Sprinkler System

Warning: This post has lots of pictures! And some of them are kinda blurry :(

Ian and Dad put in our sprinkler system on the left side of the yard on Friday and Saturday. The right side had one previously, so they hooked that all in and made some adjustments.

There were only 3 major set backs. What project isn't complete without set backs and it taking far more time than it should. But... they seem to know what they are doing now and think the back yard will go a lot faster and smoother.

Set back number 1:
It's always fun when your husband calls you at work asking for the number to the city... because they've hit a line and there's water everywhere. It was "a heck of a mess" as Dad put it. I even heard Ian refer to it as that... It's obvious they spent two whole days together!

You would have thought the emergency muddy foot steps through my living room would have upset me... Don't really like the teal carpet, so I didn't really care. Vacuumed right up!

I'm not sure what they did here, but something to find where the water comes in from the city.

Here's the broken line Ian replaced. At this point, I was sent to the store for a rubber mallet. As I was checking out, the lady asked if it was to beat my husband when he gets out of line. I will have to keep in mind we have that little tool now...

My favorite quote of the whole project: Dad - "bout all you can do in gloves is pee your pants." I couldn't stop laughing! Ian did have to remove his gloves for the replacing.

They look so happy... I guess that's a good sign. It wasn't the warmest day. Snowing off and on all day with the wind blowing. But what else is new around here?

Set back number 2:
Getting under the side walk was a real treat. The ground is almost pure rock with a little bit of dirt... That handy little white stick has some major pressure coming out of it! Ian gets to use it tomorrow to spray off all the mud covered sidewalks.

Here's Ian trying to come in from the other side. They were not successful Friday night. Dad brought some of Grandpas farm tools the next day and they were finally able to get under. They had to dig again on this side, so the stick could get in there straight.

300 feet of the giant green tubing was fun to uncurl... It took all three of us!

Making progress! Sprinkler heads are being put in.

Our neighbor came over and said the Bishop was jealous of us. He has the most immaculate yard and he's jealous of us??? Crazy! But awesome :)

The weather was a little nicer yesterday.

Filling in the trenches.

It works!

Set back number 3:
Dad wired it backwards! Gotta love re-doing things.

Second favorite quote of the project: Dad - "I'm getting too old for this." Me - "Good thing we are the oldest!" :)

Oh this is gonna be good! Especially when we reseed the lawn. We won't have to be out there moving hoses all around.

Ian standing in front of his hard work! After all, "That's what 30 year old homeowners do, not play video games." My husband and Dad are awesome. I'm so glad they are willing to work so hard on our house. Also glad Dad can teach Ian all sorts of new things.

Proud parents of a new sprinkler system!

Finishing up on the side yard. Lots and lots of mud!

Ian thinks I'm crazy for taking this picture. It doesn't do it justice how muddy it was... and how far down he was sinking in!

We were only planning on putting the sprinkler system in the front yard. We have a big back yard though... We just decided to put one in the back too. We might as well while there is no yard... That will be a project for later this week.

We are so excited. We love everything about our house and yard, and where we live. It just keeps getting better and better!

The Patio

Sunday was too nice not to grill out on the patio... The weather was perfect. Our patio was perfect. Well... we are still in the process of getting all the pine needles and junk cleaned out, but it was almost perfect. I can definitely get used to being out there! I can't wait for more awesome weather.

It was nice and shady right at noon. Plus in the evening, our house will block the sun. Our little grill has been one of the best presents Ian has got! We use it all the time. Can't wait to start using our fire pit too! I'm so excited for summer. 

I wasn't really planning on eating outside, but it was too nice not to. We made do with our card table and camp chairs! Keeping out eye out on craigslist for a patio set...

Ian grilled up the london broil and I made loaded garlic mashed potatoes and Olive Garden salad. It was super yummy!

I Prefer Sparkly Crowns

After going to bed around 1am Thursday night, getting up at 5:30 the next morning was a real treat, topped off by an early morning dentist appointment. No fun! The only crown I want is a sparkly one on top of my head... not in my mouth!

Ian was so good to get up and go with me. 1. I was extremely nervous! 2. I didn't know what kind of condition I'd be in to drive home. He knows how I get when I'm super tired, have procedures done, and after sedation... Let's just say I'm glad he was there to drive me home.

I was super nervous to get a crown. I've never had one before and the thought of getting my tooth gound down did not help. I requested the nitrous when we got there. I normally don't like to get it because I feel like my arms are detached and on the floor... But I was too nervous, I'd live with that feeling. Funny story: I started to feel it's affect. Then my arms felt like they were on the floor, I was feeling good... They were about to begin and it hit me... I started freaking out. Apparently there's such thing as too much. I can't even describe what happened, but things were not right with me! They had to give me a couple minutes to "come back down".

It was all such a lovely experience! I can't handle being in a sleeping bag because I feel too confined... I especially loved my head being strapped to the chair with rubber tubing that was pulling my hair. Then, when they gave me the mask to use next time, all I could think of was I must have looked like a little pig laying there in the chair. Who's idea was it to make those things a pig pink color! Haha :)

 It's over now. I survived... I'll do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening again. Our dentist is awesome though! We've loved him from day one. I'm sure I was just particularly cranky and emotional from lack of sleep and nerves.

