Freedom, Fun and Fireworks

We celebrated July 4th for the first time in our new neighborhood.  I was really anxious to see how it would be as there are no firework restrictions where we live now.  We first celebrated by going to my in-laws that live right down the road.

You can see the many faces of Case!

Morgan had the funniest smile all summer because she had two teeth on top of each other.  We finally had to get the baby one pulled.

Cutie patooties!!

Mamaw and the kids

They made homemade lemonade

My mother in law is always such a great hostess and finds the cutest things to display.  As soon as we got to her house I noticed her super cute drink tags.  I commented on how adorable I thought they were and she pulled out a package for me that had another set in them!!!  She is so very thoughtful.

Dominoes 

I love my little momma's boy

Lonnie had bought a loot of fireworks for the kids to set off.  It was so much fun.  After we set all of ours off we were able to enjoy the amazing ones set off in the neighborhood.

We laid out a blanket and watched for almost an hour.  I could not believe how many there were, how big they were and how close they were to us!!  Our very own fireworks display without traffic!  

I hope everyone else's 4th was an awesome one.

#Backyardoasis

My entire life I have always wanted a pool in my backyard.  Growing up my grandparents had one and I have so many fun memories at their house.  My own parents put a pool in about eight years ago and again we have had a lot of great times hanging out as a family.  

When we made the decision to move to Magnolia one of the factors was a big yard to eventually put a pool in.  Our original plan was to wait until Case was 5 making sure he was pretty good in the water.  Well.....starting in May Lonnie said why don't we just get some quotes, find out some information, etc.  I researched, set up appointments, became quickly knowledgeable about all things pool and we decided to make one of my dreams come true!!  It literally took all summer to get all of the details ironed out but come August 2013 our pool construction began.  

BEFORE

  

Most people that know us probably thought we were crazy starting a pool at the beginning of football and volleyball season.  We probably were but it ended up being the perfect time.  Since we are so busy the pool process seemed to fly by!  In fact it only took three weeks to have our pool completed.  Turns out August/Sept is a pretty slow month for pool companies :)

Pool outlined

Beatrice checking things out and or might be peeing

View from our game room upstairs

It only took two days to frame, dig and rebar(sp?) the pool.

Protecting our patio while they gunite the pool

We were amazed how quickly it was a pool.

After the gunite they laid the flagstone around the edge and the hot tub.

Next they installed the moss rock and diving rock.

I only had two demands  requests that I wanted, a tanning shelf and a fire pit.  We made a last minute decision to make the tanning shelf flagstone and I LOVE how it came out.

Next they framed for our decking.  We chose pea gravel around our pool and then spray deck for our existing patio.

Fire pit!!!

We chose Pebble Sheen for the surface of our pool.  The color we picked was Blue Granite.  Below was the day we starting filling the pool.  It took almost a day and a half with two hoses to fill the pool.  It holds 18,000 gallons of water!

By Labor Day, just three weeks after construction began, we were swimming.  The pictures below show everyone's first time in the pool.

Here goes Morgan

Mallory

I love this picture

I joined in on the fun

Case did eventually jump off the rock but he eased into it the first time in.

Peaceful, easy feeling

Of course the kids swam until about 10:30 the first night we could swim.  I took this picture with the awesome sky behind.

I am so thankful and blessed we were able to put a pool in.  I know how many memories will be made for many years to come.  Since this picture they have finished the spray deck as well as acid washed the flagstone, etc.  The last thing we have to do is landscape around the pool.  More pics to follow!!  

"JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!" - Dory