Phase 2

The building of the shed is now complete! Billy even made a beautiful matching door from the scrap wood laying around. We got everything loaded in for the most part. We are having a drizzly Saturday, so we didn't have a lot of time to go through things as much as we wanted to... but we will slowly get it done :)
There is some extra stuff that we will be getting rid of in there now, because of the rain, but everything is accessible! We can walk in and pull down the bin or tool or toy that we need without having to move 10 things out of the way first :) It's beautiful & Billy did an amazing job!
There is a little more clean up to do on the outside, post construction as well as sorting through all the odd materials and hardware we have collected over the years.

Phase 3 will be to paint and trim out the door and corners. Once it's painted, we can hang up the ladders and load up the outer shelving with tile and paint and things that don't need to be sealed up from rodents & weather.
Thanks Bill the Builder for the awesome new storage shed! I'm very grateful :)

Project storage shed

I am happy to report that one of our long time projects since our move over to the ranch is in the process! Billy took two weeks off, in between leaving the forest service and starting with Montecito fire department and is determined to build us a bigger storage shed.
Monday he drew out his plans, Tuesday was the trip to Home Depot to pick up the lumber & Wednesday was "go day". It didn't take long to empty everything out of the old shed all over the back yard and start the tear down. Our ward missionaries came up to help for the afternoon too! They made it in time to move the last few items out of the shed and help tear it down. Then, they got straight to work, following Billy's directions, and framing the walls of the new shed. By the time they had to leave, the front and back walls were up! By the end of the day, Billy had the 3rd wall framed and up.

Thursday morning, 4th wall went up followed by the sheeting and roof rafters!

Friday & Saturday were both "broken" work days. I had a 12:30 dr. appointment & a couple errands and Billy needed another truck load of materials from Home depot. Saturday we had an afternoon birthday party for the boys & an evening birthday party for Billy and I! But between all that, Billy was somehow able to finish all the fascia and nail down the roof sheets. He amazes me with his building talents.

We have had a drizzly Sunday and may have a drizzly day tomorrow as well... but Billy is off for one more week, so hopefully we can get this shed done by the end of the week! If not, it will come to a major halt as Billy starts his rigorous 7 week academy with Montecito on March 2nd. As well as a brand new baby in the mix in less than 4 weeks. I will be out of commission to help out for a few weeks after because of surgery :(
Our 3 big helpers!!

Sunday walk

After church today, Billy & Kevin Gleason headed out on a wild adventure in the back country. They are off to find some Indian cave drawings somewhere back in the forest beyond bluff camp. This afternoon was the bike ride back to bluff camp..... I think it is around 25 miles or so and mostly uphill. Tomorrow they will hike another 10 miles or so to the paintings and back before they get on their bikes to come home.
Once the guys left the house, Lauren, her girls & me and the boys set off on our own little adventure. We drove out on the ranch to the pasture with the wild mustangs. The kids all really enjoy the truck ride, it's fun to see their happy faces and listen to their busy chatter.

We walked through the pasture out to the random yurt on the ranch and that's where we found the mustangs. They aren't scary wild, they do get fed when the grass is all dead and there is nothing for them to eat. But they aren't ever ridden or anything, so wild enough. They were curious of us as we approached and came toward us. I happened to have eaten an apple and kept my core to feed to the brave one that would eat it from my hand. :) The kids all loved petting the ones that would let them and then we checked out the yurt from the outside... bummer it's locked up.

We walked around a bit more, enjoying the wild flowers and green grass all around us. It was such a warm and beautiful afternoon. It's been so warm this week, we went to the beach Thursday & Friday! We also went to UCSB's first baseball game of the season on Friday against BYU. The boys really enjoyed watching the game, asking questions and eating peanuts in the stand. We will have to go to more of the Gaucho games this season!
Billy did take his cell phone and called around 6:20pm from a peak top to say they were just about to descend into bluff camp. Brave guys, riding their bikes in the back forest county all afternoon and into the dark! I will be anxiously awaiting his phone call tomorrow sometime to let me know they are safe and on their way back. What a cool adventure.... one day, it will be me on the other bike instead of Kevin ;) Not anytime soon though.

Billy's Birthday

Billy's birthday was a couple weeks ago... but I did snap a couple pictures of our family party and thought I would post them :)

The boys went to the store with me and each picked out a couple presents for Dad, it was cute. William found a dart board and a new red tie. Zachary wanted to buy him a jump rope and some new exercise shorts. Jameson picked out a new shirt and shorts. I found the perfect yellow pillows for the couch in the family room! ;) ha ha. Well, my card was a good one.
Really, his best birthday present was getting the job offer from Montecito fire department! Can't beat that one!! We are all so excited for this new change in our family! :)

It was funfetti cake as usual. We all love funfetti for our birthdays!
Happy birthday to the most wonderful guy in my universe. I love you.