backyard remodel

We decided to do some backyard remodel and remove the pond/waterfall and replace it with an above ground pool!  C loves to swim.  Well, he can't actually swim, but he loves to try.

Pond/waterfall before

 Step 1: design a pump to drain all the water.  My goofy husband with his creation, which worked awesome!

 step 2: drain the pond

 

 Step 3: start tearing the pond apart and moving all the slate.

 Step 4: fill the empty hole in with dirt, which required 5-6 truck loads of dirt.  I lost count.

 Step 5: relocate all the plants

 Step 6: level the ground and set up the pool.  We haven't made it to this step yet.  We ran out of weekend and J is in South Carolina this week.  Bummer.  That step will have to wait until next weekend.  In the mean time I have to move all the cinder blocks clear across our football length yard... ugh.

 Next on our backyard remodel... remove the half circle flower bed on the side of our patio and replace it with a fire pit!  Before...

 ... and after

we're not actually done with this project either.  We're going to have a metal cover made to fit the fire pit.

 we tested out the new fire pit with some s'mores!

 We found out C is not a big s'more fan

 he prefers his marshmallows uncooked

 me and J after a long weekend of hard work remodeling our yard

Mirabeau and Discovery park

Mirabeau Park with it's beautiful waterfall and pond filled with turtles and ducks.  Once a year it's stocked with fish for the kids to go fishing too.

 There is a dock for fishing, an observation deck (which is where C and I were for this photo) and a gazebo for picnic's.  There is also a paved trail that leads from the waterfall through a beautiful wooded area to a big open park.

 After enjoying our stroll through Mirabeau park it was off to run around Discovery park.  This is one of C's favorite parks.  Discovery park is divided into several little sections: a playground area with swings, in-ground trampoline, slides and multiple jungle gym equipment to climb on.  Then there is a separate sand area, an interactive water area, a musical section with drums and pipes, a section that reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, covered picnic area and more.  All the paved sidewalks have cute nursery rhymes too.  Discovery park is always fun... and always busy!

C bouncing on the in-ground trampoline

 and everyone's favorite... the swings

 my little chicken watching the interactive water, but staying just out of reach from the sprays of water

 Yeah!  He finally got brave enough to run to the middle

 until it sprayed him at least... then it sent him running for the edge again.

 playing some music on the pipes

 I call this the Alice in Wonderland section

 ribbit

 We finished our visit off with some swinging in this lounge chair.  Discovery park only has two of these chairs and there is always a line of kids waiting to use them.  We didn't want to spend all our time waiting in a line so we enjoyed the rest of the park, but C would occasionally check back to see if either of these chairs were empty... and he finally got lucky!

Meet the Hamilton's

My high school friend, Carrie was in town so, we met her and her family at Riverfront Park.  We were actually suppose to meet in the morning, but they had a family event come up so we didn't get to meet until the afternoon.  I had already told C we were going to Riverfront park though so he kept asking to ride the carousel.  I finally gave in at noon and we headed to the park.  First stop... the carousel!  His favorite, the giraffe was taken so he settled for this black stallion instead.

 We walked across the bridge to check out the falls and get a snack

 and just strolled around the park

 an hour later we met up with the Hamilton's!  But by now it was past C's nap time, which usually isn't a big deal, but today was an exception.  His mood quickly took a turn for the worst!  He was grumpy.

C, Rio (Carrie's nephew), Keith and Kellan checking out the ducks

 

 we decided to check out the rides.  C had a melt down waiting in the line to buy tickets.  Then the kids all went to play on the blow up bounce slide and he chickened out and clung to my side.  We ended up going on this boat ride a few times and that was it.

 Rio, Keith and Oliver

 back at the carousel... C finally got to ride his giraffe.  Rio and Oliver are riding the white horses in front of him.

 Oliver, Carrie and Rio

 all 3 kiddo's

me and Carrie

Since C was being a grump we decided to call it a day and head home.  Sorry Hamilton's.  Hopefully we can visit with you another time when all the kiddo's are rested and in better moods (especially C!).

 it was great to meet little Kellan!  Even if our visit was short.

My son, who refuses to sleep in a car... was fast asleep in no time.  Poor little guy was T I R E D!

My normal parking spot was taken at the park so I parked at a meter on the back side of the park.  Since it was only a 2 hour meter and we got to the park a hour before the Hamilton's, we walked back to pay the meter again right before we met them.  We left the park and got back to the car about 10 minutes after the meter had expired and found this parking ticket.  Bummer! 

Founders Day

We went to the Founders Day parade.  We had planned on spending the morning checking out the booths and watching the basketball tournaments too, but it started raining and getting chilly so we only stayed for the parade.

 watching the parade from the curb

 Otto, the Spokane Indian's Mascot

 the school marching band played the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme song, along with Mickey Mouse and a few other theme songs from kids shows.

 old fire truck

 here's something you don't see very often... the Davenport Rodeo Queen riding a cow!

 Of course with a parade comes candy

 making a pine cone bird feeder

 we hung up C's pine cone bird feeder and added some bird food to the other feeder too.  He loves to watch the birds feasting in our yard.