Until about a month ago we were a non-jumping household.
To get from place to place….we walked everywhere.
Well…..most of the time we walked.
Sometimes we walked really fast.
Sometimes we ran.
Sometimes we skipped.
And….truthfully…..there was even the occasional slight hop.
But we never really had a jumper…..
…..until someone turned thirteen.
Seriously?
What is up with thirteen year-old boys and all the leaping and jumping and bouncing like a tightly wound spring?
Do ceilings exist…..just to see if someone can jump and touch them with the tips of their fingers?
And the space above the doorway….why is it such an irresistible target?
*sigh*
The other day I asked my thirteen-year-old-jumper with complete consternation and confusion…“Why???? Why do you have to jump?
Anywhere. Everywhere.
At church….at school…outside….in Wal-Mart….at Pizza Hut.
Why all this sudden interest in jumping?”
He stared at me. Then he blinked twice…..leaned back on his heels and soared through the air to touch the molding above the butler’s pantry with a double Pemchanko twist…..landed with a smile….
….and said, “Because I can.”
Good thing we live in the country.
Good thing we have acres and acres and acres of jumping room.
Good thing I’m an incredible mother with a ladder and cleaner to get rid of all the hand prints above the doorways.
Good thing. 🙂
We worked all weekend outside in the yard and here’s a fun project my “jumper” and I made for the path that goes down to the pond.
Stenciled Concrete Paver Project
Supplies:
Concrete Paver
Stencil
Concrete Paint
1. Start with a basic concrete paver
We had these back by the workshop.
But I’ve seen stacks of them at home improvement stores.
2. Choose your stencil
I used the damask stencil from Hobby Lobby that I used for this project.
You could make a monogram.
Or a stripe….whatever works for your outside space.
Step 3: Choose your paint color
I used the paint color left over from this project.
Take a stencil brush and dip it in the paint and blot off the excess.
Step 4: Pounce the brush on the stencil
Go lightly at first.
Then go back over for a second coat to make it a little darker.
Have fun.
It doesn’t matter if you mess up….you’ll be walking on these.
When you’re finished it will look like this.
Or some facsimile thereof.
All four pavers took 30 minutes start to finish.
We let them dry and then my future NBA star hauled them to the side yard and placed them on the path that leads to the pond…..and without missing a beat…..
……turned around and jumped up to touch the top of the arbor.
PS He wanted to hang off the arbor to impress all of you for the picture…..but I told him just to smile. 🙂
PS I’m so excited….not just a little excited….over-the-moon-raising-my-hands-in-the-air-and-dancing-a-jig-excited because……
…..I’m speaking at Haven.
Can you even believe it?
I didn’t say anything about this before….because between you and me…..I kept thinking they were going to change their minds.
But they just posted my picture on the speakers board….so there’s no going back now.
Are you going? Please say yes….so we can meet and say hello….I’ll be the one with the red lipstick. 🙂
YAY! I'm so glad to hear you will be speaking at Haven! When I checked the speakers and you were not there I knew it was a GLARING oversight! I mean, none of those gals had big earrings on or red lipstick! They definitely NEEDED you to spice up the roster! My jumper graduated last June.....but he had an understudy...
I so so so wish I was going so I could meet you in person Karianne! That is wonderful that you're speaking. How cute is your jumper? Such a handsome lad. One of my little monkeys (not so little anymore) used to climb the doorway casings and hang upside down…it used to drive me bonkers! Now his head practically touches the top of the frame when he stands in it!
Your son is quite handsome! So nice he was helping his mom! Sadly, I will not be at Haven as I have no blog and would feel sooo left out! But if I did, I would save you a seat a share pics of us living it up on my blog! You will do amazing as a speaker! Amazing!
....forgot to mention....last year I said you would light up the room at Haven, this year you will light up the stage!!!
Nice pavers idea, really liked that stencil pattern. I have a jumper too! He is 12 and started his stretch for the ceiling when he was 10! I keep hoping he will get over this phase...but maybe that is not going to happen!?
I love the stencil idea. Actually always soo looking forward to the next surprise. And I would give anything to do the jumper thing over.
Oh your son is to cute! I to have jumpers and jump he does EVERYWHERE!!! He also has to jump and hit the top of doorways drives me crazy but he is so cute!!! He also randomly sings EVERYWHERE to. His teacher says he does the singing at school to. To much energy:)
Jumping for joy over these pavers and the countdown to Haven! Kelly
So fun! Jumping, pavers and blog conferences!!
