While You Were Out

You know that show on TLC? We did our own version while my mother-in-law was in Europe for two weeks! Scott and I planned to makeover a room for her for Mother's Day and it worked out perfect she was going to gone. Everyone in the family contributed and helped and we are more than pleased with the results.

We were over at their house every night with the exception of maybe two nights, doing work. I have learned a lot about do-it-yourself projects.

1. I don't like painting! I have never painted a room or anything really for that matter, and told myself it was easy and that I would love it. Not so much. Please don't ever ask me to help you paint. I'm not good at it and can't for the life of me stay in the lines.

2. Making over a room in someone else's house is way more time consuming than making over a room in your own home. Even though they only live 5 minutes away it was so hard to get enough time each day to make any progress with Scott's work schedule, my work schedule and Cam. In my head I was thinking just a couple days to paint, not realizing the time it takes to ACTUALLY paint then letting it dry overnight before the second coat. Ughhh....

3. It is good to plan out a schedule for the things you want to accomplish but be prepared for detours! The carpet man could lie to you about your price. The ceiling fans could not fit. You can run out of painters tape. You could need to exchange lights/ceiling fans THREE times...The list goes on.

4. And most importantly, you WILL go over budget. Don't get me wrong, we did really good in this area but of course went a little smidge over. Thanks Papa for the extras.

All of these things were fun to learn and we had a blast doing this project. Plus, seeing her face when she saw the room for the first time was more than worth it. She screamed and didn't even notice the carpet! It was great.

Thanks to everyone that helped get this done!
Special shout out to Stephen for saving us one night with the fan and Robby for playing with Cameron most nights so we could get the work done.

The room before:

sorry it's a little dark

Cam was such a good helper most days. He loved helping with the tape.

My new favorite thing to do! PUTTY! Bring on the holes...

Stephen framing the door

Jon and Rach helping out

 

Pop painting in B's shirt : )

How's the paint?

Cam was so so excited to run in the room after the carpet was installed.

Scott putting up the very cooperative ceiling fan

Cameron enjoying the carpet some more...

The finished product...

 

Success!!

Happy Mother's Day

     

 Happy Mother's Day Mom!! You are so amazing and I am so grateful for all that you have taught me. Thank you for being a great example to everyone around you, especially me. I miss you so much and wish we could be together more often.

I am so glad we share such a close relationship, not only as mother and daughter, but as best friends.

You are a wonderful Mom and even more wonderful Grandma. Thanks for all you do for me and my family.

We are blessed to have you. I love you with all my heart.

Lady- I am so incredibly lucky to have you as a mother in law. Not very many people get to say that, but I appreciate that I can. You are the best second mom anyone could ask for. Thanks for taking such good care of all of us especially little Cam. You have an amazing family and I am lucky to have married your most handsome son!! : )

Thanks for letting me be me when we are together and always adding to the craziness. 

You are one of my best friends and I love you forever and ever.

                          

Oh so heavy

Cam loves to pick up heavy things and help out. You name it and he will pick it up, or at least try. Some of my favorites to watch? Grocery bags filled with canned goods, 5 pound weights (no joke!), his riding toy truck, diaper bag, and his story book movies.

Tonight he was helping clean up his bucket of trucks and I was lucky enough to get him on video.
Don't you just love the way he says "heavy"?
Or am I the only one that knows that is what he is saying because I am the mommy?

Mornings at the farm

One of Cam's favorite toys is his farm. "Mom, an-i-moes", I hear everyday, sometimes multiple times a day.

I am so grateful I get to be home with him again and do these things with him.  I do feel a little (hahaha) bad for Scott, because I know he must miss these times often. Cam is so "proper" while playing with the animals. He is sure to have them facing perfectly forward when he places them in the barn. He makes the sounds the animals make when he is moving them around. My current favorite word he says "Goat". It's hilarious.

I love seeing this cute, smiling face concentrate and play.

Oh. He found me taking his picture. PEEK-A-MOMMY!

