Home Improvements

I had been wanting to get rid of our carpet for awhile now, so I finally convinced Matt to go look at hardwood over spring break and we picked some out.  The last week of school, we had it installed and I love it!  It makes everything look better.  It definitely shows dirt (which I'm sure was always there but I couldn't see it) so I have to sweep more.  It's also not quite done.  The caulk needs put on and nail holes puttied.  Also, there are a few pieces of trim to be reattached and where the wood and carpet meet isn't done yet.

nice photobomb, Emmy :)

 Also on the list of Matt didn't want to, but I can be quite convincing...was an above ground pool.  I saw a sale on them over Memorial Day and thought it'd be great for the kids (pool, hardwood floors, and puppy were all on my list 😁).  So the work began.  I had NO idea we'd have to do so much to get the pool ready.  We got 9 tons of sand to even out the ground, then had to build a brick wall to hold the sand in place.

 After putting together the pool and filling it, this is what it looked like:

 Yucky brown!!  I did a lot of searching online and YouTube to see what to do.  We also went to a pool store several times to have the water tested.  After 2 weeks, we couldn't wait any longer and we jumped in.  The water was still a little green, but the kids didn't mind!

We got a sand filter instead of the cruddy one it came with and the pool is looking good!  I was just excited once we could finally see the bottom!🏊  I can't wait to make some awesome memories in the pool.

Weekend Projects

We are in the process of getting a barn built in our backyard.  To do that, we'll need a drive that will go right through our current garden.  So, we decided to build raised beds since we needed a new garden anyway.  Matt worked really hard to build the boxes and get load after load of dirt to fill them up.  We were just going to build one, but then realized that we wanted to plant more.  We planted strawberries, tomatoes, peas, herbs, green peppers, kale, carrots, and zucchini.  The kids helped with the planting and raking the dirt.  We are hoping that with more sun, water right next to it, and raised beds to keep out the critters, we'll get a better crop this year than in years past.

 At the end of April, we bought an RV.  We had been looking around and found a good deal on a 10 year old RV that we couldn't pass up.  It needed some major cleaning and could use some sprucing up on the inside, but it's in good shape and will fit our needs.  We can't wait to take it out and learn how to use it.  I am super excited to sleep off the ground and have somewhere to go if it rains.  The kids are having a ball playing in it.

I'm hoping to redo the wall paper border.

There are 4 bunk beds in the back.

REALLY small, but usable bathroom

The picture does not due justice to the ugly curtains.  I want to get new fabric for all the curtains and cushions.  But it works for now!

I am loving that the weather has been nice enough for us to get outside and get some things done.  Counting down the days until summer break! :)

End of Summer Pictures

Well, with school starting in less than a week (AHH!), I thought I should make sure my blog was all caught up! :)  So this will be a hodgepodge of the pictures I haven't posted yet from the end of July through now!

4-H Fair
We had a great time at the fair again this year.  Matt and I had a date night with Amos and Jess to watch Danielle Bradbury and the Swon Brothers (country contests from "The Voice") in concert.  Grace had pigs for the first time so we spent a day watching her show them.  And, of course, you can't forget the yummy food!!

Matt scored this for me!

Landon was quite content to ride the little rides, but Emmy wanted to follow Tyler and Grace on the big kid rides so I didn't get her picture! :)

Way to go, Grace!

Kitchen Back splash
I convinced Matt that it would be "easy" to put up a back splash in our kitchen.  Watching HGTV makes it seem so simple and rather inexpensive.  We tackled the project in about 3 days from painting ALL the individual stone tiles with sealant (day 1) to sticking up all the tiles with mortar and cutting them with a wet saw (day 2) to grouting over all the tiles (day 3).  The grouting was the worst.  It was so messy and took a long time to clean, but I really love the end result.  It helps give our very brown kitchen some character.
Before:

 After:

Grand Camp

Although I don't have any pictures to show (I've heard Emerson took about 99 on her little camera), I heard some wonderful stories about the experiences both kids had at Camp Mack with Todd and Cathy for Grand Camp!  We are so blessed to have grandparents close by to help our kiddos experience God in new ways.  They are both already looking forward to going back!!

Horse Rides

We live next to some great neighbors who have horses and Emerson frequently asks to ride them.  So Tammy set up a little obstacle course for her horse, Sugar, to walk around and the kids had a great time riding her.

Lake Time

The Mathis Family, Dad's first cousins, rented a house on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver and invited us and mom and dad to come visit for the day.  Everybody had a great time and a relaxing day.

And this is what happens after a full day...watch out Kindergarten :)

We had such a wonderful summer and it is sad to see it end, but we are beginning a new chapter in our lives and can't wait to see what God has in store for us next!

Chickens at the Hahn Farm

Matt:  I've been looking at getting a chicken coop with some chickens for eggs.

Me:  Uh, no...I don't think so.

Not many days/weeks later...here is what we have in our backyard!!

Matt's done quite a bit of work getting the coop and "outdoor space" ready for the new animals.  And I must admit, it's not as bad as I thought it would be.  As long as we can keep the poop in the coop area and the rooster(s) don't crow and the 4 escapees learn to stay in the pen, we'll be set! :)

The first 5 chickens going to their new home

 The kiddos have been really helpful with the chickens.  They like to feed, pet, and retrieve eggs every day.

 Then, since the first 5 were too little to lay, Matt added these beauties who all lay almost every day!

Our first egg!!

 Just last week, we got 4 more (for a total of 14) chickens.  These are the new and biggest guys who can't figure out how to stay IN the fence.  Every night Matt has to shoo them back into the coop.  We've gotten quite a few eggs already.  I'm sure we'll have to figure our what to do once we get too many!  But for now, we're all learning how to live on our new farm! :)