Give 'em Tools

Ever since Andy and I signed that purchase agreement making us the owners of our very first home on Brookview Drive in Burnsville, Minnesota, with thee steepest of driveways in the south metro mind you, a yearly renovation has always taken place. Whether it was within the four walls or on the outskirts reworking & creating the landscape that failed to exist or just needed some serious lovin', we were always changing things up to make it better. 

To make it ours. 

And we have done that with every house we have ever owned. We made it home. Our home.  

We are definitely no Chip and Jo, but similiar to that duo, we do have a lot of fun together. Enjoy working together. Making decisions together. Disagreeing together. Laughing together. The two of us. 

There's one in every room we've ever renovated ;) 

But also the five of us. It's definitely a family affair. 

Every. Time. 

And this time around it was a bathroom reno...basically a bathroom overhaul. Down to the studs. In the driest of summers, it was more sweat than we bargained for and like any home project it required daily runs (and sometimes multiple daily runs) to whichever home store had whichever said screw/bolt/sealer/etc. that was needed in order to make the current step at hand all the more close to completion. 

Destruction! 

Bye-bye vanity! 

My stud bringing it down to the studs...

Give the boy a hammer!

Love watching the boys work together

New window!

Tile floor

Getting our three handsome gents involved regardless of the project has been a no-brainer. Ever since they could toddle around at the ripe old age of two they've been helping hand dad screws, bring him tools, pull out the wedges in the newly laid laundry room tile, etc.  With every remodel the boyish tasks have upgraded to young gents according to their capability, and also the willingness to be challenged in order to get his hands on a new tool. 

Getting the door painted

Gotta get those lines straight for tile

tile clean up

Shower tile--let's goooo!!

 

And when that time came for power tools. Oh boy! (in every sense of the word) It was amazing. Time-saving in all honesty. 

But also life building. 

Carson sawing the panels for the outlets

Give your young gents (and young ladies) some tools. Pocket tools. Handheld tools. Eventually power tools.  Teach them how to fix things, how to transform things, how to take something old and make it new. Let them get creative. And let them make mistakes along the way. 

Be patient in direction. Yet so firm and precise. 

Celebrate with them as they accomplish tasks along the way. And watch their expressions transform as they solidify the mastering of one skill only to move on to the next that will challenge them and boost that mode of confidence another level higher. 

Not only are you giving them physical tools for the current project at hand, but providing learned opportunities in using tools for life skills. 

Perseverance. Critical thinking. Teamwork. Overcoming obstacles. Hardwork. Rest. 

The "before"....

....drum roll please....

tile shower....complete!

Bathroom complete...

...and we're definitely enjoying it!

The next Anderson remodel awaits and with so many newfound skills imparted to our handsome gents, I can only pray alongside imagining what the greater outcome will be. In both project completion and life skills learned. 

Explorations

Carson overlooking the valley

Mason hovering that edge ;) 

One of thee most exhilarating and yet possibly terrifying things about being a mom of boys is their dire need for exploration. It's a thing that they are simply born with.  An inner passion to search the possible unknown. A single eyebrow raising of what lies around the bend. Over that ledge. Down that unscathed path. Behind that unseenly huge boulder. 

A God-given drive to pursue something that allows him to be all the more 'manly' as he discovers a new-found place and/or even a situation to maneuver himself out of. 

Austin sitting atop the rock archway

with my favorite...at a favorite place

I could share oodles of stories about each one of my three handsome gents' first year or two (or ten!) of life and the crazy places I discovered that they had crawled into, rolled into, toddled into, hidden into, walked into, etc. God clearly has a sense of humor when I think back on how in the world they sometimes literally "jammed" themselves into said places. (getting them out of those "jams" is another story....and I'm sure you have plenty of stories you could share of getting your own handsome gent out of a jam or two...)

our 3 handsome gents

This whole idea of exploration, especially as they have grown over the years (figuratively and literally), I truly embrace it and yet I desperately want to tame it all the same. I can't help that the protection piece of a mama's heart may want to win out the "be careful battle". But I also remember learning quite early on in my mothering years that boys are risk-takers, they are explorers by nature. It's one of the many unique qualities God created in these little men. (disclaimer: it never stops. And it's awesome to watch evolve over the years.)

Not only have my boys become excellent explorers, but I've been witness to them becoming leaders within that very realm. Leading a group of friends who had never been to the high desert mountains in Nevada, let alone camping in said mountains, these handsome gents led a group around the breath-taking frigid blue lake bobbing & weaving over rocks and boulders only to take them to that perfect rock. From there, it was "bombs away" into that crisp, nearly clear, refreshing mountain water. And not one friend hesitated. 

Bombs away!! 

Explorers

We spotted 'em..

Yes! Swimming in some glorious, frigid, pure mountain lake water. 

In a matter of what seemed like minutes, these dear friends not only explored the trails, endured & enjoyed the endless fishing,  searched for any signs of wildlife but also embraced it...all of it...in every sense of the word. Literally and figuratively. Each one of them beheld giggles and smiles alongside each exploration. Even when the switchbacks on the mountainside led to a wide-eyed gasp or two as the edge (read: basically a cliff) right outside their truck or jeep window was steeper than thought, a giggle escaped. A picture was taken.  A new memory was made. A new feat defeated. 

**a few more photos from our summer trip out west**

Our traditional stop in Walnut, IA....Robert's Bakery :) 

Salt flats...and trust me, it was nasty salty!

I just love these guys of mine...

Lifelong friends-- sunset in the desert

my forever favorite

This crew!! Such a fun time...

my favorite fisherman

AndersonClayworks pop-up sale--so fun to see so many people! 

Cousin catch-up on the swing

Lye Creek fun! 

CJ and Joey relaxing...or being mischievous?! 

Love hanging out with the cousins :) 

Nan and Pap with the Grandkiddos!! 

To my sweet mama friends, don't shy away from cheering on your young gents into becoming explorers. Help mold them in taking that God-given exploratory nature into becoming leaders. Becoming men who will help others along the way to experience endless new adventures. 

Faith Family of Five--we love to explore!! 

And mamas (and dads/grandmas/grandpas/aunts/uncles/etc) , we need to be explorers ourselves. Join in on some of those random exploratory adventures or you may just miss out on something that you never would have otherwise experienced. Missed out on discovering beautiful things and places that may literally be in your backyard. And we didn't even realize it. Missed out on some serious belly-aching laughter or clear defining moments alongside your people. 

And most of all, keep exploring God's word. Don't miss out on what He may have to show you. Let Him guide you as you faithfully and intentionally provide opportunities for your young gent(s) to be an explorer. 

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains..." Psalm 36:5-6