Pumpkin picking in our own yard...

In the late spring we planted jack-o-lantern pumpkin seeds.  By mid-July we had over fifty flowers on the pumpkin vines.  The vines were growing at least six inches per day such that Dave had to trim them back because they started taking over our deck and backyard.  

This is a picture of our first pumpkin.  It started growing in July.  The girls were so excited that pumpkins were growing in our yard.  

We had so many flowers and seven pumpkins by the mid-August that we started a Pumpkin Guess Contest.  Family and friends made guesses.

At one point we had eleven pumpkins, but three succumbed to nature (deflated overnight).  After the three, we had eight pumpkins that lasted a few weeks.  So we thought eight would be the winning number.  Until...

the animals attacked our pumpkins!

 We have deer, foxes, raccoons, and squirrels around the property.  Some feisty animal ripped the tops off the pumpkins and cleared them out.  

They left four small pumpkins.  We decided to pick them before October to try to avoid the animals eating them.  

The girls sitting with their pumpkins - two each.  

 We had four small pumpkins on our front porch.  Slowly but surely, the animals attacked them again.  One by one we found the pumpkins gutted on the front porch or in the bushes.  

Regardless, the girls are ready to grow more pumpkins next year.  We'll just get a better fence!!

Fun Day at the Big Build

A friend mentioned a fun event called The Big Build at the National Building Museum downtown.  It was a free event that offer lots of hands on 'building' activities for kids.  

As we walked up to the museum, several guilds planked the sidewalks.  The girls decided to try the mason's guild first and help build a brick wall.  

Next we ventured to the Blacksmith's guild.  Since using hot fire and metal was a safety hazard for kids, they had a special kind of clay that simulated hot malleable metal for the kids to pound on, twist and bend.  

 We made our way inside to try out other activities.  The girls each hammered on 2x4 boards.  

 This activity involved chiseling marble/stone.  Daddy had to help Madelyn as it was pretty tough.  

Curious George made an appearance.  We wondered if he got himself in to any trouble...

Here the girls learned to spackle and smooth walls.  This will come in handy for when they ask me to repaint their rooms.  Looks like I have two helpers now...

We went to woodworking station where they let kids (with parents help) use chisels, and saws.  The girls really enjoyed this station.  I thought it was pretty cool too!

 The girls enjoyed coloring white tiles and glueing them to a wall with other kids tiles.  I wish I took a picture of each of their tiles before they glued them on the wall.  

Kaitlyn and I are helping Madelyn put hers on the wall.  

Kaitlyn and an electrical engineer are working on wires to make a light bulb shine bright.  Next to her is Derek - our friend.  

Three happy campers enjoying the Big Build. 

Last, but not least, the girls got to sit in a small digger by Caterpillar.  This was a big hit and lots of kids waited in line drawing on the sidewalk in chalk.  

We recommend this event for families living in the area or just visiting.  In the winter, they have an engineer day.  I imagine we'll attend that too!

Our backyard makeover...

When we bought our house, the previous owners beautifully landscaped the backyard.  Only problem - it was very high maintenance and not designed for children.

Dave and I decided to tear out the landscaping, give some bushes to friends, and prep the area for grass.

We initially thought about using seed, but a friend convinced us that sod might be a better bet.  Our friend was right!  Dave spent a day laying sod in the cleared section of the yard after he tilled it.  The tilling machine was a beast!


 Dave rolling out the sod after a hard day's work...

We were a little worried about the sod taking because it seemed a little dry and brown , so we watered it and watered it and watered it.

A picture from upstairs of the new sod a few days later.  

Two and a half weeks after laying the sod, a week of eighty plus degree weather, and six inches of rain, it's hard to see the sod line.  We're so happy it came in green!!

I'll try to remember to upload another picture on a sunny day.