Pool and Backyard Remodel

We've owned our home for about 11 years and had no idea how old the existing pool was. There were definitely signs of deterioration, but we tried to hold out on remodeling for as long as possible because we knew it would be a huge project. Instead of just resurfacing and/or re-tiling, we decided it was time to attack all aspects. Our yard was in need of love because we had a trampoline that killed all the grass underneath it and various other spots in the yard that had trouble growing grass. Lastly, the patio near our back door was sort of a pebble style, which wasn't comfortable underneath bare feet. Like I said - big project! Here are the cringe-worthy before pictures:

After we finally decided which company to use, our remodel list was created. It included: removing a retaining wall, removing two trees, skim-coating the patio, removing landscaping, adding turf and new landscaping, replacing plaster, coping, tile, stone, and decking, replacing the diving board, filling in the unused hot tub and making a tanning ledge with bubbler, installing a pool light, and adding a hidden auto-filler. Whew! Making all the selections and staying on top of the project was time-consuming, and the price tag was not for the faint of heart either. But, all in all, I'm so happy we finally took the plunge and turned our backyard space into something to be proud of. Enjoy the after pics! 

 

Jude Turns Ten!

Recently we celebrated a very special boy turning TEN! He loves animals, so we took him and a few friends to The Dunham Farm in Burleson. They got some VIP time with capybaras, wallabies, a Patagonian Cavy, some emus, and baby pigs.

 

Jude continues to impress us with his thirst for knowledge and incredible memory. He loves geography, and I mean really loves it! We play a geography board game for fun, he asks to play a geography app on my phone, and he watches YouTube videos about flags. Like...by choice. He has memorized the flags of more than a hundred countries and knows almost all the US state flags. He has learned all the capitals in the Americas and Europe. He is becoming a trivia buff (like his parents) and asks to be quizzed when we're at dinner. He still loves AJR and knows the words to almost all of their songs.

He recently completed a soccer season, likes to play pickleball, and is about to start a basketball season. He tied for first in his 4th grade class spelling bee and moved on to the school-wide bee (4th-6th grade). He got sick the morning of the school-wide bee, but didn't want to miss it. He assured us he was fine so he could go to school and participate. Unfortunately his body didn't cooperate and he had to run out in the 4th round to throw up! Poor guy didn't get to finish, so we'll never know how it would've turned out. I have a feeling he would've come out in the top 3 though, because he nailed all the practice lists he was given. 

He's always game for trying new things, is sweet and loving, and doesn't sit still. I can't wait to see the mark he'll leave on the world as he gets older. Happy birthday, Jude!

Family Trip to Seattle and Vancouver

Since Thanksgiving week is typically a slow one for business for Meezy and I, and the kids are off school, we like to use that opportunity to take a vacation. Being the good wife that I am, I found out that the 49ers were playing the Seahawks in Seattle on Thanksgiving Day 2023, so that could be a fun outing for my 49ers-loving husband. We're trying to bring the kids to more live sporting events, so it seemed like a good option for all of us. I planned the trip around that, but knew that we wouldn't want to spend the entire week in Seattle. 

After landing in Seattle, we drove to Vancouver for the first half of our trip. We stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, which was a nice hotel and close to the Christmas Market. The market was cute to visit, but didn't quite live up to my expectations. Jude loved the carousel though, so it was still a win.

The next day we visited Granville Island (by ferry), Sunset Beach, and enjoyed Kooza, by Cirque du Soleil. The kids really enjoyed the show and it was fun for us parents too!

Our final day in Vancouver was probably my favorite. We started at Charleson Park, visited the Capilano River Hatchery where we lucked out and saw bald eagles, and braved the amazing Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was breathtaking and probably quite terrifying for a lot of people. We got a bunch of great pics there!

 

We made our way back to Seattle and stayed at the Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel. Even though we had a car, we were hoping to walk to a lot of our destinations, so this hotel was a good option for us.  Our first stops were the Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall, and the Great Wheel at Pier 57. The weather was really cooperating, so we got some nice shots.

The next day we took the monorail to the Seattle Center and checked out the playground and went to the top of the Space Needle. The views were pretty great and the kids enjoyed it. 

That night we didn't have concrete plans, and we realized that the Kraken had a game nearby, so we checked on some last minute tickets. As luck would have it, there were some seats available on the glass, so we snagged them. I'm so glad we did! The game was awesome. The kids thought it was crazy to be that close to the action, especially when the players would slam into the wall in front of us. An usher found out it was Jude's first game, so they gave him a certificate and pin. We stayed all the way to the end and cheered for the Kraken players as they skated around and celebrated their win. As Bellemare was about to head for the tunnel, he spotted Dutch and handed his stick over the glass to him. It was unbelievable! How crazy to spontaneously attend the game and end up with a player's stick. It is now proudly mounted in our game room!

The next day was Thanksgiving, so we found a nearby restaurant that was actually open for lunch, and then headed to Lumen Field to watch the 49ers and Seahawks. It was the night game and quite chilly, so we bundled up as best we could. We had some pretty good seats and were near many other 49ers fans, so it was a fun experience, especially since the 49ers pretty handily beat the Seahawks. 

  

The next morning it was time to head back home with our cute little jet-setters. I love making these memories with them, and it doesn't hurt that Meezy and I are checking items off our bucket list at the same time! 

Dutch Turns Twelve

He is officially a pre-teen! Can't believe this is his last semester in elementary school and next year the middle school years begin. He still makes me proud with his academic achievements and the respect he shows his elders. He got 2nd place in the school spelling bee this year and placed 6th in the district-wide Number Sense competition for 6th graders. I signed him up for Cotillion against his wishes, but I think he had a good time with his friends and it was worth every penny to me when we danced together on Parents' night! His favorite music right now is AJR and Macklemore; he watched the entire Office series; he loves the comedian Nate Bargatze; and he still stays up too late reading every night. He's got a great friend group and I have a feeling they'll be seeing a lot of each other this summer. Happy 12th birthday, kiddo. Your dad and I love you tons.