Memorial Day BBQ

Well, we had a Memorial Day BBQ a day early this year.

Wrestling with Aunt Megan.




The yummy goods on Ben's home built fire pit.


When it started to sprinkle, we all went under the picnic shelter, except Emmett who was perfectly content.


Avery trying to "climb" the rope in the picnic shelter. This is the same rope that an angry 16 year old Kevin whipped at an 18 year old Travis and the end knot smacked Travis in the eye rupturing his retina. Travis' vision is fuzzy around the edges on the bad eye now. As everyone was playing with it Travis joked, "I bet you can't rupture your retina with that!" and Kevin, not missing a beat, said, "I can do that for you!"


Carson enjoys a swing


Then Avery wanted to swing too.


And this has nothing to do with BBQing, but at the end of the evening Avery and Carson "helped" Katrina give Julie a bath. Look at those big eyes! She can give some of the best puppy dog eyes I've ever seen!


Happy Memorial Day! Remember those who sacrificed for our freedom!

Water, Water Everywhere

Here's another Carson and Emmett escapade.

This actually happened earlier this month a few days before the Desitin and green pepper violence incidence but it somehow got skipped over when I pulled pictures off of my camera and I just found it. So, like I said in that atrocious Desitin post, these two are monsters on a regular basis.

Here they've snuck out of bed an hour and a half after bedtime and are having a royal time with the water. All that splashing on the mirror is nothing. You can't tell, but Emmett is sitting in a pool and dripping wet to the waist and Carson is standing in a very large pool, the hems of his pajama pants soaked up a several inches. They managed so much mess because we didn't hear them because we were working out in the garage.

Avery's Fishing Trip

This morning was Avery's first fishing trip. He went with Daddy, Papa, Grandma (who took the pictures I've cropped here), Cousin Alli and Aunt Angela and Uncle Shane. They fished on the bank for a little while, but then Avery wanted to fish off the dock. It wasn't very floaty...


After a little while Avery said, "Hey, Papa, where's my bobber?" "Avery! You have a fish! Reel it in!"


He was so stoked!


See it splash up out of the water? Looks like Avery's plan to fish off the dock paid off! He was the only one to catch a fish.


Back to Papa and Grandma's with his catch.


Time to clean.


I got there with Carson and Emmett and took this picture just before it was going in the oven.


Avery tried one bite, chewed a bit, started to gag, and had to head for the toilet. His bite of fish wasn't very filling, in fact it was emptying... Oh, well, Papa and I enjoyed the rest of it.

Potato Bug

This is probably the biggest potato bug I've ever seen. I know it's hard to tell how big it is, but it's on Avery's hand.


Speaking of bugs, I had something this weekend, although we're pretty sure it was food poisoning. I had to leave in the middle of sacrament meeting at church and made it home just in time. I didn't even get out of bed on Monday until 8pm and then spent all of Tuesday on the couch trying not to move. UGH! I'm finally much better today, hopefully tomorrow all those residual sick feelings and exhaustion will be gone.

He Shoots, He Scores!

Trash-tastrophe

This was last Saturday. Thanks to the Two Holy Terrors, guess what I was folding for the next 20 minutes? (Thank you my sweet Avery for helping pick them up without my asking.)


Oh, and have I mentioned we've had another incidence of produce violence since that pepper smashing? Yeah, a few mornings ago I found three bananas split open on the floor, two of which had bite marks or bite chunks taken out of the peel. Those two were mush. Also each Terror had an apple in hand that he had munched on and a third munched apple was found on the floor. I guess that's what I get for changing the laundry. That night the Littlest Terror had an apple sticker in his diaper. Mmm, yummy.

Rides

Okay, this is the other (and last for a while, Travis!) big craigslist purchase. We finally have our own quad. Sorry this isn't great picture of it what with the welder front and center and all, but the model sitting on top couldn't be beat.


Travis already has a sand rail he built, so once he gets the new transmission he already bought in it and he gets the problem (that we knew about and how to fix so we got a great deal) fixed on the quad then those plus the Odyssey will have us really rolling at the dunes! Yea! Travis also bought the riding boots in the bottom right of the picture off of craigslist. That was a real bonus considering his size 16 feet pretty much mean custom fit riding boots which cost an arm and a leg. We also just found some riding boots for me on craigslist as well.

