Not sure when it started.  She turned 2, loved all things princess, and now she’s 16. I can prove it.  Go ahead.  Search for zebra bedding online.  You’ll find it.  Under the “tween” or “teen” category.  Search for a 6 year old and you’ll find butterflies, flowers, princess, hearts, etc.  Where did my baby go?

I think shortly after the decision was made to move I first heard the “I want hot pink & zebra room”.  She wanted zebra stripes on the wall. Um-no. We convinced her it was impossible just in time to go to my Cousins house for her HS graduation party.  Her room…you guessed it.  Hot pink, zebra…actually a hot pink wall with black zebra stripes.  Grrreat. Too bad Uncle Steve, THE zebra painter, lives in Kansas!! :)

Here’s her chalkboard door sign. *She has since changed the wording on it to read “Emma’s Room No Boys Alod”*

 

Shot straight in the room and only non-colored wall. Desk, zebraie window & end of bed.

Picture collage I found on scratch & dent clearance at Hobby Lobby.  A lil’ hotpink paint and zebra ribbon, of course.  The people in the pictures are nice and all, but will be replaced as soon as Shutterfly gets me my pics I ordered!!

 

And now for one of my most daring decorating moments….the wall color….the black wall! Whew! It was scary, but I looove it!  I highly recommend Lowes HD paint. (Cracked Pepper – Black to be exact)  It only needed one coat!! Wow! Great job painting Marcia!

Her bed & new name letters. (The bed Matt made 3 years ago.  My mom put a new coat of paint on it. Hot pink sheets we had from her room before!!)

Zebra velvety body pillow cover from Target and sparkly peace sign pillow from Big Lots!!

My fav piece!! My $20 Craigslist desk!!  A good sanding thanks to Mimi and new coat of white paint made it look great!  I found the black and hot pink baskets at Target.  They hold all her artsy gear.  Mimi found the pink and black striped fabric and made a seat cushion.  The chair we had in our garage and my slave painters repainted it. Zebra pull from Aunt Marcia and photo board from Hobby Lobby!  (1/2 price of course)

Love the new name letters. (again HL 1/2 price :) ) And a peek at the hot pink wall…

A few accessories.  Daisies I had, but needed a “vase”.  Found this thin wooden container w/ lid for $2.  Painted it black and the lid pink. (however I put the lid on the bottom) and tied some zebra ribbon around it.  Cute hot pink pic frames & a custom peace sign painted canvas that Mimi & Emma did together. Anything involving paint, glitter, glue and ribbon and Emma is game!

Standing by bed…desk & closet door on one of pink walls.

Other corner.  Walk-in closet/play room & dressing mirror.

 

I was excited for the storage of walk in closets.  I had no idea how much they would love playing in them!  The wall mirror with hooks is for her to pick out her outfit for the next day.  My MIL found this idea in a magazine.  The idea also used a grocery bag holder/dispenser thing to hold underwear.  How clever!! I’ve yet to find one…well I have, but it’s a IKEA…almost 2 hours away and Matt has banned me from organizing/container stores. :)) (mirror from Walmart- hot pink- with zebra ribbon glued around it, hooks are command adhesive hooks)

A shot toward her dresser on the other hot pink wall.  The dresser was another refinishing project by Mimi.  I believed it belonged to my grand parents.  Mom refinished it for Emma’s princess room in KS.

Zebra lamp on the dresser from Aunt Marcia. We added the bling, bling beaded trim. :)

 

Wellp that’s about it.  Finally a room that I can say is complete!! Yippie!  Still deciding on the boys room theme. Now on to the next room…hmm.  Not sure which room that will be.  Maybe our room…

Life has been a count down since April.  My attention and eyes always focused on the next “thing” on the list.  The next project.  The next phone call to line up the next detail.

House bought. 

House sold.

 

House packed.

20 Hour Road trip over.

Relo complete.

Move In w/ help from In laws

*Shelves in closet, TV cabinet redo, island post removal, yard work, install 7 ceiling fans and many, many blinds…etc There were three workers despite the 4 drills.  Papa, Daddy & 2 for Aidan!*

*Some child labor laws may have been broken…*

*As well as another law…*

Emma started school.

Visit from my mom, sister, niece and nephew.

