Engagement Party

We had a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family and lots of laughter. Saturday my parents and Jay's parents gave us a wonderful engagement party. My mom can sure through a party. She pulled out all the stops with catered Mexican food from Rico's with their famous Margaritas, beautiful sunflower floral arrangements, covered patio tent with colorful lanterns hung at all levels, and my surprise for the evening was our photographer, Clark Lara, came and took photos!

It was so great to see friends and family all in one place and kick off our wedding festivities. When I get more photos I will definitely post them for all to see.

We are DONE!

The patio furniture finally arrived last week and it only took 4 people and 6 hours to put it all together... yes, that was the actual time it really took from start to finish.

I pulled into my driveway to see this on Wednesday after work and was overwhelmed to see 9 boxes that weighted over 500 pounds ready to be assembled. Jay and I started on Wednesday night with little success, but did succeed in putting together the dining table.

Then Thursday we called in the reinforcements, Dan and Jennifer, to help us finish up the other 12 pieces.

YEAH we are DONE!!!

So Friday after work Jay and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 2 year anniversary and we were planning on enjoying the patio afterwards but it rained... what are the odds... the day after we finish our 2 week project it rains...

Here are some photos of the finished product... now the only thing that is left is to find a umbrella stand that fits our umbrella... who would have thought that they don't make a universal stand that fits ALL umbrellas...

First Home Improvement Project

One and a half weeks ago we started our first home improvement project. We had been discussing the idea for weeks and two Wednesdays ago we decided to bite the bullet…. Thus begun the adventure of our first, and last, do it yourself project.

The project – Expanding my patio, moving power and cable down from the attic, installing a fan outside, mounting TV outside, transplanting grass to front yard, and to find outdoor furniture – table/chairs/umbrella and conversation furniture.

The challenges – moving the sprinkler systems, 5 unites to be exact, running the power and cable down from the attic, moving mounds and mounds of dirt… and the list goes on.

We started the project on Friday after work by digging up the grass and starting the transplanting into the front yard. We decided to more the grass that we dug up to the front because the front yard was having some trouble, to say the least… you can see what I’m talking about in the photos. So Friday the boys dug out the area where the patio was going to be formed.

Then Saturday the forms were installed and the sprinklers were moved. We also had to level out the new patio area… that was one of the more difficult tasks because of the endless hours it spent.

Then Sunday we spent the day installing the fan outside, and dropping the power and cable down from the attic, buying a TV, mounting the TV outside and cleaning up and getting ready for the cement.

That next week was spent collecting tools to help us with the cement and collecting wheel barrels to help with the cement laying on Friday.

Then Friday came… I had the cement company scheduled for 1pm and also had planned for a few independent works to come and help then as well. The workers arrived and we put them to work. They did a wonderful job transplanting the last little bit of the grass we took from the back yard and then the truck arrived…

When the cement truck arrived the thought of “we can’t turn back” crossed my mind. This is when the real work started… as you can see from the photos Dan was in the “pit” and Jay and our workers were the ones bringing the cement by the wheel barrel load. Once it was to a point where they could pull a board accrost the forms they would and it would even out the surface… I’m not sure how many times they had to do it but within 4 hour or so the cement was laid, smoothed out and ready to dry.

When our workers finished with the cement we had them finish up the backyard flower bed and let me tell you it was the best thing EVER… what took Jay and I two weekends to do they did in an hour. AMAZING.

Then we spent Saturday taking off the forms, putting the finishing touches on the sprinkler system, getting and laying the bricks for the backyard flowerbed, planting the flowers for the two side flowerbeds and cleaning up… who would have thought that clean up would take so long. It was my least favorite part of the entire process, but it also meant that we were DONE!!! YEAH, finally!

Jay and I are so excited the project is done. We could not have done it without Dan. He was the brains and had the plans for this project and really was the one who made it happen and why it turned out so good. Thank you Dan for all your hard work and time. You are welcome to come enjoy it anytime you want!!!

Then Sunday we enjoyed Mother’s Day and relaxed on the new patio. Jay mowed the yard and fertilized one more time… he is trying to hard to get the grass green and growing… I will keep everyone posted on the project… grass takes a while and is a tricky one, as all of you homeowners know.

Lastly, I want to say a Thank You to all the mothers out there. I have the best one in the world. She is the most giving, dedicated, loving, honest, selfless person I know. Mom, thank you doesn’t even begin to express how thankful I am to have you as my mom. Your example of unconditional love, and service is such a blessing to all who know and love you. I love you very much!!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.