Just when you thought it was safe to go to the Zoo!

Well today we went to the Columbus Zoo with the kids along with my Aunt Darlene and Fred. Things were as to be expected at the zoo until we came upon this scene. Hannah wanted to know what all the adults were laughing at. Lucas told her it was adult humor, which has me worried what he knows about the subject. Maybe Michael had better be having that talk with him soon.

On a more G-rated note, we had a great time at the Columbus Zoo. Here are a few highlights from our day.

My favorite animal at the Zoo - the Manatees!


The birds just loved Lucas and keep landing on him.


Hannah with Aunt Darlene

These hibiscus flowers were huge!

Watch out world, here comes Hannah modeling on a Stink Flower

Momma & baby elephant

4 Wild cats!

Hannah's favorite exhibit

Baby ducks, how cute!

















Parker riding high on Fred's shoulders!






















Big boy on the Carousel. Parker wanted no parts of me holding onto him. I was a nervous wreck fearing he would fall off.



One of the highlights of Lucas' day was going through the misters. The boy would never survive in Arizona!

As done as it can be for now

Ok, if I could just make one more trip to the store and have two cute men here right now, Parker's room would be complete. If my cute hubby would come home and paint the vent cover and reinstall it, that portion would be done. Yes, I could paint it but he should have when he painted the walls. So we will see who breaks down & does this project. The second cute guy is the UPS man. I ordered a lifesize (well not quite) cardboard cut-out of Mater for the wall next to Parker's bed. It is supposed to arrive any day now. Actually there is a third cute guy, Lucas. He wants to make a Route 66 sign for the room. I also need to run to the store and get some velcro. I want to place checkered flag material on the front of the bookshelf so it looks neater even when Parker just throws back the books. Otherwise I think the room is done. I want to move his Shake N Go Racetrack into his room. Who knows though what I might find on Ebay that Parker might just have to have.

*** Update, cute guy #2 just here as I was typing this entry with a package just not the one I wanted. ***



Parker on his Race Car bed! Can you believe he actually sleeps in it too. After a year of trying to get him not to sleep on the floor, I think this may have finally done the trick!



Close-up of his letters along with his "Mechanic on Duty" sign.



Cute Cars bench I saw on Ebay and then searched the internet and Columbus for. Finally found at Toys R Us and didn't have to pay Ebay prices for.



Parker standing on his Cars Toy Bench showing off his poster from Valvoline. I never thought when we got this poster with my oil change and prior to seeing the movie that it would lead into a design for his big boy room.




Window treatment (still might add something instead of the plain blind. I am trying to win a custom blind through the Cars points I am saving. Got any points you don't want, I'll take them), tin signs, poster & ultra-cute table & chairs. He needed one with Mater not just Lightning McQueen.




Bookcase that I will hide the books with fabric once I get velcro. On top is part of his Nutcracker collection that started at Christmas time. Of course there is a poster of his favorite, Mater and a soft talking Mater chair for reading books.







Last wall with signs, and view of his tool chest dresser.



Spot where large Mater will go. Hopefully tomorrow!



Race Car bed


One last funny note. Today Parker kept telling me Daddy wasn't done painting his room yet. I couldn't figure this out. I knew he needed to paint the vent, but knew Parker didn't know about this. Finally we are in his room playing today and he opens the closet and says "Daddy isn't done yet. He didn't paint my closet!" Good luck on getting that one done. I think Michael has retired the paintbrush for at least the next several months.

To create or not to create

Well the process of redoing Parker's room is almost complete.
As usual, the 1 day project is spilling into a 4th day tomorrow and that doesn't even include finding new places for the stuff we took out of the room. Yes, Jen, I know, get rid of it!

Anyways, I decided to attempt several craft projects over the course of the past few days. Some went through many phases until I just had to say enough it enough.

The worst project was the ceiling fan. I initally bought a fan and decorated the blades and liked them only to discover that I didn't like the amount of light it would provide. Second fan, better lights but oh the changes. Finally just decided to do checkered flag pattern on the fan, minus red trim. Not my most creative but it's better than plain white blades and is a lesson learned. I like paper much better than fabric.

So what is better than creating something? Answer: getting a bargain and changing it into something really cool. I found the Nascar lamp with checkered lamp shade at a local thrift store for $5, copper spray paint from our kitchen remodel 5 years ago, and my scrapbook supplies and I created a one of a kind Mater lamp for Parker.




My latest creative juices have been in doing altered letters. I let Parker have input on the design of these, so they are "cool" from my 3 year old's perspective. I think they turned out pretty neat too, although my favorite altered letters so far are the first one I ever made. They were for my best friend's daughter Emily.












I'll leave you in suspense about the room for another day until I can hang the last few elements (altered letters are still drying) and put back some of his stuff.

Guess in looking back at these projects, I think I will continue to experiment. I already have ideas stirring in my head about the kitchen table.

At least someone likes painting!

Of all the home improvement jobs, painting is one that Michael enjoys the least.
So when I decided to bump redoing Parker's room ahead of finishing the basement project, he was none too happy, especially considering he just painted the very large basement just last week. How though could a dad resist a little boy's phone call on Friday saying "You paint my room Daddy?". So Saturday has been spent painting. As I type the paint rollers are being cleaned and the room is finally done being painted.

After a second trip to Home Depot for more paint, Parker decided he needed his own roller to "Help Daddy". He throughly enjoyed himself and described things that he was painting on the wall like Daddy's car and Sissy's Mouth.

A whole new world

So I thought it was time to take the plunge and enter the world of blogging.
Bear with me as I begin this without the assistance of my computer geek husband.