Our Boys Are Getting BIG!

Don't blink, these boys are growing up fast!! This was taken during a recent trip to Stow (an unplanned trip-- those always seem to go as planned!) In this picture, Adam is almost 2, Ben is 2, and Matthew is 4 1/2.

Are you sure there is no way to stop time?!

Patio Project 2009

Summer vacation is finally here! I thought it would be fun to tackle one of my major "to-do's" on the list.

Here's the "before" picture. The previous owners had a small patio in the back corner of the backyard. I had to take it out in order to put in the fence (a project that I DIDN'T do myself!) We've been talking about adding another patio since then.

So the digging begins. Matthew was a big help. He was in charge of digging out all the roots from all the dirt. He called them "little trees that were buried in the ground."

Of course, Adam couldn't resist a big dirt pile!

Here's one of me trying to remove the biggest root I encountered in the "big dig." I hope I didn't kill the tree by removing it and the others. After all, it's the tree that provides the shade all day long in the back corner.

The mega root!

Once the hole was complete, it was time to fill it up again, first with a gravel layer, then sand. Here's me laying out the pavers and hoping they were level.

And TA-DA!! The final product! It turned out really nice. Now, just imagine a nice patio swing instead of the chaise lounge, and it will be complete (with a little landscaping too in the corner). I guess I can be handy around the house. It must be all those HGTV shows we watch every weekend. Just don't ask me to remodel a bathroom!!

Now, the rest of my vacation will be recovering, with a bottle of Tylenol nearby!

Summer is HERE! (Unofficially!)

Summer has arrived at the NaylorNutHouse! Christie is done with school, and Matthew and Adam have a week off from pre-school/day care before returning on a part-time basis. So, to help kick things off, Christie and I took them to the Columbus Zoo this week. Even though we're members, it was nice to be there with all the vegetation back. It really felt like you were walking through the Asian jungle, or Australia, etc. And most, if not all, the animals were out.

The zoo has a new exhibit where kids can interact with some of the more exotic animals (unlike the barnyard variety). Adam and Matthew had a close encounter with "Shorty" the flamingo. We also took the boat ride in the Australia exhibit. It was Adam's first experience. And we all said our first "hello" to the newest addition at the zoo, the baby elephant.

Dance Moves

I don't think Matthew is quite ready for "America's Got Talent," but he's working on some fancy new dance moves.

Memorial Day Parade

We took the boys to the Memorial Day parade in Powell, Ohio. What a way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Backyard Roller Coaster: The Video

Roller Coaster in the Backyard

It was only a matter of time. Matthew's love of roller coasters has turned into an obsession his grandparents love to keep feeding (his parents do too)! And this one is the icing on the cake: his very own coaster in the backyard. Grandma and Grandpa made a special trip to Columbus to help assemble it and watch the first 100 runs or so (he's been up and down this thing so many times... we've lost track). Adam also loves taking it for a ride from time to time. And since I'm such a freak when it comes to the lawn, I keep moving it around so the tracks in the grass don't become permanent. I can only imagine how bad I'll be when the swimming pool comes out for the season.