TIMBER!

Our neighbors sold their house a couple of months ago....and our new neighbor decided to build a deck in the back yard, which entailed removing 5 huge trees! We had quite the learning experience over the last week. First off, Diggers Hotline made a visit to our neighborhood and struck up quite the friendship with the girls--the guy showed them all sorts of animal tracks, told them many animal tidbits (Did anyone else know that birds like to take dust baths?!), and made MANY orange markings around the neighbor's yard. The 3 Glynn Girls also received their own digger's hotline flags.

On Monday, we arrived home from gymnastics to see HUGE trucks outside our home--the tree removal had started. We immediately checked out what was happening and unfortunately, missed the neatest tree falling with the camera--the pine tree coming down. The above picture is what our neighbor's yard looked like before the big removal.

Click HERE to see the first video clip of the tree removal. And then click HERE to see more branches falling.

We thought the tree removal process would be fast....and it took nearly all day! The team cut down as many branches as they could and then made the trunks of the tree small enough that when they did fall, they didn't hit anything. They used a bucket to trim the tops of the trees and the bottom left photo shows the machine that mulched all of the branches etc. It was REALLY loud....and right outside Colin's room! Amazingly....he slept through all the racket that afternoon!

(As always, click on a collage to make it full size!)

Ellie was my tree watcher. The other girls and Colin did not like the loud sounds...so they remained inside for much of the observation. Ellie sat on her princess chair perch for most of the morning, enthralled with the operation....and noting how fast the workers worked!

This picture continues to show the progress of removing the trees. Many of these pictures are courtesy of Ellie...I eventually had to go inside to make lunch and get the little children down for their naps...and Ellie was my faithful reporter as to what was happening. The bottom left photo shows the big orange "thing" that was driving back and forth in between our house and our neighbor's home. It was quite amazing, the number of vehicles they were able to fit in that narrow strip of land!

Finally, click HERE to see the last video clip of the big tree coming down. All day, we had waited for this to happen, and it took quite some time for all of the branches to be removed. Finally, Ellie came running to get me "Hurry Mom....it's coming down!"....and I got out there just in time to capture it!

And this is the end result....a wide open and VERY sunny backyard! The neighbors behind us said now they can actually SEE the girls playing outside. Before, they could only hear children playing!

All in all, it was quite the experience to witness....what an involved process!

Change of Plans Weekend...

Sometimes the best laid plans.....don't happen right?!

4th weekend in July....is to be the Evenson family reunion at Lake Wapogasset in Amery, WI. We were all set to go, reserved our room(s) at the Forrest Inn months in advance....and then Kimberly Clark came out with their reorganization idea. Turns out, the announcements of "have job/ have no job" were to be the week we were going to be in Amery. SO, we cancelled our trip. Bummer.

But, when 1 window closes, another DOOR opens right?

Shortly after we cancelled our hotel reservation, we received an invite to our former neighbor's surprise 75th birthday party. We were the only NON family invited! But, as the girls informed me, we are like family--especially because she is GRANNY Marlene to the children.

The above picture is of Granny and the girls at Ellie's music camp performance. At the last minute, Ellie had said to me "Did you invite Granny mom?" I quickly called Marlene and she had plans...but she rearranged her plans to come see Ellie. She loves the children and they do love her too....and miss her as our neighbor! Happy Birthday to Granny Marlene!

The next few pictures are from the party....it was held on Lake Winneconne at the Vanderloop's cottage. Anyone heard of my 'super sitter' Cindy? Well, this was at her parents' cottage. It was a wonderful time and it was so good to see all of Marlene's family again. The children LOVED swimming in the lake, despite the cold and the wind! To get an idea of the wind and how far out the shallow water goes, click HERE. Super Sitter Cindy and Amazing Sitter Amy (we are so blessed in the babysitter department!) took the girls out swimming in the lake--they were the only ones brave enough to enter the water on the windy cool day!


Colin LOVED all of the rocks that landscaped the Vanderloop's cottage....LOVED them. And the girls LOVED Marlene's "grand-dog" Buddy. It has been good to be around calmer dogs for Jayna's fear of dogs--she is coming right along in learning to like dogs! Click HERE to see video of Colin dancing, his new trick.

Cindy's dad caught a nice sized fish (center picture is Cindy's brother Andy holding "the" fish) and Mr. Chuckie did a demonstration for the girls on how to clean a fish and prepare it to be grilled. Ellie was the only girl to try the fish--and she LOVED it.


And finally.....back to the one window closing, another door opening.....not being able to attend the reunion meant that Andy was able to tie up some things at work, and get some much needed "stuff" done around the house. I was able to attend a women's conference at my friend Stacy's resort, I mean house and while I was gone....Andy and the girls mulched 12 yards of mulch! To my shock, all 12 yards were off the driveway by the time I arrived home at dinnertime! Amazing! I'm sure you all will get a kick out of the above picture--the big girls wearing their science laboratory goggles, and Ava wearing her winter boots!

As far as the actual DOOR opening when a window closes....you'll have to stay tuned for that type of information! :)