Tagged

Wow! This is the first time I've been tagged.


Here are the rules:
1. Go to the photo folder on your computer
2. Go to the 6th folder of photos.
3. Go to the sixth picture.
4. Put the picture on your blog and a description of it.
5. Invite six friends to join the challenge

This is a picture from the last time we took Jordyn to feed the horses at Houston's mounted patrol. This horse tried to take Jordyn's hat off her head and it scared her when she looked up and saw it's face so close to hers.

I tag:

• Lisa
• Becky
• Katy
• Lindsey
• Toni
• Colt

Choices

We're looking for something fun for Jordyn to play with outside and I've found two things that I think she would enjoy. I'm not sure which to get, what do you guys think? The first is this cute playhouse, locally built (and delivered right to our yard)

or we have the fun outdoor climber (shipped to our door for free and then Erik gets to assemble).

*they're the exact same price, and no, we can't get both (though I would love to)

DIY: How to build a deck in 3 easy steps

Pre-build:

Step 1: pick up "no dig" plans from your local home improvement store

Step 2: go to plan website and get more detailed plans for your particular deck size

Build:

Day 1:

Step 3: wait several months before actually beginning project

Step 4: pick a rainy weekend to being project

Step 5: go back to local home improvement store to pick up some of the needed supplies

Step 6: lay out support pavers in designated spots and find out you printed up the wrong plans

Step 7: go back to plan website and print up correct plans (and hope you don't have to return any of the supplies you've already bought: we didn't)

Step 8: move support pavers to correct locations

Step 9: DIG holes for support pavers while it's raining, and into the night using a house lamp for light.

Day 2:

Step 10: go to home improvement store to get more materials

Step 11: scoop water from holes after the rain temporarily stops

Step 12: place support pavers in holes, and realize you dug the holes too deep, fill in with mud and level

Step 13: scoop water out from around support pavers and place support beams across

Step 14: mark where support beams and attach and carry them all back to the garage for assembly (the garage is more level, and makes for easier assembly)

Step 15: assemble frame and realize its to heavy to move, and not level.

Step 16: unassemble frame and move boards back to deck location to assemble there.

Step 17: start assembly (again) only to stop for a hail storm (some pieces as large as golf balls!)

Step 18: finish assembling frame (in the dark with the aid of a house lamp for light)

Day 3:

Step 19: go to home improvement store for more materials

Step 20: scoop water out from around support pavers

Step 21: check level of frame and realize support beams sank in the mud

Step 22: go to home improvement store for materials you forgot the first time today

Step 23: spread mud around pavers and support beams to fill in holes

Day 4:

Step 24: start placing deck boards on top of frame get half way done before work

Day 5:

Step 24 (continued): finish placing deck boards on top of frame.

Congratulations you are now the proud owner of a brand new deck, enjoy!

*note: the plans we picked up from the local home improvement store had 3 steps, and said there would be no digging involved. Yeah right!

Cookie Monster

Today, Jordyn and I made cookies to send to my little brother, Colt. After the first batch had cooled, (and Jordyn had eaten her dinner) I let her have one. Then we took some over to some of our friends (sorry Colt, I didn't think you needed 4 dozen cookies). When we got home, Jordyn thought she needed another cookie, I thought differently and wouldn't get her one. Now, Jordyn being the VERY independent, VERY stubborn child that she is decided that if I wouldn't get her a cookie, she'd get one herself. She went into the bathroom where we keep her potty chair, picked up the stool that came with it, and carried it into the kitchen (the bathroom is next to the kitchen). She then proceeded to climb atop the stool and reach up and get her a cookie.

For good measure, she grabbed Mommy one as well, then she got off the stool hand handed me the broken one (she refuses to eat broken cookies).

Exciting Week at the Gym

This week started week 8 of our Fitness challenge. Things have been moving along slowly, but we're hanging in there. Monday we swam our 10 laps, Erik did a fantastic job and I'm very proud of him for pushing himself to finish. He's quite relieved that its over with and said he wont be swimming again for a while (we'll see about that). To help keep us motivated, we decided to try a few new classes for the next few weeks. Today we took a Pilates class. It was a good workout. It'll be good for both of us to help improve our balance, and strengthen our core muscles. On Friday we're going to try out Yoga, and if we like that we'll add it to our list of classes along with Pilates and Spinning. We've been taking spin classes for the past couple of months and LOVE them. We've also become good friends with our spin instructor (it helps that her husband works for Houston's Fire Department, so he and Erik have a lot to talk about!).

Jordyn has had a bit of a rough week, or rather, day at the gym. When we picked Jordyn up from Childcare, we found this. . .

Some little kid had bit her on the cheek! It didn't look this bad when we picked her up, these pictures were taken several hours later.

Easter Pictures

Here are a few of our favorites of Jordyn's Easter pictures. I toyed around with the idea of doing some in B&W, but I enjoy the vibrant colors way too much.

Some have asked were I found a field of flowers to take pictures, so I'll share a little secret. I didn't. These pictures were all taken on an esplanade (neutral ground, median, whatever you want to call it). The one with the red flowers had a manhole in the middle so Jordyn stood/sat on that while we took pictures, the one with the bluebonnets, we just sat her in the middle of the flowers, and if you look closely at those, you'll see orange construction equipment and cars in the background. We just chose angles and crop as needed to try to hide the distractions.

Free Spirited

I guess you can take the girl out of New Orleans, but you can't take New Orleans out of the girl!