Backyard Playground

Over the past couple of weeks the hubby and I (with the "help" of the kids) took on the not so little task of building a backyard playground to help entertain the 4 little Byerlys during the warmer months.

We decided to install the playground in the dirt patch that was our vegetable garden last year.  My handy hubby had just tilled under last years stalks and leaves so the dirt was soft and somewhat level.  Here we go...

We started the project by researching and ordering a swingset.  We rolled out and stapled down landscape cloth.  The swingset arrived on a pallet in 4 HUGE boxes so we unpacked it all and placed it in piles by type on the trailer for easy transport and location.  

Then began construction.  We had the cutest little assistant ever!

After the playhouse/swingset was completed we had a local curbing company come out and install a concrete curb along the edge of the yard, around the play area and creating a walkway to the pool.

We purchased a replacement trampoline with net enclosure.  The last trampoline took a trip into the neighbor's field on a windy day last year and wasn't in the best of shape.  After setting up the new trampoline we filled the play area with p gravel and trimmed the excess landscape fabric.  We placed the big stone slabs back into the pool walkway and spread small gravel around them.  My handsome handy hubby spread some larger rock in the "parking lot" area and installed a concrete pad for the pool pump equipment set on and voila!  We have a backyard playground!!!! 

Thanks for stopping by and checking in on my 4 Little Byerlys!

Easter 2017

Easter 2017- What a whirlwind!?!?  This years Easter celebrations where in the "we are winging it" category.  Let me back up and paint the picture for you...

Tuesday two weeks before Easter:  Little Byerly #4 starts throwing up late in the night.  

Wednesday: she is still sick.  

Thursday:  she is still sick and has passed it on to her biggest sister.

Friday:  Big sister feels a little better but baby girl is still sick.  

Saturday:  Daddy now also has the stomach bug.  Little baby feels awful. 

Sunday: Mommy and Daddy take little baby to our small town emergency room.  She receives some medicine and is sent home.

Monday: She still feels yucky. Daddy leaves to go to work in Wyoming.

Tuesday:  We visit our family doctor's office and they send us to the larger emergency room department in town.  My sweet little lady is hooked up to an I.V. for fluids and medicines.  Mom decides there is NO WAY she can leave little baby right now and go to Atlanta for 4 days.  She contacts her travel buddy and roommates and tells them she isn't coming.  She emails the CEO and says she won't be there.  She texts the daddy and he says, "Get on the damn plane and go."  She messages everyone again and says she will be in Atlanta.  Uncle Tristen (my baby brother who is only 19 and doesn't have kids) arrives to watch all 4 little Byerlys while mom goes out of town. 

Wednesday:  Baby feels much better. THANK HEAVENS! Mom leaves for Atlanta! Little baby does not sleep well with mom gone though and Uncle Tristen and biggest sister spend MUCH of the night taking turns walking her around trying to comfort her to sleep. 

Thursday: Mom is in Atlanta.  Aunt Tress and family come to visit girls and help Uncle Tristen.

Friday: Mom is in Atlanta.  Fun and shenanigans with the visiting family (after house cleaning because the kids made a mess and Aunt Tress can't take it!!). 

Saturday:  More fun and shenanigans. Mom ends her trip in Atlanta and begins the journey home.  After only sleeping 5 hours the night before and training from 8a-2p she and her traveling companion leave Atlanta at 9pm and fly into Denver at midnight.  Pick up luggage, locate shuttle, find vehicle, load bags, grab caffeine and hit the road... begin to fall asleep driving (Narcoleptic mommy on the road again!), pull over for 20 minute nap, wake up freezing, heater not working in truck, get back on the road, it's 30 degrees in the mountains, pull over and find hotel room, sleep 3 hours, wake up and drive home, set out Easter baskets and begin the festivities!!!!

Do you see what I mean by "whirlwind" and "winging it"?  Hahaha.  Oh WELL!  I made it home for Easter, the baby feels SO MUCH BETTER, I was able to take my trip to Atlanta and the kids got to hang out with extended family for a few days.  Easter was a hot mess but the kids didn't care- they got candy and dyed eggs!  I feel like we all aspire (or at least I do) to personify that Super-Mom image and run ourselves into the ground trying to host the perfect holiday with a magnificent Pinterest worthy table setting.  WHY DO WE DO THIS!?!?  I love the feeling of pride and accomplishment when someone compliments a dinner party well planned and executed- don't get me wrong that's awesome, but is worth the time and attention it takes away from my family?  Is it worth the damage done to my 5 year old daughters sweet and innocent little heart when I tell her a dozen times a day, "Mommy can't- she's too busy."  I have a horrible habit of being too busy and I need to work on that.  I need to let go of the "perfect holiday" image and just live in the moment!  Easter 2017 was crazy, unplanned, and totally not our norm... and, except for the fact that daddy was still gone working, it was the "Perfect Holiday".   

Thanks for checking in on my 4 Little Byerlys.  

Have a great day and I hope you had a wonderful Easter!