The 5th Bedroom

The girl children have slept in the 5th bedroom (aka my closet) at some point in their babyhood.

Bridget had croup the first 2 weeks of life, so she spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom and then the adjoining closet.

Scarlett used to nap in there.

Juliet would sleep in there after Mason was born, because she wanted to be with him 24/7.

It also helped that she was away from all things fun.

My closet is a walk in, and, is quite spacious. I could fit a toddler bed in there without having to squeeze or anything. This was the best solution for us because we had so many "little ones" and most of them are chatties. This way, there was a separation - a space, and they were all on the 4th floor together. I enjoyed it especially because all 5 kids had a place to take a nap without interruption.
And ya'll know how I am about naps. ;)

Well, this weekend we moved Mason to a toddler bed.

 (last morning in a crib)

Evidence Jules lived here 

He did not know what was happening, he did not really care.

I didn't "transition" him because he didn't need to be cottled like the others. I just ripped that band aid right off and tossed him in.

He did great. There was no fussing and the best part? Juliet was kicked out of her "room" too!

Why? Oh, because the 5th bedroom got a make over!

A long time ago, we ripped out the shelving and bars and were going to have it professionally done.

We had quotes and everything, and it was ordered but I had this feeling that we should cancel it and wait.

That same week, we found out about Mason. 

Well, the closet got put on the back burner until this weekend!

Nathan and I worked our tails off and finished the closet.

We sent the older kids outside to play in the back...

Nathan ran and picked up a basket:

Those carrots are massive! The apples were too! The kids were stoked about the dark red oranges, which were so delicious!

While this was goin on,

 evidence of those hoodlums.

I painted grey stripes on the two main walls, added shelving on the back wall, a 9 cube shelf for shoes and other fun things, but the best part???

(There are bins missing and sweater boxes that haven't arrived yet) 

but the best part..

I got dark walnut floors! I have always wanted dark hardwood in a closet. We extended it out to the bathroom and it looks SOOOO good. I feel like I am in a hotel! There is a beautiful light fixture going in and that will be the end of my fancy closet/bathroom. Next month we will finish my room and it will be glorious.

The wall behind me has a full length yellow mirror, hooks for belts, and if I were a jewelry wearer, there would be space for that as well. It seems like there is even more space than there was before! Maybe we could put 2 toddler beds in there...naah.

I love that we did it in a weekend, and that the room is 1/2 way done now. This left wall extends and there will be another tie rack there because Nathan has more than 30 ties!

Well, what do you think?

A Hot Date

This week has been torture - to say the least.

Flat Tire, Flood, Leak in the Garage, Mid Terms, Potentially Bad News, Primary Program Practice, A much needed bang trim, and only 31 hours of uninterrupted Nathan time.  Nathan has had to be on call and work weird random times all week. Last night 11:09-11:58pm.

But through the thick of it all - Nathan STILL managed to get the floors done! Woods AND Carpet!

I got to look at this...

and paint some more, which is my favorite thing to do.

Then we slooooowly got stuff back together...

Here is just a peek at what we have up or sleeves.

Grey and Orange. Sounds weird, but it is coming together so nicely.

The kid lounge is almost complete. I am so happy that the kids will have a better place to do homework/school stuff and a place to hang out.

Today on the list is stairs, picking out the couches, the toy storage, and putting it all together.

I can't wait to show the big reveal. House projects seem to take my mind off the hard stuff - which is just what I need right now!

A surprise...

Nathan woke up after 11 hours of ripping carpet, tearing down baseboards, priming, painting, putting a new floor in and watching me use a table saw...yikes.  

His left hand bandaged because he was stabbed in the hand with a very dangerous... 

...Pencil.

He made french toast this beautiful and cold Sunday morning - our house was 59 because we left the windows open. Another oops by me.

He said to wear jeans and to get in the car.

So we did.

He said we'd be back tomorrow.

