THE BIG SUPRISE!

So this is going to be a long post about my obsessive "NESTING" as they call it.  There will be lots of pics and before and afters.  I am so excited for Jake to get home and see my big surprise reveal.  Jake went to India and will return this Sunday.  He will have been gone for a day past 2 weeks.  With him leaving I knew I wanted something to keep me occupied and busy in the evenings.  I had planned to do a blog book, but that lasted about 2 days...so I then decided to tackle my worst fear....

 

The office.  Our office was going to be made into the nursery, but I had NO idea how to do it.  There was soooo much stuff in there and toys and 2 computers and so on.  This is what it looked like before our first makeover.

Last year I painted it and set it up for home school and office type stuff.

 

So I had to really think on how to keep the curtains and the toys and the computer and still make it into a nursery....on a limited...(teeny weenie) budget!!

 

So after two days I came up with this arrangement.  I ended up changing it a bit...but you'll see that soon enough.

 

 

The main thing I did was totally re-organize the closet.  I got rid of half the toys/ crafts and such...then I moved the computer desk into the closet.  I was so excited when it fit.  I also moved the electric piano..2nd computer and moved the tv/vcr to Aubrey's room.  (She was thrilled.)  I found new places for things and downsized.  I was going to stop here...since this was what was keeping me up at nights.  But I was just having too much fun.  I never told Jake about any of it...and I was liking doing things on my own. 

So then I started doing some budget shopping.  Here is my lamp re-do for $2.99 from goodwill.

Fabric from the bedding I had previously made. 

Another HUGE project was this chair.  I found it at Goodwill for $15.99 and thought I could just clean it.  After hours of scrubbing...I made it worse and decided to recover it.  So here is my slip covered chair...which I love.  I think it took me a good 8 hours or so to sew...but I LOVE it!!!  I got the fabric from my neighbor for free...(it was 2 tablecloths.)  Can't beat that! Thank you Elisabeth Brown.

 

The lamp turned out cute! 

 

Here is another pic of the chair and the pillow that I made to match. 

 

Ok...this pillow was such a pain to do, but it turned out in the end.
 

So....after hours of repainting furniture...sewing, spray painting...hanging lightbulbs, making crafts, dejunking and hanging pictures (drywall hooks and all).... Here is the NURSERY!  I can't believe how much I actually like it.  I usually feel so deflated and depressed after I attempt to decorate.  Also, when I think of how little money was spent...YAY I get even more excited! I hope Jake likes it.  Honestly, he will probably just smile and be glad he wasn't here to do it...but I am thrilled none the less.

 

 

 

Chinese lanterns and tissue paper pom poms.  I think this costs about $18.00 dollars when it was all said and done.

 

These pics are just colored pencil drawings I made...then they also have fabric from the bedding.

 

$10.00 dresser from Goodwill...repainted. Super cute!

 

 

Re-purposed shelf..from Spencer and Weston's nursery.

 

Remember my Valentine Day decor?  I thought it fit in here too.

The ruffled bed skirt...my Nemesis...but oh so GIRLY!

The bedding.  I have since bought a crib sheet...but didn't want to take new pics.  Also...the crib finally got painted white.  When we bought it for Aubrey (how many years ago) we said we would paint it and never did.  Thanks to my AWESOME hometeacher...it is now done.  He had a paint sprayer and did it for me.

The desk turned changing table.  Not my fave...but it will do. 

 My view from the "nursing chair."  It makes me smile. :)

Another custom art piece.  Mari says they look like Aubrey drew them...I guess they kind of do. Aubrey said "they look upside down..."  haha

I can't post this blog until Jake gets home.  In case he decides to look.  But just know...I am one excited Momma.  I even washed the little clothes and blankets I have and stocked the drawers.  I really don't have much more to do before the baby gets here...and I still have 8 weeks left.  Heaven help me!!! I can't wait to meet our little sweetie pie. I felt her move so much recently.  Maybe it is because I wanted her for so long...but I am sooooo happy to be having another little Watkins' girl.  I hope she likes it here. 

 

Early Skateland Party!

