Oh No...

Ben fell asleep on the couch after complaining all afternoon that he was tired.

Ben never naps.

Ever.

Except when he's sick.

(cry cry cry) :(

He seems well enough other that that, but honestly, I'd be shocked if he didn't wake up with a fever. Or puke on me. Or complaining that his throat hurts.

This just isn't fair. Kids shouldn't get sick in the summertime. :(

Forewarning of Cute-osity to Come...

We HAD to get out of the house this afternoon so we all trekked to the mall during Simon's Motrin window so Tom and Benjamin could get measured for their wedding tuxes. (for Tom's youngest brother's wedding in August) I would have taken my camera along, but I foresaw much screaming on sicky-poo Simon's part, so I knew I would be otherwise occupied keeping him happy.

I did, however, get to see Ben try on the tux jacket and he looked SO CUTE, I almost cried! And the funniest part was that he didn't want to take it off. He cried and cried because he loved it and wanted to wear it home. I guess this bodes well for the day of the wedding! Now, let's cross our fingers and hope he thinks walking down the aisle is as cool as wearing the tux.

Not Buying It... But Then Again, I Didn't Go to Medical School...

I'm having a hard time buying that Simon has what the doctor says he has, only because he really doesn't have much in the way of the "hand and foot" part of the equation. He has a slew of mosquito bites on his legs and arms from the pool the other night... there is one small bump on his heel that the doctor used to make the diagnosis, but it really looks like a continuation of the path of the same hungry skeeter. He also has one bump on the top of his hand that also just looks like like mosquito bite.

Hand, foot and mouth sores appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet!

It should be noted that she did claim she saw bumps on his throat, but he doesn't open his mouth for her, so I really can't imagine how good of a look she got.

Also, none of the other kids in the neighborhood are sick. (which is strange because that was really the only place for him to be exposed)

Honestly? (not that it matters in the end because the treatment is the same --there is none) My money is still on roseola... guess we'll see in the few days if the rash shows up.

Either way, my poor little fevery dude is taking it rather well. He's so pitiful, but still trying to be happy. :(

We are trying to decide how this is going to affect our weekend plans. We were going to take Ben to see Wall-E today, but now are going to wait until tomorrow to see if Simon is better. Tom and I were also going to have a date day, but something's gotta give because there are only two days in a weekend. ;)

Also waiting to see if the bump that looks like a mosquito bite on the top of BEN'S hand turns into anything...

(sigh)

Oh, For the Love of Pete...

The answer was d) Some other random virus.

A.K.A. Hand, Foot and Mouth...a.k.a. Coxsackie Virus.

I don't know why it didn't occur to me either, because we were indirectly exposed to it through some friends whose other friend had recently turned up with it. Luckily (and I am crossing every possible limb on this one), Benjamin shouldn't get it because he had it over the winter.

Sigh.

Impeccable Timing...

Simon is running a high fever... of course, I didn't discover this until four hours after we got home from the doctor's office. He felt warm before he went down for his nap, but we had been running errands in the heat, so I chalked it up to that.

Anyway, shall we take bets on the cause? Here are your choices:
1) Ear infection
2) Teeth (doesn't usually cause a HIGH fever... but a girl can hope, right?)
3) Roseola (no cold-like stuff recently, but a girl can hope, right?)
4) Random virus

It's really a tough call. He doesn't seem to be in any pain or have any symptoms other than being a little cranky and not wanting anything to eat, which is why I am torn between ear infection and roseola. I would be thrilled if it were roseola because it's a good one to get over and done with) But, sadly, ear infection is probably the most likely culprit. I guess we'll find out tomorrow when I make yet another trek to the pediatrician's office.

Ew.

Ben had a followup of a followup of an ear infection this morning. (don't ask... I swear, I think they just like see me every week!) Anyway, she actually removed one of his tubes since they have now both fallen out and are just hanging out in his ear canal. It was gag-a-riffic. It must have hurt too because he wasn't letting her near the other ear for the second tube.

Also, she agreed with me (Hell? Frozen? Pigs? Flying?) about waiting on his adenoids. Woohoo!

All in all not a bad morning, except that now Simon is boycotting the nap he seemed so desperate to take while we were at the Dr.'s office. And also, now I owe Ben a new fish for sitting still while the doctor used a six inch stick to dig around in his ear for five minutes. I didn't expect her to do that or I would have prepared him better... Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I had to pull out the big guns and just all out bribe him.