This is Emmett's other ride whenever he can steal it from Carson.


Okay, this isn't really a ride, but anyway... Emmett The Monkey has no issue climbing in and out of our trailer. Please, please don't fall one of these times...


Back to the rides. Seriously, this thing is no fun at all...


Can't you just see how miserable he is?

Mr. Drool Says "Yeeess"

He's Mr. Drool because the drool has truly been atrocious lately. Then, the other day, Travis found the culprits - all three of them! THREE of his second molars broke through in one day!


The "Yes" is about his head shake confusion. A few months ago he used to nod yes and shake no without any difficulty. Then he stopped nodding. All of a sudden no and yes were both indicated with a no shake. Argh. (Typical regression in one area when another area takes off, in this case it happened right before his speech really took off.)
So some weeks ago I started grabbing his head and moving it up and down in a nod when I knew he was meaning yes. It only took a day or two of that before he started getting his yeses done with a nod - but with his own hands on his head to move it! Finally, back on the 10th, I got around to filming him doing it (his brothers joined in knowing I was filming it) and it was a good thing I did it then since within a few days after that he pretty well stopped. You can still see him think about how he should move his head first or sometimes he sort of moves it in a circle or figure eight until he gets it going where it should be and then gives a very pronounced nod and "yes."

Odyssey

We all know a Honda Odyssey is a van. We even own this one.

But now we own another Honda Odyssey.

No, not another van. The van has only been around since 1994. I'm talking about the original Honda Odyssey, built between 1976 and 1985.

THIS is a Honda Odyssey:


This mini sand rail is a fun little thing with a reputation for being well built and long lasting. The controls are on the steering wheel, so leg length isn't an issue. Avery can drive it with a little jogging along by Dad to keep him controlled while he's learning.


This is one of the things Craigslist has done to us lately. We have also found helmets for Avery and myself to go with this on Craigslist. (Travis would like to point out here that our Odyssey van was also found on Craigslist.)

Travis and Avery went to pick up the Odyssey ATV back at the first of May while I stayed home with Carson and a napping Emmett. They took it to Travis' parents to play with it (and because we'll have to keep it there). When Emmett woke up we joined them. Grandma took pictures while I was gone and then handed me her camera when I got there. (so I borrowed the card to take home and get all these pictures).

The first thing Emmett wanted was his Papa, until he realized Daddy was driving away.


So Daddy took him for a ride. I think he enjoyed it, but he sure looks concerned!


Then it was my turn


After coming around the woods in the back of the house, I met up with Emmett and Papa set us up for for a "race"


Emmett liked joining in by riding cousin Alli's 4 wheeler. Isn't he so cute!


We did buy one that runs, but it still needs some work other than cleaning it up. For one, it'll die if you don't keep giving it a bit of gas, so it's a two person job to switch drivers.


Then it was Avery's turn again so I could see him drive


Seriously, this kid is too cute


Then a miracle happened. Carson got in,with some whining, but then he enjoyed it! Maybe now he won't be afraid of the tractor and the 4 wheeler and all those other terrifying things. In fact, when he saw me working on this post he said, "I want to ride that again because that is fun!" Wow, really? I like this new Carson!


One more big Craigslist buy to reveal yet - I'm thinking of banning Travis! :)

One Year Ago Today

I can't believe it's been a year since this:


Find out how many cans of silly string this is and about the rest of the big day on the Graduation post.

Beware The Crazy Clown

Because the clown on a little bike will run you over...

A Smaller Project

Well, sort of a smaller project. Organizing the garage isn't that small, but we've made a step in that direction. Last Friday we finished the gate, so Saturday it was time to start the next project. Then last night we finished this small project towards organizing the garage.

The garage goes the full depth of the house on one side. Travis wants his weight set in the back and a little shop in the front of the extended area under where the overhead storage area the previous owners built in (which is quite nice). Unfortunately, at 6'5" Travis doesn't have many inches clearance under the storage and he feels a little closed in. Ultimately, he'd like to take it down, but we have to figure out enough storage before that can happen. This picture is after we've already unloaded a good deal off of it because...


Travis built these shelves in the space over the garage door.