So Weston turns 7 in a few days...(next Wed. technically.)  However, Jake is going out of town for a couple of weeks so we decided to have his party early so DAD could be there.
I had planned on doing his "friends" party at Skateland because I thought I would be flying solo with 10 boys and didn't want to handle that all by myself.  Then Weston just wanted his Dad there too bad...so we did it this Sat.  I honestly had fun.  Thanks to parents who stayed and seeing Weston with his friends.  Definetly easiest party ever from a parent's perspective!  I told Weston I would make his cake and he chose the theme MONSTER TRUCKS! I was stressed about it...cause it is soooo freaking hot and the frosting was melting...but it turned out cute non-the-less.
   

 

Weston was a VIP at the party and loved it.  He got extra attention the whole time. 

A trip to the DJ booth.

They played some trivea games about Weston. 

 

Some great kids came...and for memory sake I will write their names.  Mason, Carson, Jacob, David, Boe, Max, Spencer, Aubrey, Brigham and Landon. I am glad he has such wonderful friends here in Mesa. 

 

This picture was blurry but I wanted to document one of Weston with his parents.

 

They all got tokens to play games and get tickets.  The Birthday boy got to go in a booth that blew around extra tickets.  I think he got 240 extra.  He was thrilled.

 

 

Oh...it looks like he got 275 extra. 

He had a wonderful time and even though half his friends had NEVER skated before...I think they all had fun.  We love you Westino Caprino!!

Extra school stuff.

 

 

So last week we went to get Weston's hair cut. It was soooooo long. It turned out all three got a hair cut. Aubrey just couldn't resist. We went to great clips and I have never been there...nor wanted to go there. However, the ladies were wonderful and it was actually fun. Who knew! The kids looked great for their start of the new year.

This just made me smile to see Weston and 4 boys from our Church all hanging out on the playground. I just saw them there and had to get a pic this morning. I am so glad the Browns and the Morris's go to school with our kids.

 

First day of school.

 

 

What a great first day. Happy kids in the morning...and no tears. This might be a first. Aubrey was most nervous about having a friend this school year and there happened to be a "new girl" that seemed so sweet. Aubrey came home with a "Bestie." What a blessing and answer to my prayers. Weston was a little nervous in the morning...but once he got on the playground he was a happy boy. I saw one of my friends kids crying and not wanting Mom to leave him...it brought back a lot of memories for me of past years and I am grateful that THIS year was peaceful and nice.

We planned a "Tuesday taco night" for tonight so I will blog more about that later. It kept me busy cooking and cleaning all day. Spencer talked NONSTOP the whole day. We did a little preschool and he helped me clean and do things. I even had time to work out. I was a happy woman today. Feeling very blessed.

 

 

Third trimester photo.

Here I am in all my glory.  I wanted to remember this pregnancy and how I looked...no matter what. I am 28 weeks here. I have only felt good for the last 8 weeks...so the first trimester was a bear...but since I have stopped throwing up...it has flown by! Now if this last trimester can go just as fast. I would love it! I can't wait to meet our little girl!
 

St. George, Utah

So the last day of our trip we decided to get a hotel in St. George.  I have always loved St. George, but we really didn't do much...it was more of a place to just rest and get ready for the 7 hour trip the next day.  We wanted to go see the temple with the kids so we looked quickly through the visitors' center and walked the grounds.  There were tour buses there...and it was absolutely packed.  I guess St. George gets a lot of French tourists and one of the Sister missionaries told us that most of the Sisters sent there speak French.  I thought that was cool. I guess they ride buses from Las Vegas NV.
 

 

 

It really is a gorgeous temple.  Glad we got to see it.

We ended the evening with some swimming and dinner at Red Lobster.  The kids chose where we ate.  I have taken Aubrey there for a girls night and the boys were excited to have their first experience.  Spencer insisted on eating with two forks...cause that is how many they gave him.  Haha
 

 

 

Honestly St. George was the last of a wonderful vacation....but the kids and the parents were tired.  We sent them to bed early and we headed home the next day.  I came home and cleaned and blogged.  I always feel a bit sad on our return from Idaho.  I just get misty eyed knowing I won't be back till next summer.  Love you family...love you Idaho and Utah!!!