Swing set Project

So last fall Ryan started talking about a swing set for Nyah. In the beginning he was thinking he would just make one for her from "scratch" instead of buying one of the kits to try and save some money. Then this spring when we started to think more about it, I suggested a kit. I could envision our summer turning into one big swing set project rather than having time to do anything fun. So he agreed and we got a super deal on a swing set at Toys R Us. Little did I know that even with a kit, it would be a big project. In retrospect, I think if we didn't have a kit, it would have been a multi-year project. :)

So this first picture is of all the wood once we opened the boxes in the garage. The first big project was to sort out all the wood so you could even identify which "part number" everything actually was. I know we started this project over a month ago. We worked on it many evenings. Then on the fourth of July weekend we got serious about it and spent basically all of Friday and Saturday on it. On Friday night I even talked Ryan into building the bay windows inside the house once it was too dark to work on it outside. Here are some pictures to show progress that weekend.







Then we were gone the next weekend so we finally finished up this weekend. We are both relieved to have it done and Nyah is thrilled to have her swing set. She loves it. She told Ryan "thanks for my swing set" and I think that and seeing her excitement made it all worth it. :)

Last is a picture of the finished product as well as one of her having some fun using it. Yay!

Father's Day

I am so very grateful for the amazing fathers in my life and I love them so much! First of all, my Dad. Anybody who knows him knows how amazing he is. He has always been an example to me of dedication and commitment. If he says he is going to do something, he does it 100%. I remember even as a child if I committed to a team or an activity, I was always expected to follow through. I think this is a great lesson and hopefully one we can pass on to Nyah. He is also a great example of faith. I admire his dedication in his church callings as well. He truly magnifies his callings, no matter what they are. He has always shown total respect and love for my mom as well. He is always telling us how beautiful she is. Thanks Dad for all you have done for me over the years.

Ryan is an amazing dad. Just this last weekend Nyah and I drove to Boise and then Ryan flew in that night and met us. So Nyah had seen Ryan that morning before we left but when we picked Ryan up from the airport that night, you would have thought Nyah hadn’t seen him for weeks. It was so cute. She loves her daddy so much. I tease Ryan that she has him all figured out, but I love to see how much he adores her and can’t resist her cute little smile with the plea of, “just one?” Watching Ryan and Nyah play together is the best. Since Ryan and I both work, he ends up helping a lot with Nyah and around the house. I appreciate his willingness to jump in and help. Thanks Ryan.

Ryan got a grill for Father’s Day. This is his first grill of his own. His last one he “acquired” from his mom’s house (and actually built when he was a kid). The first is a picture of Nyah helping Ryan put his new grill together. Then I thought it would be fun to post pictures of Ryan with the old grill and then the new one. I'm still reminding Ryan that he is supposed to be getting rid of the old one - he's kind of attached. :) On a side note, there is a benefit to Ryan having a grill he wants to use - him cooking dinner and no dishes! Yay!