House Projects

As a child, I recall two large house projects our family did. One year, we built a fence in our backyard. It was an all weekend thing with my extended family coming to help. The other large project was finishing the attic in our house. We added a bedroom for my mom as well as an office space upstairs. I have fond memories of doing house projects as a family. One summer, we helped my uncle with his backyard landscaping. As the youngest grandchild in the family, I loved those weekends where the entire family would get together.

Those memories encourage me to include our family with house projects now. When we first moved in, we had a landscaping company do a few jobs for us and looking back, I wish we would have done them ourselves.

Our kids are slowly getting to the age where they can help rather than hinder the progress. We needed to put some gravel/rocks on the side of the house where the two AC units are located. This area just grows over with weeds and I am always nervous about snakes back there. The kids can't access the area but I go there to grab a hose and water the gardens. We got a truck to deliver a ton of gravel and rocks and we set to work Saturday morning. The kids all found shovels and buckets to help carry the rocks around to the side yard. It was a fun morning with some good hard work. And we aren't sore today, so that is a win!

Tanner surprised me the most. He filled his little blue bucket and the wheelbarrow all morning with no complaining.

Now I can brainstorm other house projects for them to help with...

More Vacation Pictures

 Here are some pictures of the kids trip to Alabama and Florida with Joseph.

Aunt Samantha having the kids join her workout.

Grandma McGlothren's dog and Tanner became besties.

Probably the highlight of their trip. Dolphin cruise/boat tour. It was during the Blue Angels practice too, so Tanner was excited to watch the jets while Ashton looked for dolphins.

Vacation and Sickness

 Joseph decided to take the two oldest to Alabama/Florida for the funerals. One sister flew into Houston to drive with him. Since one funeral was on a Saturday and the other was on a Wednesday, they rented a beach house near Pensacola between the two funerals. The kids had a blast at the beach and lived it up. They saw the air show practice near the naval base there plus went on a dolphin cruise/boat.

Meanwhile, Lydia and Gemma hung out with me. We enjoyed no school pick up and long naps. Monday night, Gemma kept complaining of her stomach hurting. This is nothing new... potty training her has made her connect urinating to discomfort, which she shows as pain. It's a work in progress. I didn't really think too much of it until she threw up all over the carpet in the living room. Ugh! It was a mess and the poor girl had no control over it. After getting her (and the carpet) cleaned up, we went to bed. Thankfully, Gemma slept through the night despite throwing up at some point. Tuesday morning was spent laying low and hoping it was a one-time event.

Tuesday night, Lydia started getting sick. To the point of my concern of dehydration started. She was so tired and just fell asleep anywhere. Poor kid. She turned the corner on Wednesday at some point and I was hopeful the big kids would miss getting sick.

The cool trick Lydia learned despite being sick. Now our dining room chairs are tipped over.

 

The big kids got home late that night and they were healthy still. Ashton went back to school Thursday and Tanner went Friday. Friday afternoon as I am driving Tanner to a kindergarten screening, he throws up all over the car. At least he threw up in the car instead of in the district office building. Ashton ended up getting sick Saturday. We spent the weekend on the couches and carrying the kids buckets around. By Monday, everyone was back to normal.

I'm grateful we didn't all go to Alabama/Florida. I've taken the big kids on a trip where we got a stomach bug in a hotel and it was not fun. Then to add on funerals and more travel, I am glad everyone got sick at home.