When we built our house, we left some things undone. We had some exterior cement work that we finished in the spring of 2008. The basement is unfinished. The driveway is unpaved. The yard is not landscaped. The deck was not built.
We decided that if we want to put our house back on the market, it might be a wise move to finish the deck. (And it will be fun for us to have while we live here, too!) 
So, our friends Jason and Stephanie spent Friday and Saturday here, and Luke and Jason started the project!
This is what the back of the house looked like before they started the work.
And this is them with the two-man auger. That was a fun little machine.
Installing the joists
The kids doing their “work” while the daddies worked on the deck. (Jason and Stephanie’s daughter Macie is the third from the left.)
Sweet Jaden during Deck Weekend. He didn’t feel like doing much work.
A view of some completed joists from inside the house
Grace and Macie played really well together.
By the way, this is Jason.
My manly-man attaching a hanger to the house
Completed joists
Jason lopping off the support beams with a chainsaw!
Jason and Stephanie’s baby, Makenzie Grace, who is 24 days older than Jaden.
Luke screwing down deckboards
And we’ll end with a story about Caleb…He absolutely LOVED to be around all the manly tools, etc. during Deck Weekend. And he was especially enamored with Jason’s blue measuring tape. Well, on Sunday morning before church, I let Caleb play with it for a little while, and this is what I found. Too precious!
So, the deck railings need to be finished (they’re partially done), and the stairs need to be built. And then the deck will be complete, and we will post some pictures of the finished product!
First the cow story: We “ran” into the same problem in Georgia once. The family was in the process of moving the cows across the street to “greener” pastures. We drove up as they were all in the street – about 100 of them.
Second the deck: AMAZING! Can’t wait to see the finished project. Sure wish we could buy you that slide. The kids would love sliding down to the backyard instead of walking down the stairs. Some day!
Wish I was there. Great cow story, too.
The deck looks great! Awesome job, Luke & Jason! Looks like Caleb is about ready to be out there helping.
Cute lil babies.
Yay – fun stories! I am so impressed, Luke – building a deck with your bare hands!
Lace – I love the snapshot of Jaden! Very cute. Thanks for always finding a way to share the cute stories of your kids as well, like Caleb with the measuring tape. Love it!
Wow! I just went through and read all your blogs since you began blogging more regularily… I understand your busyness. It’s just that we are busy in different ways. Sometimes I wish I was busy with kids and family and not all the school work I am doing, but I trust the Lord has it all planned out for us!
Anyway…
Can’t wait to see the finished deck. The blog makeover looks good! Hope Jaden is gaining weight as he needs and that’s your whole family is staying healthy. We have many teachers and students who are sick with H1N1, strep throat, etc. etc… So far the Lord has kept me healthy and I haven’t missed much work. I am trying to save up those sick days for when we want a baby… make that maternity leave as long as possible…
I always enjoy your blogging! Hope to keep up with it.
~Michelle
Just saw your tweet about Jaden’s appointment…so sorry:(
A friend of mine here in CA went through that…they finally made an official diagnosis of “failure to thrive” for her son, even though he was perfectly happy, developing normally and everything, and she had to supplement with formula. I honestly think they made that official diagnosis just to get her to do the formula thing, because she so didn’t want to have to:) She also pumped like crazy and took all the supplements she could to get her supply up enough to be able to go back to nursing exclusively, which she ended up being successful in doing.
So sorry though…that’s so discouraging, I know.