Daddy's little helper~

Saturday was GORGEOUS!!  The high was 76 degress (today it's 32 degrees) and Eric was working on the deck rail so Lauren decided to help.

They're BAAaack....

The McAuley's came back up for another weekend so Matt could help Eric finish up the deck and I got to hang out with my sister and nephew Charlie.  It was a nice weekend.

Lauren giving Aunt Mollie a pedicure.. most of it made it on to the nails!

She was alternating pink and purple!

It was a chilly day but still good to catch some fresh air.  Neighbors Olivia and Natalie Freundl came over too.

Things were not going Charlie's way....

WE HAVE STEPS!!  These are just temporary but hey, we can get up and down now so that is great!

Charlie was mad he had to wait his turn to go up the slide...

Priceless. ( I know his mom didn't think this was at all funny but I sure did.)

Eric and Matt working on the last post for the railing.

Lauren didn't like being in the grasses... as you can see by her nice smile.

All of the kids signed their names to our steps.

That says "Olivia" and Lauren

This was funny, but Elise didn't think so.  She cried, she's just a tad bit sensitive.

Reading books to Aunty Mollie

I LOVE this kiddo!

Play time with Uncle Eric.

It looks like a deck!

Last weekend we were able to get the first half of the boards attached.  I spent most of my day UNDER this deck because the boards have to be screwed in from the bottom.  This would explain why I couldn't lift my arms on Sunday.

Other half is done.  Eric decided to take a day off because the temp was a high of 80 today and we don't have too many more nice work days... we started at 9:00 this morning and ended about 6:00 tonight.  We are tired but made a lot of progress.

Of course we have posers for the photo... they want to do cartwheels on the deck!

The big bad beam!

The neighbor guys coming over to help get the beam on... it's only about 30 feet long and really heavy.  Eric told me not to take pictures.. hee hee

And it is done.. at least the structure is.  We have passed inspection and now we can put the deck boards on and the railing and the stairs... and October starts in 3 days so here is hoping the weather holds out for us.

A little rest on the "deck" (you can see my house paint samples behind him... more to come on that).

It's starting to look like a deck!

Our neighbor Rollie came over to help the guys get started.  He owns his own remodeling and reconstruction business.

First section nearly complete!

Ledger board ready for the second section.  The big bummer was they got the whole section done and had to take it down because our house is wonkey and things wouldn't line up... so they had to take this board down (after everything was attached) and shim the board.... not fun.

NOW section 2 is done... and it's plumb (sp???) and square.

The third section is done!!  Holey buckets... it's going to be a big deck... so excited!

Eric put the plywood up so we could officially stand on the deck!  Now we have to get the last three posts done, get the beam up and pray we pass inspection!

First stand on the deck!!