Spring Break/ Easter

I teach at a YEAR ROUND school (I know what was I thinking, right). This will stink when I only have 5 weeks off during the summer but it was great for spring break TWO WEEKS OFF! My two weeks were not school free...I decided to go threw ALL of my files and clean them out. What a task! I also spent some time with a few of my friends in the sun and I'm happy to say that I have the start of a great tan!

Brian's aunt and cousins all stopped by on their way down to their beach house... Yes it was tempting to hide in their trunk and stow away for a few days at the beach! We had a great time visiting and having dinner. I was excited to meet Brian's cousin Tiffany. She meet my expectations and was as great and nice as I had had been told. I tagged along on a couple of work adventures Brian went on and was happy to get to spend extra time with him. This hole 2 weeks of spring break should go national!

Brian, his aunt Melanie, his cousins Seth and Tiffany, Tiffany's daughters Avery and Kaili

Kaili and Ellie

Brian, Whitney, Avery

Brian Being a cute cousin!

We went up to Virginia for Easter and spent the weekend with Brian's mom, sister, and grandparents. It was a crazy fast whirlwind trip but we loved seeing everyone. Brian's grandpa has very interesting stories and he intrigues me. I love asking him questions! Brian got to go to priesthood session (if you don't know what that is its a a church thing) with his grandpa, they used to go together so it brought back some good memories for both of them.

Brian and his Grandpa Glen

We loved being able to see them and get away for the weekend.

Monster Tree Take 2

Yes we got another monster tree this past weekend this one was bigger than the last and required more work...what were we thinking!!!

Our new tree!

Jay and Jamie Helping Brian get it out of the truck.

Brian pulling it out of the truck with his 4wheeler.

Digging the hole...Ellie wanted to help

It was a little embarassing driving back from the nursery with this much tree sticking out of the truck!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

On St. Patrick's day I came home and saw new cabinets!!! YAHOOO!!! Brian put cabinets up in the laundry room! It is not a completely finished project but here is an idea of before and after... 

Before....

After!!!

We still have to get a counter top for the lower cabinets, put the washer and dryer back and tile the floor but it is a huge improvement!

career day!

Mr. Williams Came to career day at good'ol Walter Bickett and he was a big hit. Hey, 2nd graders LOVE rocks! They especially like shiny colorful rocks, not to mention that they all think they need a "measuring  laser" to use instead of a ruler.  The fact that he is married to me did help his popularity. One of the little boys said "um Mrs. Williams he is a big dude, I would never get in a fight with him." I guess if Brian was a smaller man this student would have challenged him to a fight???  Brian did a great job and I was very proud of him! I forgot my camera so just visualize Brian sitting in a tiny chair taking to 2nd graders. It was funny!

Our Monster Tree

Brian asked the landscaper for his company about getting a new tree. He said he had one for $100. This tree was supposed to have a 3 inch diameter trunk. We went to pick it up on Saturday and got a MONSTER TREE... that was 4 times bigger than we were expecting. It took Brian and 5 other guys to get it out of the truck and in the ground. 

Our Old tiny baby Tree!!!

The new MONSTER TREE!!!

Brian staking it down.

The monster tree sticking out of the truck!

It went 10 feet past the truck bed!!!!

The roots, for being a tree they wrapped it up nicely.

650 pounds of tree roots!!!

It looks great we can't wait for it to get green and leafy!

Posion Ivy

Beware of this nasty stuff!!!

We cleaned out our back yard (it was kind of over grown) and BRIAN GOT POISON IVY!!! He is so alergic that we have had to go to the doctors 3 times!!! He is on meds and has gotten shots... I didn't realize that the oils from it were so dangerous! I have cleaned, washed, and wiped down everything! I hope he gets better soon!

Habitat for Humanity

This past Saturday Brian and I had the chance to work on a habitat for humanity project. Our realtor is really involved in the community and sent us an email asking if we would like to come help out.. I think he figured Brian is a big guy and they could really use his man strength.

We read the list of items we needed to take... hammer, utility knife, screw driver, hard hat, gloves, tape measure, safety goggles, and a tool belt. Brian had ALL of the items for both of us except for one thing... no tool belts! We went to Lowe's and got tool belts. This shopping experience was pretty funny.... Brina picks up a couple of belts then decides he wants this rugged dark brown leather belt and he is done... (he looked way hot in it). Now, I am picking up every tool belt option holding them up to me, modeling them for Brian and asking lame questions like.. Does this look the cutest? Which one is the most feminine? (its a tool belt NO TOOL BELT IS FEMININE) Does this make you think of the tool time girl? Does this make you want to nail me? He thought I was funny, hey that's why we are married. He told me which one was the  "cutest" and I ended up getting the lightest color of suede that they had he said it was the best choice for me.

Once we had our belts we were ready to go...

Layered construction worker is clothes.. Check

Loaded tool belt... Check

Safety glasses...um sunglasses... Check

Big heavy boots.... Check

When we got there we went right to work. I was nailing and hammering for hours and wore my arms out. I guess at one point I was hammering a little too enthusiastically because I shook my hard hat off into the mud. I was really trying to be in the construction zone so I put my muddy hat back on and kept working... Brian was a machine and did about 10 times more work than me. He could hit the nails in with or or two hits and it took me about fifteen. I loved watching him hauling huge boards all by himself when it took 2 of the other guys to carry the same thing!

We had a great time made some friends and felt good about helping gout. We were able to complete the installation of all the roof trusses, hang OSB on the exterior walls of the home, install the OSB roof decking on both sides of the roof, and finished the day by securing the safety rails around roof. Not bad for a days work!

We were really tired at the end of the day but we can't wait to do it again. Hey, we might as well put our tool belts to good use!

I think I will stick to teaching!

Whitney's muddy boots!

Brian and Whitney

Brian ... note the tool belt!

The whole group! 

Team work!

Building walls!

Hammering!

Brian working hard!