Real Men Dig Holes

Friday night Ian and I were out walking around the yard looking at what needs to be done. Our neighbor was out too so we ended up talking for a while. It was a real Home Improvement moment... In more ways then one! Haha. Totally reminded me of Home Improvement out talking by the fence. And... we were both out working in our yards.

Well, he said he'd help Ian dig out the two stumps in our back yard. It was so great! We knew we wanted them gone, but had no idea how to go about it. With the size of the stumps alone... we knew they were big trees!

So yesterday morning the boys went to work on getting rid of them. It was so awesome! Ian had 3 neighbors helping him between physical labor, chain saws, and big trucks!

Those are pretty big holes when he's in there waist deep!


After the stumps were out of the ground, the guys removed as much dirt from the stumps with picks and shovels.

We'll still have to get some dirt to fill in the divets, but it's not too bad. This couldn't have been done at a better time! The "lawn" was in perfect condition to be completely destroyed by tree roots.




We got rid of some other dead trees and smaller stumps. We're so grateful for all the help we received! We have the most awesome neighbors ever! Our yard is looking better and better. Plus, now we have a collection of firewood started!

We were on a roll with the yard work. Did a little watering of trees and flowers. I don't know what I'm doing with my flower beds yet.... I love that I have random tulips all over though. They are one of my favorite flowers! I can't wait for them to bloom!

Ian standing next to his hard work!

Glad the city is coming to pick it all up! We timed it perfect!

We are quickly realizing we have no yard gear. We knew we didn't have the obvious lawn mower. But you don't really think about rakes, shovels, sprinklers, etc. So we had fun shopping at home depot!



I got a lot done inside the house too. It was a very productive day for us! I didn't think it was fair for Ian to be working so hard outside and me not be doing anything. Plus, I had fun taking pictures and talking with the neighbors wife. Totally loved holding their new little baby!

Lawn Preparations

Our lawn had a sad life the last couple of years. When we were looking at the house last July/August it was so sad to see the lawn completely fried, knowing we couldn't water it or anything. Our lawn was the first to green up this year. It was 1-2 weeks ahead of everyone elses. Probably because it was so deprived last year!

We debated re-seeding last year then decided to see what happened this spring. We weren't going to, but it was just so patchy everywhere. Poor lawn was balding!

So Dad came with the 4-wheeler and harrow and loosened everything up then smoothed it all out. There was a major mound out by these stumps that him and Ian leveled out. It looks so good!

Next we'll kill everything still existing and re-seed. I'm excited and hope it works out good. I can't wait for a nice lawn of my own!

Ski BUNNY

Oh Brooke... How I wish I could be like you. And not care what I look like in front of other people! I love how you just live life exactly the way you want.

I love this picture! Makes me smile so big and love you even more for who you are!

Easter

I love coloring Easter eggs! I don't think I'll ever be too old for that!


I've been going through a lot of old pictures and found this one. I think it's awesome my mom has the same wire racks for drying eggs as we had 20 years ago...

Jordan got extra creative this year and painted his eggs.


I'm definitely not as creative and obsessed with perfection as I used to be. I was totally fine with dunking my eggs in one color and calling it good. Although my "lemon-lime" egg was my favorite this year.

Kaylee and Jordan posing next to their self portrait eggs :)

I am plenty old to find the eggs the "Easter Bunny" has hidden though. This year I requested that my eggs be pretty easy to find. Turned out, I had a lot more fun hunting eggs I could actually find.

Oh, he's just so handsome :)



One of my favorite eggs of Jordan's... Angry Birds :)

It's not Easter without a little snow on the ground! We had quite the blizzard a couple days before.

Holidays aren't quite the same without Brooke. When we were coloring eggs, Kaylee asked why she got all the broken eggs... She claimed it was because Brooke wasn't there. Too funny!

I love that Jordan and I still have the same Easter baskets we had as a kids. Best Arctic Circle kids meal toy ever...

We got so much candy! Mom likes to spoil us... I'm pretty excited for our Red Lobster gift cards. That was a new addition this year. The raspberry cheesecake cake pop and chocolate covered oreo were sooooo good! I have to really be in the mood for oreos, but it was delicious! Oreo covered in caramel, then in chocolate. Best thing ever! I'm ok with that tradition continuing mom! I'm gonna have to try to replicate them in the meantime.

Kaylee decided to "roast" her peep. Didn't turn out quite as good as she hoped... I love my family!

Rain, Wind, & Sunflower Seeds

Gotta love Softball season in Idaho! We really do enjoy watching Kaylee play. Even though this game has some of the craziest rules!



Day one: Using our umbrellas for intended purpose, rain sheilds.

Don't ya hate when you've eaten too many sunflower seeds and your tongue is raw... but you can't stop putting them in your mouth! Ian and I had fun seeing who could spit the shells the farthest. I still think I won. I got lucky...

Day two: Using our umbrellas to keep the sun off us. Idaho weather, you are crazy! The warmth was nice, but I didn't want to risk getting sunburned. No sunscreen and sitting in the sun for 3 hours, not a good combo.



The sun eventually went away and the wind decided to get out of control!

It was fun to watch Kaylee's one play of the game though!