Fall Family Day

About a week ago, Josh and I spontaneously loaded up the boys and drove to Missouri to enjoy a day at a pumpkin patch. Nearly everyone we knew was heading to Beggs Family Farm the next day but because Josh had to work we couldn't go. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, but for mid-October and pumpkin-patching, it was a tad hot! Say, mid-80s hot! We were all in shorts! And, mother of the year here, I didn't lather my fair skinned boys in sunblock so they got a little pink! I guess that will be their last "color" of the year because it has suddenly turned COLD here! And I just don't go outside when it's cold. After we left the pumpkin patch we went to Lambert's, "home of the throwed rolls!" Keagan really got into the roll-throwing this year!

 

Keagan's expression during the pig racing!

Pillow bouncer. This thing was so neat and I wanted to play! Unfortunately for Keagan he was a little too small for it and the bigger kids were bouncing him off. He didn't really care though, and played right along as best as he could! Finn, on the other hand, screamed the second I set him on it! Maybe next year...

Josh and Finley went down a big slide, I wish I had taken a picture of the whole slide so you can see just how huge it was...but I didn't. I fully assumed Finn would scream his head off the whole way down. He didn't! Keagan refused to try it.

 

Finn and I rode a pedal go-cart while Josh pedaled Keagan around. They had a blast with this and Finn fought and screamed when we had to share with another family. Imagine that! Another embarrassing public moment... 

The boys took full advantage of the feeding the animals. And the animals obliged the boys by coming near them. Finn liked the animals a lot, until the goats got a little aggressive; have no fear, there was a fence!

Trailer ride to the pumpkin patch! Keagan enjoyed the tractor and we got to actually pick our pumpkins off the vine rather than just pick up a pumpkin the owners had set out. Of course, my camera lens was on the fritz (I so need a new one) and I took a million pictures only to get these okay ones. I am a bit disappointed, but the day wasn't about getting the perfect picture as it was letting the kids enjoy the moment. And they really did have fun! They were very possessive of the pumpkins they each picked out!

Finally at Lamberts! Keagan and Finn really enjoyed the fried okra...I just can't eat that but more power to them!

Keagan getting into the roll-throwing that Lamberts is so famous for. The roll-thrower-guy was so kind and even gave Keagan a fist-bump for doing so good! Finn saw this and decided he needed to throw everything. He was picking up green beans off my plate and throwing them. It was time to leave when he started this..

Hot Roll!

Fall Soccer

Keagan is playing soccer again this fall. When he first started playing in the springtime his "coach" left a lot to be desired. And needless to say, he learned nothing. I know he was only two-and-a-half then and the amount that soccer foundations would sink-in was minimal at best, but the coach really could care less about the boys. I mean, she showed up to our first practice in fuzzy Homer Simpson jammie pants. I wasn't expecting a ball gown, but maybe put a bra on and brush your teeth...and wear something soccer-appropriate...you know, make a decent first impression. And at every practice and game, she screamed insults at her 4 year old grandson. It was a bit offensive to us parents. So the season was a wash. We decided to try again this fall, given it had been 6 months and Keagan had matured quite a bit since Spring. We are super thrilled to have Coach Brad and he does a great job with all the boys. He and his wife, Ms. Robin, work super hard with all the boys and I can see that he not only gets it but enjoys it. While the boys scrimmage at practice, the games are a whole other ball game (pun intended). I think their "skill" goes out the window at game time. It's pretty funny and you can really see their age. Keagan loves to throw himself on the ground for no apparent reason, tends to mess with his shorts, and gets a little rough with the other team's players...who happen to be girls. There is only one boys team and one girls team, so the Blue team (us!) plays the Pink team every time. But Keagan did score a goal during the first game and his reaction was precious!! He had to high-five everyone...including the other team's coach!!

Blue Team (they nicknamed themselves "The Bulls")

Taking a knee so they can listen to Coach Brad

Keagan felt the need to throw himself on the ground...

 

The little girl kicking the ball is my friend Jeni's daughter. I don't think Keagan knew what to think seeing someone he knew on the other team!

Another special thing Keagan liked to do during games...pull his shorts up to his hips. You'd think he was bored or something!

 

Getting a bit aggressive with the girls...maybe he needs to try football?

He shoots...HE SCORES! (so thankful one of the other mommies got Keagan's victory-dance photo...it's perfect!)

Backyard Facelift

Or maybe I should say butt-lift? I gave my house a butt-lift? Hm. Whatever you wanna call it, we did a major backyard over-haul. MAJOR. When Josh and I bought this house in 2008 we were not pleased with the backyard. We would brainstorm on ways to fix it. There were so many problems with the backyard, not just cosmetic. For starters, anytime it rained water would pool in our yard. The backyard stayed wet with 2 inches deep of mud and only moss would grow in the "grass." Josh had tried his best to fix the drainage issues, but the only time you could "play" in the backyard was when the weather stayed dry for weeks. The backyard issue just seemed to get more of an eyesore to me as our boys grew. They pretty much could only play in the driveway. And I longed for a back porch that we could sit out upon and enjoy a nice evening. Maybe even entertain. Our backyard was something I seemed to complain about, and an overhaul was something I wished for, on a weekly basis. I even took pictures and entered a local "Backyard Makeover" contest put on by one of the local news stations. I hoped so badly to win. We just didn't even know where to turn. The whole idea of a project seemed so overwhelming.

Then one day I was hanging out at a neighborhood friend's house after a walk and she started telling me what they were about to do to their patio/backyard area. I told her what I longed for regarding ours. After this conversation, I took my ideas to Josh, fully expecting that he would shoot me down. But he surprised me. He was on-board with a total backyard make-over. So we asked our friends for the references, got some quotes and ideas, and took a hard look at our finances. We discussed the return on our investment should we sell this place, as well as the enjoyment factor of being able to use our backyard to its full potential. It was going to be a big job. It turned out our drainage issues were much bigger than we thought and our existing retaining wall would have to be completely ripped out and redone correctly (something we didn't anticipate!). We decided to proceed, and prayed we had the money! Prayed we made the right decision! We were both so nervous. But in the month that the backyard has been completed we have enjoyed it more times than we had over the past 5 years! Already getting our money's worth. We are absolutely in love with our new space.

Before

The old retaining wall is removed, block-by-block!

A footer dug and concrete poured for the base of the new retaining wall

The new retaining wall is in! And it is STRAIGHT! And Gorgeous! Josh and I decided this alone changed the look of the backyard. We couldn't have imagined what was to come...

 

All the work in our yard was free entertainment for the boys. Keagan especially was in heaven!

It took a couple weeks for the weather to cooperate, but then the concrete was poured!!! Love at first sight.

Finishing touches: sod, knockout roses in a planter, and stepping stones. All that is left to do is to landscape the hillside behind the retaining wall. This will take place next spring as we've run out of time (and money!).

And these "before" pics are the ones I entered into the Backyard Makeover contest which I didn't win. I happened to take "after" pics from the same angle (not purposefully) and I am amazed about what a huge difference these pictures show. Like I said, our house got a butt lift.

If you want to come enjoy our backyard with us, c'mon! We'll get the firepit going and the s'mores ready! And if you need your back (or front) yard overhauled, call the Hansen Brothers...they are GOOD. And not just in their work, but their good communication throughout this whole project.