I realize that all this extreme makeover home edition stuff may not be as exciting to all of you as it is me, but I have to document for my sake. I haven't been working a lot the last couple weeks so there were many occasions that I was able to help at the house. I hate feeling like I might be missing out on opportunities especially when they are rare like this. My dad was involved with numerous parts of the project and my in-laws know the family so it felt a little more personal. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I was able to volunteer it's something that I will remember forever.
My dad helped plan the pep rally that was held a week prior. Nick, Brett's brother was so excited about all this that he called me to see if I was going and he could tag along. The next day this very flattering picture of me ended up huge on the front page of the newspaper. I didn't really care because I didn't think too many people would pick me out of this picture but I was wrong. A lot of people said something even people who don't really know me.
First day of volunteering 5:30 in the morning baby!!
Demo day! It's so surprising to me this that this tiny house stood where the giant house is now. It's magic!!!
Mr. Ty Pennington and Paulie. When I get this close to famous people I get a little star struck despite my best efforts to remain cool
On demo day Brett and I were there for about 4 hours and hadn't done anything but filming. I was a little disappointed because I was really looking forward to doing something to help the family. We were about to leave because it was incredibly hot outside and we weren't being of use when the director came up to us and asked if we would come with him. We didn't know what we were in for but we followed. He took us in the house and then Ty followed right behind us. My jaw probably dropped open for a few seconds because I couldn't believe I was standing right next to Ty himself. Then they gave us a tool and told us to go in the back bedroom. I'm thinking "oh they just want us to make noise great I don't have to worry about looking stupid on camera" WRONG!! They started filming in the house and then Ty and all the camera crew came in the bedroom where we were. The director told us to go at it. I was so confused about what was going on, where I was suppose to look, and what the heck I was suppose to do with the tool that I about crapped myself. After destructing for a couple seconds Ty popped in the shot and shouted something then he put his hand on Brett's shoulder and said something like "lets take 5 and let the dogs get to work". As Ty and the camera crew were rushing out of the house for the next shoot I realized that Brett's hand was bleeding. He was prying molding off the window and a nail went through his hand. It happened on camera and Brett handled it like a champ he just kept hammering away like it was no big deal. After the cameras stopped rolling the director was like "uhh your bleeding we need to get you to a medic".
I was embarrassed to take this picture being that it was so obvious but I was hoping that he was be too distracted to notice.
This is the hole I made in the wall. And let me tell you it wasn't as easy as it looks. I was banging through plaster and then all these boards. I was trying not to look like a big wimp on camera.
The puncture wound
They made Brett go to an ambulance they had outside of the house to get it cleaned up and wrapped. Lucky for us he works at the hospital and could get a tetanus shot free.
My dad gave us some VIP passes for the week so on Sunday we went down there to get a peak at the progress. We ended up doing this a few times because with the passes we didn't have to fight the crowds and we could park close. I just thought it was fun to watch it all happen
Haha I thought this was a funny face! He still is cute tho :)
When our friends Alan and Emily were helping I went down there to hang with them. We ended up getting to do a lot of stuff which was fun. They had us carrying things into the house fireman assembly line style. We were lucky because we got to be inside the house out of the heat.
Later that night Lindsey and I were lonely because our husbands were gone to Preston so we went to watch what was going on at the house. I guess because it was late they didn't have a lot of volunteers so they ended up using us to carry all the items to their designated rooms and help start decorating. I snagged this picture with my camera phone even though we weren't suppose to opps!!
I wasn't planning on going to the reveal because I didn't feel well that day but my friend Kasi talked me into it. We were in the VIP area so it was close but you couldn't see where the limo was going to be that well but we thought it was pretty cool to be so close. A guy with the production crew came up to us and told us to go around the barricade and follow him. Again we didn't know what we were doing but we followed. He put us smack dab in the middle right in the front. They didn't want the barricade showing and wanted to make it look like there were more people there. It was really cool to be that close but I felt bad because there were people behind us that had been there all day dying in the heat.
Kasi and I
Haha! Kasi got excited because they moved us right in front
I'm a total bachelorette fan so when I saw that Jillian was a designer for this episode I thought forget Ty I want a picture with Jillian. When I set my mind to something I do it!!! I had many opportunities to get a picture with her one time I was even standing on the porch just her and I, but I kept getting too chicken and thought I would get another chance. I was bummed when I went home the night before the reveal because I wasn't planning on going to anything else and I didn't get my photo. Even when I decided to go to the reveal I didn't think I would get the chance but it just happened that Jillian was looking for someone right behind us so she walked right in between Kasi and I. I got the guts and I asked her for a picture so here it is ...
Kylie Minogue was a surprise guest for the reveal so I got to see her and then the next night saw her perform on Americans Got Talent. That girl gets around.
I will never forget being there and seeing the families reaction. It's cool on TV and sometimes I do cry sitting in my living room but it was amplified by 10 being there and hearing the crowd and watching the tears, simply unforgettable!
Right before the "Move that Bus"
This picture doesn't even show how many people were there the hordes of people went clear down the street all the way into peoples yards. Notice Kasi and I :)
The Family waiting to go see their new house
Such a beautiful house I love it!!
The day following the reveal the show asked my Dad's company to take photos of the interior for them. I didn't realize how intensive it would be but they ended up being in the house for like 6 hours. They wanted detail shots of every brand name and then shots of the whole room. I went and helped for the first couple hours. The house is amazing I love so many of the rooms. Although the construction is beautiful it's the stuff inside the house that make it so special. Many items in the house are things money can't buy. I wish I could have an entire team of professional designers decorate my house with all the cool things they have collected from other parts of the country because the result is phenomenal. I really wish I could share pictures of my favorite rooms but due to confidentiality I can't post anything until the show airs. I definitely will be hanging on to those photos for my own decorating inspiration because I love the old restored look to me its clean and classy.
Thank you extreme makeover for coming to Pocatello!!! I've heard the family is just loving their new home and everything that came a long with it. They deserved this miracle and I will cherish the opportunity to be apart of it.