C'est la vie.

I need more coffee.

For the PH Gang...

If any of you didn't see this on Facebook yesterday...
Mrs. Lamp passed away. :(

On a More Superficial Note...

I need a new diaper bag. I have been using the freebie Enfamil/Similac bags I got both times I was in the hospital and they are now 100% shot. The question I have been pondering is, should I buy an actual DIAPER bag at this point or should I just get Simon a little backpack like Ben's and carry that around instead? (and then, obviously, when Three comes along, I'll get another of those freebie bags).

The only problem I see with the backpack idea is what I would do with MY stuff like my phone/wallet etc... Hrm... I could just get a cute generic-loking tote of some kind.

What are you carrying around these days?

The More You Know. ;)

(remember those little segments on Saturday mornings?) ;)

Anyway, there was a discussion yesterday on the mommy message board I read about whether or not someone's child is dyslexic because they reverse the lowercase letters "b" and "d". Seeing as pretty much ALL of us replied that our four-year-olds do the same thing, it's obviously quite normal. But one of the moms posted this wonderful article about how children learn to read and write and how their natural inclinations prepare them for these activities. It's really, really fascinating!

One of the things it talks about is how kids can't really do either until their brain has all the right connections. And to make those connections, the best thing you can do for them is well, let them be kids! Run, jump, skip, play! All of those help wire the brain to eventually let them write, read and comprehend and SIT STILL. ;)

Other than reassuring me that we're doing all the right things with Ben, it also made me love his preschool even more than I already do. As I read this, I remembered his teacher and the director last year talking about ALL these things. And that school (and other preschools like it) is an oasis of sorts in a world where we've gone to all-day kindergarten most places and we're forcing little kids (especially boys!) to sit at desks and work when they should still be playing more than sitting...

Swimmin'...

Just a few pics of the kids and their friends at the pool this afternoon!



Getting ready to go in the big pool

Belly bumps

Put up your dukes!

Ears and Noses and Throats, Oh My...

So my children, as you are probably well aware from reading this blogg, they are afflicted (thanks again to an unfortunate combination of genes) with chronic ear infections. Ben got tubes at about 30 months... they lasted until just recently. But since they have no longer been in he has had two ear infections... during the time of year when you don't expect kids to have ear infections, which is apparently a big deal.

Simon got his tubes at eight months and pretty much just continued on getting ear infections in one year because one of his tubes got blocked with wax or gunk or whatever.

A visit to the ENT on Friday yielded not so good news. Simon needs that tube replaced. That's the easy part, and I'll probably schedule it for early August. Thankfully, the doctor reassured me that he can hear just fine out of his left ear, and his right ear is only muffled.

Benjamin could probably stand to have both his tubes replaced and the doctor has also recommended he have his adenoids out at the same time. OY, what a decision. It's only a slightly bigger deal than having tubes put in, but he'll need Motrin a lot for a few days afterward. And let me tell you, from experience, Ben coming out of anesthesia is not pretty. I'm very afraid that he's old enough now to be rather traumatized by the whole experience.

The doctor said there's no rush on the decision for Ben and I'm weighing the idea of waiting through a winter to see how healthy he stays and giving his allergy medicine a chance (since he wasn't on it last year and chronic allergies are a HUGE contributor to ear infections) vs. getting him in before our deductible resets on November 1st. So we'll see...

He actually suggested having both kids done at the same time. But, lordy, can you imagine trying to manage two kids coming out of anesthesia? (and they both want mommy?!) No, I think I'll pass on that, thanks!

Which is Harder?

Boys or Girls? Interesting article on CNN.com. ;) After reading, I somehow feel like I got the harder end of the deal than my friends/family who have girls... at least for the next 8-12 years.

Pictures...

A few pics from yesterday, courtesy of Krystyna because yeah, I didn't take a single one.

The shower cake Krystyna made. And yes, we lit the candles, though couldn't come up with a Happy Shower song. ;)


Anastasia practicing for her birthday next month


Sarah being forced to don the bridal ears... she was none too pleased.


Bow hats rule


Ah, that pre-children glow..


