Month of Parties!

It seems June is a popular time to have a birthday!  We have had lots of reasons to celebrate in a short amount of time!

Tyler's outdoor water-fun birthday party

JP's sports-themed birthday party at West Campus (he just keeps moving up in Rudy's book)

Dominic's race car birthday party

An evening with the Davlin's, just because

Isabela's birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Cicci's

Nolan's birthday party, full of water fun and an indoor picnic

It is so nice having such great friends with kids our kids' ages to get together with!  We really are so lucky.  Rudy does so well around "his friends" and really looks forward to any time we get with them.  Sure it can be hectic and chaotic at times, but it's all worth it!  And yes, all this with a newborn that joined in on all the fun festivities! 

And thought I'd throw in a few pictures of the outdoor progress… amongst all the partying, we have been trying to get the outside project done, too.  It's been quite a challenge for a few reasons: 1) it rains a lot lately, but not full rainy days - days of 30% chances of rain and maybe a rain shower for a couple hours here or there; just enough that we can't plan on doing work or risk starting something because it might rain.  And what's frustrating even more are the days when we don't do anything and it's a perfectly sunny day all day.. 2) the rain has been a big factor in a couple pieces - we need to seal the concrete but in order to do so John has to power wash it, have time for it to dry, then a good clear day to apply the sealer and time for it to dry… all without any rain.  Mix in work days and it has been difficult to find the time!  He did get the courtyard done, I'll post pictures of that soon.  3) A big reason we did the new concrete was because of the water issues we had and concerns with flooding.  The slopes of everything were going towards our house, but now they go away from our house.  We had to raise the driveway up several inches in some areas, which left us with new problem areas.  We need to raise our dirt or what will be grass up several inches to match the concrete so that the water runs off of it, instead of getting stopped by it, creating Lake Cicci.  We were going to just bring in a bunch of dirt and put it down, but decided we better get someone to come in and grade it (grate it?) so we make sure it is done right, considering the problems we could have - both in the front and in the side yard.  This has all slowed down our landscaping plans.  We did get the courtyard plants in, and I'll share pictures of that soon as it is almost all the way done (gasp).  One day everything be done and we will be bored., right?!  (or John will want to move..)

Here are a few pictures of the front concrete, unsealed, with the rock John spread.
View from the street, looking down the left side of the house    

View from the street, looking towards the house

View from our neighbors driveway, looking into the carport

A close up view of the "sidewalk" we put in from the edge of the driveway to the courtyard gate, which extends all the way to the backyard

View from the back of the driveway, looking towards the street

And as of yesterday, the concrete is all sealed (with 2 coats even!) and the concrete project is DONE!! Pictures coming soon…