almost done....

Ran into a bit of a problem with the front walkway. Didn't have enough gravel to complete the project last weekend, and since nothing is open in podunkville on Saturday or Sunday, we had to finish it during the week. In the meantime, Jeremy sprained his ankle trying to do an apparent arabesque off the porch and fell on the bricks. Trust me, it wasn't graceful. Now I know where Aidan gets his klutz gene.

This weekend we had to wait for the rain to stop and dry out the bricks before we finished the stairs and wall so the landscape block adhesive would work. Just one more day should do it...then we have to get a yard of nice black dirt to fill in around the new walkway. Will plant the landscaping next year. This gives me plenty of time to mull over the design and plant selection......

ugh-me monkey boy-ugh

hot chicks

Ethan grabbed a magazine from a lower shelf on the coffee table. At first he was looking at ways we should redecorate the house. I must admit he has great taste in color. But then he was distracted by a full page add with some hot chick. He was transfixed.....

Visiting Grandma Beth

Last weekend the boys and I went to Beth's house. The boys got some great grandma time and I got to fulfill my genealogical obsession. They went to a pumpkin festival....I went to the library and a cemetery.....go figure... We saw Judi and Jaida, Cousin Brad and Jessica...and lots of others...

A double dose of creepy crawlers

First: Aidan and I found a great caterpillar meandering across the driveway. We moved him to the tree so Jeremy wouldn't run him over in the truck. I think it's a Luna moth caterpillar, but I don't have my handy dandy North American field guide to butterflies and moths handy...will have to look it up.

Second: The tiniest is starting to get the hang of the crawling coordination. A few more weeks and he'll be a cruising machine.

Muscle man

Jeremy took DIY to the extreme on Sat. He rented a jackhammer and busted up the old steps to the house. We then finished digging out the trench for the new pavers. We'll get some gravel this week and fill in the appropriate base, rent a tamper, and prep for the pavers. Hopefully if it doesn't rain, we'll get most of the walkway done this weekend. The new stairs at the minimum.

Aidan's first preschool field trip

Aidan rode a school bus for the first time on Friday. We went to the Curtis Apple Orchard just west of Champaign. He saw the apple washing machine and the giant apple crusher/juicer.

He then got to munch on a donut and apple juice and play in the playground.

We stayed after everone left and picked some apples and pumpkins. Of course the morning had to end with a complete meltdown as we were going to leave. He cried and snuffled the whole 30 minutes home. Oh the drama....