Friday, June 28, 2013

The Harry Potter Project

So, it's been a while since I blogged. I could keep telling myself that so much has happened and I have to catch up, but that's overwhelming and only leads to me putting off updating. I've decided, instead, to just jump in now and post about today.

Our house is small for a family of our size. 1200square, and we can now say that we are definitely living in every inch of it. See, the boys have been chafing each other raw with living in the same room. It's not unheard of, and really not something I can blame them for. It's tight in there, and they have such different personalities. It's not easy!
But we only have 3 bedrooms...

John told me about how when he was a kid, and he and Dan were at each others throats, but they only had 3 bedrooms, his parents converted the dining room into a room for him until Ben moved out. We don't have a dining room, and we have a LONG time until Rowan goes to college, but it was a good idea - repurpose a spot for someone so that everyone has their own space.

One day, it hit me. We have a walk in closet in our master bedroom. That closet has a window. We don't actually USE the clothes in the closet most of the time. Most of the time, we use the clothes that are in our dressers. Half the time we can't even walk into our closet because of all the shoes on the floor. John's shoes are boats. Have you seen his feet?

I thought, and measured, and took everything out, and measured again. I thought some more, and climbed into the attic to measure the crib because it converted to a toddler bed and was smaller than the car bed. It would work if I took a shelf out and we figured out where to stash some clothes. John thought it was a pretty good idea, even though it looked like our closet had thrown up all over our bedroom.

I felt kind of bad about it. It seems very Dursley to stick a kid in your closet, even if it's the smallest kid in a good sized closet. But it has a window, right? Harry Potter didn't have a window.

We took out the shelf and spackled the holes. I found a mostly full can of purple paint, "Italian Fantasy," in the shed, so I painted it. I also had an extra vinyl Eleri that my friend made me when she made the one for the dress up station. The dress up station does not fit in her new room, but the spice racks I got from Ikea do, and they make nice little bookshelves.

She's spending her first night in there tonight. I just tucked her in, and she's smiling so big her face is about to crack. I wonder how long it will take her to fall asleep?
 
Looking in from our vanity area
 
I had to use the iPad to take pictures. I couldn't back up enough with my camera!

 
 
 
Take a picture of me sleeping!
 
 Take a picture of me building!

 
The fairy lamp isn't plugged in, but it's pretty.

 
The steps are from Mom, since Annabelle doesn't use them.
 
I think this is going to work out really well. Now we just have to get our room looking this good! 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Last day of school 2013

I'm so far behind in blogging it's not funny. But oh well. It's the last day of school!

For Rowan, the last day of 5th grade. He's grown so much! Today's picture of Rowan is weird. His shirt is hanging funny. I didn't notice the book bag weirdness when I was taking it.
  
He's a little taller. His hair is a lot longer.

Niall has also grown a bunch. He couldn't smile as well because last night he woke up to go to the bathroom and tripped over some stuff on his floor. His lip met a chair and is all puffy now. The caterwauling at 2am shot me straight out of bed. But anyway...
 
He's grown a lot, but his hair shrank.

One more year done!
 
Fall 2012
 
And now Spring 2013