Sisters by marriage! :)

Finished! :)

Wahoo! And everything went off pretty well! I went to bed at 8p.m. and slept like a log until 6:45. I'd post pictures, but I didn't actually take any. I know my SIL took a few, so hopefully she'll send those along today sometime (hint hint).

Next up, my niece's 1st birthday and then the wedding! :D It's going to be a ridiculously busy and fun August!

Shower Day!

Probably won't get much chance to update later... lots to do. But two quick tidbits about my kiddos...

1) Ben's hermit crab, Mr. Blue, died last week. He was very sad. Tom made a deal that if he ate a vegetable every night for a week, he could pick out a fish for his room. He did (and now likes broccoli and zucchini!) and yesterday, they went out and picked out a little 1-gallon aquarium and a fish Ben has named "Good Eats" (yes, after the show on the Food Network) Last night, he wanted to sleep on the floor next to the shelf where Good Eats' aquarium sits... we came up to find him on the floor with his pillow.

2) Simon says, "Pap", my father-in-law's grandfather name. See, my inlaws were smart in their name choices that way. Pap was easy for both my kids to say pretty early on. "Nanee" came quickly and easily for Ben too and probably will for Simon. My mom, however, has a much longer wait with "Grandmom." Ben called her "Susie" way before he called her Grandmom. ;) Dad's name, Poppy, should be not too far behind Pap. But yeah, Grandmom will need to be patient.

Off to work. I'll try to update later... maybe even with pics. ;)

Hello from the Land of Fruit and Vegetable Chopping...

I swear I chopped things for three hours straight this morning... possibly one of every fruit and vegetable known to man. (if anyone has seen my current Facebook status, this is not news to you).

But, anyway... all the food prep for the shower is done. And, thanks to my mom coming over to iron table cloths and give things an artistic touch, the decorations and table setting stuff are both done too. Two of the three floors are clean (I always save the basement for last because the boys need SOMEWHERE to be until tomorrow morning). I still have to run around tomorrow morning and get ice, a few more flowers and some balloons and then I quit. Put a fork in me, I'm done... well, except for the actual hosting part, but this is an easy group that way and I have lots of help.

Tired. So tired.

Did I mention the graduation party I now have to attend this evening for my husband's cousin? (my husband's family are the masters of the Guilt Trip. Seriously, they should patent their techniques... I am hosting the entire family at my home tomorrow at 1, had to do all the prep and cleaning today and have still somehow been convinced it's necessary I show up at the graduation party...) I'll be making an appearance, but I may be sleeping through it.

(yawn)

Simon is 14 Months Old!

Dear Simon,

Today you are 14 months old!

You spent the majority of the month mastering walking. About a week ago, (when we were about to go to the Aquarium, where I just couldn't let you be barefoot... ick) I reazlized that you haven't worn shoes (or socks) of any kind in probably three months. You love being barefoot and were none too pleased when I slapped a pair of your brother's old size 4.5 tennis shoes on you. You looked down at your feet quizzically, pounded them on the floor and then grabbed at them and looked at me as if to say, "What's the deal with the cement blocks, mommy?" Then you tried to walk in them and it was just not pretty. Halfway through the aquarium, while in the backpack, you starting fidgeting and fussing and did not stop until I removed those darn shoes. You were happy as a clam to spend the rest of the visit in your socks, which were black by the time we left. Ew.

Yesterday, I took you for your first pair of shoes because, I'm sorry, but a kid needs shoes now and then even if it's summertime. I found out that, though your little feet are a size 4 they put you in size 5.5!! No wonder you cried when I crammed those piggies into size 4's. Sorry buddy, you live, you learn. If it makes you feel any better, your brother's current shoes were a size and a half too small too. My bad! ;) Anyway, now that you actually have comfortable shoes on your feet, you wore them without complaint for a lot of the day yesterday and you are getting used to walking in them. :)


I love your baby kisses and now you also do big baby hugs where you throw your arms around us and squeeze. You are such a big teddy bear. :) You are back to being a little on the clingy side this month... I think that nasty old tooth popping through in the back and the other three threatening are giving you a little trouble. You are still sleeping well though and for that, we are grateful! However, I do think you are dropping the morning nap.... why do you have to grow up so fast? ;)

You don't eat as much as you used to, but you still will eat just about anything. Last week, it was smoked salmon and flounder... this week you tried zucchini! For some reason though, you have decided that carrots are evil and all you want to do is squish them with your thumb. Also, we have discovered that you seem to have an allergic reaction to spinach, which is VERY sad because creamed spinach is one of your most favorite foods ever. When you even see the box come out of the freezer you, go nuts, "Dat! Dat! Dat!!" and can hardly wait for me to cook it and cool it off.

