Sledding, snowballs & snowmen

Almost two weeks ago we had a wonderful day of snow.  It was really the first substantial snowfall where it actually stuck to the ground.  The boys had school, but after school we delayed doing homework so we could go outside and play before the sun started setting.  I just love the days when we throw the routine out the door and we have fun!   

The snow was AWESOME packing snow!  So, of course, we had to make a snowman after playing on the sleds for just a bit.  Rick had to go into work at 4am on this particular day and much to our surprise he was able to come home a bit earlier than normal and came to play in the snow with us.  And everyone knows that when Daddy plays in the snow it leads to a snowball fight!  It was one of the best 'after school' days we've had in a long time!

Our snowman. Complete with stick arms, blue golf ball eyes, a cucumber nose and pink chalk smile.  Oh and some straw (that was on our grass from fall) as hair

Ethan was trying to sneak up on Dad

A New Place To Sit

(I'm starting my catch up posts once again....)

Over Labor Day weekend we were planning on making a trip to St. Louis just to spend the weekend doing fun stuff.  After thinking about the weather (and heat) we were supposed to have and combining that with a 2 month old, we decided that right now was not the time to take that trip.  Instead we did something even more fun....

We DEMOLISHED our deck.  It needed to be done, however, how it all started was a bit more sporadic than origininally planned.  Rick thought he would try to pull up one board to see how easily it came off.  Next thing we knew, half the deck was off and we found our weekend plans. 

So, here's the rundown of progress in pictures...

The Deck Before (it doesn't look bad, but there were rotten boards that were only getting worse with time so it needed to be done)

The demolition starts...
see the grill and patio furniture is still on the deck - we were not expecting to pull it all off right then.

but that all changed quickly and the demolition continued...

and continued some more...



Now, once the demolition was completed we realized that we needed to get some wood to put it back together.  Note #1... we live in a small town.  Note #2... it's a holiday weekend.  Noting those 2 things brings us to the point where we have to travel at least 40 minutes to get the first load of boards because the one place in town that carries lumber is closed on the weekends after noon on Saturdays AND it's Labor Day weekend so they won't even be open on Monday.  So.  We.  Drive.  Rick went the first time by himself to Lowe's to pick up the corner posts to get started. 

New corner posts are on

Then it was time to get the main boards for the walking surface.  Again, remember - small town, holiday weekend.  We needed to drive.  But this time, because the other store didn't have much of a stock pile, we went to a different LOWE's that was almost an hour away.  Both vehicles so that we could carry more back in one trip.  All three kids - one of which is only 2 months old.  What an adventure it was!   But we got some of the boards and Rick went back to work measuring, cutting and installing.

The first row of boards goes on!



and more to follow...

and then the helpers were getting restless from their lack of Daddy time so they came out to help

Trevor smiling, but wondering if I am going to bust him for wanting to play with the drill.

Just trying to figure it out.  No drill bit so I was a-ok with him checking it out

Wheeee... this is fun to play with!

Kelty wasn't much help, but she did enjoy having a place to lay down again

Getting instructions from Dad on how the "hammer drill" works
oh yeah, did I forget to mention that Rick bought a new tool in order to do the deck?  Of course, every new project needs a new tool, right??

Time to help attach some boards

Ethan feeling like a man while working with the drill

All the walking boards are on!  Now it's time to stain...

There are no pictures of the staining process since we were either working on it together or I was doing it alone so the pictures didn't get taken.
 Maybe it was just Rick's way of making sure it looked like HE did all the work ;)
Anyway, here's a picture of the fully stained deck.  But the railing is going to have to wait til spring...

Big Boys' Time

Ethan and Trevor have been so good since Cooper was born.  They love him to death.  They want to hold him.  They want to know what he is doing each moment of the day.  However, it's hard because a lot of my time is being taken up by Cooper so not as much of the fun stuff is going on these days.  When Rick had a chance to get tickets for the Sunday night St. Louis Cardinals baseball game we knew it would be a great thing for the big boys to have time with Daddy.  So, even though they start school tomorrow, we decided that the three of them should go to the game while Cooper and I stick at home. 

I'm so glad that they went... they really needed the time with Rick and they deserved something fun that was just for them!

 

Oodles of Fun @ Worlds of Fun

Rick's employer had a summer get together at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City.  Worlds of Fun is like a Great America/Lagoon amusement park.  It had been very hot temperature-wise so we were a bit worried about what the day would bring due to having Cooper with us.  The morning was rather nice, but the afternoon temperatures crept back up into the high 90's which didn't help keep Cooper very cool.  But he was a champ and did a great job with a few trips to the Family Center where it was air conditioned and he could eat/stretch out while the boys were on some rides. 

Ethan and Trevor had a BLAST.  They loved all the rides and the basketballs that Rick won for them at one of the little game tents.  Hopefully next year, they'll do the same type of get together for the company and we will be able to enjoy it a little bit more with a) lower temperatures, b) Cooper being with a friend for the day since he'll be too little for the rides, and c) me being able to ride on some of the rides, too ;o)

We had planned on being home in the afternoon sometime; however before we knew it, it was 7 pm and we were finally leaving the park.  And were we heading home??   Of course not!  We were stopping at Buffalo Wild Wings with some of our friends for dinner.   It was a late night for the kiddos (all 7 of them), but it was such a fun day and well worth the next day tiredness.

 First ride.. airplanes are always a favorite.

 Trevor wasn't quite ready to go on a ride as quickly as Ethan was.  He wanted to watch first.

 Planet Snoopy was where we spent most of the day.... a great area for the smaller ones.

 Love the view of the big roller coaster behind them

 The big boys taking a look around Planet Snoopy on the rockets so they could figure out where to go next.

Smiling in the Tea Cup, but had a look of, "ummm, Dad, could you please stop spinning it so fast. My tummy doesn't feel so good" as they started spinning faster and faster 

 Smiles before taking flight

 Beep Beep... going in circles

 Weeeeee.... coming down the big drop!

 All wet, but laughing hysterically

 Trevor had fun once he figured out how to not just go in circles ;o)

 This will be Ethan's last time on the "kiddie" bumper cars... his knees were in his chest

The "Big" Kids even went on rides.... at least the ones that could... Amy and I had to sit this year out due to her being pregnant and me not being "cleared" yet after having Cooper.  Beth and Rick were on this one (Rick in the red shirt and Beth next to him)