This Week...
...Raleigh and Jordan came for a visit. They are back in Washington! We are so excited to have them closer to us. Let the party begin! Raleigh got a job as CEO of Tri-City Orthopedic. Wahoo!
...Court Concrete came to pour our basketball court and shed slab. Jason came home for a minute to check things out. It's always fun to watch the process as the guys prep and pour the cement. We're so grateful that they were able to fit us in their schedule. Originally they told us it wouldn't be until the middle of March, but they had a cancellation and got us in. It was a blessing because then our backyard timeline could continue on track.
...Brother Rowell let us use his post hole digger. We had a long day of post hole digging ahead of us. With the loan of Brother Rowell's tractor, friend, and digger, we were able to crank them all out in just over an hour's time.
...Brother Boneck let us borrow his cement mixer. We had a long day of cement mixing and post setting ahead of us. With the loan of the cement mixer, we were able to set the majority of the poles in one day. The kids had a great time helping Jason with this part. Once the kids got home from school, Benjamin worked tirelessly with Jason. He took his job seriously.
...we had curbing installed. It was awesome to get it done before the grass went in. These guys are super fun to joke with and they do a great job.
...we got some loads of rock. We called our good friend Seth Romm for his help to haul the rock. We had a whole day of rock hauling and a whole day of rock moving ahead of us. But because of the help of our friend, we got the rock and had it moved around the yard in a day's time. We were so grateful. We paid him and his friend to haul the rock in his truck. But he moved the rock out of the goodness of his heart. He had another job up Rd 44 where he was using a front loader. So he brought it down and took small loads of rock around the yard so we could spread it out. I think the cinnamon rolls we shared with them went a long way to help them feel like their efforts that day were worth it. (His truck was seriously the coolest! Two beds and buckets fit into each other so that if he needed dual hauling capacity he could have it on the spot. Awesome!) Let the work of spreading it out begin!
...Lainey celebrated the 100th day of school. I went in to help out with all the stations.
...who knew that a box of 1,000 craft sticks for $4.99 from Walmart would keep them occupied that long. I purchased the sticks for Cub Scouts, but the kids have been using them non stop since I brought them home.
...Grandma and Aunt Reesie came for a visit. Of course we had to play a game of Ticket to Ride.
...we had some silly moments. This is their response when I give them chores to do or tell them to clean up.
Paul and Claire hamming it up on our quick trip to Yokes.
...it was so fun to watch Lainey read from the Book of Mormon. She knows a lot of words. I love watching as her finger tracks along the verse.
...Paul did well at his piano lesson. He doesn't always place his feet squarely on the ground. A lot of the time he wraps them around the bench legs, swings them, or crosses them as shown below.
...we attended reading night at the school. The kids had great time wandering to all the stations. We saw a lot of people that we new.
Claire and Ben make a book mark with Emily Little
The kids got their free book and root beer float - Nixon Wahler, Lainey, Noah Wahler, Paul, Joanna Pluff, Tyson Pluff, Ben, Nathan Wahler, Claire
This is the Bradley family that lives kitty corner to our old house on the opposite side of the park. Melissa, Colton, Addie, and Matt. We met them in their front yard just after we moved in when Lainey spontaneously ran over to give Addie a hug as we were heading home from a walk. She sure helped us break the ice.
Paul, Tyson Pluff, Evan Purvis, Zach Alvarez, Ben
...we said goodbye to Elder Whiting. He was transferred over to Kennewick. This rodeo winning, hard working, mission rule obeying missionary will be serving in a new area. We sure loved sharing in the joy of missionary work with this Elder.
...we went to the Temple again. I can never have too many pictures of this beautiful building and the view never gets boring. It's s amazing how so much hope and love and faith and peace and courage and promise can be seen and felt when I gaze upon this building.