You love pretty much any toy Ben is playing with and you are starting to drive him insane. Watching you toddle after your big brother though just melts my heart. Your favorite toy of his these days (other than whatever he is holding), is his magnetic fish puzzle. You will scurry into his room whatever chance you get, take it off the shelf and start fishing. You also know his bedtime medicine routine and will take his nose spray off the shelf, pop the cap off and stick it up your nose... or in your eye. You crack us up!

You've discovered you can climb onto the couch if you take a cushion off, which is extremely annoying, though cute... especially after you do it and you look so proud of yourself.

You dance this month! Your dance pretty much consists of bopping your head back and forth like Stevie Wonder and then you "sing" along in sort of a tone-deaf baby sort of way. I really do need to get this on video because it's very funny when you really get into it. Your favorite thing to dance to is our neighbor's Batman bike that plays music. Anytime it's outside, you'll climb on and start pushing the buttons. You'll sit on it for a half hour just bopping your head around and singing.

You laugh SO much. Daddy says he had you laughing so hard at something or other last night that you had tears running down your face. Oh, I hope you always do that... it's beautiful!

We love you, Little Dude!
Love,
Mommy

Is it Already Thursday?!

Cripes. I have so much to do... and now I've decided I can create one of theseas the table centerpiece/fruit side dish... why? Because I'm insane, that's why. But I figure the fruit all has to be cut up anyway, how much more work can it be to stick it on skewers and shove it into a flower pot? I'll let you know. ;)

Simon is FINALLY actually cutting a molar (for real! I feel the little pointy thing!) and is a little fussy about the whole thing... he is also transitioning to one nap, so I can never guarantee when he's going to sleep these days. So it hasn't been easy to get things accomplished around the house... but for some reason, both kids are cooperative to run errands, so we've just been running all over town. Yesterday it was Target, the dump, Babies R Us and Michaels. I should probably hit the grocery store and pick up the non-perishable stuff from my shower list.... we'll see if the boys are up for a ride in the little car-shaped grocery cart this morning.

One of our neighbors told my about the 4H Fair at the fairgrounds that runs through this weekend. It's totally free and I've heard it's a blast... so we might do that today too. Anything to keep my kids OUT of the house so they won't tear it up any more than they already have this week.

Off to go get some things accomplished/drink more coffee before they awake from their peaceful slumber...

What Good Are Kids if You Can't Put 'Em to Work? ;)

We have to sweep sand around the patio for a few weeks to get in between the cracks... Tom and I sat back and let the boys do it. ;)






And here are a few random cute ones...
Guys? What's wrong with my swing?

He's cute, he knows it...

Cute closeup

Closeup of Ben... who is a lot harder to get a non-candid picture of. ;)

Finished!

The patio is finished and it is beautiful, a bit empty at the moment, but beautiful nonetheless. The most beautiful part about it is actually something I didn't even realize until just a moment ago. I can put up the baby gate at the opening in the back and have a giant backyard playpen for the boys!!! I am also excited to be able to put up TWO swings, one baby, one big-boy, and plenty of room for the sandbox, the little pool, and some furniture!

Here are a few pics!
Top deck


Patio


View from the back door

The Busy Bees at My House...

Mike and company of patio/deck building blog fame, showed up yesterday morning sometime a little after 7. I went about my day and finally ended up in the basement with the boys around 1. I opened the blinds so the boys could watch the work and holy hole in a doughnut, there was a patio. In the morning, there was dirt (okay, mud) and six hours later, there was a beautiful patio. Today it looks like they'll be doing the little deck railings to go around it and the privacy fence and then I think they are finished! So exciting!

Eventually I'll get out there to take pictures, but mostly I've just been trying to stay out of the way and then in the evenings, my neighbor with whom I now feel like I'm on somewhat strained terms, sits out in his deck with his wife and I just don't feel like having that interaction right now.