I'll let you know what we did - this is one of a few times I haven't planned something and he has taken the reins. Good bye Technology. : (

Weekend Warriors - Bedroom Edition - part 1

Right before Bridget was born, you know when we tried to sell our house I painted our room tan. I hated it, but people couldn't see past the builder white color in there.  Our house didn't sell and I suppose it wasn't supposed to  - aka - not the right time...but I just couldn't see past that color.  So, right before Juliet came I painted our vaulted ceiling room a drastic color. I always feel like if your going to commit to painting - just do it. Don't pick beige be bold. So that is exactly what I did. I painted it Dark Teal. I loooooooved it. But little Juliet came 2 weeks early and nothing was finished after that.

My friend Jess - whom I have never met IRL has been inspiring me to get a move on in the bedroom projects department. I am excited that I will get to see her and the house projects I have "inspired" her to do too next month! (mostly I am excited to get our Nov 07 babies together but that is another story for another day)

So - I woke up and announced my plan to naysayer Nathan who surprised me and said "If we are going to do the room...lets do it!" We always seem to put off our bedrooms don't we? I don't get it since that is where "the magic happens" hahahaha - I HAD TO SAY IT. So we started by putting the bed and everything together, moving and reorganizing all the furniture and then we were interrupted by Lucas asking me this...

"Mom, is it almost time for a baby to come?"
No Lucas why?
"You always paint right before a baby comes"

A burst of laughter comes over me and I had to stop and think about it. He is totally right. But not this time...not yet. :)

Okay back to the rest of the room.  We sanded, primed and painted the bathroom. I had everything purchased but we never had the time to do it! I put together the frames, moved everything around.

Here it is so far...

Juliet was in the jumparoo and loved every minute!

We ripped out the closet - purchased custom closets but didn't like how it looked so we returned them and now it is an utter mess. I am totally channeling my parents who are currently living in their living room while the last reno of the house (their bedroom) is happening.  Our clothes are on a rack in the basement - which means that we get to go down 4 flights of stairs to get dressed, an adventure but it is what it is right now. Our goal is to plow through the closet before our HUGE trip - 12 days from now.

So what did we do? Finished the bedroom, the bathroom(s) toilet and tub area AND sink area...minus the knobs and drawer pulls which we are picking up in Cali!

 I opted to paint a trim on the ceiling. I love it!

So new fixture, new frame around the mirror (Nathan built)

Painted to cabinets.

The toilet area is the green color that is in the bedspread.

The closet will be the gray in the sheet set too.

Luckily I have another bedset that has the same colors in it so when we switch out for the winter nothing has to change.

I clearly have a problem...

What's left?

Nathan's floating shelves, My pretty wall thing I am making, and a few little things and its done.  I didn't show you the dresser wall or the couch wall or the work in progress closet but hopefully I will have it all done by next week! It helps that we get an extra working day next week! :D

I also will have a poll on the curtains...I am thinking about going light blue, brown, or cream.  

Next week, next week.

Labor

of LOVE!

It has taken a full week of painting to get the look I wanted in the girls room and its finally done...well the painting!  It is worth it because 

a) I love to paint 

b) I love to sew

-and-

c) It's more fun than cleaning! Haha

Oh did you think I was talking about the baby?  

Well I can't have her until after my enrichment on the 15th. But -  I know it will be soon! :)

Back to the room.  This is the inspiration for the room:

This is the Sham to the Girls Bed.

Here are all the painted walls...

Now its time to put together the bunk beds, crib and curtains...the bedding needs the last touch ups and of course the cool wall stuff I made. :)

Here is a close up of the curtains I made out of sheets.

I did a ruffle to match the shams.

Here is a preview of the bumper:

Trust me those lines are PERFECT -

Here is how we did the dots.

I used a circle punch with laminated sheets.

Basically I made my own stencil.

What do you think?

I will post the whole thing once it's done.

I'm off to make the crib skirt.

This, that and oh yea -

Saturday morning we decided to DEMO the girls dysfunctional/nonfunctional closet.

