New Swing Set!

Alex is the man!!! 

After keeping our eyes peeled all summer for a great deal on a big, used, wooden swing set, Alex discovered, picked up and repaired this fantastic swing set for the boys!!!  

A family about 20 minutes way had outgrown it and posted it on Craigslist  (for FREE, can you believe it?!?)  Alex found it and contacted to owner only to determine that there was already plenty of interest (not surprising) and he couldn't get their quickly enough due to other obligations.  So, we let the idea go and forgot about it until almost a week later when Alex got an email from the woman he'd contacted about the swing set.  It was still at her house.... as seems pretty typical for Craigslist, despite all the interest and assertions that they'd be there, no one had actually shown up to take it... did he still want it? 

Uhhhh... ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

Despite the rainy day, he ran right over, spent a couple hours disassembling it by himself and loaded it all into the truck and a borrowed trailer.  Thankfully, Uncle Matt was home later that day to help unload it and I hear they even had to pull out some of the fence temporarily to get all the pieces into the back yard! 

 (thanks Matt!)

Since that day about two weeks ago, Alex has been a man possessed...  assembling the clubhouse, the slide and the swing section, replacing a few boards on the roof and replacing the purple-painted wall boards.   Thanks to Alex's focus, it didn't take long.... Then last week, once the two regular swings, the disc swing and the trapeze bar were hung, the boys were enthusiastically outside and playing all over it! 

Despite the fact that the boys aren't quite big enough to take on the monkey bars by themselves, Alex didn't let that slow him down. He's now also replaced all of the individual wooden "bars" and bolted the monkey bar section to the clubhouse as well.  The swing set is complete and so far it is a HUGE hit!  They boys are out there on it every day.  I hear even Uncle Matt has been out there once or twice!  

I can't wait to see the first time they figure out they can jump off the swings and fly through the air like we used to do as kids.  Over in the clubhouse, sooner or later I imagine they'll monkey themselves on up to heights that be sure to make this mother panic-stricken.  (all part of raising boys, right?)   In the meantime, I'm just going to keep smiling... remembering how much I loved the big wooden swing set we had when I was a kid and grateful to both the family that gave this one up and to Alex for making it all happen! 

Time flies!

Wow - I swear July 23rd was just yesterday, but according to my calendar it was not. Summer is flying by and we are in the home stretch. What have we been up to?

Well, Alex and I went to see the movie WarGames (for the 25th anniversary) with Uncle Matt on July 24th at the Oxford Theater. The satellite feed stopped mid-show and I thought the poor theater manager was going to cry for fear of his life. Relax Mr. Manager - we've all seen the movie before, it'll be ok. No, you don't need to act it out to keep us occupied. (that was scary!)

The boys made their own pizzas for the first time. The loved choosing and adding their favorite toppings. Jeremy also loved eating half the toppings before they made it on top of the pizza. Look closely at his face - it's covered!

We went to the Taste of Oxford festival the first weekend in August. Jeremy and Kyle each got to spray a real fireman's hose (at a painted plywood cut out of a fire). They loved it! Did I remember to take the camera? No. :(

We started a new Sunday night party called Toddler Time for the boys and their friends, we tested it with Lucas (4), Will (2), Liam (3 mo.) and Jarrod (5). The boys get together and wear each other out running around the yard, swimming in the mini-pool and eating pizza. Probably going to try it again this weekend.

Did I mention we got a mini-pool? It's 10' x 30" and perfect for their size. Both can touch bottom or lift their legs and swim. Kyle can even keep his head above water when kneeling down. (he's getting so big!)

Uncle Brad babysat Kyle for the first time. The same day, I had my first real phone conversation with Kyle. (I believe I was triyng to tell Kyle that he needed to cooperate about nap time - go figure.) All of the sudden Kyle understand the phone, knows you need to keep it by your ear, answers questions and doesn't get distracted by everything else around him while talking on the phone. Daddy will be so worried and I am so proud!!! :)

Also we started taking the boys to the Clarkston Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. The Peaches and Cream corn has been fantastic and the boys play on the playground across the street when mom and dad are done shopping.

Kyle learned how to make the horn on a big-rig blow at the Tons of Trucks event in Clarkston on August 9th. You didn't have to show him twice! Every truck he climbed into he went looking for that string. Forgot the camera - bummer! On a similar theme, Kyle got to ride Grandpa's really big tractor for the first time. Grammie did not forget the camera! (of course.) Oh and he had been playing Pirate earlier in the kiddie pool, hence to swim trunks and pirate bandana.

Alex got a new (new to us) truck last Friday! I am SO happy!!! Now we can share responsibility for picking the kids up from day-care or Grandma's house! (I really need to take a picture and post it, don't I?)

I worked at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills on Sunday, August 10th. Note to self - "not 19 anymore, need to take it easy." That was hard work! I had flashbacks to working in the food booths at the Renaissance Festival many years ago.

Jeremy is now totally into Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid. So cute when he starts yelling "mer-maid, mer-maid, mer-maid!"

Uncle Eric and Aunt Michelle are coming into town this weekend, we're headed to Rochester to visit Cousins Nicholas and Owen next weekend and then Labor Day weekend is upon us.

Oh and did I mention Aunt Kathy and Mr. Mike are engaged! HOW EXCITING!!!!!! In other wedding news, Alex's neice Beth just got married (congrats!) and his nephew Rich is getting married on the 31st. Best wishes!!! (wish we could be there.)

...and you thought I was just too lazy to blog... nope - just too busy enjoying all the best summer has to offer!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!!!

As a kid I remember you cracking us up with your comedy skits and antics.

Luckily for Kyle and Jeremy (and the rest of us too!)

even after 30 years you still know how to have fun and make us laugh!

Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!!!

(photo taken this past February in St. Petersburg, FL)