Baby house transformation

I called Andrew on the way home from Iowa when I went with the kids a couple months ago. I wanted to buy the kids a playhouse from Costco, of course. Andrew said no. He said something else would have to go if I wanted the playhouse. So after considering what I would get rid of I called Grandma and Poppy and threw around my idea. They agreed it was essentially genius.  

I called Andrew back and told him we needed to sell his squat rack/weight machine thing that's been sitting in the baby house for two years. It's been used more than once but less than a handful of times. 

He agreed and put it online. He sold it within 15 minutes of posting.  He was able to sell it for more than he paid for it.  Impressive.  

 The kids and I cleaned out the random remaining things.

Then the trips to the hardware store started.  We picked out paint. We bought paintbrushes and rollers for the kids.  It was more difficult than anticipated b/c we had to paint from side to side instead of up and down.  The boards are old and try so they soak up paint.  The boards aren't smooth so there are areas where a roller wouldn't roll.

Miss M told me I shouldn't be on the ladder while wearing my boot.  I agreed so she climbed up and helped me paint up high.  She did a pretty good job.  And the boot ended up with yellow paint on it giving it some pzazz.

It is hard to get much painting done when there are three kids who don't sleep at the same time and naps are about the length of time it takes me to get the paint prepped.  I put Andrew to work when we went to baby prom and hired a babysitter to hang out with Kit-Kat.  He got almost all of it completed.

I had been Googling and Pinterest-ing the heck out of ideas for the baby house. I didn't know what I wanted to do with the space. I decided I wanted Andrew to make a stage so I went to the hardware store. I had wood cut. I bought indoor/outdoor area rugs for the flooring. After I paid for our stuff I realized that the lumber was too long for the minivan. They tried to tie the hatch down but it lasted about 5 parking spaces before it came loose.  I drove home the 5 miles really carefully.  I didn't lose any boards or carpet.

 I bought a train table off a local email for moms selling stuff.

We have a table and chairs. They are from Costco of course! Big Willie is going through a phase where he likes to wear hair bands like his sisters. He looks pretty cute. 

Poppy worked hard to build the stage and board up the area by the door.  He also managed to run wire to create another outlet. He then cut a board and hung a shelf for me to put a fan on to circulate air since it was decided a ceiling fan wasn't the best idea.

I bought a big mirror for the stage.  I took out all the noise making toys and dress up clothes for the kids to play.

Miss M has been practicing her emotion faces. This is her confused face.  Her surprised face is pretty good.  I think I might start calling her Oscar or Emmy b/c she's surely going to get one of those awards.  She can turn on the dramatics and tears like it's her job. It's exhausting for me.

 Big Willie loves his trains. He takes trains back and forth to the house and baby house.

 And I bought the baby house a microphone.  Where can things go wrong!

The kids seem to love it. I love it. I am so happy we were able to get it put together before summer really got started.