About a Boat

Our friends invited us to go on their boat on Sunday. Thanks again K family! We LOVED it.

The boys got to watch a train show on the way to the lake. Here they are in "the position"...when they are sleepy they always put their hands behind their head like this:

Of course the first thing on J and W's mind as soon as we got on the boat: Food. Snacks! "Hungry!" They polished off a box of bunny crackers and craisins (they don't get either very often so they were grabbing fistfuls), they moved on to string cheese. W with Geoff and string cheese:

Getting ready to go tubing:

Christina and 2 of her 3 kiddos:

W, big J and little J hanging out at the front of the boat:

Time for wakeboarding. Joe showing how it is done:

Wakeboarding looks really fun to me...especially seeing Joe and Christina cross the boat and jump. I decided to wait and try next time (not jumping...wakeboarding...probably trying to even get up on a wakeboard)...especially when everyone first started and the water was a little rough from the wind.

Christina making it look easy:

By the end of the day the water had completely calmed down and I was really tempted...but...seeing that I still have to plug my nose when I go underwater...I know I would be focusing on how I could plug my nose before crashing rather than wake boarding...so I was a chicken. Geoff enjoyed the wakeboarding a lot...he even attempted a 360 on the water and he did it.
J on flag detail:

I still can't get over how pretty the lake is. And seeing bald eagles fly over is pretty incredible too. We had a picnic dinner before heading home. The boys both fell asleep on the drive back...they transferred to bed and slept through the night (Hallelujah) in their clothes. And I must say...it was pretty nice to have them already "dressed" when they woke up Monday morning. Bonus!

It's All About the Samples

I still haven't decided on a paint color for the boys' room. Well, it might just be J's room at this point...since we have split them up at naps and at night in an attempt to get some more sleep-for them and for us. Anyway, I was set on blue...but now I am not sure...their bedding is navy with darker colors so I am wondering if I should do a brown color...that way the room stays neutral...and gives us the flexibility to change the bedding or the room function down the road.
I need help...if any of these scream at you (good or bad) leave me a comment. Maybe you are thinking of something I am not. I really like the "fig" color in the middle top row but it may be too dark for the whole room. But I defintiley want to use it somewhere in the house.

All different shades of blue...

And we are pouring of samples of shades for the windows...

We have got to get something up...the 4-8 p.m. hours are killing us...the sun shines in and we have sun in our eyes while eating dinner or trying to use the computer or watch a movie in the evening. But there are so many different considerations...the ones we want are too expensive but are the most energy efficient...the best price shades don't have the top down/bottom up option for our size windows, or the shade size is too small, argh....so we are awaiting three more sets of samples from different companies. We did purchase a tiny honeycomb shade for our laundry room window to see how we like it.

So we are making progress...slow progress but progress. We are getting very close to finalizing shades for our master bathroom so we can take down our classy Florida beach mats from the windows!

Strong-Willed?

This past weekend the boys and I went to a track meet for kids. Since Geoff had a work weekend it was great to get out for an activity on Saturday. One of the local high school's track coaches put the meet together. It wasn't anything fancy...it wasn't too crowded...or too long...it was just right for little ones.

I signed the boys up for two events...the 25M and the shot put (the coach was brave enough...I mean, nice enough to let the kids under six try the shot put event).

If this doesn't illustrate that our twin A and twin B are strong-willed and will pretty much do anything BUT what you ask them to do I don't know what will.

Me: "You get to race! You will start at the line and when he says "go" you RUN as fast as you can to the finish line."

Troops getting warmed up. They sure look like they mean business don't they?

Game faces on. Love the hat.

The six sprinters are ready...the man is about to say the magic word. All are listening intently.

GO! Uh.....go...run...go!

We will walk.

We will walk. Even if the starting man is trying to assist us to run. We will walk. Thankyouverymuch.

Ahh...fifth and sixth place...at least with smiles.

Hold onto your hats though...we may have a shot-putter-er...on our hands though...look at that form!

Landscaping Reveal

Here are the "final" pictures of our landscaping project...although I can't really say "final" because the landscapers have to return to do some plant, tree and sod replacing....and we still have a fence to complete. Some plants and trees just didn't do well in their new home...but we have a one-year warranty so the company will replace anything that doesn't thrive during that time. You will see that the grass isn't as green as in my previous pictures (as some of you predicted) and some sod will need replaced. We are still working on the best watering times and learning our sprinkler and drip line zones so hopefully we will figure it out soon. Here are the before and after pictures in very random order.


Garage side (yikes):

More garage side (just makes you want to cry doesn't it?)

Not anymore!

Top of terrace (sob):

Now...weeping...a weeping tree that is:

Terracing before (ouch):

Ahhh...

Front (so very sad):

Smile:

Looking from front to back:

Oww:

WOW:

Back photo (it really helps that the sky is so blue in the "after":

Another view of back (I know you are green with envy people):

Two of the trees in the foreground will be replaced:

Column by front door:


Looking from deck to the front (not so lovely):

So lovely:

More backyard (speechless):

We have chicken wire up for the dogs right now until we get the full yard fenced. This is a really tricky part of the yard. Too slanted and shaded for much use...so they cleaned it up a bit and planted a few plants.

Back of home:

Isn't the sky SO blue here? Can't get over it!

Looking up from down the hill (a little spooky):

Another view of boulder wall:

Top front of our yard:

Goodnight! Hope you enjoyed the before and afters (I just love before and afters.)