Visitors!!!

My mom and dad came to visit us this past week/

weekend and it was awesome to have them here.

My dad was able to get tickets to the very first ever

Dallas Cowboys game in the new stadium. Don't know

if you have heard much about it, but it is seriously

unbelievable! Wow! My Aunt Chris and Uncle Don

came down from Wichita Falls for the game too. We

had a really great time!! One could say that, I, perhaps

had too much of a great time :)

Mom and I finished up the extended flowerbed.

It looks just lovely now.

A little video of warm-up:

Have you ever seen a 60 yard television? It is

mind-bogglingly enormous.

Oh, happy boys...

We had amazing seats: 10th row!! It was quite

fantastic!

The crew minus one.

Silly girl...

Let the record state that the clock on this official

picture reads 1:51 AM. Not only is that in itself

impressive for these old folks, but the ladies joined

in for some couples play after this picture was taken!

On a side note, the next night Mom and Dad and

Ryan and I enjoyed the 10 pm showing

of Inglorious Bastards. Very impressive!

Lilly and Gracie (Mom and Dad's dog) had a blast.

This was the favorite toy to fight/play over.

We had so much fun and would love to have more

visitors anytime!! You all are welcome to pop in

or stay a while whenever you are able :)

The Prince and Princess for now...

Notice the water droplets all over Linus's
back- Lilly's is not exactly a dainty drinker.



They really are good buddies.

Officially, we are finished!!!!!

I think the worst part of the project is transferring

by hand and wheelbarrow a ton of bricks.

Getting the firepit level was also a HUGE challenge!

But...we did it.

Next, tilling the incredibly rocky soil...again.

Then, we tamped it down...again. Next, start laying

those lovely bricks :)

What's that?? You are sensing some hostility??

No way, I, uh, love this project.

Since we were making the extension circular, there

was a lot of cutting involved. And, I must say,

Ryan did a phenomenal job!

We had to measure and cut every brick around

the pit and...

of course, every brick around the edge of the circle,

as well.



We are nearing the home stretch!!!!!

Tada!

The final product:

Worth all the pennies, sweat, and tears.

We love it! Thank goodness :)

We've Finished!! Haven't we??

The rain was lovely! Although it took longer to

finish the patio, it also cooled things down

for a few days...what a relief! And this is the

finished product:

It looks fantastic!

Why the extra bricks and
the giant hole, you may be wondering??

Well, we have decided to expand and

add a firepit. And, so it continues...

This is a picture of our firepit, which is

actually a 1200 lb. brake drum. Very cool

and very heavy. We have to use a friend's

engine lift to maneuver it to the correct

position in the hole. If only the rain

could hold off for more than a day.

Well, eventually, we hope to have a

functioning back yard. Our goal is to

have the patio addition completed by

August 19 because my Mom and Dad

and Uncle and Aunt will be visiting!!

We are so excited!!!