchen that's used. Everyday. Not only for cooking but homework and crafts, experiments and climbing. If you take off the table cloth of my kitchen table you will see permanent marker, glitter glue, cuts and chips in the wood. It's the patina of life. Our life. I can look at that table top and remember such good times. The times when their knuckles were chubby and their coordination so off that the marker easily made it's way right off their paper into a memory.
I remember having all the Boy Scouts over doing a craft at my nice big dining table. The other leader wanted to put down newspaper or have the boys use books under their work. I told her no. I don't mind the life I see in my home. Whether it be from me, my kids, animals or friends. I want to know we lived and used everything.
We got around to painting my 'new' (given to us) outdoor table this weekend. These pictures are deceiving as I did most of the work, but the kids were wonderful helpers. I didn't give them any instruction, just let them put their mark on our table & chairs. They sanded nicks right into chairs and left drip marks. But it looks all the better for it.
We'll soon start eating meals out here. Brutus will be begging for food and we will share with him. Hummingbirds will whiz by and neighbors dog's will bark.
I will notice a spot that didn't get painted...........and I will be happy.
*** I am guest posting tomorrow (Tuesday March 6) at Henning Love . Check it out, it's a love letter to Temecula.
Marie! I love it! So, is it weather proofed and all-what does that mean anyway, a special type of top coat? Anyhow, great. I love that kids helped and the work belongs to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI really relate with what your saying about letting life "get lived" in your house. We are similar that way. This time is definitely short and let's make the most of it and let the kids make the most of it, as they will be big soon....the for real big. :) Love you,
Shauna
We did a primer and color. The paint itself should act as a barrier. We may need to repaint every couple of years but I am not looking for perfection, obviously.
DeleteLove the "lived in" feeling that you talk about...so true!
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I love about our house as well. We really use every room, every piece of furniture and it shows. Our formal living room isn't formal at all. Instead it's where the teens do school and the little boys race their cars. Love your new table - enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteOur 'formal' area was a play room for many years, now it has furniture and Lila's piano where she practices her lessons.
DeleteBen and I are looking at houses and found this one with a huge patio int he back...I grew up eating outside and would love to do that with my kids!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of eating outside mainly because the mess stays....outside!
DeleteThe table and chairs are adorable, Marie! Is that a sea foam green or blue? Hard to tell in the photos. I Love Them!! I also love the phrase "the patina of life." Excellent!
ReplyDeleteIt's an olive lightish green. And thanks always for your words.
DeleteI love the green and white combo so refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI think this post is just wonderful. Lately I have been trying to take a similar less controlling role in mothering. Letting the kids be and explore and enjoy the moment.
You are indeed an inspriration...oh and also a winner. You won my Gardein giveaway, congratulations Marie!
Awesome! I love winning stuff. I've been controlling in the past and it just doesn't work with kids. It's much better for my sanity to just roll with it.
DeleteThe table looks beautiful (and what a fun project for the kids!)! And I love the idea of an OUTDOOR table. We barely get to use ours because the weather just isn't nice enough to eat outside often. Maybe I need to move to San Diego.
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting that in most of the country it's cold. It's chilly here in the morning & at night but during the day it's nice.
DeleteThis looks great! I love the colors! It KILLS me that your kids are wearing bathing suits right now! Ha! Mine are still wearing sweaters and snow boots. Is that a new haircut for Ethan? I love your viewpoint on life, Marie! So great to get a reminder like that!
ReplyDeleteIt is a new haircut. If you go back a post you will see the need for a buzz cut. And I know you with almost 4 little ones know the need to let go a little. Unfortunately you can't control kids so you might as well learn to be at peace with the mess. It can be quite wonderful if we let it.
DeleteI just adore you. You have the best spirit and way of doing things. What a wonderful weekend project and start to a whole new series of memories!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Liz. If you can't beat em' (which if you know my kids, I can't) you may as well join em'.
DeleteSuch a good attitude!! You remind me of my sister. Love your blog. newest reader!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Danielle!
DeleteThat's my kind of messy! Mike is still adjusting...
ReplyDeletehaha, aren't we all
DeleteLOVE your attitude. Perfectly Imperfect. The table turned out great.
ReplyDeletemarie! yeah! the table looks great. i dipped my legs in white too! its so fun!