Oh...what IS it about jumpers? I had three of them...handprints got so bad, I had to repaint! But, then they turn around, and help their mom...and...all is forgiven. Like what you did with the pavers...and, he is rather cute! ;)
There was an annoying few years where my kids insisted on climbing up the doorways. All dirty sticky hands and feet and all. Sigh. Your 13-year-old jumper is darling ... as are your pavers! :) Linda
And I'll be the one with the silvery hair that stands a head taller than anyone else... I'm so excited and I can't wait to meet you.
As I move I cannot bring myself to paint over the handprints on the overhang of the stairs- they represent the many jumps that were made and obviously some successful. Good energy to be channeled for the Lord and humanity. Love that boy!
Ahhhhhhhh!!!!! You are speaking at Haven!!!!!!! YIPPIEEEEEEE!!!!!! I plan to be sitting FRONT AND CENTER squealing with delight because "I know her!!!" Will it be awkward if I bring a sign saying "Karianne is a total ROCKSTAR"?!!! Hmmm...It might block the ladies sitting behind me.... but I'm TEMPTED!!!! OH!!!! I'M SO, SO, SO EXCITED for you!!!!!!!!! This is SO super-duper COOL!!!! and by the way... I love the concrete project too but YOU ARE A REAL, LIVE CONFERENCE SPEAKER! AWESOME!!! :-D ok, I think I've completely used up my annual exclamation point and capital letter quota on this comment... hugs and I adore you! Happy, happy Monday!
Love the pavers - fun project! - and what a handsome young man you have! :-)
I love jumpers, they keep us jumping! HA,HA.. And, I think jumpers are also huggers and just plain down right cute and sweet. And when you think about it, jumping makes them happy!. JMHO. My 6'1" 14 year old grandson has been jumping for a long time! The taller he grows the more he challenges himself, he is now aiming for the hanging signs at Home Depot! He has tagged a few! When I thing about the things that might get on our nerves, I also know that one day we will miss the jumping, but hopefully not the jumper. I wish I could be at Haven to hear you speak.
So thrilled for you about Haven! I've been so conflicted about going, passed up a ticket last week, but still kind of want to go because so many lovely, hilarious, sweet bloggers are going...but I'm also in the middle of a potential business launch so think I'll have to put Haven off til another year. But I am certainly bummed that I'll miss seeing you as a speaker, I'm sure you will be totally fab!
This is really a great idea, Karianne...looks great! I love the photo of your son, too! Congrats on the speaking engagement!
You'd think with 4 boys I would know at what age the jumping stops. I don't. I know it's not 18, or 19, or 20. Maybe it never does? I'll ask my just turned 31 year old if he still jumps and get back to you. You know, I never wanted to be a blogger, or mad scientist, or rock star.... I only wanted to be a speaker about family life and kids. So now I'm envious again. Pretty soon my skin is going to start turning green. Bliss
love the pavers. We are redoing our landscape and have plenty of this concrete pavers...maybe I'll prety up a few here and there
So excited for you, KariAnne. You will certainly be the star. We have a jumper, too. It helps that they are so cute. Loving the stenciled stones.