You can totally tell a man designed the closets in newer homes because they just slapped a shelf and a rod and called it done.  No thought at all.  So after months of trying to fit 3 VERY cute but EXCESSIVE amounts of girl clothes into the closet it was time to revamp it.

Plus I had to fit bunk beds, a crib and clothes into this room. So here is what we did.

We primed the old pink closet. Repainted it a different shade of pink. Ripped out the shelf.

Sanded, re drywalled, puttied and primed again.

Painted it one last time.

Then installed the new system.

Most people don't like the wired shelving, but I like it because it doesn't get dusty, I can see right through it and Lowes will cut it any length you want right there for you. Awesome. I am all about instant results. Plus this quick fix was under $45 for the shelving and brackets and cutting!

I found these white baskets on Clearance at Lowes and they are plastic so they wipe right off!

The Green Box has blessing outfits and the certificates in them.  Each basket has fun stuff in it.

What is missing...the tall white dresser and the mirror over the dresser. Oh and the yellow gingham curtain that will hang instead of doors.Other than that once it arrives with the beds the room will be done!

I gave you a little sneak peek at what the room looks like...more on that later.

Oh yea -
Bridget got her way and got 4.5 inches cut off her hair on Saturday too.  Isn't it so cute?  I love how it makes her cute cheeks look. :)

To this!

What do you think of the closet?

Post Edit - thank you netflix for having Land Before Time on Instant Play so I could paint trim this afternoon. :D

Land Before Time - Thanks a lot for making my kids cry when the Mom died. I had to sit with them for 20 minutes and assure them I was not going to be killed by Sharp Tooth.

Lucas thank you for telling the girls the reality - "Dinosaurs won't kill mom - wrinkles and gray hair will."

Keepin It Real

I am a very organized person. I like things a certain way and because of this my kids are the same way
-BUT-
I have a dirty little secret.  It is literally the worst part of the house.

It is my hall/entry/front closet.  It is my junk drawer in the kitchen kind of closet.

I NEVER open it, and it scares me.

When I host Tot School I have to search through this closet the night before to get everything out so nothing falls out. It is in the main room of my house and serves as the coat closet, the art closet, the shoe closet the game closet, the I don't know where to put it right now closet and it is a TRAGIC MESS and frankly doesn't belong in my house.

I don't know if you know this but I am a nester.

I have got it really really bad this time.

My husband probably gets me pregnant so I got through this stage because he LOVES it when I get rid of or reorganize things. :P

Well, we kept going on our re-do DIY and re did the closet.

Here is everything that was in the closet...

(deep breath, I would NEVER show ANYONE this but it is time)

 Seriously so embarrassing. BUT in all fairness - it has been on my list since 2009! Hahaha.

It hasn't been out of control until Jan of 2010.

Yikes!

So I cleaned it out meaning taking everything out.

Painted it, because let's face it everything looks better painted.

I also put the games in, because that is where they were supposed to go.

Then I emailed Nathan a picture I drew and said "don't be mad, but I want this built tonight."

Don't worry I included lots of X's and O's in the email.

He hit up Lowe's on the way home and went right to work.

I get no complaints from him because he got a table saw and an air compressor gun for Christmas this year.

He needs to break them in right?

So while he was at work in the garage while it was snowing and 12ish degrees outside I was inside working on my mess.

I had a trash bin, a donate bin, and organizer bins for my art supplies.

Bada Bing-Bada Boom

What is even better than this? Nathan used a Laminated Particle Board so the whole thing is wipeable. Meaning those yucky boots covered in muck and mud that get thrown in there...yep can just be wiped off with a towel! I love you Nathan! :)

The best part is that everyone who comes over wants to see the closet and now I can show it to them! WAHOO!

What do you think?  It was just a closet full of wasted space and now it has a place for everything!

Rock On! This project cost $30.

Is this something you could use in your home?  I ended up putting those 3M Christmas stocking hooks on the door for the kids to put backpacks and hoodies. It is great!

Dinner Tonight: Baked BBQ Chicken with Iceberg Slaw