Last Sunday we drove back from Mt Vernon after Zachary's baptism with a trailer load (1200-1500 pounds) of manure. Miranda's family arrived later that night. The next morning, Dan and Ethan were out helping shovel the manure on the garden. The trailer was empty in time for Dan to shower and head off to work by 11 AM. Then Ethan and Camden helped pressure wash the tarps and trailer clean of the manure. Kera arrived around noon with four of her children and there was much joyous cousin interaction as they ran around, rode the zip line and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
Dan returned in the afternoon and worked out his frustrations on a large stack of firewood that needed splitting. Then Aaron took over that job after Dan left on Tuesday and by Wednesday afternoon had the entire pile split. Matthew, Ethan and Camden then pitched the wood over the fence so Charlotte, Emma, Alex, Ethan, Matthew and Camden could stack it. It was fun and interesting to watch them work together in accomplishing a common goal. Aaron also helped me reconstruct the chicken pen. The previous 25 x 50 foot netted enclosure was supported with PVC pipe which finally succumbed to the wind and ice several weeks ago. So this time I set 4 x 4 posts and used 2 x 4s to support the net. We got all the posts set, the cross pieces attached and the net rehung over the framework. There are a few holes for me to patch, but the chickens seem happy to have the extra area to debug.
The major task the grands performed, for which I was especially grateful, was the collecting of the twigs and small branches that have fallen off the trees in the yard lately. With all the strong winds we have recently experienced, there were a lot to them to clean up and they were everywhere. Again, this amazing work crew pitched in and cleaned them up; they even raked up leaves along some of the fence line. The visiting nurse commented on how industrious and cheerful they were while working. When they were done by Wednesday, the yard looked wonderful.
Deborah and her children arrived Wednesday afternoon and things were a little chaotic with 14 grand children running amok. Kera and her four departed after dinner and things calmed down some.
Tuesday night the ward had it's Relief Society Birthday celebration dinner, and spouses were invited. Miranda and Kera joined Sandy and me and we enjoyed a catered dinner of chicken and baked potatoes. There was a short but inspiration program followed by yummy cake.
Thursday, Miranda, Deborah and Tom watched 'Captain Marvel'; since I had no expectations, I thought it was good. With 21 movies in this series, I have difficulty putting all the pieces together. Probably doesn't help that I have not watched all of them nor that they did not get viewed chronologically.
Friday night we celebrated Christopher and Ethan's 7th birthdays. Christopher requested lumpia for dinner; Deborah and Miranda labored rolling the lumpia containing good things to eat and when dinner was over, about 65 lumpia had been devoured.
It was not all work though. We had a lot of fun visiting with each other.
Sandy continues to move forward. No major strides forward, just tiny ones. She is able to drive to appointments, managed to survive the week with 8-10 grandchildren in the house, and actually took a short walk outside following church today.
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