Saturday to Friday....

     Saturday...

The neighbors stopped by to see the progress on the deck and I put them to work, SUCKERS!!

There were a few tree roots in Greg's way on both sides.  He spent nearly all day chopping and digging out one side so when these fellows showed up I challenged them to do the other side, two of them stayed for the duration and it was done in no time.  Got to love this neighborhood and all the great neighbors! 

Saturday night McClane 'killed' Brock.  Brock came up stairs hysterically crying with blood running down his hand and he screams at me, "McClane 'killed' me with a pocket knife!  McClane's a KILLER!!"  Brock is not dramatic AT ALL!!

So Greg got to take Brock to the E.R. where we were sure he needed stitches on his right index finger but after the doctor saw it he decided glue might be a better and less traumatic option.  I couldn't have agreed more.  And thankfully it's healing up nicely.

Sunday.....

Sunday Greg's parents and sister, Kristin stopped by for a visit and Charlie was snatched up and cuddled by Aunt Ninin and Charlie really didn't know what to think but she couldn't stop staring at Kristin.

Monday...

Monday Charlie fell asleep in her carseat and I decided this was the perfect time to paint her fingernails and toenails.  Not too bad for our first attempt.

For Family Night we put the boys to work putting all the bolts, nuts and washers through the boards for the deck.

These two were actually great little helpers.  Greg made the initial hole for the bolt and then helped get the bolt through and then left McClane and Brock to finish it up.

Tuesday...

Tuesday Carter received his wolf badge at pack meeting.  Mark was his honorary parent since neither Greg or I could make it.

Wednesday....

Charlie had to receive a booster flu shot and she did it without a single flinch or sound.  The nurse was like a ninja with the needle and Charlie didn't even have time to think.

At the same Dr. visit Isaac received his permanent cast that will be on for the next four weeks.

He was so happy they had a green cast for him.

Greg found this cute little salamander in a water meter and McClane LOVED it!!  Greg took it away and he was crying hysterical for his "wizard".  Pretty cute.  Unfortunately the little guy didn't last more then a couple of days.  Being handled/loved can be lethal.

Thursday....

    Bad weather, no photo.

Friday....

McClane wanted a hut/fort and he was sure Charlie wanted to sit in there too so here they are enjoying themselves.

Charlie got this cute eye mask today from her Aunt Marie.  She loved it more when it wasn't on her face.  It was fun to receive the little care package from Marie and all the kids enjoyed the candy!!  Thanks Marie ;-)

And this is where we are on the deck project.  What you can't see in the photo is all the lumber that's sitting in the garage just waiting to be used.  That was the biggest project of the week, buying and picking up the rest of the building supplies.  Tomorrow should prove productive if the weather cooperates.

Cute, family photos, deck progress and PE mishaps

      Charlie is just cute and I can prove it.....

"Muffin, I want a muffin!"

"I. can. al - most reeeaaach."

"That's right, I'm a big girl and can sit up and play with my big girl toys."

Snuggles.

And this photo, well it's just pure perfection!

After church we attempted photos in the backyard.  This isn't too bad considering we only had a tripod, a borrowed camera and Kayli's photo expertise to work with.

       We did take individual photos too but I won't bore you with those, well maybe just one or two.  Guess who's photo's I'm going to share?!

What a doll!!

Once he gave up the gaming device and had a snack McClane finally let us get a cute photo of him.

       Ok, ok, I'll show you the rest of the individual photos.

I love this kid's big smile, he's almost always smiling!

Carter is becoming quite a handsome devil.

Isaac, whole and happy.  I'm glad we captured a photo before he became 'broken'.

Mark is becoming a little too manly for my liking ;-)

And this girl was the least cooperative.  You may notice her hair and clothes are not the same as the group photo and that's because she deleted the photos we took of her Sunday afternoon and only after I threatened to print a silly selfie of her did she finally agree to take another photo.

     Now on to other activities from our week.

       Greg's been working hard on 'our' deck project. He's got all the posts in and is beginning to put in the beams.

