Dallas' New Room

On Thursday, after one last follow-up doctors appointment for Dallas' bronchitis - that did in fact turn to pneumonia, Dallas and Reba headed up north with Pa, Gram and Aunt Josie for a few days.  While they were gone, Doug and I were busy redoing Big D's bedroom.

You might remember, his room had a sports wallpaper boarder and white walls.

I was never really thrilled with his room, and I had been wanting to do something different, but I wasn't sure what I wanted.  I knew I wanted something tractor related, and after seeing various tin signs at tractor and toy shows...I started to develop a plan.

First thing up - get the wallpaper off the walls and fill in holes

The wallpaper was a bit of a struggle at first.  I had scored the paper with a specific wallpaper removing tool, and used a combination of warm water and vinegar to help break up the adhesive backing.  That wasn't working too well, so we got out a wet rag and the clothes iron to create steam.  That took the paper off, but it also took the paint off underneath the paper!  I might add that Doug and I were doing this around midnight, so we were getting rather frustrated.  We chose to stop and get a fresh start the next morning.  We then learned that we needed to use the hottest water we could stand along with the vinegar.  That got the paper layer off, and then we reapplied the hot water mix and used a putty knife to scrap the remaining glue off the walls.

Here is what the room looked like right before painting!

 We chose a slate gray for most of the walls and an antique red accent wall.

Dallas also asked for some shelves for his tractors, so his wish was granted...

The Big D had fallen asleep on the way home from my aunt's house (Christmas with the extended Robertson's), so his reaction was a bit delayed when he saw his room for the first time...

The next morning, he woke up, walked down the hallway, got a huge smile on his face and went right back into his room to play!

Until next time...

Happy New Year!

Well, I guess my Christmas vacation is almost over, so I best get back to blogging.  Doug goes back to work on Wednesday after having 14 wonderful days off.  We have kept busy between traveling to see family, working on projects around the house, and of course, celebrating the birth of Jesus!  I am working on catching up my blog, so you will find multiple new postings each day.  I will try to only post 3-4 at a time, so you won't be too overwhelmed.  I am also back-dating the posts so that they are close to the date of the event.

Happy Reading...and Happy 2013!!!

Until next time...

Pa's Project

Pa got each of the kiddos a put-together tractor for Christmas.  Of course, they wanted to put it together right away!  Daddy also decided to help (you know, divide and conquer)

Dallas' tractor is a John Deere 4-wheel drive with triples

and Reba's tractor is a Case IH 4-wheel drive with tracks (to which she said, "Huh? That's for a boy!" when she opened it.  It was one of the funniest things ever.  I so wished I would have got it on video...)

The finished products...

Dallas likes to change up the tires on his tractor.  Sometimes you will find it with singles all the way around, singles on one side and duals on the other, or in this case, no back wheels at all!

Until next time...

"Blizzard" of 2012

Christmas night we were forecasted to receive quite a bit of snow and strong winds; therefore putting us under blizzard conditions.  They were projecting for the snow to start falling around 8 p.m., but as we watched the radar, it was as if there was an umbrella over us.  There was snow to the north of us, and there was rain to the south of us.  Although, once we woke the next morning, there was a nice blanket of snow on the ground.

A look out our back patio

The view from the road

One of the great things about living on the state highway - our road was cleared in no time!  We didn't really feel the effects of the high winds drifting roads closed, and we were able to go to town that night to stock up on some groceries!

The boys were excited to get out and play...

as well as the kiddos!  Like the swim goggles they received as presents?

Once Daddy got the truck cleaned off, he had to take the kiddos out to play!

Until next time...

Reba's New Quilt

While spending Christmas Eve at Aunt Pat's (Gram's family), Reba was gifted with a beautiful quilt for her bed.  Aunt Pat is such a great quilter, and she has blessed our home with beautiful, wonderful pieces of her love.  Remember Dallas' quilt?  Aunt Pat also made a quilt for Doug and I as a wedding present.

Enough of that...here is Reba and Gram with her quilt right after Aunt Pat showed her

Aunt Pat even had some extra material, so she lovingly made a quilt for Reba's baby!  

Lucy (and Reba) loves it!

Once we made it home, Reba was excited to see how the quilt would look on her bed.  We all think it looks fabulous!

 Until next time...

Bergman Christmas

Today we opened presents with Pa, Gram and Aunt Josie.  They arrived last night, ahead of the snow storm (more on that in another post)!

The kiddos patiently waiting to open presents (yes, we were in the basement - the upstairs was still occupied by the presents the kiddos got from us!)

Reba showing off her new Allis-Chalmers shirt

One of the things Dallas had been asking for the longest, a pulling tractor and a pulling sled!

Reba loves music, and now she can rock out with her new guitar

What'cha get?

Various A-C tractors

New travel pillows made by Aunt Pegs

Lovin' the new towel from Aunt Josie

Anytime Reba was asked what she wanted for her birthday or Christmas, her reply was always the same, "a pink backhoe"...do you think she was excited?

Dallas and Daddy checking out Daddy's present (Kinze grain cart)

Until next time...

Merry Christmas!

This year was the first time our kiddos woke up in their home on Christmas morning!  We started our Christmas celebration by attending Mass.

Santa (and Daddy and Momma) must have believed there were a couple great kiddos in this house!

 Reading the note left by Santa

Let the present opening begin!

Momma got an old generation Ball jar for the start of her collection

I have to insert this little story...Doug and I were trying to decide on a tractor for Reba.  She loves tractors and she loves all things pink and purple.  There are a few pink tractors made, but they tend to be pricey and more delicate (aka: not good for a 3 year old to play with).  We finally thought, "Why not paint one ourselves!"  So, we purchased an inexpensive tractor, brought it home, and worked during naptime and at night to make it special for our Little Miss.

Here is what the tractor looked like at first

And here is what it looked like when we were finished

 

Yep...she loved it!

OK...back to the gift opening...Dallas wrote on one of my presents

Not sure whom Santa really brought this present for...Dallas or Daddy?

Until next time...