Backyard Beauty

Around Tim's birthday we started our backyard and now after months of planting and shoveling and shoveling and more shoveling... we have finally laid the gravel and are calling it good for a few months until we can plant our last citrus tree and other plants.  It's come a long way and we are so excited to be able to finally use our backyard the way it was meant to be. 

 Before... with our little patch of grass.

 Day 1 

 Day 2... starting to make some progress on the wall with Joe.

 Day 3... we are starting to love the wall even more. 

 Syd joined us for some planting of the plants and decided that she fit well in the buckets. 

 Day 4... Pavers almost complete and the wall making even more progress. 

 Pavers done and prepping for the grass to go in. 

 Pavers done, grass done, and wall done!  Our landscapers portion done. 

 Even though we didn't want to put in an inground pool and such... we still put in a little kiddie pool that the kid's adore.  It's 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep and perfect for the girls!  

A few more plants to go in but finally we feel like progress is being made!  Lovin' it!

Dave & Maddie's Wedding

18 hours in the car is about how we started our trip.  We left at 5 a.m. and ended up in Logan, UT around 11 p.m. that night.  Although the drive was long and long and long, we had a few fun stops along the way. We stopped for lunch in Kanab and then for dinner in Provo.  

The girls have only been to Utah once when we drove through to move to Arizona but haven't really been to Utah.  We stopped for dinner at The Creamery at BYU and tried to take the girls to the bookstore but it was too late. 

 Friday, we had lunch at the Daines House in Logan and spent time swimming at the Hotel.  The view from their house was incredible.  It looked over the whole valley with the temple in the distance. 

 We are so excited to have Maddie in our family now.  She and Dave make the cutest couple and we can't be happier with all of the siblings and their spouses.  It's pretty incredible how well we all get along. 

The Schmidt Family

Friday night after the dinner, the boys took off for a little bachelor party for Dave.  They played basketball and found some dirty mexican food, followed up with a little drinking on the curb.  (Still not sure why they felt the need to put their gatorade in the paper bag, but hey!)  While they boys were off at their bachelor party... the girls had their own party at home.  The little girls all cuddled up in one of our beds and watched a movie complete with popcorn and M&Ms while the adults chatted. 

Saturday morning, Dave and Maddie were married in the Logan Temple.  It was beautiful. The luncheon and reception were held at Maddie's aunt's ranch in an old barn and on the property.  It was gorgeous. The luncheon was delicious and Maddie's mom thought of everything.  She had babysitters planned for each event so the adults could enjoy the party and even planned kid appropriate food at the luncheon served on fancy dishes.  The girls were in heaven.