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During the kids' spring break, I enjoyed a spur-of-the moment trip to Chicago see our friends, the Bays. I left on Monday and came back on Friday. The weather was very sunny there and it was fun to see such a different landscape. The Bays live in the same ward as Laurel's in-laws and since Laurel and John were visiting them, I was able to go out to dinner with them and meet baby Max. He's very cute but has to wear a hip sling that makes him hard to hold!
I never get to have the great welcome that Lyle gets every night when he comes home from work. I decided to document this momentous occasion when I got the "Lyle welcome"!
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I feel like the Mastercard commercial:
plane ticket to Chicago- $$$
meals at the airport-$$$
Knowing that your kids missed you- priceless
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Lyle wanted me to have a "While You Were Out" type of experience. I know he thinks the "reveal" wasn't so great, but I was very impressed with all of work he'd gotten done. I love the planters he and Forrest made in front of our porch. It's actually concrete that they carved to look like stone. They still have some coloring to do, but I think it looks great. We already planted some wisteria to grow up on the porch.
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I thought it was funny that Lyle added a "B" to one of the "stones". I guess we can never move--or have to sell the house to someone with the initial "B"!
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Lyle aerated the whole yard, spread topsoil, and reseeded the lawn. To keep the dogs off, he put up the lovely construction fencing. While I was gone Lyle also cut out all of the pieces for our new porch swing!
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I swear Olaf doubled in size over the last five days.