"Head...Shoulders...Knees and...SOCKS!"

So a couple months ago Shiny decided to go on this New Orleans trip.  I was all for it - noble cause, great kids.  Soon after we made that decision, I made another decision.  Since he would be gone, I would take advantage of those four days and makeover his "cave."

So months of planning start.  Paint chips selected, vacation time put in, the web of lies begin to start. Now in order to figure out what color to paint his room, I ask him randomly "If you could be surrounded by any color what would it be?"  It's a socKs thing - he falls for it.  "Gray."  Gray?  We settle on a soft cool gray.  For weeks to follow this becomes a running joke between the two of us.  Would you like that in Gray? 

First up - Shiny's birthday.  I get him nothing, because I'm already planning this big huge surprise.

Next up - my birthday.  Shiny gets me a beautiful expensive sparkly bracelet.  I love it.

A week later, I get Shiny a pair of Maryland Terrapins Crocs.  They are bright red with a turtle on them.  Cute.  He mentioned that he was thinking about getting a new pair.  I looked at him, he realized I already ordered a pair.  Conveniently, they at one point did make a pair of Maryland Crocs in gray.  They no longer due, thus the delay, my cover for the gray question, and Shiny got a new pair of shoes.  People would compliment Shiny on his bright red Crocs.  He replies "Thanks!  socKs got them for me for my birthday.  But you should see what I got her..."  I smile and think "Ha Ha!  Just wait until you see what you have in store for you!"

Over the next few weeks, the lies start.  "When you are in New Orleans, and you need to reach me during the day - just call my cell.  It will be a busy week with meetings, I have to work off-site, and I've got training..."  I start colluding with Shiny Dad who offers to help me move furniture and with the computer stuff.  I tell Shiny that his dad may have to come down to our part of the city to help a friend with some consulting work and may come over for dinner one night, thus covering my behind if he does come over and Av tells Shiny on the phone that he saw his grandfather.  I stay up until 2am talking with Nomad and allaroundpsycho after a fun WTF show talking about my plans and commissioning some artwork.  I tell Shiny we were just catching up.

I have a grand vision in my head, and I can't wait to start!  One of my friends offers to come over on Sunday night to help me get started, but I have to call her and abort the help, because Shiny has a change in plans getting to the airport and doesn't leave until Monday morning.  FINALLY he's off to New Orleans.

So I drop the kid off at preschool, come home and start working.  First up - tackling the mess.  It's like my own little version of TLC's Clean Sweep.  Everything but the furniture comes out.  Clothes go in the laundry, boxes go in the closet, papers go in piles and then in boxes.  I throw out my stuff that can be tossed.  Make a pile for Goodwill.  Day one done.  Not as bad as I thought it would be actually.

Day two - paint!  After two trips to Home Depot to get the right shade of gray, I start painting.  Get most of the room done before I have to get the kid, but finish after he goes to bed.  No more ugly dirty peach walls!

Day three - furniture and accessories!  I hit Target and get new curtains and lots of organizer boxes.  Damn that boy has a lot of CDs.  I also manage to move the sofa bed into the room all on my own.

I should point out that Av knew none of this.  I didn't tell him or show him because...well... he's four, and he can't keep a secret.  Case in point.  I also got Shines a limited edition Atari Breakout Fossil watch, which finally arrived.  That night on the phone, Av blurted out excitedly "Abba! You got a package!  It's a watch!!!"  Thank goodness for speaker phone because Shiny didn't understand what was said. 

Day four - wall art and window treatment.  I spend the day picking out my favorite family photos, and arranging them, buying frames, and then running around trying to get mats.  Decide that I'm not paying $125 for custom cut mats, and that I have an art degree, so I end up staying up way late cutting my own and hanging up pictures.  I also found a photo pen at the camera store, so I make Shiny an Alison Stewart pen!  Much to the chagrin of my son, I hem curtains while he eats dinner.  Dyson the carpet and go to bed (this would be when I then see the fox outside).  I close the door, and tape a little sign on it that reads "This is why I only got you Crocs..."

It's also important to note that I only used Shiny's computer for a few hours each morning when I knew he was at the worksite.  I was so paranoid that he was going to try to remotely login to his computer, and that he would see that someone was using it, so I never did.  On Thursday morning he called the house around 9:15, and I instinctively called him back, worrying that there was an emergency.  His cell called me by accident, but when he realized what time it was and asked while I was home, I lied and said I forgot something Av needed at school and I came back to pick it up.  Just "one of those mornings" you know?

Day five - Shiny comes home!  I actually do go to work.  From the time that he calls to tell me he's on his way home, then getting a smoothie, I'm in angst waiting for his call.  Will he like it?  Will he be surprised?  Did he figure it out?  Did he overhear me talking about it with friends/family?  Will he freak?

He FINALLY calls - he's speechless.  He loves it.  It's the best thing ever.  I am awesome.  I'm finally even with our gifts.  Then he finds the watch and pen.  Bonus.  Hooray!  It's now my favorite room in the house since it's so "Shiny and clean". 

So here we go...

Looking straight into the room before and after

    

The back left corner of the room before and after:

    

Storage before and after:
    

Things I learned this week:
- We will need to replace the carpet in this room, as there was water damage on the book case from our sewage pump problem a couple months ago (the pump is right on the other side of the wall).
- I love making labels and organizing things
- You can turn an outdated computer monitor into an end table with some old shelves and a slipcover.
- I can custom cut my own mats and my family is quite photogenic.
- I'd really love to do this to the rest of the house!
- Alison Stewart pens rock!
- Watching the Muppet Show each night with my son is a great way to relax after all that hard work and lying to my husband about it.

And I fessed up to Shiny about all the lies.  We showed the kid, who was also impressed.  Hurray!