Spring renewal

For our anniversary we bought ourselves a new grill and a new gazebo for our deck. Both the previous things had basically weathered badly or broke and since we want this summer to be able to be spent more outside seemed like a great idea for family projects/gifts. Purchased our anniversary weekend and then had to wait for long holiday weekend to get out of boxes and old stuff dismantled. Brent proved himself a good builder with all the myriads of pieces in the big boxes. We had perfect weather again (maybe warmer than could have been for building, but not complaining after harsh winter temps). 

We already had planted some flowers and now also updated the bench cushions for a fresh spring look. Our Azalea bush also in full bloom complets the look of spring renewal!!

Hoping for a fun outdoor season now. In MN it is short but packed!

time to take down old rusted & bent frame

 

In with the updates:

Trying to keep cool during building. 

Noah got to be grill master for our first supper from new grill while we were finishing the gazebo

And, done!

 

Time to enjoy!

23rd Anniversary

Today was our 23rd Anniversary! Where does the time go?!

We had a nice weekend and got some projects done including the hall clean up and our yard stuff snd planting. It was perfect weather finally.  Noah went to a sleepover at Lance and Bryce's on Saturday evening so Brent and I got dinner and a movie Saturday night and Sunday we went on the hunt for some updates for our deck as our mutual family present. A gazebo and a new grill. Things got complicated on the hunt and we ended up across town for availability (and don't ask us about Menard's customer service today...gr). But by end of day we got what we wanted and even had a nice family dinner with the grandmas. 

Happy Anniversary to Us! 

The gazebo at menards

Flowers from my mama

Spring Hall clean up

We helped with Spring clean up this weekend. Lots and lots if projects being tackled! Great turnout for support and much got done. We are getting an update this summer on the inside so much of the project list was outside updates. Mulch, rock, trees, bushes, paint and tidying. Wonderful to see everyone working together and having fun.  

Hugest mulch pile ever and we got it all spread out in the yard!

We got a fun break for beverages and snacks and chatting then finished up the afternoon 

Mulch pile finally gone!!

Brought back memories of the hall rebuild in 2001! :)

Random April/May pics

RanDoMs....

Delia scoping us out

Finally nice out!

Goofing at Target 

Still spring cleaning the yard

Noah's second #3 talk

Mary with her brother and nephew 

Good day for tree climbing

A present!!

Time to plant for Spring/summer

Pyramid Band Concert

There is an annual concert for 6th thru 12th grades to show the progression through the band program in our half of the district. The Grammas and Aunt Bonnie came along. Was fun to see how hard all the kids work. And the grand finale was the whole group (a few hundred kids) playing The Tempest together. Great job everyone!

Update for Noah's room

IIn April we made an update to Noah's room. He has had a small loft bed from Ikea since he was 3. It was nice for a small room since there was play area underneath. It was time to upgrade to a full sized bed to better fit a growing kid. We found a great bed, again at Ikea. It is called MALM. We chuckled since that is our friends' last name...good choice!

And also got all new bedding since it is now a new size. 

Love the choices and the new look for his room! 

Baxter likes it too!! ;)

Noah's first interview part

In April Jeremy had a part on the Service Meeting to interview some of our youth and how they remain spiritually strong despite pressures at school etc. He asked Noah and Michael and Elena to participate. They all did so well. So encouraging to see them stand strong despite pressure.