Extreme Makeover {Day 1}

Today marked the start of the Extreme Home Makeover for Rockwell in Pocatello. We had the privilege of being there to announce to the family that they have been chosen and it was awesome! They were told their dog was receiving an award from the fire station. Once they got there the Extreme Makeover team pulled up in the bus and then we (in a large group of Rockwell-ites) ran out from behind a fire truck and surprised them with the good news. It was interesting to see how "reality" tv really works. We actually filmed running out all excited 3 times before the family even got there, once when they really arrived, and one more time after than just for good measure for good camera editing. Brent (Klay's brother and owner of Rockwell) had to give his speech about 5 times so they could edit it to look great on tv. He ended up giving it 3 times before the family even got there, the producer stood there and pretended to be the mother. Then they edit it to look like he's talking to her. So who knows if the speech he gave her will really be the one aired on national television!

Most of the stars on the show didn't come mingle with us during the shoot but Pauly did! He was SO awesome! He was just hanging out and chatting it up with my sis-in-law, Kerri, and me (and others). I can't believe I didn't get a picture with him. That is now my goal for this week, to get a picture with Pauly!

One of the designers here is Jillian from the bachelorette. I didn't recognize her (even though I watch every episode of that show) and Klay was actually the one who pointed out who she was. I think Klay has a little star crush! During one of the camera shots Klay leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Jillian just made eye contact with me!" He couldn't stop talking about her all morning and by the end of the morning everyone was making fun of him and Jillian.

A few days ago Klay's brothers asked him if he wanted to be one of the project managers and he agreed. He will be on set from 8 pm to 8 am and thinks he is one of the 'head honchos' now because he was in a meeting with 2 of the Extreme guys and all his brothers that run Rockwell. He will even get a walkie-talkie! :) Hopefully Jillian will still be there that late so Klay can talk to her!

The family chosen for the home makeover is the Marshall-Spreiers family. Jane is a single mom with 9 children and her husband abandoned the family after she had her last child. Two years ago Jane faced a battle against breast cancer. During her recovery, a fire started in the house caused by a faulty dryer vent making the house unlivable. Since then the family has been living in tents and an RV borrowed from a friend in the back yard of their home.

Channel 8 is the most involved station by far so if you want to see interviews and live updates go to their website. They are also supposed to be live streaming the whole thing so hopefully that will be set up soon.

Well, better get to bed. We have to leave for Poky at  5:30 in the morning. Uhg! Check back over the next week and we'll keep you posted on what's happening from the inside!

(We were idiots and didn't take a camera today so we'll make sure to keep it with us the rest of this week!)