Quite the weekend

We had quite the busy weekend, and now a lazy holiday! :-) Friday was great Matt had gone into work early so he was home early and we were all able to sit down and have family dinner. Though we only barely had dinner since tiny is back on her I'm going to pick like a bird kick and Matt wasn't too terribly hungry.

Saturday on the other hand was... well it was an interesting day to say the least.
We have been talking since we bought the gazebo about possibly building a deck or something underneath it. It would sever a few purposes if we did actually. One it would get it up off the ground so that when it rains the bottom of it doesn't get totally covered in dirt. Two, getting it up would make the dogs a little less likely to go charging through it when they play. I swear they have little to no reverence for their own health or safety. Guinness and Feeny were chasing each other the other day for possession of the ball and one of them, *SMACK*, head or hip or some major part of their body slammed straight into the corner panels. But of course they just keep running with no recognition of the hit. So lifting it would hopefully make them a little less likely the bash into it. And third if were were to build it up on some sort of deck it would allow us to have something other that dirt to walk on. The only downside to this plan would be how exactly to place said deck in the yard.
We don't want to put up something permanent since we don't own the place but of course we need it to be sturdy. Then the idea became well we'll just dig a few post holes and have it be a removable platform. This method would also serve well for winter, this would allow it to be easily removed since that spot in the yard is really the only place to put any accumulation of snow. Then the problem arose of how do we accommodate for the yard being so crooked? we didn't want to make it exceptionally tall but in order to give it clearance on all sides, one side would be about a 8in. step from the yard.
The solution, Matt says he'll level the yard.

Now I had my apprehensions to start. I knew it would be a substantial undertaking but figured well we do have a three day weekend to do it, plus it will get me motivated to go work in the garden again and get this huge vining rose plant moved and maybe some more flowers planted. So Saturday morning wee got up, had breakfast and headed off to home depot.

We pick up a wheelbarrow, a tamp; a tool by the way I had never heard of until Matt mentioned he would need one, and a longer handled shovel. Now at this point I was beginning to question the undertaking, realizing exactly how much dirt was going to have to be removed and the time, it was now almost 1:30pm. But we went at it anyways. I started digging at the rose bush, needed some help when I got to the roots as they had grown around a piece of the rebar used to hold the fence in place. So they got chopped up and transplanted to one of the major holes in the bush line down the fence. We'll see if they make it. Then of course I had a spot to fill and our neighbor had gotten a huge collection of day lilies from her sister, had used what she wanted and then gave me the rest so we hacked that into a couple pieces and again we'll have to see if they take. Rose said they may not look great the rest of this summer but that next spring they should come back really nicely after they've had a chance to set new roots. As far as the rest of the leveling, well he got a lot done but just ran out of steam and daylight to finish so that will have to be finished up next weekend, thankfully it's only four days away!! Plus super excitement! I have a wonderful friend ;-) who is sending me Country fest tickets!! So I will finally be going to the first real concert of my adult life. Yea I know that sounds a bit sad but it was just never really my thing. Went to a few ammature gigs in high school and as a member of band a chorale I was in a number of performances but the concert scene just never really appealed to me. Not sure if it is something we can bring the munchkin to though so we'll see about that part of the plan.

Then to cap off the weekend we went to a wedding last night and had a blast!!! My first Jewish wedding and let me just say do they know how to have a good time! The ceremony was beautiful and the Rabi was great and translated a lot of the Hebrew marital contract that was recited by both parties. Then there was a series of blessings, some recited, some sung, again translated and then the traditional breaking of the glass; which until I read in the program had no idea what it was really for. Then went to the country club for a fabulous cocktail hour with lots of cheese, fruit, crackers and fresh carved turkey and corned beef. Then we came to the  open bar, it was all over from there on out. We were eventually moved into the ballroom and of course the traditional couple's first dance, the dances with the parents all that fun stuff. There was a cute little slide show and had to laugh when Matt's tenth grade self came across the screen. Great dinner and just a continued wonderful time all night, then bonus, with it being so close to the 4th there were fireworks. So everyone went out to the balcony and we toasted and watched the fireworks. It was truly a wonderful evening and of course the bride and groom looked fabulous and we wish them all the best in this next stage of life!

And little one stayed home with the aunt and uncle and form what I was told had a relatively quiet night, the occasional hiccup but of course to be expected from the monster at this point.

Now we've had a lazy day watching cartoons, eating and a bit of cleaning before possibly finding somewhere that we can take bean to to see some fireworks this evening.