We knew when we bought our house that we'd want to do a few things to our backyard. It was hard to find a house we loved with a back yard that was good too! Georgia is very hilly and so most people don't have very usable back yards. As we started planning on how to improve our backyard to make it more usable for the kids, and especially Andrew we came up with a plan that looked like a lot of work. Since we where having some beautiful fall days in November we decided to get going and start the project this winter. November was nice and we got a lot done each week. December has been the complete opposite. It's been nice and warm with days in the 50's 60's and even the 70's, but it has rained almost every day. I think we've had a total of 7 days this month that it hasn't rained. Which means that these big piles of dirt are now piles of mud that has eroded down the hill.
The Before Pictures of our Backyard!
Just after Thanksgiving we had two big dump trucks haul in loads of dirt...and now the real craziness began.
These two kids were pretty excited too!
Thankfully one of our good friends who lives in Tennessee came and spent the day with us. Stephen and Jason "played" outside, while Maria and I wrangled all the kids inside! We were so grateful that they would give up a whole Saturday to come and help us!
Back in September our ward was reorganized and the boundaries changed. With all those changes comes new callings. Stephen was called as a ward missionary and into the Elder's Quorum presidency and I was called as the first counselor in the primary presidency. This all happened the week before general conference. So being a brand new ward and not knowing any of the children, I took on the task of writing the primary program. It was crazy and busy for about 4-5 weeks, but it all came together beautifully and the children did a wonderful job! I survived and Andrew had his little part memorized and said it perfectly for his very first primary program as a sunbeam!
"My love for my Savior grows, when I study the Scriptures!
We were super excited to have Uncle Ryan come for a visit! We found out about two days before he came that he had some business meetings scheduled in Atlanta and worked it out that he could come a few days early to spend some time with us. We love having visitors and the kids were all over him! Even though it was quick, it was a great visit with my brother!
As Stephen and I were discussing and planning our Thanksgiving this year I posed the idea of hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year. Stephen kind of chuckled at the idea and said "Really? You want to do that?...Could you really do that?" ---Of course right then and there I said challenge accepted. So we did. And I really had a lot of fun preparing and planning for the big feast! We had some friends over from the ward. We hung out, ate, laughed, ate, played games and ate some more. We had so much food!! It truly was a feast!
Little miss Kate aka my little Turkey helping me check on the big bird!
My first time cooking a turkey and it turned out great! Moist and tasty!
Carving the bird!
The kids table
Outside Scavenger Hunt
And this little guy was our pilgrim....well he was too shy to wear it for our Thanksgiving feast, but the next day when we were Face Timing Grandma he put it on and that was the only time he did. Glad a snapped a quick picture!
We've certainly enjoyed a wonderful fall here in Georgia! It's been a beautiful November and these two are loving the fact that they can sneak outside when the door opens!
Selfie with my Livi at Andrew's hippo therapy! Gotta keep the girls entertained somehow!
Rides in the wheelbarrow with dad! He wasn't too sure about the whole thing!
