Projects Galore

Things have been pretty busy around hear over the past couple weeks.  We kept going back and forth on places to take a week long vacation to before school started and we just weren't coming up with a plan.  We also knew that we had some projects that we really wanted to get done ASAP and Keith is usually really busy with work.  So I brought up the idea of just staying home and doing some fun things together as a family and working really hard on a couple projects.  Really, it started with just getting the backyard done.  Keith worked so hard to shovel and move all of the rock that filled half of our yard.  It was a ton of work.  Our eight year old nephew helped a little, and Grant did a couple shovel-fulls with his plastic beach shovel, but Keith did the rest.  He worked his tail off and got super dirty.  I'm so proud of him.  Tomorrow  morning a crew is coming in to improve our existing sprinkler system and extend it over to this other half of the yard that will be home to some new grass and a putting course.

 Grant & Brett had fun splashing around in the shade while Keith slaved away in the sun!

Just in case the backyard wasn't enough to do, we decided to redo our fireplace!!!!!!!  I was surprised when Keith mentioned doing this, but I'm sooooooooooo beyond excited.  I've been looking at fireplace mantels online for a long time.  We narrowed down some of the ideas and then when we both agreed on one my brother came to do his magic.  (Remember, he's the one who installed our family room cabinets.)

After ripping off the old pop-out surround thing from the fireplace, he set up shop on the back patio and got to the fun part.

He really has put a lot of his talent into this mantel.  My dad came over today and helped paint the final product.  Before I was born my dad was a professional painter.  He's knows what he's doing and I think he had fun helping with this little project.  They both signed the back of it so if anyone ever rips it out (they would be crazy!) they'll know who built it and painted it.  Tomorrow the hearth will be set in place and then soon after our granite friend will come place a pretty piece of granite on top of that.  Then the mantel will be set in place.  Then it will be done!  I'm so excited!  I feel so lucky to have such an awesome thing being made for our home.  And I'm thrilled to have a mantel for Christmas!!!!

Meanwhile, Keith and all the boys had a trailer full of pavers arrive that needed to be unloaded.  They all (even little Brett) worked for over an hour unloading the pavers and stacking them on the ground.

I thought my little guys would get tired or bored after 15 minutes, but they loved it and worked hard till the last paver was out.

Brett was in charge of the small pavers.  He really got into the grunting and making a hard-working face while lifting.

So now the rock is gone and the fireplace is almost done.  We had a guy come fix the drywall around the fireplace and in a few other spots in the house.  I've spent today sanding the drywall and cleaning up all of the dust from that.  Tonight the primer and then the paint will go on the wall around the fireplace so that it's ready for tomorrow.  

Whew, all of this makes me tired!  And I'm mostly supervising!