Favorite Toys at Our House

James - riding the range on Rocky

This is now an antique rocking horse, it was a favorite of mine growing up - Grandma Ethel and Grandpa Warren had it at their home, now our grandchildren enjoy rocking on it as much as I did when I was little. Ashton - with the Disney train
This little train has been a favorite with all the little boys - I need to get a photo of the finished product. Jacob played with this for hours, now Charlie, Ashton and James all like it too. My parents have one of these at their home as well.
Jacob & Charlie with their TinkerToy creation
Another toy that is ages old, and still very popular at our house!

Cory, Hunter, Ashton and Grandpa Ray - Marble Works

I purchased this toy when our children were little from Discovery Toys and they were so creative and played with it for hours. It has remained a popular item at our house with the grandchildren, dads and grandpas.

Redecorating

Inspiration for our downstairs guestroom came from a few things - this lovely photo that Ray took of Jesse and Grace near the Point Vincente Lighthouse My mother's lovely oil painting . . .

and our trips to the California coast and the Great Lakes - where we have seen some magnificent light houses, ships, sailboats and lots and lots of water!

Anyway, here is part of the finished room - I am still looking for a ladder bookshelf to add to the North wall, but it has been a fun project to put together. . . now I need to finish the bathroom . . .

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Oops!

Okay, so I learned what NOT to do when you are painting with these new acrylic paints . . . never leave the tape on between coats. (And if I had a steady hand like you do, Jesse, I wouldn't need to worry about tape!) I was so pleased that I was finished painting and started taking the tape off . . . and could not believe what was happening. I took a razor blade to the rest of the room and took the tape off ever so carefully, but this area I re-primed and re-painted! Looks much better now!