New Rooms for Big Kids

A few months ago, I started talking to the kids about their “big kid” rooms.  When I asked them what they wanted in their new rooms, they each had an immediate and different answer.

Sloan – “a princess room.” (barf.)
Rocco – “animals.” (hmmm…)
Madden – “a computer room.”  (what?)
Jagger – “skateboards and basketballs.”  (interesting.)

I knew that two of the four I could work with.  So I quickly started showing Sloan pictures of bedrooms in some magazines and soon realized that a girlie girl (pink) room would be a hit with her no matter what.  I continued to think about what I could do for Madden and his “computer room” when my sister-in-law said she had my nephew’s surf/beach bedding that we could use.  Just a little convincing and promise of a real fish later and he was sold.  And so my mission began. 

When we moved in our new house (one year ago this weekend), I didn’t take the time to decorate their rooms.  I was in no rush to get them out of their cribs and frankly, didn’t want to spend the time, money or energy decorating 4 rooms that I knew would be changing in the near future.  Here’s what their rooms looked like yesterday morning.

Sloan’s room (with nice brown paper window treatments )

Rocco’s Room

 
Madden’s room

Jagger’s room

Once I had all I needed (or enough for four semi-complete rooms), I coordinated the day for the kids to be out of the house with Nanny Alicia so that we could decorate ALL four rooms at once.  It was a tall order, but I knew it would be SO much more exciting for them to get their new rooms together rather than one at a time.  Oh yeah, AND they didn’t even know we were doing it yesterday.  According to them, mommy and daddy were “doing puzzles” while they were gone for the whole day!

So we got started this morning around 8:30 and finished around 5 this evening only breaking for lunch.  It was a group effort.

 

Evan and Nate helping with one of Sloan’s accessories

Jude cleaning

Big Pop and G.G. working hard ALL day long!
(btw, thanks to G.G. for making Sloan’s new window treatments)

Daddy & Evan putting Rocco’s bed together

Drumroll please.  Sloan’s finished room….

 

Rocco’s…

 

 

  

Madden’s…

 

 

 

 

 

Jagger’s…

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, the kids got home around 6.  We ate dinner – they had no clue!  Then I brought them in the living room to tell them of their surprise. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids couldn’t wait to sleep in their new big boy/girl bed tonight.  Before tuck ins, I asked them each what was their favorite part about their new room. 

Sloan – “my bed.” (amen sister)
Rocco – “my lion.” (lol – thanks Nate for bringing it from home and throwing it on the bed as we were finishing up)
Madden – “my fish, Bodhi.” (as promised )
Jagger – “my basketball goal.” (shocker!)

All smiles at bedtime…

And as I am writing this at 3:34am, I haven’t heard any cries, pitter patter of little feet or any loud thuds…I’d say this is a good sign!

Of course, I couldn’t post this without thanking everyone who helped us pull this off…G.G., Big Pop, Grandmama, Grandaddy, Jason, Kemper, Evan, Jude, Nate and Alicia.  Special thanks to our friend Chad for taking these great shots of our special day!

Our first night in our new house
August 19, 2011

One year later
August 18, 2012

It’s days like yesterday that the reality of 4 times the work, 4 times the love and 4 times the fun really sinks in.  We are so blessed to be able to do this for our kids and I love that we get to celebrate their individuality.  Because they are each so incredibly special and different.   I just love that.