lol...I had one of those two! In fact when his friends were over It was like a basketball team around here. ;) EEEEEEKKKKK!!!! They really DID want us to speak, and we didn't just dream it?! lol Can't wait to share the stage with my shining star friend...we'll knock their socks (or flip flops) off! Love ya my rockstar. Heather
Oh gosh, where do I begin! First of all, you're gonna ROCK Haven! I wish I could go....maybe next year. One goal of this blogging adventure is to get to meet you! One day, God willing....it will happen! On another note, you're 'jumper' is such a cutie! Enjoy and cherish all that jumping and fingerprints (maybe build a frame around them and capture their memories) because before you know it, he'll be off and you'll miss all that jumping! Love ya, girlfriend! Have a great week! p.s. your pavers rock too!! xoxo Angela
What a cutie your jumper is! And he's got that grin....you know, the one you'd climb up a mountain backward in the snow for?? And your pavers are lovely! Wish I had a path down to a pond to put them on. But living on a farm in Kentucky with some adorable jumpers and grinners (vicariously, that is, via Thistlewood Farms), is almost as good! You'll be FABULOUS at The Haven Conference! Don't forget your sparkly earrings, and have a blast! Love from Lynn in Florida
Funny story, it brought back memories of my brothers and they did the same thing. My mother could never understand it at all, but I guess that is boys. I love this idea and the stencil you picked is lovely. I cant'a wait to see the whole project together to get the real effect. It will be elegant. Cynthia
Your son is adorable! And what a sweetie to help you with the pavers. How cool that you will be speaking at Haven...wish I could be there. Glad I got to meet you in Naperville! :-)
I am jumping up & down for you!!! Secret is out!! I can't believe I will be sad on my trip to Maui..because I will be missing Haven & miss meeting YOU in person. Promise me another time, ok? xo, Kelly
Your jumper is a cutie. Love the project and (as always) love the way you write. I have to share a jumper story. The hubby, when he was 16 was also a jumper. One day on the way into English class he jumped to touch the glass above the door jam. He misjudged the distance somehow and he smacked his head into the jam and knocked himself out. I don't know why he missed the jump. Maybe he had a growth spur the night before and didn't realize he was now 6'3" , or perhaps he was distracted by some shiny object, or some floozy with a too short skirt in class. It remains a mystery. Thank goodness he survived with only a bump on his head and a bruised ego. Tell the jumper to have fun, but look before he leaps :).
I have a jumper too...he's 14, ceilings, doorways, yes & yes. ;) Love the pavers, cute. And YAY to you speaking at Haven! How exciting....I will be there and look forward to hearing you speak and meeting you! Nancy
Your pavers look wonderful. What a great idea. And your son is darling. You can't really tell him that, though, can you? Tell him he's sick. LOL Congratulations on speaking at Haven. :)
I love jumpers! And it's not just boys. My sister, at about age 8, learned how to do a mean cartwheel. She did them wherever she could find a wide-open space. I think the last time she did that was in the church fellowship hall - she thought no one was looking as she flipped all the way across the vast room IN HER DRESS, but when she stopped, she looked up, and lo and behold, there were a couple of teenage boys grinning at her. ;) Me? If I jumped, I would turn an ankle. LOL Heading to Haven NOW. Love the pavers! And I still am planning a step-painting project. Just you wait and see! :)
WOW!!! YAY!!! I can't WAIT to hear you speak at HAVEN!! I'll be the one smiling. . . oh, no, wait EVERYONE will be smiling!!! See you there!! -breida
Boys are funny like that~Always jumping to touch things just out of reach. I have three and they all do this too. Love your concrete pavers, they add such a personal touch. Very pretty!
You can make planters from pavers..One for each side..don't seal the whole bottom so there is drainage..They're very heavy though..
Karianne ~ My jumpers are now 6'1", 6'5" and 6'6". I stopped worrying about the space above my doorways ~ and started worrying about the ceilings. Never did I think I would be telling them to please stop leaving hand prints on the ceilings!! Oh but I do miss that jumping phase....
Thanks so much for your post. I have so many paver paths and they are boring. Now I can stencil them and make them more interesting. I think jumping is a boy thing that they go through when they get in their teens. My son did the same thing - would drive me crazy. Have a wonderful week - love your blog. Mary
Adorable! I teach at a large highschool with 1800 jumpers-they just do C:
Love the pavers and congrats on speaking! Hope to get the chance to meet you. My colleague and I Kate will be there! :)
Love your pavers! What a great idea. ~ I have one of those thirteen year old boys too:) Good luck! Leslie
That is hilarious! My son (who just turned 17 this month) does the same thing. It drives me crazy! He is also very much into basketball.
Yeah! I'm going to Haven and I didn't even know it! Well, I registered and forgot the name. How sad is that? I read this and thought "Wish I had signed up for her conference! I wonder which one I'm going to?" And it is Haven in Atlanta! Yippee! I'll look for your red lipstick. Just look for the "deer in the headlights" and that will be me!
Those are a great idea! We're actually doing a path in our garden from the patio to the playhouse, and stencils would add a little bit of magic to the walkway! Love it!
