Payson

We went to the mountains for the weekend! Josh and Jeremy had a race in Payson on Sunday so we packed up both families (dogs included) and rented a cabin in Kohl's Ranch just east of Payson. It was a great area and I am sure if we had more time we would have found lots more to explore like the creek and actual Ranch area. For this weekend it was nice just to sit around and let the boys tire each other out. It wasn't all that restful for the adults as we didn't get as much sleep - this was the first time the boys have had a "sleepover" and they were understandably AMPED UP! It took several trips into their room to get them to be quiet and then they were up pretty early each morning.

On Saturday we did get to head out for a short hike:
Where the boys discovered this bucket:
The most exciting thing was the rain and hail! Seriously, it does not take much to entertain a bunch of Arizonans in the mountains. The boys thought it was the neatest thing . . . it only lasted a few minutes but there were many laughs!

The fun continued in the tub . . . ALL 3 kiddos!
And the reason we were in Payson . . .

A Little of This, A Little of That

I know, I know . . . I've been awful at keeping up with the blog. I have to blame all the work we've been doing out front and . . . I think we're finished! It looks really good but I can't wait for it to rain - I could be waiting a LONG time - to wash the rocks. They are still so dusty and when we water the plants and the rocks get a little washed off, you can really see how nice the rock is going to be. The courtyard is finished and I think will look even better once we get some furniture out there. What an accomplishment to have done this ourselves! Now on to more projects! Hopefully JP will get the cabinets finished soon.

Pickle and Ranger are entertaining us daily with their cuteness and antics. I came home from work tonight to find Ranger dressed in his LSU football uniform complete with helmet tossing the football with JP. He was actually throwing and catching!

Nothing more to report so I'll share some pictures instead. These are from when we were laying the pavers in the new courtyard our front.

Progress!

Thanks to some wonderful friends we got the whole yard covered with the weed barrier and rock this weekend. We still have a lot of rock left to go back over the yard and fill in which we will be working on this week and weekend. The last big part of the project is the courtyard under the tree. We had to scrap the ball cactus garden because they cost $24 A PIECE! In front of the windows are sea grass that will really grow wide and a bit taller to fill in the front of the house and then near the drive way we have some Red Yucca that will get a little bigger as well.
























The Little Guy really got into the project which all his digging tools and trucks!













































I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures but he is telling quite a story . . . I think to Bugdozer.

























Pickle even got into the action enjoying the courtyard while Daddy worked hard digging the holes for the sea grass.

The Rock Has Arrived

Yard Update

Here are some shots of the progress we had over the weekend of clearing areas and of Pickle who thinks she needs to head outside to help.

The plan has evolved and we have scrapped the flagstone walkway due to the cost of flagstone and JP has even given up his ball cactus garden because they are also too expensive - $24!

Happy Labor Day

Front Yard Update:

And boy have we been laboring all Labor Day Weekend . . . we have been too tired and too busy to take pictures of our progress but we have the blisters, sunburn, and sore muscles to prove we've been working! Clearing the grass has proven to be harder than we planned so we have focused on certain areas and digging out around the edges and along the sidewalk to capture the rocks. Josh also broke apart the walkway and we still have large junks of concrete to haul off but that was a major feat in itself and backbreaking to swing the sledgehammer and pickax. We have also settled on the plants we want and where we want them as well as what type of pavers we will put in the patio area. Things are moving along at a slow but steady pace. We will expect the rocks, sand, and pavers to be delivered next Saturday as we have another exciting weekend of labor ahead of us.

Hurricane Gustav

I can't help but be obsessed with Hurricanes during the season. I love tracking them and when they get close to landfall, the TV coverage is just fascinating. It's really only when they get close to Louisiana that I like watching mostly because they talk about places I know. Like last night on the Weather Channel . . . they're scrolling through cities and they are picking some seriously random places like Cameron, LA and Gueydan, LA. Gueydan for crying out loud! How many people have heard of Gueydan? I am probably one of the very few in this country that have been to Gueydan, but I do have some hazy memories of staying a night or two in a dirty duck camp during my childhood.

Gustave is currently passing through my hometown of Alexandria, LA. It has slowed down a lot since making landfall this morning and is just dumping rain and is still a Category 1 storm with wind up to 75 mph. According to the forecast it's going to take almost 10 hours to get to Shreveport (less than 2 hours by car) which just means more flooding as it takes it's sweet time. What's really upsetting is how much attention New Orleans is STILL getting. It was spared the brunt of the storm which turned out to only be a Category 2. Yeah! We are all excited. Now move on to talking about some of the other cities in the state. I'm here to tell you there are other cities in Louisiana besides New Orleans . . . did you all know that???? I've been fighting this my whole life and I finally have a platform in which to set the record straight. No, every day is not Mardi Gras and no, not everyone in the state goes to LSU either.

I was going to share some pictures of our garden but I'm just too tired. My fingers and my hands hurt . . . must take Advil and go to bed now. Happy Labor Day! Stay safe and dry family . . . I'll check on you tomorrow.