ReplyDeleteYour "new" outdoor furniture looks great! It's good that you remember to enjoy life instead of trying to structure everything! :)
ReplyDeleteI am naturally more structured but having 3 kids have forced me to loosen up & I like it.
DeleteI think accepting and embracing the mess is the best way to deal with it :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks so cute though! Nice work!
I so love this. Because the reality is, life happens. And there will always be a glitter glue that goes by a different name.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about your adventures at the outdoor dining table - the color is just lovely.
Thanks & you're so right, I love that, 'glitter glue' does go by many names.
DeleteLOVE!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe table is perfect for outdoor meals. Any imperfections will make it perfect since it was a family affair to paint it.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful way of writing. It's so great that you can let your kids be kids - they have to be messy to learn!
ReplyDeleteMy kids should be super smart then because I've cleaned up sooooooooo many messes.
DeleteThat table just gave me inspiration to do the same thing to a table I have in our basement collecting dust and things that my girls don't want to put back on shelves in the storage area. It turned out AWESOME!! Eating outside is one of my favorite things to do and the table we have in our screened in porch is just not cutting it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy having that beautiful family of yours wrapped around that table that you all played a part in!
Glad I can inspire. We did this as cheap as possible and used what we had. Oh my gosh the brushes we used to put the primer on were horrible. But it's done. A screened in porch, how charming.
DeleteNicely done! Love it!
ReplyDeletewow! that table looks amazing! i love it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I think you live in my head. What a beautiful approach to life you have, Miss Marie!
ReplyDeleteUs moms are all alike, we realize how fast they grow and we desperately try to hold on to some tangible memories, even if they wreck our home.
DeleteLove it! I LoOoVe the color (It's my color!:))!
ReplyDeleteAnd, what I love the most, are your thoughts about the patina of our lives! Beautiful. I really like your approach to life.
That green color is so soothing. We painted our chairs, very similar in style, about 6 years ago. Now they are very worn and really need a facelift. We kept saying we'd buy a new table and chairs when the boys left home but why bother now when this one is still so serviceable. We bought it for our first house so that was over 20 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI love getting so much use out of things. I am not one to have fancy things and not use them. Actually I am not one to have fancy things at all but if I did they would get used.
DeleteI love it when people use what they have and make it new & better! Your table looks lovely!!!
ReplyDeleteI will probably go through my entire life just re-doing my old furniture. It makes sense and is too much fun.
Cheers.
You have such great taste I am sure anything you touch will look better.
DeleteI love furniture/clothing/etc. with "messed in" memories like that! So much more character than a pristine and clean piece of anything. That said, your outdoor table is still so gorgeous! Looks perfect for some summer dining.
ReplyDeleteThanks, we love it already.
DeleteCute green table, it looks awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI like it when things are lived in, too. And I especially love when I can look at something in my house and remember who gave it to me, or who it belonged to before me. I think that makes things special.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also love the color you painted your table and chairs! What is it?
The table looks awesome. Like the color a lot. I like the smell of wood a lot but my mother doesn't. I never mind going to Home Depot or to Lowe's. The white on the table legs really brings out the green more. Good job!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about messes they are apart of life and they show that you are living it. The table looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat table looks fabulous. Love the color!
ReplyDeletei love that paint color choice. beautiful!
ReplyDeletexo TJ
I am stepping into a new phase of life about which I am going to write on my blog pretty soon. This newness has thrown my life into a tizzy. But I am enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteLove what you have done to your table. Your post is right in time for me as it (considering the changes I am going through) reminds me to remember the good times and look forward to the new ones.
Oh my gosh, you did such a good job! I have this table and I would have never thought to paint it! It looks awesome! Congrats on a job well done! You've inspired me to do mine!
ReplyDeleteLove the table! I have dreams of stripping and refinishing this dresser that I have had since childhood - but the whole process scares me. However, there is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that will come when the drawers again slide like they should. :) I am sure your many meals outside will feel the same!
ReplyDeleteAwe, what a sweet post! Sometimes I want to halt Gooner's MESSY plans and then I remind myself that she is TWO and this is how she LEARNS. And it can ALWAYS be cleaned up. I like the color you chose!
ReplyDelete