There's one on each side for now, but we're also planning on adding more on the side of the beam so the shelving will be almost a complete square.


We also plan on adding shelves with more clearance for taller items on the walls high in the very back of the garage on either side of the weights. We'll see from there.

Also to aid with setting up the garage the way Travis wants it, he took off this morning to go look at a little workbench he spotted on Craigslist for next to nothing.
And here he is, back home with it, having sanded off the surface rust on it and a little Rustoleum primer and paint and he'll be good to go.


It has a plank for a bottom shelf and a thick wood top. It's a good little start for him instead of all the more expensive options he's been looking at. The plank leaning on the fence gives a better indication of how big it is.


After a little sanding and some varathane it looks pretty good.


More later on what Craigslist has done to us lately...

Recipe For Building A Gate

We have a large RV pad on the side of our house (seen here) and we wanted to get a gate put up across it. The space is wider than the neighbors, so we had to design a set up that would manage the whole expanse. And with the slope down on our driveway the gate couldn't be a wood frame supported by wheels. I suggested a "man" door to use up 4 feet and then the "big" gate would be a more manageable size. The trick was designing it (finding the right hardware) so that both gates could swing either in or out. This project took 4 weekends to finish, starting in mid April and finishing last Friday.

And now, without further adieu, here is our recipe for building a gate:

Pull out existing post (which was just waiting for a gate) that won't be strong enough to hold the big gate. Cut from cement stump.


Bolt to side of house for the "man" gate.


Buy a 10 foot 4x4 steel post.


Dig the existing post hole much deeper for the steel post. Put Avery inside (by his request) to gauge depth.


The weirdo likes it.


Now measure for real. (Notice the layers? Travis said one of them really stunk.)


Dig until you reach 4 feet. (10 foot post - 6 foot fence = easy math)


Put Avery back in.


The fence behind him is a 6 foot fence and look how tall Avery is next to it. I can't imagine standing in a skinny hole like that, that deep.


Pour some concrete in your hole and allow to set up so your ultra heavy 10 foot post doesn't settle into the dirt.


Buy 20 foot steel tubing to manufacture the gate frames. 2x2's for the outer frame and a 1.5x1.5 for some cross bars.


Cut cut cut.


Don't forget protective gear.


Grind grind grind.


Weld weld weld.


The heat of the weld can make the metal move so after tack welding it in place, make sure you're square again before doing the finish welding. And then square again.


Time to cut a cross piece.


More grinding.


Again, measure for square along the way.


Repeat steps for cutting, grinding, welding and squaring etc. for the large gate.

Prime and paint the steel post and 11 bags of concrete later your post is up. Be sure to level it with the other post and make sure it is plumb.


Brush your finish concrete all purty.


Prime and paint the hinges on a sawhorse, let them dry, then hang them for the rest.


Prime.


Paint.


Drill a hole in the concrete for the cane bolt you attach to the large gate.


Clamp 2x2 pressure treated lumber to the gate top and bottom for something to screw the slats into.


Attach with self-tapping screws.


Meanwhile, have Avery (who had been dying to help) load up all the slats to bring out.


And laugh when you peek in and catch him doing a groaning stretch.


When he's done, he won't be heavy enough to pull the hand cart back.


"Little help please?"


Good job, Avery.


"Whew!"


Set up a level board (the concrete isn't level, but you want your slats to be) to rest the slats on while attaching them. When Travis put board #2 up, I asked about them being spaced a bit for expansion, and he said he was just considering how to do it...


I hand him a shim. Glad I could contribute.


Cut a notch out to wrap around the latch mechanism.




Sand it.


Make sure the corners are just right.


And now a word on the hardware. Here's the latch. It allows the gates to be opened and closed from either side and to swing either way.


These two types of hinges allow the gates to swing either way. The left one is for the big gate and the bolt allows us to adjust the gate to make sure it's level. We had it level before putting the slats on, but the weight of the slats made is sag a touch which affected the latch. A little bolt tightening and we're level again.


The view from the inside.


The final screw goes in and we have a gate!


The wood is supposed to weather a while, but then a sealer will be applied so it doesn't end up gray like the fence which was never sealed. We will be applying a stain and sealer to the fence at that time too.

And there you have it, a recipe for building a gate.