May 30

IT'S TREE DAY!!!!!

Our tree lost its giant branch on May 6th. We spent the next week getting bids from five different companies, and finally signed a contract on May 12. The company initially told us they would be out within two weeks, and then a major storm hit and we got delayed. Finally, we got a call last night that they were coming in the morning. The workers were here by 6:45, and had chainsaws blazing by 7:00 am. It was a beautiful thing to watch!

Before the workers officially got started, the kids stood on the deck and said goodbye to the tree.

I'm sad to see it go, but when I look at how that one limb destroyed their swing set, I know it was the right choice.

As soon as the workers turned on their chainsaws, I made the kids come inside.

They brought a bobcat, a bucket truck, a flatbed truck, a chipper and trailer, and 4 workers. Eli was quite impressed with the machinery.

I popped popcorn and they enjoyed their front row seats.

Hi, Lily!

It was such a big deal that Chris delayed leaving for work so he could watch, and we skipped the very first swim team practice of the season. (Don't worry; there was an evening practice we could attend.)

Lily's tutu cracks me up!

(Doesn't the deck look nice? Chris and I have been working to power wash and sand it, and we intended to stain it yesterday until some stupid pop-up thunderstorms ruined everything. Boo.)

By 8:30, the workers had the fallen limb and the swing set removed. The sandbox gets to stay. Even with the limb gone, the devastation is pretty apparent. The neighbor's hedge is mangled, our yard is destroyed, and the garden fence is a mess.

They took a break, then brought in the bucket truck. 

Chris missed all of this fun. 

However, my mom came over to enjoy it with us!

Lily showed Grandma how she can write her name.

See? She's adding an extra letter or two in it, but it's pretty good for a three year old!

Eli enjoyed Grandma snuggles. 

And the workers worked on! By 3:30, all that remained of the tree was a pile of sawdust in the yard. Our yard is completely destroyed, and much sunnier than it was before. I'm going to miss that tree!

But then it was time for swim team practice! Daisy jumped in and tried to swim a lap of the pool, but had to cling to the wall a few times and felt nervous after that. She then insisted on kickboards and kickboards only - no more swimming.

She is a very good kickboarder, though!

Caleb was fearless and dominated.

Happy kickboarder!

Cold swimmer.

Caleb says that swimming is just his thing.

Meanwhile, the little ones splashed.

Lily made a new friend, and practiced her kicking. She will be ready when kickboard team starts next week!

Gosh, isn't he cute?

It was a pretty eventful day!