Backyard adventures continue

Karl got the deck done almost 2 weeks ago. Sorry i forgot to annouce it! I put up the table and chairs for outside all by myself! The umbrella needs a base. And we have eaten out there 3 times. It has been delightful! Now we (and by we I mean Karl) are working on a sandbox for the kids. I still have landscaping and gardening projects to tackle outside. But so far things seem to be coming along nicely! Mulch is waiting and weeds are growing.

Up next is a redesign in the girls room. They suggested a board down the center of the room. I am thinking loft beds instead. Maybe a curtain, but no boards or walls.

Sweet viewpoint

I got asked to be the primary president (managing the kids 3-11) at church recently.Today in the car as the kids wondered where dad was (meetings at church that began at 6:45) Emily piped up with " wow, you guys are so lucky to have your jobs at church!" I was really apreciative of her way of looking at it! It was certainly better than my way!

Artistic differences

Josh and I had some different thoughts on Friday. He was happily eating his yogurt so I decided to quickly run the vaccum to do some post breakfast mess clean up. Well multi-tasking was not
my best move! My new plan is no matter how boring it seems, do not leave an eating toddler. He painted the table and his body with yogurt. So I got to give him a bath and wipe te table and floor.

Talent show

This week has had some extra excitement! Emily signed up for the school talent show. It was held today an I will try and post video of her doing the Hoedown Throwdown dance. So cute:)


Here she is waiting for the bus. And yes those are pink streaks in her hair. We did it at breakfast! So fun to have girls:)) I hope she let me do her makeup when she is older. She has awesome eyes!

Deck building

After almost three years living here, I finally get my wish for a deck in the backyard.




We are using dek blocks instead of concrete foundation piers; less digging and hopefully plenty stable.







Did I mention the pouring rain that came in a flash last night??



We have got all 25 piers in place, and support posts in place.


Next we are joining the 12' support beams. That will be tricky! After those are in place, the 10' decking boards go down. Woohoo! Lemonade on the deck tonight! (i hope)

Right now we are off to the church pig pickin picnic for a little break.








No only that, but we dug up the massive concrete stone that was out near the swing set that I hate for no really good reason than it is there! Yeah! It didn't go far. We stuck in under the deck foundation, but at least it is out. Getting the circle stone up means I can work on a side project and level hill back there and try to get grass to grow.

I am using our rotoiller for the first time myself.




And on our way, just a snippet of conversation.

Emily-"why does it say we hve to go this way?"
Mom "cause the road doesn't go the oter way."

Emily " are these buildings really old?"
Dad "yes."
"do people still live in them?"
"yes"
"why? They might have weird pictures in them?"


Status update


Framing


First board in place




Our little helper




8pm - Are we there yet?- we are running out of steam. But we are going to keep going!

9:30 - we are halfway done laying the decking boards. I love the magical sound of bugs zapping in the moonlight.

10:15 - Done for the night. 2/3rds done with the surface.

We have noticed that the height of our fence is much more noticeable when you stand 2 feet off the ground than when you don't! Fencing, a project for another day! Time to soak in the tub!

Bath time

It isn't even 11:30 yet and we already had the first mud puddle related bath today. Josh sat happily in a giant puddle flinging mud while I attempted to garden.
I didn't get pictures, but he was coated in it!

Bath time

It isn't even 11:30 yet and we already had the first mud puddle related bath today. Josh sat happily in a giant puddle flinging mud while I attempted to garden.
I didn't get pictures, but he was coated in it!