The Deck is Built!

I know this is a little late as far as news goes, but I wanted to get these pictures out before I started sharing all the fun we are having with our new deck.

Awhile back, Aaron decided that we needed a deck in our back yard. So. of course, he gets' on Craigslist and finds a guy getting rid off a deck. For $100, Aaron could dismantle the guy’s 18’ octagon-shaped deck, haul it away, and rebuild it in our yard. Did we want an octagon-shaped deck? No. Would an 18’ octagon even fit in our yard? Absolutely no. But Aaron couldn’t pass up a deal that not only provided cheap deck lumber but the opportunity to figure out how a deck is built (by dismantling it, of course).

So after multiple weekends of dismantling and hauling off the deck practically by himself (thanks though to our home teachers and a couple of guys from church that helped one Saturday), we were left with a backyard full of piles of wood and the grass and weeds grew up around it.  Then, after graduation of course, he finally had time to really get into it. We had to dig up over 100 bricks from our old patio, declare war on a massive fire ant colony, and dig holes for posts. Then, piece by piece it started to come together. After multiple Saturdays, a drill that wouldn’t drill more than 3 screws at a time, having to buy a few longer pieces of lumber, lots of cutting and measuring, just under 1,000 screws, and a few bumps, cuts, and bruises, it was finally built. A lovely Tetris-shaped deck level with our back door, built mostly from reclaimed lumber, now resides in our backyard, and we love every inch of it.

We still need to sand and stain it, but we already  love being able to use it. BBQ’s, birthday parties, and late night talks are so much better on the deck in the cool evening breeze. Love it! So, enough picture of the deck, now for some cute pictures of the family.  Aaron was finishing up the last of the deck and Aubrey wanted to help. I came out to see this…

What’s that in her mouth, you ask? That would be her imitating Aaron by holding screws in her mouth. Cute, right?

Okay, one more for pure cuteness…