Easter 2009 & Backyard

Finally Easter pictures have emerged. See post below for all that we did but we had a great time. I still can’t believe how much Maysen looks like Nate and Maysen looks like me. I guess in a way that’s sorta how it’s supposed to go.

Bunny Tracks CAUGHT! And what a loot!!

Mmmmm Chocolate for Breakfast!! Does Chocolate Bunny count as protein?

Dad helping Fin find eggs at Aunt Danielle's house. He's the one who hid all 50+ some of them. Ahh, his mind is slippin...

There is one left ... and he "thinks" it is in the kitchen so the kids are on the hunt!

We’ve been working long and hard this weekend, thank goodness the weather has been beautiful (70s). Friday was spent hauling/loading donations for the garage sale I’m doing for Maysen’s school. It was the last day of parental donation-pick-ups so as you can imagine there was a ton! I had 4 van-loads plus 1 trailer full (Thanks to the guy who was unloading a chair). The rest of Friday was spent sanding our original deck so when the new deck was stained they matched. Saturday Nate and I spent 4hrs sorting donations with volunteers and I think we about got it sorted out. This week I’ll spend one more day pricing non-bulk items, Thursday setting up, then open on Friday. I still don’t have childcare figured out for Friday but I’m sure Lord-Willing it’ll happen. The rest of Saturday Nate stained our decks and I got the van washed up and back to pre-donation pickup.

Today was our shopping and planting day. We’d anticipated this day so it was fun. Nate got his Father’s Day gift (his new grill) and I got all my new flowers/chairs/plants and planters for Mother’s Day. The boys played in a bucket of water and water gun fights with the neighborhood kids so they were entertained. Now? We’re pooped. Nate should hear tomorrow whether they FT accepted his salary requirement. He took a vacation day tomorrow so he’ll be home. We plan on relaxing and maybe heading to Dorena Lake tomorrow.

So, with that said, here are the end result of our projects thus far. We still want to do some more planting and lay down mulch but you get the idea...

BEFORE: May, 2008 (last year)

Before, February 2009...

AFTER, Today.

Cement slab, BEFORE May 2008

Thanks to George and Dad for all the ears lent to Nate for his questions and frustrations. I'm sure proud of my Mr Handiman.

Mr Reader

I have found one seriously good book for Maysen. Lately he's been into Curious George and while at the library a few days ago, I found a huge 352pg (mind you BIG print and many pictures) compilation of the first 6 or so Curious George stories. I found the book on Amazon.com so I think the Easter Bunny might stop off there this Easter. Of course, Griffin liked looking at all the pictures, too.

Loved how this book matched Fin's PJs...

Just a small portion of what we're doing to our backyard. As you can tell it's monsoon season here in the Willamette Valley and it was true-to-form here today! But ... Nate got the "pig pen" done yesterday. This is where we'll house Bay when she's outside. As much as we love her, she is destroying our grass so she'll have her own space back here under the maple tree. Nate is building her dog house next, so hopefully will be done soon after the sod gets laid down. I can't wait to get the grass here to get rid of all this mud! Then it'll be painting and planting around here! My BIL was here yesterday and did the estimate for our deck extension, so we'll have a 2 level deck which will be nicer than our piece of concrete that's falling apart!

And now we have blue sky and sun. Welcome, Spring!