Sad the Weekend is Over...

Spring has sprung, and I have to make sure my back doesn't break.  Just kidding...  I spent all last week pining for the weekend to get here.  Every week in April at a middle school is a looong week.

Kelly was on call which means we don't get to travel too far from home.  Thoughts and visions of BBQ, TV shows and my hot tub danced in my head like sugar plums at Christmas time.  I knew this was wishful thinking from the beginning.  Kelly and I talked about how we needed to spruce up the old homestead.  Saturday was supposed to be beautiful, I knew what my task was.

We began our weekend with a little BBQ at Casa de Bandermann.  When we arrived Ryan had just tried out the new stain they got on their deck.  They had been sold something more solid than they wanted.  They wanted some color, but to still have all the wood grain show.  What they ended up with was more of a deck paint.  After some research and YouTube videos, we learned what all the terminology was and that they were wanting transparent, not semi-transparent.

I am glad to say they got it figured out and it is looking great!

We feasted on hot dogs and deer brats!  I ate a little too much, it is the weekend after all.  Afterward was digging for worms and a quick cast into the pond.  Nothing was biting.  Kelly and Whitney were out in the paddle boat splashing around, that could have had something to do with it...  After the kids were done fishing and taking turns on the boat we moved up to the backyard for some campfire and smores.

I am not a guy that is big on smores.  I would rather eat all the ingredients on their own.  I think they are just really messy and just aren't my favorite.  Everyone else seems to love them so...whatever!  The kids ate their fill, had a quick marshmallow burning contest, and were off to play spy and sneak around the house in the dusky light.  The adults finally got to chill and talk!  Someone showed up to pick up a mattress they were selling and we were heading out.  Paxton, of course, has never met a stranger and just began talking to Ryan's friend like they were old buddies.  Time to go!

Kelly had to go into work on Saturday morning.  Paxton had t-ball practice.  I work with the Coach Tim and help out with the practices.  Keeping 15 Kindergarten boys in line is quite a job.  We did some fielding and hitting practice and then a quick scrimmage to practice sitting on the bench and taking turns hitting and running out onto the field.

It was a beautiful day and we worked very hard at doing it and doing it right!

Paxton said he needed a turkey sandwich before we "raked the yard."  After turkey sandwiches and some dill pickle chips, we were off to work.

Here are a few of our before pictures...

Last year Kelly and I planted only perennials and I am pleased to say they all came back this spring.  We had some bushes and trees that haven't been trimmed back since...I don't know when.   I borrowed some electric hedge trimmers from the Kernan's and I have to tell you, those are some serious lifesavers.  I tried to do it a little bit last year with just regular hedge shears...it was a mess and I couldn't cut the level.  

The hedge trimmers made quick work of the bushes and my extension cord. (Hey it is my first time).

I then cleaned up the side of the house.  There were a ton of leaves and some bushes that needed to be cleaned up.  We haven't decided exactly what we want to do with that area of the house but I did find a little friend while moving some block and raking.

Pax was not a fan.  It was just a baby.

I am so excited a mum I planted last fall decided to pop up and say hello this spring.

After burning some leaves, limbs, and trimmings, Paxton and I rode to Buchheits for some mulch.  Four tractor scoops and two trips later we had the mulch down and looking good.  I wish I would have taken pictures of Paxton shoveling, but I didn't.  He shoveled the whole time that I did.  He did not complain, not even once!  

 After spreading the mulch I mowed the yard really quick to mulch up any leftover leaves, sticks, and trimmings.  Then I quickly fertilized the front yard.   I did part of it last year for one of my trees.  This spring...HOLY COW, that spot was growing like crazy.  I needed to even out the yard a little bit.  I am sure I will regret this with having to mow a ton more.  I blew off the steps and driveway and retired to the hot tub to rest my back after all that shoveling.  

Sunday morning was as routine as it normally is.  We went to church and heard a great lesson in Lifegroup about David and Goliath.  Brother Mark did a great job expanding on that story and giving us some real-life application as to why we go through hard times. 

After church, we decided to hit the El Torero in Jackson.  I got an order of enchiladas (my favorite).  Kelly got the Speedy Gonzales and Paxton got chicken fingers (big surprise).  We came home and I took a quick nap, woke up, ate some peach pie and started writing this.

It was a really good weekend.  There wasn't a lot of excitement or adventure, but we got a lot done and I got to spend some quality time with Paxton while playing T-ball and working in the yard.


P.S. Quick shout out to Ryan Bandermann...Whitney said he is my biggest fan!