For his birthday we went to the pizza place for dinner and then came home for 'truck cake'. Nathan wanted a green truck cake for his birthday. I have no issue baking a cake, I can do that. What I lack is any talent in the cake decorating department. These are the days I really miss my grandmother Hutchinson as she made cakes for weddings and church events and they were beautiful. I need her to teach me! So off I went on this task with Sam helping out. While it is not magazine photo worthy, with our limited skills I was pleased with how it turned out. Nathan was SOOO excited and loved it, so I do believe that is all that matters!
The candles are the smoke stacks and if your wondering what the black blob in the window is, well, it's the driver which Sam put in because as he states "You need a driver Megan." You'd think I'd learn.... Sam also added the 'fenders' around the Oreo cookies.
This is all that matters, a very happy Nathan with his truck cake (in his mouth in this picture). On a side note, he looks so much like a big boy in this photo!
Next up last week was Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Bethany Lutheran Church here in Brunswick. Ben really enjoyed it last year so we figured we go again. The theme was an African Safari and they learned some really great songs. It was so cute to hear Ben outside playing and singing Jambo to Jesus (hello to Jesus). Nathan learned most of the songs too as VBS was kind enough to give each kid a CD of the songs. Yes, Mom knows them too....I've lost track as to how many times we have listened to that CD.
Hanging out with his friends before the parents presentation
Doing the hand movements to his songs.
On Friday, we went to Home Depot to get some pavers. The plan was to put a few stepping stones to the shed and then build a small pad to put the recycle and garbage bins on. We got what we needed (+ a few no list items as Home Depot tends to go). As we began laying out the stepping stones, conversation drifted and, well, we are now putting in a whole patio. We had been pushing this around in our minds for awhile as we cannot get grass to grow right off of the back porch and it is just mud which the dogs track in - but it wasn't on the 'to do' list for this year. Anyway, here are some photos of the progress.
Getting started with digging up the patio spot.
After an afternoon of this Sam decided there was an easier way and went into work and got the stump grinder. Things moved a lot faster after that!
That's better!
Ben helping to load the dirt in the trailer. Nathan played the role of site supervisor.
Ready to build! The boys picnic table will go in the far corner, there will be built in stairs to the shed door. A built in fire ring will be in the closest corner in the picture on the left where the patio does a semi circle (pit will be where it hasn't been dug up yet). I plan on mulching a few feet back and having some nice plants and there is talks on a pond, but we'll see.
The lattice work is to keep the dogs off the stone dust!
We have our wall stone but we are not set on our ground pavers. The boys and I will head into Frederick to Irwin Stone to pick up some samples tomorrow. With the long weekend coming up, Sam plans on having the project finished - assuming I make a decision on pavers :-). Stay tuned for more on that project!
We rounded out this weekend with fevers in true Cronkite fashion. Both Ben and Nicholas are running fevers and laying low. Nicholas was tested for strep today which was negative, but the pediatrician mailed it to the lab as she thought it looked like strep. With Ben's track record, I'm thinking he has it as he doesn't just get fevers like his brothers. We'll see how this one pans out.
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