Backyard BBQ

Our backyard was our big project for this year. Brandon and I have always wanted a better space to entertain so we redid the whole backyard with a new garden area, new stamped concrete patio, and an outdoor kitchen. It was a pain dealing with contractors and choosing colors but it was eventually done and we LOVE it! Of course, there is still some more to do, and maybe some day we will finish it, but for now, it works and we are enjoying summer time at the house!

The old concrete pad being taken out.

where the old deck used to be. Each whole was a pillar. Even though the wood was falling apart, it was in there sturdy!

We took out the old side walk (in front of Zoe) that went to the shed since this area gets the best sunlight to plant our new garden area

getting ready to pour the concrete

sketching in the BBQ area

right after the concrete was poured, looking at the potential garden area

stamping the concrete

this pile of cinderblocks will soon become our outdoor kitchen!

the stamped concrete completed

more progress, laying out the foundation for the kitchen

pouring the concrete countertops!

The Hansens were a big help putting in the new garden area. The boys got the bins and dirt while Mariah and I put down weed cloth and entertained the kiddos.

All done and planted!

getting closer!

view of the garden from our balcony

SOOO close to being finished. Oh and I forgot to mention, we are about to host 40 people at our house for Baby Owen's welcoming party 4 days from when I took this picture. I was only having a minor heart attack!!

2 days before the party. Think I am missing grass!!

Also taken 2 days before the party. The stucco sides were getting their first coat....

BBQ is officially placed in

Night before the party, moving the refrigerators in!

Ta-da! Sod in, umbrellas up...morning of the fiesta!

Completed just in time! 

 Other than it was SOOO hot that day, it was a success1

 Our garden is taking off too!

 Kids love having their backyard back!

 And they love the sprinklers on a hot day :)

Welcome, Baby Owen!

We threw a party at our house to welcome baby Owen! The kids absolutely adore their little cousin and how could they not! He is such a cutie!! We are always looking for an excuse to party and this was perfect. We got to see all of Tyler and Rory's friends and hang out with family members from both Rory and Tyler's side as well as a few people who hadn't gotten to meet Owen yet. 

Special thanks to Auntie Zeph for coming up and helping us get ready (and for drinking wine with me!!)

 The two proud grandmas

 Great Grandma Ann and Aunty Patty

 Zoe sneaking some snuggles from grandpa

 Zoe was so happy to see her cousin!!

Zoe's First Trip to ER

Poor Zoe had her first trip to the ER. Grey thought he would help me when she didn't want to come to dinner by dragging her caveman style into the kitchen. She let out a scream and started crying her arm hurt. I could tell by her scream that something was wrong so I kept an eye on it through dinner and soon realized, even though she wasn't crying, she would not move or use her left arm at all. Occasionally, she would stick out her little lip and it would quiver as she told me it still hurt. Then she would be okay for awhile, again, just not using it. Finally I tried to get a hold of Brandon to see what I should look for in a broken arm since he was out for a work dinner. He came home and we both could tell it just wasn't right so I took her up to the ER while he took Grey with him to finish bowling with work.

The doctor thought at first it was nursemaid's elbow but then there was something that moved and a weird bump in her forearm so we went for an xray. The xray came back clear so it was definitely nursemaid's elbow (a dislocated elbow). The worst part about it was sitting in the middle of the ER pod chatting about it and what we would need to do to pop it back in and the doctor looked around, searching for a room with a closed door so we wouldn't disturb the other patients while she tried to replace it. Zoe screamed and screamed and wouldn't let the doctor near her again (it was after 10 at this point) so the doctor said we should go home and get some sleep since they couldn't do much now with her being traumatized and that she wouldn't hurt anything further with it still being dislocated.

We get home, Grey was devastated that he "broke Zoe" so we went up to his room (he had started to cry when he heard us come in) to tell him she was okay. Zoe went to crawl to him (forgetting she couldn't use one of her arms) and fell on the bed. She sat up and all of a sudden could use her arm. She had fixed it herself!! Unfortunately, the doc did say she would have a higher probability of dislocating it again until everything is for fortified when she is around 5 years old. At least we know now how to fix it!

A few minutes after it happened, she ate dinner one handed.

 Played in the bath one handed before heading to the ER

 Patiently waiting in the waiting room people watching.

Waiting for the doctor

 PISSED at the doctor for trying to re-set her arm.

Gigi and Grandma Georgi's California Adventure

Gigi and Grandma Georgi came out for a short California adventure. Between Owen being born and my cousins wedding, we didn't do a weekend away like usual for Easter...but hopefully we will again last year. Of course, we still had lots of fun, playing tourist locally!

Hiking at Armstrong Woods...notice how clean my kids are...

 Then strikes Grandma Georgi and teaches Zoe to jump in puddles!!

 Gigi and Zoe checking out the creek

 Tailgating for lunch!

 We gave Zoe her first pedicure since it was a rainy day. She loved having pretty toes.

 Grey really wanted to paint nails too so Gigi was a great sport and let the kids paint his toes (notice Grey's were painted too!! He didn't want Zoe having all the fun!). Grey was actually pretty good at painting nails...

 Zoe thought you had to paint the whole toe!

 Quiet time reading with Grandma Georgi

It's a good thing that they flew all the way to California to try Chicago style pizza at Old Chicago in Petaluma. Gigi was trying to teach Grey how to eat it with a fork..

Yummy cheese. I think it got it!

 We had a beautiful day out at Doran Beach. We took out the fishing poles and the kids had a blast.

 And we got to see a real pirate ship!

 Grey got the biggest catch of the day!

 Gigi got to join Grey and I on our before school ritual of hot chocolate before heading back to the airport. It was fun having them here, we wish they lived closer so we could do this more often!!