Getting ready for our Missionaries to come home

A Family Tradition- Many years ago when my mom would go away on a trip with one of the kids groups, dad would always surprise her with a project done at home. One year he put the curbing in around the house that she had wanted, another year he put in the fire pit, one year it was the fence, and so on. Well mom and dad went on a mission and we talked for months what we were going to do to surprise them. We had great plans but when it comes right down to it, it is really hard to do something really nice when nobody has any money. So weeding and planting flowers and just cleaning up the place was the goal. On July 25, we had a work day at the house almost everyone came the guys were cutting the trees out and we had a tender mercy bless our lives once again as Garth's hand was not cut completely off by the chain saw as the tree fell and he fell into Tyler with the saw, it was a miracle that things were not worse. On Monday night we were all there again this time we started taking out all the brick on the patio to clean up the weeds and to level it again, the idea was to just put the brick back, but after we had it all taken out, it led us to wanting to make it better. We went to the brick plant to check out what we might be able to do. Everyone was so excited to make it a surprise for our missionaries. Everyone worked so hard especial Todd, he worked every night after work until 10 or so building the retaining wall, and the fire pit. The boys were so good to use their muscles and haul all the dirt. I know there is more pictures Kelly took some I don't have.

I failed to take a picture of the finished project, this is the front view of how nice it looks. Mom and Dad were so surprised the kids were so happy that they had work hard for the ones they love. Grandma said to the boys that she was sorry they had had to work so hard and they responded with "We wanted to do it"

Tired little Miriah after the marathon day to finish.

The boys stuck with us until the end.

Britton loves working, and he is a great worker.

Getting close to having it done.

Ty, saying are we level?

Brady cleaning the brick so they can be put down again.

Avery, Sage and Britton stacking the clean ones up for the guys to put back in.

Miriah and Lafe filling the bucket with sand.

The second time we put them back, are we level this time?

Shina and Hollie polishing the table and cabinets in Grandmas kitchen.

Starting again...

Todd looking on thinking this is good. We are going to make it.

Miriah leasing Lafe. He didn't want to spin.

Trying to get some music to listen too.

Cleaning the brick.

Bronson vacuuming the whole house.

Brady fixing the broken fence post.

Todd, saying "now Really" The stairs are almost done.

Who can jump the farthest in the sand.

Avery won.

With Britton close behind her.

Brody and Chad building the sand up so it is all level

Tyler filling the buckets

After we got the road base in Ty went and got us some sand to put on the top.

Todd thinking about the stairs - are they going to be right?

The boys have moved a whole dump truck load of road base into the backyard to fill the patio up

Great workers

Sure glad they are strong and never tire of helping.

Brody's turn to mow the lawn

spreading gravel

Resting for a few minutes

Weeding around the fire pit.

Finishing the fire pit, Mom will be so excited - we hope.

waiting for lunch...

Jill putting up the yellow ribbons

Ty cleaning the drive way.

Walls done- trees are burned- next was the fire pit.

Finished Wall

Ty's workers rocking the side of the cement wall around the fire pit.

Fixing the flower bed around the flag pole.

Burning the wood and what the fire pit looked like before the project.

Kelly cutting up all the limbs.

After we got all the brick removed.

Kaylee and Miriah got their work gloves on.

It can't be all work...

Visitors from Texas a week before they come home.

Starting to take out the brick

Silly girls, the worked really hard helping move all the brick and burn the branches

You can see the steps that we decided to build the patio up to.

Wondering what we have just started.