The Falling Tree

This is Brock. We started cutting down the tree. We used the Ram and a very powerful rope to try and get the stump out. The  tree stump did fall out the ground but it left a very big hole.   

This is Brock. We hooked the powerful rope up to try to pull the tree stump. The rope was very strong and somehow did not break. We did get the stump out the ground but there was a very big hole. We tried to pull the dirt and sand off the stump but it did not work. We needed a pickaxe, hoe, and other things. We found some wires and strong roots.

This is Brock. We have a video of Daddy trying to pull out the stump with his truck. There was a lot of getting in and out of the truck. The stump went right out of the hole. We also found a tag at the bottom of the tree. After we pulled out the stump we used the lawn mower. Because the stump weight was 500 pounds. So we thought that we could not pull it so we used the water and turned the mode to jet. The idea was to get the dirt off and it worked. Because then it weighted only 300 pounds. So we put it on the lawn mower and after a while it worked we got the stump.   

This is Brock. This is the photo that was all done and we got the stump into the forest. There were a lot of roots so it was very hard to pull it plus all the dirt. The wood part on top is the stump and the rest is dirt, roots, and sand.

When we used the water there was a lot of dirt and sand so we used the power washer to clean it off. We pushed all the dirt into the grass. We were outside for a super long time I think it was 4 1/2 hours of work. The part where we were digging took about 2 hours just that part. We had to drag the stump to the grass and we put it on the lawn mower. 

This is a video of me and Kade and Daddy all doing the pressure washer and Mama is taking the video and photos. What made it more harder to do is that it rained yesterday so it was all muddy. Which made the lawn mower slip. So we made to bring it more up the hill. The hill also made it harder because the hill was tall.

THE END

Punta Cana 2023 - Part III

Brent packed the baseball gloves so Brock could get in a little practice throwing while on vacation. Wednesday seemed like a great day for it as we woke up to lots of rain clouds in the distance. 

I promised Brock a race - Wednesday was the last day to fulfill that! The water was cold - honestly, the ocean water was warmer than the pool! I thought breaststroke was the only stroke I could possibly get him... so we raced that! 

After my defeat, Brent went off to the gym - not before warning me that a storm cloud was quickly approaching. I looked up not two minutes later and got the boys out of the water to change and we headed for cover. 

What to do at an all-inclusive when it downpours? Head to the arcade!! 

Unfortunately, this section was not "included" in the all-inclusive, so for $100 (the cheapest/best option) we got a 24 hour pass for all the games/bowling we wanted for all four of us. Brock loved all the virtual reality games. 

A little friendly competition playing air hockey!

Back at it!!

Kade was literally falling asleep at the lunch table, so I thought maybe he might take a nap if Brock and I left. We made our way back to the beach for one more quick dip - had to stop and play some cornhole/bean bag toss. 

Meanwhile, Brent was planning something special for Kade.... he just wasn't satisfied that Kade was *so close* to getting on the water slide... we may have coached him how to stand up VERY tall. With a little wink wink, Kade was allowed up on the water slides!! 

We met Brent coming to get towels and followed him all the way back to the water park to join in the fun! 

Last night there - let's make it special. Special hibachi tables open at 5:30 at the Himitsu restaurant, so we were there at 5:10 to wait for a table! I don't think the boys understood what kind of dinner we were having, but they were so interested in watching the chef cook!

Fried rice (the boys had white), chicken, beef and shrimp - yum yum!

The boys were not as excited about their fried ice cream as I thought they'd be....

After dinner, we headed back to the arcade to get in our family bowling game! 

Kade was a little discouraged his ball kept going in the gutter. He was really trying to make the most of it.

Our leftie!

Not bad for our very first family bowling game. Kade (19), Brent (125), Vanessa (112), Brock (84). And I'll add that 112 was not bad at all for bowling in 2 1/2" heels!! 

We may have walked over to the lobby bar for refills on drinks and left the boys playing in the arcade... not the best layout. This was the first time (before literally just walking through when we originally arrived) we went there during our entire stay. 

The coveted Gatorade bottle.

Oh look at that - we're back in the lobby!

Departure day - after getting "randomly selected" for the extra checks through security, we finally made it through. We were showing Brock the cool items in Duty Free. 

Three hour and forty minute minute flight to Charlotte, then two and a half hour drive back home. Finally arrived home at 9:30PM Thursday evening and we were pooped after so much travel. Moose was so excited to see us!

Moose smelling a flower with the dog-sitter

The next day, I had PILES of laundry! Ah, post-vacation woes!

Spring Break 2023 done!

Punta Cana 2023 - Part II

 

Tuesday morning, Brock and I stopped at the little gift shop after our buffet breakfast. He picked out this $3 Gatorade that has "such a cool bottle" - and a little different flavor "Melon"; he coerced me into purchasing. 

Another day, another picture from our balcony - this time, with a video! 

We dropped the boys off at the Explorer's club because they were having a Spanish lesson and group time at the splash pad. They did make some friends that were saying goodbye to them when I picked them up. We walked over to the Family pool which is right beside Barefoot Grill - guess smelling hamburgers was too much for Brock!

After lunch, we slathered on more sunscreen and headed out for the beach!

In all the videos I watched of this hotel's beach, they all included an awesome swing under this sign.... nope, wasn't there while we were there.... 

The waves were pretty intense over by our hotel, but if we walked about 10 minutes to the right, the water was a little more manageable in the "cove". 

Good looking husband watching our bag. When he felt convinced we could still watch the bag from the water, he got in the water with us. 

Brock truly is part otter. 

Parent picture! 

Kade is a character!

Tuesday night we tried "El Patio" - the Mexican restaurant. We ended up ordering four adult meals for us to share between the three of us (if you haven't figured it out yet.... Kade only eats chicken nuggets and French fries). It was a good choice - the fajitas were not as filling for Brock and Brent - and Brock can eat some rice!! Don't we look nice all dressed up?