backyard remodel

I mentioned several posts back that our deck was worn out completely!

Yes- it was all worn out & rotted.

 It's a total bummer and an expensive fix.

We called our dear neighbor who is a contractor & he gave us a bid to build a 2 new sets of stairs & pour a patio. We didn't want to rebuild because our family is getting much larger & the deck could hardly hold us now!

As Brett was tearing away the rotten deck, he started to see just what was underneath- HUGE ROOTS. HUGE MASSIVE roots - it looked like Jumanji! was growing under the deck.He couldn't even budge these left over studs because roots are growing all around them, anchoring them down.

A hard reality came to us when we realized that the tree- it had to go. 

11 years ago when we bought this house we had some landscapers come out & they recommended we dig out 3 half dead trees out of the front yard (we did that) and... they recommended that we did out this one too. It was over grown then & ruining the rest of the yard, plus grown on top of the house etc. 

But.. I love this tree. 

So we kept it.

Until today- When it finally had to go.

 

View from the upstairs, back bedroom.

Just like that- 3 hours later

it's gone.

Dang 

To be completely honest it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

I can see now that the new patio & stairs will be beautiful. We will have a much bigger & better space in the back yard. We are planning some new digs for our birdie friends too. 

I can't bear to think of a winter without our downy woodpecker & his wife.... 

or the pretty little gold finches. We absolutely love our chickadees too.

-Sigh-

Well- now that the painful part is over-

let's hope the building starts soon!?

the week before last- just some summer journal writing

The week before last

Brett's parents came for a couple days to visit.

I was a little nervous....

My sweet mother in law has Alzheimer's.

It's a cruel, cruel disease.

It's starting to run it's course & she is now forgetting people who she loves & it is heartbreaking.

But- she remembered us all- for now & it was a great visit.

 (like father, like son)

Sunday we went down to Utah Valley to attend church with Chloe & then headed out to Megan's new home to see them. It was so fun & so nice to be together. 

Super Jack & Super Charlie- like to show their muscles.

Trent & the boys played this game - 

Trent threw a ball up the stairs & Joey would throw it back down & Nana was worried Joey would fall down the stairs I she was a wreck.

Jack visits Chloe twice a week & they like to play cards.

They showed us the game they play- it is fast moving & fun to watch! 

Megan made cinnamon rolls & they were SO GOOD!

Joey had one just his size. 

He is so cute I just want to scoop him up.

Brian, Laura & the twins went with Laura's family to a reunion & sent home these pictures.

They crack me up!

Summer is going too fast at our house!

yesterday PLUS an announcement

I got up & got a bunch of chores done yesterday morning...

lots & lots

and

it felt good.

(the hallway inside the garage door)

As I walked through my house in the morning light, I was struck by how much I love this house. It's far from perfect & needs a lot of work- in so many areas...

But it is my dream home. It looks like me & Brett, it's has my personality all over it.

It says family to me.

 Ya- I like it here.

***

I headed down to the hospital to pick up Chloe.

I had permission to take her off grounds for the whole day 12-8:00 PM- Woo Hoo!

We headed straight to lunch at Stan's! 

Gyros & Cheeseburgers with onion ring & fries.

 Oh man- that beats hospital food any day.

(Wende sent Chloe a big pack of sharpies because she knows how much she loves them, she isn't allowed to keep them there so I put them in her room when I got home.)

I had a package for Chloe 

(I usually do)

Full of little things she needed from home AND gifts from kind people-

 kind people that I love more than anything in the world.

 So many people have sent me down with little things for her!

I have never once asked- they just do.

I appreciate them & hope that angels bless them & their posterity forever more.

Is there anything better in the world than someone doing something kind?

Not something huge - just something kind.

Something thoughtful and kind and- for my sick child?

(tears)

People are so good.

A sweet family in our congregation -Hi Jennifer- sent a big envelope full of art work from everyone (she has six beautiful children) for her room! Each child & both parents made all these darling things for her.

 Pictures & jewelry... SHE LOVED THEM! Just loved them! She can't keep the jewelry but it is here for when she gets home. People send her quotes & letters & things to hang up in her room- nice.

We had so much fun eating lunch & going through these things and- just being together.

When Megan was just a tiny baby- we lived less than a block from this little drive in, Stan's. We were very poor college students. Every Monday Brett would head over there with our leftover change and wait in a very long line. Monday nights they had 1/2 price ice cream... good memories.

We headed to Target- then the mall

And found lots of cute things on sale for school etc. 

It was such a GREAT day. Really, really good day.

Brett & Trent came down & met us- Plus these two cuties for dinner!

Are they cute or what?!

This is Jack's sweetheart Emily. 

THEN

it happened.

All Hell Broke Loose

-oh boy-

The restaurant was crowded, Trent was overly excited, there were so many choices on the menu, he started throwing baby fits. Then the baby fits got bigger.

 Chloe started to tic. I started getting upset, Brett was calm.

I was so very embarrassed with Jack's girlfriend there. (So embarrassed, really.)

 Then it escalated to the point Brett had to take him out to the car and go home.

 sigh- it's been a long time- since we've had an episode like this. 

I apologized to the waitress & servers & Emily & tried to blame the autism, teenage hormones, whatever? 

It was rough.

(we both got new shoes)

We finished up our dinner & headed to a different mall- crazy I know!?

We only had one hour - so we had to make it quick.

While Chloe was mesmerized by the make up counter, I headed upstairs in JCPenney.

I went up the escalator & gasped out loud (for real) as I walked in on this display!

It's been YEARS since I've been in a JCPenneys- I was so impressed!

Chloe tried on lots of make up- she loves it & for sure doesn't need it.

 Isn't that how it goes, when your young & don't need it you always want to wear it... now I need it & I sometimes forget to even put it on! I don't want to - but now & then I go out in public & there I am-

 one eye with mascara on the other forgotten-- and I think Trent can be embarrassing!?

Then it was time.

 I dropped her off. Again.

And started my long, one hour, cry fest-- home.

Back to the house that I love.

I love it much more with my sweet Chloe in it.

It's really not the house, but the people who live in it & have grown up in it.

I don't write much about her illness because it is intensely private. I don't want to make anything harder for her than it already is. I love her. I love all of my children & never want them to suffer.

Thank you for praying for her & us.

I love it when people tell me their children pray for her.

 Those are my happiest moments, knowing that children pray for her. 

How could Heavenly Father not hear the prayer of a child? 

Speaking of children 

Here are a couple of cuties and an announcement - if you haven't already heard.

 (Finn in front- Crew in back)

Dear Heavenly Father -

Please bless the children & the grandchildren- all five of them!