All wrapped up into one.
We spent the weekend doing yard work and moving stuff into the basement for our big remodel, and enjoying time with the grandparents.
Getting a good picture of kids and grandparents wasn’t easy!
The weather was mostly cool. Weirdest spring ever.
It’s Tuesday but feels like Monday and the kids have three more days of school.
I’m so ready for summer
Yesterday Eva and I planted some hostas that someone at Andy’s work gave to him. It was nice to put something into the yard to make it look a little better.
We had to pick a spot that would not be damaged by construction or construction trucks.
It’s only small area by one of the trees but I like to look at it.
And of course we spend a lot of time in this part of the yard
This is what I get when I ask to take a picture
And then I pull out the “Im not pushing until I get one picture”
And then I quickly snap
She’s a mess. I bribe/threaten my kids too. it works about 50% of the time.
I think the backyard looks pretty and lush. I’m loving the big tree.
Think those “threats” will work on Austin and Blake? I’m thinking Cole is still not resisting too much.
Funny Mom, not pushing until I get a picture….gonna have to try that one:)
Tiffany
Jim and I want to know how you guys got that tire swing in that tree. That branch is so high up!
Came across this this morning… thought of you…
http://theinspiredroom.net/2013/05/21/farmhouse-cottage-2/
I didn’t realize you were truly expanding the house as much as you are! Can’t wait to see the finished homestead!!
The tree swing rope went over a very high branch with about one million attempts.
I took a strong nylon string and tied my heaviest socket onto one end (from my tools). That had enough weight that when I threw it over the branch, it would fall down the other side.
Once I finally got the string & weight over the right branch, I tied my climbing rope to the free end of the nylon string, and just pulled the rope up over the branch.
On the now free (opposite) end of my climbing rope I fastened a stainless steel carabiner and looped the other end through it. Then just pulled the tight so it cinched against the limb up high.
That’s how. Best tree swing ever. The branch has to be 60′ high at least.
Such fun pictures!! Love that tire swing!!
Wow, what a beautiful yard and LOVE the huge trees!! Can’t wait to see more pictures of yard and house! Good luck!!
Another Super Games is in the books
It was kinda warm and sticky
But no one seemed to care
The girls kept beating the boys in tug-o-war
Eva was so excited to be there
I didn’t get many pics- Eva just wanted to play
She didn’t want to do the tall bouncy slides alone
When all the kids went in for lunch she had the place to herself
We wrapped it up with a snowcone and walked back home where she fell asleep for her nap right away!
AWESOME!!!
Tiffany
Now that looks like so much FUN!!
So glad you are back in Ohio!!!! I know you will fully enjoy all the fun school activities that NC didn’t allow. I really look forward to all your posts of everyone enjoying the place that you all have called home for so very long 
Dude. Your school is fun. My school stinks, and the teacher is chubby 
No supergames in NC
Moving back to a place where you once lived is always an odd thing. I have moved away from Ohio twice now, and returned twice. I know, you think I would have learned the first time.
But the thing is that it is never exactly the same. Lots of things are the same, but not everything.
Obviously the house is not the same. My kids keep telling me they want their old house back. Even though we are now on the street we always wanted to live on. Right now I want our old house back too. But long term…. well I want the house we are designing and about to build, on the 2 acre lot we now own.
But that doesn’t make it easy.
And while I smiled tonight when I took Cole and his best bud to lacrosse- passing their elementary school where lots of people were hard at work for the awesome day they will have tomorrow (a day they would never have in Chapel Hill)- see past supergame days here, here and here, I can’t help but think how things are different now.
Don’t get me wrong, everyone fell right back into old friendships just like we never left.
But when we moved I felt like my kids were still little. And now I feel like I moved back with different kids than what I left with. If that makes sense. They are bigger, older, just different. And sometimes I feel it in the pit of my stomach. Like I missed a year of their life. Which of course is crazy. I didn’t, we just spent it in a different place.
But to bring them back to the place they were born and raised, it just feels weird. Like we are new here. Trying to settle in.
I know it doesn’t make sense. And I know when we get our house done I will feel like we are making a home. Feel more settled.
But for now I feel like a visitor. A newbie. Trying to find my place.
In a place I am very familiar with but still out of sorts
We play in an unfamiliar backyard that still doesn’t feel like ours
And start all over again
It must be unsettling and frustrating. I know it’s going to get better, your just stuck in the crappy part right now. The house isn’t what you love, but it will be. It’s going to get better, it’s going to be awesome!
It is always hard to start over…even in the same place. I get it. I felt like I lost a whole year trying to move, wishing for something else…Soon it is all going to feel like home again.
Tiffany
I used to be one of those moms that didn’t allow toy guns. Not even squirt guns.
I think I only had one boy then.
By the time I got to three boys that rule was long gone.
When I took Cole and Eva to the beach store, they BOTH bought really loud toy guns.
I still don’t like them.
And I hid them at one point.
But this picture still cracks me up
Haha, once we hit three boys the gun thing went out the window here too. When they started making guns out of legos I knew the rule had to go. Love the shots, no pun intended:)
Tiffany
not my favorite, but they have fun. We have lots of nerf guns at our house. Mine wants an airsoft gun, not sure I am ready to make that move.
I’m with Tiffany, I had a no gun rule too…and so Dmitry just used his fingers and everything else he could find so I gave up
He still likes guns, although not in a creepy, needs counseling kind of way.
My boys all played with guns too. Not a huge fan of them, but I’d rather them get it out of their systems while their young w/toy guns then have them grown up and obsessed with real guns. And Gretchen my boys begged and begged me for airsoft guns. I finally gave in and now they don’t even mention or play with them anymore. I guess the novelty wore off
I am so ready for summer. SO ready.
Me too!!! sick of homework and making lunches
Ready for Summer too….looking for some R&R!
Tiffany
Happy Anniversary:)
My kids have been off school for a week now and the oldest declared he was “bored out of his mind” on day 2. It could be a long summer for him!
Hope things are getting off to a good start with the remodel!