Tripp's New Room

So I went a little crazy last week and completely switched Tripp's room with the guest bedroom.  And then I almost had a meltdown.  And then I almost switched them back, but Allen said no.  Needless to say, our house is in disarray.  Why did I switch them, you might ask?
1.) Well, the guest bedroom was smaller than Tripp's room and we had a queen bed in there - it was taking up the entire room.
2.) I also had a desk and a sewing nook in the guest bedroom that I could barely get to.
3.) We just moved Tripp into a twin bed (and he loves it! sleeps for like 10 hours every night!).  I thought the twin bed would fit much better in the smaller room.
4.) We had a huge white cabinet in Tripp's room that provided A LOT of storage, but not for things we needed to store in there.  For instance, we NEEDED more toy storage, but this cabinet had shelves that were too tall for him.
5.) I have a job that I get to do from home (& am loving it!), which is requiring more and more of my time.  And Tripp hates it - he will literally come into the office, push the keyboard under the desk, and say, "No work, Mommy!"  So I was thinking I needed a room that was large enough for a desk/computer and a TV/play area for Tripp.  Hence the switch!

(ON A SIDE NOTE, THE OFFICE I'M WORKING IN IS VERY MUCH ALLEN'S - IT'S ALL ORANGE AND BLUE AUBURN AND HE WOULD NOT LET ME CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT IT. I LOVE AUBURN BUT THAT OFFICE IS ABOUT TO DRIVE ME CRAZY WITH ALL IT'S DARKNESS.  SO REALLY, I COULD BLAME MY HUSBAND ON THE CRAZY SWITCHING OF THE ROOMS...:-)).

So all good reasons right?  Here are a few before pictures and I will post some after pictures one of these days - I figure if this post is out there, someone would hold me accountable and ask about AFTER pictures.  This is incentive for me to finish Tripp's room!

These pictures were taken right after Tripp came home from the hospital...his room never looked like this again.  Note to all mothers-to-be: if you decide not to find out the sex of the baby, and think you'll decorate a nursery AFTER the baby is born...YOU WON'T!!  I dillusionally thought I'd decorate a nursery in record time after we brought home baby...it never happened.  Check out those bare walls!  I was too tired to really even care what the room looked like.

Guest Bedroom

OK, and here are a few "inspiration" pictures for Tripp's new room:

Wish me luck and Happy Monday!!

OH wait, here's a picture of Tripp (for all you grandparents out there who only read my blog so you can see a picture of him!)

He's beautiful, isn't he, sleeping so soundly in his big boy bed?!

From Cowboy Boots to Bathing Suits

It's a tradition every to year to go to the Rodeo with Allen's family.  Sadly, we were minus almost half the family this year!  But these two had a great time...

Tripp got to feed camels;

and talk to goats;

and contemplated freeing some bunnies from their cage!

He cheered on the cowboys;

laughed with Daddy;

ate popcorn with D-Daddy;

and ignored Aunt Jonie's camera!

He also rode a horse!!

and got a new cowboy hat (which is now missing a feather).

He has mixed emotions about girls!  Not too sure what to think about Presley...

 but he wouldn't stay away from these girls!!  Drew and Harper were visiting Mom and Dad, and Tripp was quite smitten with Drew!

Later that week, these two came for a visit!  Tripp loves his "uhh-uhll Wuull" and "Lin-eee"!

 After church this past Sunday...

I loved the view from my beach chair...

Delight to my Heart

Have any of you read the NieNie Dialogues blog?  Her story is heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time.  When I need a little perspective, I head on over to her blog.  I'm always encouraged and reminded of how precious my life is.  For a quick version of her story, you can watch/listen here.  So after revisiting her story, I decided to forget about the messy house which is still scattered with circus decorations, and I decided to forget about the laundry piled in our closet floor, and I decided to forget about all the unmade beds - the only thing I wanted to focus on was one little laughing boy chasing me (and Max) with a water gun...

It was all fun and games until I made him come inside and put on some dry clothes.  But a little sip of mom's peach tea seemed to do the trick.  We had a beautiful day of bike riding, water splashing, sidewalk chalk drawing, basketball playing and book reading.  I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
(Proverbs 29:17 ESV)

Not so sure how Allen and I are doing on the "discipline" part, but Tripp definitely gives "delight" to my heart.

Circus Party!!

Pictures from Tripp's Circus Party!

(this was very low-key compared to last year's party, and also due to the fact that mom/party planner had the flu)

Food table - mini corndogs, caramel apples, popcorn, nachos & cheese, pizza, animal crackers, peanuts, cracker jacks (greatest party theme ever - hardly no cooking!)

Mr. Matt & Ju-Ju put up a flag outside Tripp's window - rememeber last year?

The photo booth made up for any lack of creativity - these pictures are a hoot! Thanks to all for "clowning" around with us!

I want all of the above folks to come to Tripp's 3rd birthday party so I graciously didn't list any names with pictures....which one is your favorite? I personally like a certain grandmother striking a pose; a certain great-grandmother with a fake, crooked eyebrow; oh, and definitely a grandfather with some coke-bottle glasses on; the props in the last picture scarily seem to suit the subject! :-)...actually, they're all pretty funny - too funny to choose just one!

And what 2-year old birthday party isn't complete without a reclining Auburn chair?!?!? oh dear - thank you, Mama Stacie!

Sippee cup and remote control in hand - looks like a typical man in the making. Oh wait - I also just noticed he's missing some pants!! AAHHH!

D-Daddy never made his way to the photo booth - but I did get this shot of the family. Very cute! 2 additions in 2 years - wow!

These two clowns didn't make it to the photo booth either; I guess they were too busy gazing into each other's eyes...awwww! ha! ha! ha!

Thanks for celebrating the 2 year old with us - he is SO loved and we are SO blessed!