No More Boat

The last ride on the boat.  So being financially responsible is hard sometimes.  Very hard.  One of the best days in Jake's life was the day we bought the boat, he was so happy.  A few weeks ago we took the boat out and for the first time I backed the trailer and boat to and from the water!!!  We really enjoy taking it out and having a blast with each other and the kiddos.  2008 has been a great year personally but the reality that money does not grow on trees is evident.  (Dad, are you reading this?) Anyway, we got hit with a very large tax bill and then our washer and dryer went out.  The living room fan went out.  Who can afford gas these days?  We have an awful SUV that sucks gas like crazy (and our last payment is this month- yippee)  What else?  Oh, the garage door is bit temperamental.  I can't think of anymore right now,  just wait, by the time I am done with this post I will think of another thing we need to replace.  Anyway... as responsible adults that are trying to remain debt free we decided that the boat should go.  We put an ad on Craigslist and the next day we knew we had a buyer.  He looked at it on Sunday and that was it, he drove it away and now we have a few bucks to put in the bank.  Jacob understands now that John is not bringing the boat back and tells me that when the washer is older we can buy the boat back.  Good thinking kid, you are right.  We will buy another boat later on, as long as I can keep Jake off the Ski Nautique web sites we will wait at least another few years.  

Spring is here!!

Jake and I spent this last weekend in our yard getting it ready for the summer.  We planted flowers, moved shrubs, leveled the grass, spread a yard of dyno dirt and scalped the lawn.  The picture of the back yard with all the square muddy spots are from my job, I used a tamper and pressed down all the high spots so we can mow those areas this year without putting 4wd wheels on the mower!!!  Wow- we did a lot but it was worth the hard work and hopefully we will have great green grass in a few weeks to play on.  Jacob loved the whole event from sunrise to sunset and was working very hard right next to Jake and I.  Last summer Jacob's favorite Friday morning event was mowing the lawn with Jake, or should I say, on Jake's back.   We have a carrier for when we go hiking and it was awesome to mow the lawn with him but I think that sweet tradition may have passed because now he enjoys mowing behind Jake with his small mower.   We thought Brooks may like it but let's be honest, he is not a light kid weighing in at almost 30 himself!  I am very happy to have the warm sun around again and listening to the boys in the yard playing.  What was Brooks doing while we worked?  Practiced his walking, riding his bike and... sleeping in his swing.  I think he may take after me.