Yard Work... Hard Work

This has been our longest week in over a month with Jordan actually working 5 days, he strategically took holidays and days off to get long weekends as well as having a paid long weekend too. It was a bit hard to get through this seemingly long week, thankfully we had a birthday party and a teddy bear picnic with friends to get out and have some fun!!
I've still been trying to get rid of this virus that I've had for 2 weeks now, the kids seem to be over it but I still have daily headaches along with other random symptoms which constantly change, hoping it will go away soon and I can regain some energy.

I love seeing my babies sleep- especially together- brothers!

Otherwise we were at home, doing LOTS of yard work once Jordan was home from work, going for some bike rides and of course spending a day with Oma.

How the yard has looked for the past 3 months

Now the deck and wood piles have been moved and our tree planted!

Our yard is coming along, but it still has to get worse before it can get better as it is mostly a big dirt hole now, the kids are filthy from head to toe everyday but seem to love every minute of it! We've been tackling the outrageously over grown blackberry bushes that have taken over the side of our yard, and what a task that has been- a painful one too! We're so thankful for Jordan's friend Brent (who has helped around the yard numerous times now) and came out all day saturday and was helping Jordan tackle this project, he makes sure Jordan doesn't take too many breaks, the kids love him and he always brings his dog Boey!

Jaxon and Boey

Jaxon fell asleep while they were working on the machine... again!

Dirty happy face!

the looks I get sometimes...

endless giggles on the swing

and of course Hudson is always hanging around, nice to have one that is still immobile!

Of course it hasn't all been hard work... especially for the kids! As the guys were planting some cedars along the side of the property where we cleared the blackberries, we created a few mud holes and the kids LOVED it, and got completely covered in mud and played there for over an hour!

jumping in the mud

Alivia's new phrase, 'look at me!' but sounds like 'mini me'

Daddy and Brent 'supervising', or just wishing they were kids and could join in the fun!

Sunday after church we got right to work again, pulling more blackberry bushes out and cleaning up the yard. The kids are so great and absolutely love digging in the dirt and raking and helping with all the big jobs. Jaxon has been helping Grandma for the past few months with yard work, and planting flowers and bushes and watering, he knows where all the gardening tools are and loves to use the clippers. He's so proud of himself working with all the tools one night at dinner he said he needed a big cup and a big plate because he is now a big boy who worked all day long! 
Uncle Conrad came out on Friday to help at Grandpa & Grandma's house, Jaxon of course was so excited and was out helping him work all day! I seriously felt like I only had 2 children and was a little lost at what to do with myself. Jordan's aunt and her children came out to pick plums from the trees so Jaxon was also busy following them around as they have a daughter who is 8 and he just wanted to play. That night we had a BBQ all together and a backyard campfire to roast some marshmallows and make s'mores. We of course has our sparklers and this time we also had glow sticks. It was so nice to spend time as a family as we don't see Conrad (or Cori) much since they moved to Vancouver.

This campfire was a few weeks ago, but that doesn't matter