As for me being a busy bee... eh, I was kinda sluggish yesterday. I tried to go get Simon's iron blood test done, but turns out the Labcorp I usually go has closed up shop since last I was there. Then we hit the store for a few things... Came home... Ben watched some PBS while I worked on the favors for the shower. Then I worked on dinner (and ohmygoodness you need to follow that link and try this recipe my SIL gave me!) and we went to visit my parents for a bit. I'm hoping to be more productive than that today... or maybe go to the pool. ;)

Pics later... :)

I know things are more expensive thesedays...but sheesh!

This Just In...

Simon likes lox. By far, not the weirdest food he's liked... but still, funny.

Busy Week...

I have an insane week coming up because this Sunday, my house is the venue for my soon-to-be new sister-in-law's (wow, that was a lot of hyphens) wedding shower. I have so much to do and two children to continuously undo most of it, so I'll be trying to keep up with them and their messes all week long. I'm tired just thinking about it. That part is way more exhausting than the actual day of the shower work!

Thankfully, my other SIL is also doing a ton plus making food and my MIL and her family are making a lot of the food... but I will be still be running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off. I've decided not to panic about where 18 people are going to go because it's worked out before. And, frankly, as long as everyone over 60 years old has a place to sit, I really don't care if some people need to park themselves on the floor!

Anyway, so yeah... that's the week I'm looking at. I'm also hoping and praying that our patio construction doesn't get slowed down by rain. It'd be nice to have the big Bobcat thing out of the yard by the shower... but I've also decided not to worry about that because it's out of my hands!

In other news, we had THE most gigantic thunderstorm last night! I was SURE it would wake up the kids, but somehow, it didn't. I was woken out of a sound sleep by a simultaneous thunder/lightning combination that set off car alarms up and down the street! I like thunderstorms... but not when they're that close! Sheesh!

Ah well... off to start work on my to-do list! :)

Fishies!

We took the boys to the aquarium today and Aunt Krystyna, Uncle Marc and Anastasia came along! The kids had fun and we got a few cute pics. :)

Simon and Anastasia looking out at the boats


Just cute


Hee


Ben looking at the sharks


Simon and the shark


Simon just being Simon


Ben listening to the bubbles


Stingrays!

More July 4th Pics...

Simon and Uncle Marc

Simon using Anastasia's head as leverage

We ALL love the same toy...

Failed attempt at a picture of all three cousins

Simon eyeing up Anastasia's toy...

Fourth of July Boys...

We recreated last year's 4th of July picture and I think you'll agree, the result and the comparison from last year are both rather humorous! ;)




I really need to start remembering to position Simon more behind Ben... anytime he is remotely in the foreground, he looks the same size as his big brother! (I know it doesn't look like it, but Ben has about 7 pounds and 8 inches on him these days)

He's a Lover, Not a Fighter...

Simon is all into giving kisses now. If he even hears you use the word "kiss" in a sentence, watch out, because if you happen to be in the vicinity, he'll attack you, whipping his head around and attempting to latch his open mouth onto yours. It's cute, except when you get head butted in the process.

He also has big hugs for pretty much anyone and everyone... and the smiles, they seriously NEVER stop. I can't get over how happy go lucky this kid is, it just amazes me every day! I'm told my brother was like this, as was Tom's youngest brother. I can tell you right now that he doesn't get this personality from me!

When Tom and I went to the outlets during our beach trip, we got stopped in literally EVERY store we went in just because anytime anyone looks at Simon, he flashes them the dimples and they feel compelled to stop and talk to him. One lady even went to far as to fondle his feet, which I thought was a little weird, but oh well.

On the other hand, I'm realizing now that Ben, sadly, was the baby no one wanted to stop and talk to. ;) (because, even to this day, if a stranger talks to him, he scowls at them... as a baby, he'd often start screaming.) There is one cashier who we see all the time at one of our frequent stops who always teases him about being in a bad mood. He has to REALLY know someone to even give them the time of day. I really have NO idea who he may get that from... (looks around innocently)

Anyway, just further proof that two kids from the same parents, raised the same way, can be 180 degrees different... it's interesting... and fun to observe! :)

To Which I Replied, "Seriously?"

I was walking Ben home this afternoon and passed by my next door neighbor's house (the one who we share the side yard with). His wife was outside weeding and said hello. I said hi and then apologized once again for the mess (a necessary mess, but a mess nonetheless) in our yard.

Her reply? "Oh it's not the mess that's bothering me. It's the NOISE."