*Picking them up at the airport*

*Showing Mimi her loose tooth.  She lost it (in a blood bath) the next day.  Mimi has been with her each time she’s lost a tooth and been visited by the tooth fairy!*

*Isaac was lovin’ to see his Mimi*

\

*A combo Bday party for Isaac (1) & madison (6).*

*A night swim before they left.  They saw an airplane…thought it was theirs for in the AM.*

*Emma sporting the shirt Madison gave her and vice versa*

*Despite all the fun (and 1/2 a day without electricity) we did get one big project complete…details to come later :)*

Sister leaves and In-laws show up again with Sis & Bro In law and niece.

*More projects…Hooking up Skype on our computer. Skyping with Beth*

*Hanging Matt’s “baby”*

*Mimi & Grandma had school lunch with Emma.  She loved having them visit. Both of them work in food service (Mom school, Peggy prison…kinda the same :)) so they got lots of details on the running of the school kitchen…and the tasteless food.*

*No one will ever want to visit again.  Chris slaved away scrubbing on the pool, Dwain patching sheetrock, Mom, Mandy and Dwain painted our front door and shutters. Peggy and I directed the picturing hanging crew- Dwain. There was more yard work and some time spent working on the truck.  I got my hair done and all the girls went shopping to Home Goods….it’s bad news I was ever introduce to that place!*

On Thursday we celebrated Isaac’s 1st Birthday.  Sad attempt at a first birthday compared to Emma’s & Aidan’s. Poor third child. ( I can hear my sister now “boring cake, no pictures, etc, etc) :)  We also threw in a cupcake for Aunt Mandy who was celebrating her 3rd decade of life!

A week full of projects and good times (excluding being stung by 2 of Arizona’s finest stinging creatures and vehicle break in) before they are off back to KS.                                  

So, here we are.  The fun has left us. Just the 5 of us…in AZ. No visitors in the near future to prepare for.  Only us here. Day to day.  Still unpacking a bit. Despite no daycare and no church commitments we still seem to be busy with just settling in?  How did we fit it all in before?

 

A short 10 days after moving into our home in AZ Emma heads out to her first day of school!  Where DID the summer go??

We took a day while Papa was here to watch the boys so Gma, Emma and I could do some girl school shopping.  The biggest shock was the clothing styles now that Emma is in the “big” girl section!!  I must say we only got a couple outfits and felt like we struck out in general.

We got the few supplies the teacher requested.  Much different than KS.  The state of AZ is required to provide the basics.  One of the biggest differences is NO backpack.  They wanted reusable grocery bags.  We attempted to find a cute girly one, but had no luck.  We ended up finding a pink, flowery tote.

Emma’s teacher is Mrs. Barnett.  An older teacher that after meeting at Meet the Teacher Night she told Gma “she speaks my language and is like my Mimi (gray hair)”.  The language thing she was very worried about.  I explained each day her first week that if they don’t know English that is why they are in school, so they can learn.

Here she is her first day.  I had to laugh at her outfit.  She chose it all…including adding the zebra scarf as a belt.  Much to her dismay they discourage flip flops so her toes were stuck in shoes!

My big First grader-

Stout Sprout Crew August ‘10-

Tartesso Tiger Pride-

Emma and Mommy- (Aidan is quite the photographer!!)

Emma’s 1st First grade teacher Mrs. Barnett-

Keeping with tradition I asked Emma what she wanted for dinner to celebrate the first of school…and just like last year she chose homemade pizza. :) (*to be honest this was actually the 2nd day of school.  we met friends and went out on her first day of school*)

 

Isaac This Year-                              Isaac LAST Year-

 

What to do, What to do while the pizza bakes…

A great start to her school year!  She’s been a trooper with the move, the start of school and TWO teachers within the first week. Mrs. Barnett was a sweet teacher who she loved, however the class was super over crowded for even the most experienced teacher with 36 kids and after one week the school decided to split the class to reduce size.  Emma had made one friend Aleaha and was devestated that she might lose her friend and teacher.  We pointed out the positive side if she “lost” both.  Meeting another great teacher and making another new friend.  Aleaha lives 2 houses down so I’m sure their friendship will blossom.

Her 2nd week of school started with Mr. Doone.  She was very unsure of having a male teacher, but after the first day only had positive things to say.  She says he is funny.  He tells the class they are better than 6th graders (he previously taught 6th grade the last couple years & 2nd grade prior to that).  He also has Emma as the teacher helper- handing out papers, pencils, etc.  Right up Emma’s lil teacher alley! :)  Meeting him on the street I’d NEVER guess he was a primary teacher! :)