Yard Crashers- ha!

In the show, Yard Crashers, they have a small army building and working on a wonderful backyard retreat for the lucky homeowners.  As much as I love the show and wish I would run into them when I’m at the hardware store; it’s a fantasy compared to what it is like when you do it yourself.  Well, some might think we have a small army, but when the average size is less than 4ft and 40lbs it’s really not much of an army.  Still, I have to say we’ve got Yard Crashers beat! 

The work crew heads in for the night

I am trying to look at this project in a positive, excited, and pumped way; since I am actually tired and sore as I type.  It seems like a slow process, but it’s because we are only working on it in little bits.  Last week we worked on it some Sunday after it had rained all day Saturday.  It was SO muddy!!  Makaela seems to enjoy handing screws to John.  Yes, even the littlest member is helping out! 

Daddy's lil' helper takes a break

Tuesday and Thursday we were back out there once John got home from work.  Caleb and Noah helped by bringing the boards from the trailer to the small deck.  We kept telling them they are working those arm muscles.  John caught Caleb flexing in Church Sunday, guess he wanted to show Jesus the muscles he built up.  Friday we ran to the store for more supplies.  The boys were very impressed with the fork lift driver who got our deck boards down off the top shelf and then with a lot of skill loaded all of it on the trailer. 

Then this weekend we really tried to get a lot done.  Saturday, we finished the small deck, dug 3 large holes, set 3 post for the pergola, and worked on finishing the “frame” for the big deck.  Noah really wanted to help dig out the post holes, but we kept telling him just let us do it.  Then on the last one we let him fill in some dirt around the cement tube.  After a few shovel fulls, he stood up and said “Man, this is hard work!” 

Sunday, we worked for a few more hours before evening mass.  We again got to a point where we need more supplies.  The 3 pergola post holes were filled with cement, the “frame” of the big deck is done, and the plan for the next step is worked out.  John wrote all the kids’ names in the wet cement.  We now need the boards for the railing before we put the “floor” on the deck.

John’s face and neck got sunburnt.  Caleb and my cheeks are a little rosy.  We spent some time tonight getting splinters out of the boys’ hands.  They have gloves and they wear them when they are “working”; but I think they are getting the splinters as they climb around on the deck frame.  It’s like having a jungle gym.  Makaela is just as bad as the boys climbing all over the frame.  I try and tell her to go a certain way, to make it easier for her and she refuses having to go over the taller boards.  I think she likes the challenge, so we all; including the neighbors, have to hear her fuss while she tries to pull herself up and over the boards.

This deck project is the largest project John and I have taken on and right now my back agrees.  We keep looking forward to when we get it all done and we are sitting on the deck feet propped up watching the kids play on the fort.