1st Week of June- 12th Week of Quarantine

The 1st week of June was busy and eventful.  Here are some highlights.

Flashback, Nyles holding Carter April 2017 vs May 2020.

After tearing out the fireplace, Steve started working on the cabinets/bookcases for our new built ins around the fireplace.  He drafted a plan, bought the wood and supplies, and got to work.

Making great progress!

Nyles made some fruit salad, with a little help and direction from me.

Getting ready to paint.

Dave came over to help w/ his paint sprayer.

Steve working on getting all angles.

Cleaning up.

Looking good!

Piper happy as can be playing fetch.

The shelves/bookcases drying inside at night.

Carter likes to sit on Piper's bed and snuggle w/ her.

Carter just watching a show while being close to Piper.

Steve got the bookshelves put in place.

Looking good!

Nyles just playing w/ a car on a slide in the pool.

Carter helping to peel carrots.

Beautiful Dianthus in bloom in the backyard.

We finally got Piper a name tag.

Carter just snuggling w/ Piper again on her bed.  

These are his new Paw Patrol birthday pjs.  He couldn't wait until actual birthday.

 We had some crazy wind storms for a few days.  

One of our new Honey Locust trees unfortunately got snapped in half. 

Carter also got a "new" light up sword for his birthday he found at Savers.

More progress on the cabinets.  Steve made the doors himself as well and even figured out how to make the hinges inside the doors called cup hinges.

Then he got the shiplap up above the fireplace and started framing the fireplace.

Cement board up!

We celebrated Carter's 4th birthday this week.  His birthday was Monday, the 8th, but we decided to celebrate on Sunday since I had work on Monday.  Carter was sooo excited the whole week and kept asking us how many more day until his birthday.  He also wanted a construction cake like Nyles had for his 2nd birthday.  Carter's cake for his 4th birthday.

And w/ the crazy weather we were having, we had more crazy rain on Sunday.

And even some hail!

Pauline's family came over for lunch then cake and ice cream.

About ready to blow out the candle.

Then time to open presents.  Grandma/Grandpa on the farm sent some Paw Patrol books.

Pauline gave him a cute dinosaur treasure box as well.  Thanks for the gifts!

And a remote control car from us.

The boys then played w/ the remote control car and Piper of course had to chase it.

For dinner we went over to Diane/LuDean's place to continue the celebration for Carter's birthday.  Dave and Joann came over as well.  Diane was really sweet and decorated w/ balloons and streamers.  Carter and Nyles thought it was funny to put the birthday hats all over their face.

After dinner Carter wanted to open presents next.

Thanks for the gifts everyone!

Then it was time for cake and ice cream.  Carter w/ his cake and Nyles w/ his in 2014.

 

Singing Happy Birthday!

Construction cake ready to be eaten!

Carter had a wonderful birthday. 
Thank you all for helping to celebrate it w/ him and making it special!

We love you Carter!

4th Week of May - 11th Week of Quarantine

Here are some updates from the last week of May.  On Memorial day, we started another project.  This time it's our fireplace in the living room.  We decided to tear it down and build a new.  Here is the old one.

And then we started tearing it down, well Steve did.  The mantle is out.

Then time to start on the bricks.

Rob came over to help too.

Nyles was a big help as well.

Making great progress.  

The bottom was a little harder to get out since there were cinder blocks as well.

And it's out!  Good work!

All the "rubble."

Beautiful Irises in the back yard.

More beautiful flowers in bloom.

The fireplace all torn out.

Cute Piper playing fetch while the boys jump on the trampoline.

Since the boys are sharing a room now (Carter refuses to sleep in his own room ever since the earthquake in March), we decided to get them bunk beds.  The boys were really excited about it.  They also come apart so we can separate them if need be :)

They each ordered a new bedspread/sheets as well.  Plus the fish are easier to access now.

The boys actually earned enough rocks to fill the jar, so they earned it!

Steve holding up Piper's head.  Silly dog.

Steve took the boys fishing in Provo.  Rob and our neighbor Jacob Anderson went as well.  

They caught a few fish and had a good time.

Cute Carter taking a snack break.

Cute Carter w/ his teacher Tara Edwards at Savvy Kids Preschool.

Steve working on the cabinets outside.  

                                   He set up the canopy for some shade as it's been in the 90's already.

Beautiful Dianthus blooming in the front.

I love all the flowers in bloom.

Then we finally found a swimming pool to help w/ the heat.  

It was hard tracking one down.  We finally found one at Target.

The boys were pretty excited to have a swimming pool.  They wanted to try Nyles' kayak in it.

And then of course they needed a Popsicle.

 Piper did another day at doggy training.  She also got to spend some time w/ Mesa (Stacie/Phill's dog).  We want them to be able to "get along" so we can spend time together.

 

Steve working hard at building the cabinets.  Nyles has been a big helper too.

On my lunch break I got water balloons out for the boys to play w/ on the trampoline.

Piper trying to check out what they're up to.

Trying to get a picture of the boys on their last day of school.

Carter wasn't too cooperative.

Nyles finishing up 2nd grade, age 7.

Carter finishing up preschool, age 3.

School's out for Summer!

One w/ Piper too.

Carter's 1st day of preschool (September 2019), and last day of preschool (May 2020).

 

Nyles' first day of 2nd grade (August 2019), and last day of 2nd grade (May 2020).

  

Sunday afternoon we went to the Jungle hike again.  Pretty flowers.

It's nice since most of it's in the shade, plus Piper can come along.

The kids love the tree caves.

Lots of cool stuff to see.

Say cheese!

Cooling off in the shade.

More pretty flowers.

Beautiful view!

Then we set up the hammocks in the front yard in the shade.

The boys thought that was pretty fun.

More purple Irises in the back.

Then we set up ladder-ball to play as a family.  Carter being silly.

Though the state has started to open up business and restaurants again, we are still being cautious about Covid-19.  Since I'm pregnant I am considered "high risk" so we have to be extra careful, which mean not being around a lot of people, and wearing masks whenever we're in public.  It's not ideal, but we don't want to risk my health, nor the babies.  We're thankful to have each other :)

Great quotes.