Work Day with Granddaddy

Finally came the day, Belle and I had planned a long drive down to Peach Park to mark her longest drive yet, then we get the work day text.   And while I will admit, I was sad to not get my day with Belle on this day, we quickly moved it to the following weekend, and everyone climbed in the van to Cullman.   Both boys texted that they would be there, so that was another good reason to head up and see them.   And as long as the word "Fence" is not used associated with a Granddad workday, I think all were happy to come and help.   

John, Granddad, Sam and Davis had already started when we arrived, and I jumped into help.   I am really thankful for people like Granddad and Granny and John that see a task like this and say "we can do this" because I don't have that attitude on most projects.   But there was a vision, and layer by layer of this patio area, it started to work.   Even restarting on several sections a few times, it slowly started to take shape, and by the end, looked really good.   

I remember days like this when I was little where PawPaw and Kenny would come over to help build a shed.   And it is a workday, but being together with family is something so much more.   Everyone had a job, and everyone got busy with that job.   Those not laying down the floor were going to grab more stone.   Some were raking the gravel for the next layer of floor.   And my role, maybe just because I am lazy was on my knees moving from one piece of floor to the next.   My back and knees were killing me, but there is something about a mindless task that just fits me well.   

Granny got some Slim Pickens for lunch and there was really some slim pickings.   :)  Granny...sorry, but it did remind me of PawPaw going and getting the one family platter from Captain Ds to feed all of us down in Center Point.   Hahaha...but I would have just overate and been sick, so not complaining, just capturing so I can remember and laugh.   

Ruby was happy on this day to go up to Good Hope and see Aunt Katies new class.   I always love those sweet hugs from all those girls, but hearing little Ivey say "Unca Scott" is still pretty cute.   Ellie and Bella were super excited to share stories of school.   And I got a random big sweaty hug from little Andrew.   Maybe one day all these little ones will also have fond memories of these workdays, watching all the Uncles work, and Aunts..."sit and talk about old men".   

Judging by time and experience though, I assume there will be another workday in the future where all this is pulled up, and something else will go into this spot in the backyard....I wish we had a time lapse showing the transformation over the years of this backyard.   It would be crazy!  Just all a bunch of woods where we were working...for a little boy of 9, it was full of booby traps and trails.   The time lapse video would show a swing set, a pool, a porch around the pool, with a slow pause to see a rehearsal dinner where I prepared to marry the love of my life the next day, then a pool going away, and a patio to stretch to the horizon, then a new part of the house, new shed, horrible fence day, new fence, and finally a firepit.   And thru those scenes many many times every year a family grew from 6 to 10 to 22 and about to add another.   But I guess on this day, it was just another work day with Granddaddy.