I had a jumper too, someday you will miss those fingerprints above the doorways! The pavers are gorgeous and such a great idea, beautiful trellis too, (is that what you call it there?) Congratulations on speaking at Haven, red lipstick for sure, but what earrings will you be wearing? ~Diane
LOL- I had a jumper, too. I can't tell you the amount of fingerprints he left everywhere. Here's what's funny. He's all grown up now and when he stands talking to you in the doorway he doesn't lean-he stand with is hands over his head on the molding. It makes me laugh to even think about it. He doesn't even realize he does it. I swear it came from spending his time with his arms in the air when he was jumping. Good luck breaking THAT habit. Congrats on speaking at Haven. How wonderful!!! xo Diana
Oh!!! Congrats!!!!! If I were a travelin gal, I'd be there!!! Just to let you know your fan base is huge. Hmm. Blog base?? Reader base?? Subscriber to blog base is supportive, red lipstick and all. You do have a gift for making everything seem elegant yet effortless. Hmmmm. Should you wear heals with socks??? They were really good luck socks so you might pack them in case you feel a twinge of nerves...hobble around in your room in heels and puffy paint socks and remind yourself.. I'm wanted!!!!! And still wanted by the best--Jesus and my hubby :-)
I mean Jesus and your hubby.
You brought back a wonderful memory of my two sons jumping and touching every ceiling and doorway. They ended up being 6'6" so you can imagine the amount of fingerprints I had. When I painted my kitchen ceiling ( the most touched place) I was suddenly sad and so I have some places in my house that still have those crazy finger tip prints. My daughter is tall and played ball, but she never jumped. Must be a guy thing. Your son is adorable....get ready for the phone calls from girls....it's probably already started...or I guess they just text each other now. Love the paver project. Know you'll be super at Haven with your red lipstick!
How cool! Of course they didn't change their minds! That would be silly. and I'm not going unless something miraculously changes.
yes, I'm going to Haven and I can't wait to meet you! Love your pavers and that your jumper helped you - because he can.
Karianne!!!! Don't forget the dangling earrings!!!! I still have to find out WHAT IS HAVEN!! I wish I could be there to meet you!!! I loved your stencilled concrete pavers, what a great idea! Handsome jumper!!!! Xoxo Claudine
KariAnne, I have a question for you. You look like and have the same first name of someone I knew in California. Have you ever lived in California? Just curious. Love your blog and your beautiful home. I'm in TN just across the border, so who knows, I just might find that barn and that road and pay you a visit some time. I would love to sit on your beautiful porch and have tea with you! Especially if you are the KariAnne I hope you are. Hugs, :)
Congratulations on speaking at Haven I can't wait to meet you! Have a great day.
You little secret holder!!!!! Cute concrete block! :)
Wow so bloody awesome
What a handsome jumper you have there! =) I've been thinking of stenciling some stones or pavers - thanks for the inspiration!
Can't wait to see you speak at Haven! I am expecting a lot of fun!!! and maybe a drink lol ;0
Cool stepping stones and even cooler kid!
I'm so excited you'll be speaking at Haven! I can't wait! You'll be amazing! Love your pavers; what a cute idea! I have some of these that are plain, so I'm going to stencil away now! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for explaining "jumpers". I thought I was the only one in the world with them. They are now grown but they used to drive me crazy with handprints. They couldn't leave the house without jumping. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I know there is still hope for them. :D
So glad to hear you're speaking at Haven. I'M going, SQUEAL!!!
Congrats Kari on being a speaker at Haven...just make sure you wear another pair of cute sandals...or wear the same ones .... maybe "someone" would recognize them...as you are up front and speaking!!...Love the pavers and the jumping is a boy's "right of passage"...they cannot walk thru a passageway or doorway without jumping and touching the door jams...believe me..when they grow up and leave the nest, you will miss those little jumpers, but not the finger prints!
This post is adorable and "uplifting" on so many levels!
Your jumper is a doll, oh boy, wouldn't he just love to hear that, lol. My son is turning 30 this year, dang kid, keeps making me get older. At the time he was in his teens I thought I'd never look back on them & miss the boy he was, but I do. However, for those of you still dealing with life of tweens and teens, I'll share my mother's words of wisdom: This phase will pass sooner or later but it's just preparing you for the next one, which will be worse. Love the paver idea, really love that your smart enough to get your son to help with them, I wish I'd spent more time involving my son in the crafts I used to do perhaps someday he'll want to learn some of what I do now or give me a grand child to teach. Congrats on the speaking engagement, if you talk like you write you'll be wonderful.