Kid free weekend!

Monday was an exciting day around here! We have 2 enormous silver maples in the backyard that drive us nuts with the helicopters in the spring and leaves in the fall. There was also a large ice crack in one main branch. Not to mention the branches were about a foot from the house and it just seemed to be a hazard. We had an arborist come out to give us some options and he said it would have to come down.





The arborist came out with his crew which included a big crane and a bucket truck.

The guy up in the bucket would secure the crane's yoke around a limb, then cut, and the crane would lift the cut limb up and over the house to be fed through a chipper and into the back of a big truck.


Kasper didn't get to see any of it but I think he would've loved it. Or completely hated it, hard to guess.

Rob stopped by around lunch time and said it was about the coolest thing he had ever seen. He was also in shock by the absence of the tree. It had to be done, they couldn't trim it, but it was still a punch in the gut. I don't know how you prepare yourself for it! Our backyard went from mostly woods to full sun directly on the house.


When we got home after work there was an instant panic and a "WHAT DID WE JUST DO?" but in the end it was a great decision. It's obvious that large trees really draw us to a property and it's such a shame that the previous owner didn't do the necessary trimming that goes with a silver maple so close to a house. Can you tell it still hurts my heart a little that tree is gone??




We left a big stump as a landscaping feature.

Before

After


The house and deck look so grungy now in the full sun. Also, we need some landscaping!




Some typical bedtime clowning.


Marlo is screwing around, jumping and laughing. Kasper is reading. He's that kid that disappears and you find him reading in some corner. Also, "no books at the table" is our new motto. I love it so much.


Pure Marlo right here.







Kasper joined her for a minute then back to his books.












Look! The book monster is re-emerging!





Someone had a smoothie and used a "I-Be-Vewy-Caweful"



Last night of t-ball! Kasper was sort of over it and mostly shuffled around in the dirt instead of listening and participating. Oh well. We learned that he actually enjoys t-ball so that's a win. Marlo is going to miss this playground.


Lots of static in the slide!




She'd come down the slide with crazy hair and as soon as I touched her foot the hair would fall down.




Daycare was closed for a half day on Friday so we sent the kids up to St. Cloud to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa! Rob and I spent tons of time outside, stand up paddling on Lake Minnetonka, out for Bootleggers at Maynards, long walks.



Friday night we met Steph and Tim for pizza and did another escape room! This time we FAILED and hindsight is a real bitch. There were a couple things we missed that we really shouldn't have. We have to redeem ourselves and soon.


Yesterday was 100 degrees so after a couple pastries and coffee, Rob and I went for a long walk/run then headed for the AC. We started and finished a trim project in our closet that I'm so happy is finished. We had dinner reservations but figured we had been out and about so much we kind of wanted to stay home! We made our favorite pasta dish and ate dinner in front of a movie.

It sounds like the kids had such a fun time. They went fishing, paddle boating, kite flying, bowling. They even went to Subway for lunch and Kasper ate an entire sandwich.






We had brunch over here this morning to celebrate a couple half birthdays for the kids, Tim's birthday and a belated Father's Day. The kids and my parents got here around 10:30 and Marlo didn't let go of me for at least 5 minutes. She was saying "MOMMY!!!!" and holding my face looking deep into my eyes and doling out more kisses than I've ever seen. I think she missed me.





We stayed around here tonight, watching monster trucks on TV after nap time, swinging, grilling, watering, etc. A nice little Sunday!

Who are the parents and why do they let their kid sit so close to the TV??

Oh! And look who moved in this week! We are really running quite the B&B in the front yard. These bluebirds are different from the ones earlier this summer I'm pretty sure because they aren't nearly as blue. In fact the female isn't blue at all. Hmm.


Hope everyone had a great weekend!