He thought the animals and Carlitos, the farmer, needed to take a nap.

(Scott named him, clearly)

I love you baby boy. I will play "animoes" with you everyday forever!!

April Fun

We have been able to do a lot of fun things this month while the weather has been nice.

We made it up to Logan to visit our friends and go to Baby Animal Days. Cam missed his naps and not a lot of visiting happened because of it. He was so exhausted and hard by the end of the day. Sorry again Kim.

I want to go to this every year. It was fun to have all the animals out in the open to pet and snuggle with. They are all so cute and tiny. Cam was in love and screaming "HI"to every baby.

He got a little nervous getting so close.

They also had some baby bears from Bear World. We couldn't pet them or get too close, which is probably a good thing. They were just adorable! 

Thanks for inviting us Loosles, I am so glad we came!

I was doing my hair one morning and Cam was running back and forth from the living room to his room with much excitement. I went in to see what he was doing...

He built a "choo choo" out of a boomerang. Nice. I LOVE boys!

There is a little playground at the school right next door. Cam has perfected the slide and goes 300 times each visit we make. Kim came over for the boys to play a bit, this was the only picture I could get of them half way together on the slide.

Weeeeeeee!!!

"Peek-a Mommy!"

Cam didn't love the swings until he saw Campbell enjoying himself....

it was all giggles after that!

Easter in Review

First, I should say my mom has always made THE best Easter baskets. She still sends one to me every year, only now it's for both Scott and me, which is perfect. Gift card to Cheesecake Factory...Booyahhh!

I am so grateful she has continued her tradition with Cameron. Mailing both baskets isn't cheap and we sure appreciate the effort!

Here is Cam on Easter morning getting ready to dig in.

 (I made Cam the cutest Curious George blanket for Easter, but he found it before then and has not let it out of his sight. I totally re-gifted it to him that morning! See?)

I didn't put candy in his basket, but every snack he saw in there he wanted to eat right then. Goldfish crackers don't taste so good at 8 am. To me at least.

I found these awesome dry erase crayons that I put in with a little white board. He loved it. My plans are to use it while I teach him his letters and numbers.

My mom got him this cute Belly Button book. Hilarious!

His Buzz kite from mom and dad and pirate towel from Grandma Rosemary.

(Cam is OBSESSED with Toy Story. It would be on from the time he woke up until he went to bed if I let it. I pretty much know it word for word too...My favorite part? Rex: Ugghh, Whiskers....would you get out of here?  You're interfering with a search and rescue!!!)

Cute face showing off his new cup from Grandma

Cam is spoiled and of course got another basket from Grandma and Grandpa Talbot. He thoroughly enjoyed all the treats!!

See?

Cam's first Easter egg hunt with his cousins!

He did great once he realized what he was supposed to do...

Nice spot!

Got a little distracted by a toy and Cam threw his eggs. It looks like Uncle B is picking them up for Cam, but really he is wanting all the goodies inside. Don't be fooled ; )

Dying Easter Eggs with a Paranoid, Not So Fun Mom!

This is the first year we did eggs with Cam. He was too little last year and a part of me feels he may have been too little this year still.

No. Really...he did an excellent job! I on the other hand, took a good 10 mintues to have fun. Thank goodness cool, calm and collective Daddy was around!

Our fun in pictures:

Nice clean table

The DROPPING begins (notice my freaked out hands)

Cam extremely proud of himself. Surely calls for a clap!

Another drop...

A little help to NOT drop and splash.

Ahhhhh. After much coaxing, he calmly put the eggs in the cups. (Mommy happy and clapping)

Finally Daddy took over. "Look eggy Mommy"

I was ready to step back in. Stickers=easy!

Proud and happy

again...

We all had so much fun. I did get a little "panicky" at the beginning but realized, It's a mess. A liquid mess. Just wipe it up when we are done. Easy as cake. Stain our clothes and our...

hands for a bit...Ehhhh...who cares!