Deck [finished]

Ben completed the deck.

The long step is in place...the concrete that was was the formerly known back door step is covered..it got sanded..and then stained!

He stained it two different colors. A lighter stain for the main part, the boards that ran horizontal...and a darker stain for the ones that ran vertical. I really like the look.

Ta-da!! 

Another job well done Ben!

Deck [part two]

The deck progress continues. 

Ben has finished the landing area, that we step out from the house...and the larger portion of the deck.

He hauls the boards from the front of the house like this...and sometimes there is an extra passenger along for the ride!

Ben helped Christian put in a couple screws. Any chance he gets to help...he's in there!

After the main portion is done, it will be functional...and THAT is exciting!

Next, he will cover the landing area overtop the cement stairs and the step that will run the length of the deck. Then we'll stain it, and she'll be complete!

Deck [part one]

Ben started on the deck the last week in May. 

He's been working on it in the evenings and weekends now.

Christian loves to be apart of the progress. This was when he was digging the holes for the footings.

They were left open, until he could fill them with cement. One morning, Christian had woken up and helped himself outside. I heard him screaming...so I ran out thinking he had fallen in one of the holes. 

Thankfully, no..he had not fallen. However, he had climbed down in one (which is as tall as he is), and there was a spider in there that he DID not like! He had placed a bunch of his toys to fill some of the other holes. As "fun" as this was, we ended the game of playing in and with these deep holes. He used the grabber toy to get the toys out of the bottom. He told me, "Mommy, I better do it. I don't want you to squish the baby." Right.....

The lumber arrived in our driveway. This is new favorite spot to just "hang out"..especially in the morning. He will ask for a snack of plain graham cracker and juice, then go outside and sit here to eat it.

The beginning. 

 This is the before picture...all sorts of classiness going on here!

 Mom and Dad stopped by Sunday afternoon to check on the progress.

They tried out my new hammock chair I got for my birthday!

Noah isn't the best person to have on the loose. He just really likes his Papa..and really likes to be where the action is :)

Dad stayed and helped Ben screw down some of the boards. I think he was a bit more effective at the job than I was.

It's pretty exciting....I'm looking forward to having picnics and people over to enjoy the new deck SOON!