Progress...

Today we worked in the backyard and were able to move a little sod from around our current deck to our former pool area...Porter is laying in the new area of sod...now time for some major watering so the grass doesn't get too upset with the move.

This is where the sod came from...the outline of the sod will be pretty much where the new and improved deck will be. The deck will be 18' x 13' with a step on all three sides

so when finished 20' x 14' which equals fabulous!

We are going to save as much sod as possible to fill the former pool area which is now the fire-pit area. We think the area around the fire-pit will be really great since this area is the first location for shade in our backyard.

We don't have any current photos of the veggie garden but it is looking really good! There are a ton of flowers on our tomatoes, the zucchini are getting flowers, the cucumbers and pumpkin plants are just about ready to flower and the peppers are getting big. The potato plants and onions are really looking great as well. We'll try to post a picture soon.

4th of July in Mazanita, OR

Fireworks on Manzanita Beach for the 4th of July. It was a really nice fireworks display and it was fun to just sit on the beach. Porter went with us and loved watching the fireworks in the sky, normally I would not take a dog but he doesn't mind loud bangs at all (from fireworks or from guns).

We got down to the beach prior to the firworks show and everyone had a bon-fire except for us...we had no idea that there would be so many...

Manzanita, OR - Family Reunion

Dreisbach Family Reunion 2010 in Manzanita, OR

Brian and Charlie on our hike just outside of Manzanita. There were a ton of surfers at this beach and some really cool rocks.

Earl and I made this Sea Turtle with a surrounding moat on Manzanita Beach

Earl and Porter playing in the water

Earl and I at Manzanita Beach

Sunset on Manzanita Beach

I have a video of Porter playing in the water but I cannot get it to show up on the blog so here is the web address for YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWst4NKNqFY

Hoopfest 2010 - Team BK

Brian was in town for Hoopfest - the largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament in the world. It was fun and WARM in downtown Spokane! Brian's team name was TEAM BK, the name wasn't a surprise but his team jersey was - a gold star with Brian's face centered on it...too funny and well Brian said it was a "surprise" Saturday morning when he arrived downtown to meet up with his teammates!

Here are a few shots of Brian and his teammates...Hoopfest 2010

Unfortunately TEAM BK didn't make it to the championship game but it was still fun to see Brian and his friends play some basketball.

Brian, Thanks for coming out to the house for homemade pizza, as well as, for the wonderful birthday gifts, we both really like them! Love ya!

Mom and Dad, Thanks for coming up for Brian's games, it was fun having you here, miss you guys already! See you soon! PS Porter is sleeping like a baby...

Love, Dawn, Earl and Porter

Sunday Projects and Our Garden (and Porter!)

Well we had a few projects planned for this past Sunday that we have been talking about for a long while now - our plans were almost ruined by the rain (I know, Juneau girl complaining about doing a project in the rain...). We were ready to rock and roll on our paver work when the rain started in...we went and bought our pavers (hoping the rain would stop) and then the sand (still hoping the rain would stop) but the rain just wouldn't stop...luckily it did finally did stop that afternoon. Here are some photos of our projects from our Sunday Spring day...

Porter and the Veggie Garden - it is lookin' good but I think it wants sunshine to warm up the soil (especially the Jalapenos and Banana Peppers)...

This is our "fill in the pool area" new sod and fire-pit patio that we put in place on Sunday...It is 4' by 4' with a pretty brown and tan cement paver...

A nice shot of Porter looking so regal in front of the fire-pit patio and fire-pit with new sod in place...

This is a good one for Erik...Do you think we needed to buy a whole truck load of sand when we had a whole 18' by 18' sandy area for the pool? That was Earl's doing...The question should now be what are we going to do with all of the extra sand that is now in the back corner of the yard...??? Ha ha ha! The funny part was the guy at the sand place added an extra bit of sand because he didn't think we had enough...Oh brother!

This used to be Kuuma's patio for her doggie door but then we put the doggie door in a human door and needed a couple extra rows of pavers (the two new rows are the two on the right), so now it is Porter's patio...if he ever really gets to use it again...he is kind of into ripping branches off of the trees in the backyard, as well as, running through the veggie garden, and stealing all sorts of things he shouldn't from the garage...so for now, no Porter patio for Porter without supervision!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

JUNEAU 2010!!! Part I

Earl and I went up to Juneau for a visit over Memorial Day and let me tell you it was absolutely wonderful - the visit and the weather (it was just about 80 degrees everyday!)!

Here's a picture of Madelyn and Erik hanging out in the sunshine.

The Dreisbach Guys at Nugget Falls

Earl and I at Nugget Falls - almost the same photo as last year...

Payton playing in the pool, he really liked it when then balls would crash and splash in the water!

We had so much fun in Juneau. We were able to do a bunch of things and see a bunch of very important peope. I (Dawn) was able to go to my cousin's dance recital, go to a best friends daughter's birthday party, and see a lot of family over a fabulous long weekend. We miss you all very much and can't wait to see you all again. Lots of love!

See Part II below for more Juneau photos!

JUNEAU 2010!!! Part II

We got to go to work with Erik on the Ethan B (Tugboat) - we towed a barge from Downtown Juneau to Auke Bay, it was super neat. THANK YOU ERIK!!!

Here's a picture of Earl on the tugboat.

Me and the Captain.

A pretty view on our tugboat cruise.

Payton likes to ride his bike and thinks safety first with his super cool helmet!

It was super NICE whie in Juneau so Payton went for most rides without shoes on. Payton really liked it when Uncle pushed him around the yard and driveway.

Isn't she the cutest Niece EVER! Earl and I loved meeting Miss Madelyn and playing with Payton!