Now it really looks like a pool

We did it, the pool is finished. What a project. Thanks to a full day of help from Serena and Billy we were able to get the walls in and all the sand in and packed down. Billy helped Jerry get the liner in but they ran into some technical difficults at the very end and had to start over. Jerry sent Billy and Serena home at 10pm and he continued working on the liner until 11:30pm when he finally got it finished.

So with the liner in and all the plumbing done it finally has some water in it. COLD water but water non the less. The water truck comes tomorrow to fill it all the way. Now all we have to do is get the lights up, the electrical finished and warm the water.

No more feeding the bunnies

We have tried for years to have a garden in our backyard to no avail. We've put fences around it, we've dug the fence into the ground 12", we've nailed the fence to railroad ties, but the pests always get in. The rabbits and ground hogs win every year, but not this year. We decided to grow our garden on our deck. We have a zucchini plant, a cucumber plant, a tomato plant (in the upside down pot), lettuce, spinach and we think sweet peppers. We are looking forward to actually getting to enjoy the harvest before the bunnies do. We'll let you know how we do.

Well it may not look like a pool

OK so we finally decide to repair the pool and put in a new liner after 6 years of not using it. So we order the new liner and drains and skimmer and replace all the sand in the filter. Then we take the old liner out fighting the wasps and hornets the whole time, they had the biggest nests built around the entire pool edge behind the liner where it had falling in...Jerry used three cans of wasp and hornet spray trying to kill all of them. He spent the rest of the day running away from the ones he made MAD. So we get the liner out and discover that the walls are all rotten and need to be replaced as well (we shouldn't have been that surprised they were after all 20 years old). So we now have a pool skelton around a very large sand box. The dog loves to plop down in the cool sand after chasing around the yard like a maniac. Our goal is to have the plumbing done and ready for the new walls and liner this weekend when Serena and Billy are here to help. We spent an entire week weeding the terrace, notice how nice it is...probably won't be that way for long....

Just like brand new

We found an amazing product that restored our ceramic floor to the color it was when we first put it in. Unfortunately it also took some major time on our hands and knees with a toothbrush size scrub brush, but the grout is clean and the floor is beautiful. Jerry's such a great husband, I did what I could but not being able to kneel made it very hard and very painful. Neither of us could move the next day, but it was worth it. We were only going to do a little bit at a time but once we started we just couldn't stop, the before and after was to dramatic.

Jerry's new toy

He had to get something to fill the hole that selling his corvette left, so he got this. It's a 1989 Honda Goldwing, historic tags because its 20 years old. It needs lots of work and tlc. It's winter project...since summer is being spent fixing the pool and boat. His boat is broken...good thing its rained every weekend, makes having the boat sitting in a drive way broken not quite so painful.

Serena McReynolds RN

Its time to celebrate!!!!!

Serena is receiving/being pinned at the pinning ceremony as an RN. She has officially graduated from Nursing School. Now all she has to do is pass the state boards in June and she is all done and can get the job of her dreams. Congratulation Serena --Thanks Billy for helping her get this far and for being such a wonderful support to her.

The happy graduate!!! We are so proud of you Serena....WAY TO GO!!!

Serena and Billy Celebrate

Billy and Serena celebrated her graduating from Nursing School (May 21st) by getting a new Caliber. They came to dinner today and we got to check out their new ride.

Preakness Pics

ZZ Top played the in field concert between races. This is a close as Jerry could get without getting a head in the picture. You could hear them through out the track.






This is the start of the 10th race Mid Sprinth. This race started at the top of the stretch which is where we were sitting. So Jerry tried out our new zoom len and got this great picture of all the horses leaving the starting gate. The last horse out won the race.


This is the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.














This is Rachel Alexandra in the lead and the winner of the 134th Preakness race. A fillie hasn't won the Preakness for 85 years. Mine That Bird came in second and Musket Man third.

Easter at Serena's

Lori and the kids at Serena and Billy's for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Jerry was also there, I was in Utah with Nikki.

Billy along with Lillian taking an nap.

Dakota at the skate park

Dakota loves to go to the skate park and do tricks on his bike, his scooter and his roller blades. I decided to go along this time and took this pictures. Not bad for a 10 year old.

Nikki turns 21

Nikki opening all her presents, most
everyone gave her house hold products
for her new apartment and a gift card
to wal-mart "food"

Playing Banana Grams at Nikki's birthday party
Hal, Harley, Kris, Brenda, Richard and Nikki

Nikki, Sadie, Rachel, Nate, Richard

Dixie, Marie, Elle, Harley and Tyler

Richard and Papa (Amber's Dad)

Kota up the cherry tree

Harley being Harley (she's playing her handheld game)

Nik's new apartment

Everyone pitched in and help us move Nikki into her new apartment in Orem. She is renting a room in this town house with three other girls.





Harley and Kota did as much as the adults. We unloaded the Uhaul in record time under an hour.

Nikki

Nikki lived in Ogden for 6 months and made some awesome friends. Here she is with all her friends as she was moving out.

We went to dinner with Nikki and Richard along with Kris, Hal, Grandma, Grandpa, KayLynn, Dakota and Harley.

As you can see Harley is a little tease.

Baby Lillian's Blessing

Lori and Aaron live just over an hour away in VA. Jerry, Serena, Billy and I went down for Lillian's blessing. We had a nice dinner after and got to play with the kids. Emmy is playing a game with Jerry and her Daddy.

Caleb loves to wrestle with Billy and Katlyn wanted in on the actions as well. Billy settled for Dominos with Katlyn while Caleb perched on his back.

New bathroom

When we left for HK we rented our house and the upstairs bathroom was in much need of repair. So Jerry decided to tear out the sheetrock by the bathtub were it had leaked. It was a spot about 12"x12" when I came up to see how things were going he had torn out the entire wall. So a new project was started. We put in a all new wall board (all the walls), new floor, new cabinet, new countertop, new fixtures, new lights etc. It turned out beautiful, probably the nices bathroom in the house. He does such great work.

The big move

Serena and Billy moved into their own place this month. It was a sad day for mom and dad, but a very exciting day for Billy and Serena. The house is about 20 minutes from us, so its not to far to go visit. They are enjoying their new place and find that all the extra room is great but way more to clean. Humphrey gets to go stay with them when we go out of town. Xena (Serena's cat) wasn't very happy about the move it took her three weeks before she would leave the bedroom without Serena or Billy being with her. Xena is doing fine now, enjoying not being tormented by

Humphrey (our dog).

wood cutting in WV

Jerry and I hadn't been to our property in WV since we had returned back from HK. So we went out to get a truck load of firewood.

While Jerry was cutting the wood I took a few pictures to show the view from our lot. We would love to start building our house soon, but it will have to wait just a little longer.

Ice storm hits MD

Jerry and I went to Utah for Christmas 2008 to spend time with Nikki. We had a wonderful visit with family and friends. Jerry got to go skiinig so life was great.

We arrived home to find a very thick sheet of ice coating everything. It was so slippery that we couldn't walk without smashing out shoe into the ice to break it to make a hole for our shoe.

Jerry wasn't very excited to shovel the driveway that was coated with at least 5 inches of thick ice.