Don't let this photo fool you, I only scooped out about 10 shovelfuls before giving the shovel back to Greg.  

Thank goodness Greg is such a hard worker and is willing to do stuff like this because if it was left to me to shovel all 11 holes this deck project wouldn't get done until...  well it just wouldn't get done!

This is where the project is as of tonight.

He's getting excited now that he's past the digging and mess of concrete.

      And poor Isaac had a little mishap in PE today and ended up with a broken left arm.  The initial pain was definitely unpleasant but I think he's enjoying all the attention.

This is Isaac being cheered up by Charlie while waiting at the InstaCare.

That little bump on the top left bone is the buckle fracture he got as a result of a "chubby" kid falling on him while playing a football game during PE.

And these are the kind nurses applying his splint that he'll have to wear until Wednesday when he'll be getting his official cast.  He was a trooper and wasn't too sad when treats started being dropped off this afternoon from more than one neighbor and then his Aunt Kristin stopped by and took him to get a frozen yogurt so it hasn't been all bad.
   

     I did have a moment this morning when I started thinking like my mom.  I got the initial call from the school that Isaac had hurt his arm while I was out on a walk with my girlfriend and all I could think about was all the laundry I still had to do, the beds that were unmade waiting for clean sheets to be applied and lets not forget the fact that I really needed to shower.  I was teasing Isaac before we left to the InstaCare that maybe he could just wait a bit while I took care of all those things, kind of like the time my mom let me lie sick on the couch for three days before she finally gave in and took me to the doctor only to find out I had a severe case of pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for a week.  (She thought I was faking, which wasn't unlike me I'll admit.)  I love ya mom but that's a story I'll share often because that's so typical of you're ways.  Oh the joys of motherhood!  Well that's our week, a bit more photos and adventure then our last few posts.  Maybe by next week we'll have an actual deck to photograph!

Did you miss it?!

     In case you missed it on Instagram and Facebook, Princess Charlie has turned seven months this past week. The time is just flying, as you well know it does, whether you like it or not.

In Color, Princess Charlie!

No color and just as precious!!

     And Greg made some real progress on our deck project and it won't be long before real construction begins. Mark even helped 'a little' digging holes this week.

No photo is complete without the 'pelvic thrust'.

      Hopefully by next week I'll have photos to share of actual decking material being installed :-)

Progress?

     Greg's been busy this week dismantling our deck.  He's also spent a good deal of time drawing plans, measuring, brainstorming and giving himself, as well as me, a headache.  With the deck mostly gone getting in and out of the backyard has been a tiny bit more interesting.  Kayli was sure we were trying to hurt her when she nearly fell trying to leave the house earlier this week.  I guess she didn't see the makeshift board-slide :-)

       Now we're ready for lumber and concrete and praying that we don't go beyond budget!!

The slide of every kids dreams.

    And no post would be complete without at least one or two photos of our little princess. (And the diva/princess!)

They really do take cute selfies together.

She's just begging for an eye mask.

       So there you have it.  I hope by next weekend I can show photos of a little progress on the NEW deck!!

Reunited

    Some how we survived our week without Greg.  It went fairly quickly and aside from a few minor issues that would have happened even with him home, we made it to Friday without any deaths or major battle wounds ;-)

     Here's a photo or four from our Friday afternoon reunion.

The kids were almost more excited about Greg's rental car than they were of his arrival home.

Sugar cookies all the way from.....American Fork.  Greg had planned on buying sugar cookies at a store in St. George but forgot.  Good thing the boys don't know or really care where they came from.

Welcome home hugs!

Sorry it's blurry.

     Here's a bonus photo from earlier in the week of Charlie.  This is for the few people who don't follow me on Instagram or Facebook.

This headband makes a great eye-mask.

    Now that Greg's back we're both ready to get serious about our deck project.  Here's a before photo where demo has already begun.

McClane and the rest of the boys were interested in helping for the first little bit, like any other project, then they lost interest.

     We've already decided what type of material we want and we're pretty set on the square footage we're going for, now we just have to make some purchases and get to work.  I can't wait!!