(insert record scratch sound)

OH wait, it gets better.

"My daughter and I have been up at 7 every morning for three days because of all the noise. And it's not even the hammering and banging and the big machine. It's them throwing things in the truck!"

Okay, for real? And I did not say any of the following, but I should have.

a) Do you realistically expect any kind of outside home project to be completed silently?

b) Did you not just replace your roof which I had to listen to for three full days?

c) Did you also not just replace YOUR deck last summer which I ALSO had to listen to for three full days? (not to mention, you tore up your fair share of the side yard and hill in the process?

d) Oh boo hoo. You have to be awake at 7a.m.? Wah wah wah. I was up at 6!

Instead I said, "Well, it'll be done soon and hopefully, it'll look a lot nicer for you guys too."

Here's the thing. I like these people. They've been nothing but nice to us since we moved in... but sometimes they just say things like this and I can just tell they put up a nice front most of the time, but go back inside and whine about how annoying and stupid and young we are.

My next door neighbor on the other side just had a cement patio poured a few months ago and rebuilt HIS deck last summer. YES, it's true I can't stand him... and YES, the noise and mess was annoying, but in the end, his backyard is a lot nicer to live next to. So it was worth the week of annoyance.

Also, might I add, the first two years we lived here, I heard nothing from this neighbor except how awful the guy we bought our house from was to live next to. How he threw furniture and trash bags in the yard and peed off the side of the deck and threw wild parties. Can't they just be grateful we're not him and that we're making our house look nicer?

Seriously.

Deck... Day 3!

The top deck appears to be complete except for the wood railing around the top. I'm sure there is some kind of technical builder's term for that. ;)

But anyway... shout out to Mike! (the younger one) His wife Heidi informed him he made the blog two days ago (he is the legs in the picture of the boys looking out the window) and he couldn't believe I had snapped a pic that fast because I had just had the door open to refill his water bottle. ;) Thanks for stopping in and saying hello yesterday! That was my SIL Sarah who I rudely forgot to introduce you to! Sarah, Mike. Mike, Sarah. There you go.

Yesterday, the boys and I played in the basement for awhile and Ben wanted to put on his toolbelt. He also made me put all the tools into the belt for him. Then he "built a deck" out of his big cardboard blocks. ;) It was a nice break from talking about fish all day. ;)

Anyway, I think there may be some patio action today... I'll try to snap some pics later. (watch out, Mike!)

Deck Day 2...

7a.m. begins the hammering, sawing, drilling and other miscellaneous noises I can't identify. Doesn't bother me at all because I'm always up this early, if not earlier... but man, I am going to owe ALL my neighbors on the entire street fresh baked muffins or something after this week... ;) They are they moving SO fast though! I think the top deck is going to be nearly finished sometime today!

I saw my next door neighbor outside last night and walked over to apologize for the giant tire tracks in the yard. He said it was fine, not to worry about it. But I could tell he was mildly annoyed. He even said something to the effect of, "Well, they really didn't need to use that." (but seriously, how else were they going to transport a zillion tons of wood up our crazy steep hill to the backyard?)

I told him we would seed it after the project is done... however, this guy, who is about my parents' age, treats us like we are his kids or something and just kind of laughed (I actually half expected him to pat me on the head) and said, "No no... seed won't take in the summertime. I was thinking you guys could go in on an aerator with me in the fall and we could aerate the whole side lawn and seed then." Frankly, I just wanted him to tolerate the Bobcat being on our shared lawn for another week, so I said we were game. (he's been wanting to do that for several years now, so may as well... though most of the bare patches are from his dog... sigh)

Another neighbor (from the other end) walked down around 5 and poked her head around to see what was going on. She commented that we sure were putting a lot into our house. (she came inside a few months ago to see how our attic stairs were installed and also saw the hardwood and took a peek at the bathroom we had redone) I said we planned on being here for awhile! Plus, the things we are doing are mostly things that need to be done before we would sell anyway... our deck was in awful shape and I'm surprised it passed inspection the FIRST time around! Anyway, she seemed pleased to hear we'd be here for awhile.... hopefully it makes her happy enough that she'll tolerate the noise for the next week. ;)

Townhouse neighborhoods can be so complicated!

Pics of the deck progress later. Might take the boys to the pool today to get away for a bit. :)