We are Officially Hoosiers Now!

Towards the end of the school year, Lily Grace would come home and talk about shooting hoops at recess.  She would share how many baskets she made each day, and how she didn't understand why some boys felt the need to wrestle one another for the ball to the point of rolling on the ground.  HA!  HA!  Anyway, we had been walking across the street to the school for her to shoot and decided to just get her a goal of her own.  Living in the midwest, winters are loooooonnnng and boy does it get cold.  So, the more we can do outside while the weather is nice, the better.
Matt had to make a two week business trip to Mexico but purchased the goal before he left.  Gracie thought that was the longest two weeks ever and couldn't wait for Matt to return to set the goal.  
Matt did a great job and put his engineering skills to use when it came to getting that thing up.  Why can't men just ask for help?  Never mind that he had neighbors right next door offering to help and directions suggest four people but again, why can't men just ask for help? 
We've all been having a great time shooting hoops and playing HORSE with Graciecakes.  LG even got  a new pink basketball. 
According to friends, we are now officially Hoosiers with that goal in our yard and all we need now is a barn.  

The first order of business was digging "The Hole."  Matt had to dig a hole 3 feet deep to set the pole in.

He was so happy to have that part over with.

Next came filling the hole with concrete which had to cure for at least 3 days.  That meant more waiting for Gracie

Of course Matt (aka: Mr. Safety) had his own way of making the rebar more secure and substantial in the concrete, what a mess.

While they waited out the three days they began assembling the goal in Matt's garage.  Molly and I were the supervisors.

On the fourth day, they had the goal assembled and raised the pole.  Now came the tricky part and this is when Matt went into high gear with some meg-shift engineering.  Instead having the neighbors come over to help raise the 100 lb glass backboard, he used the 4 Runner and some lift he created on top of the roof to lift the backboard which he slid on top of the car to the height needed to bolt it in.  I am happy to report I got out of having to insert the bolts and my neighbor came over and did it for me. I'm sure we were quite the site but I will give him credit and say, the neighbors were impressed. 

On Thursday night when they raised the pole, and put up the backboard, it was so chilly and very windy.  We were actually bundled up out there until around nine, but as soon as that backboard and the rim went up, that driveway saw some balls flying as the neighbors came over.

On Saturday Matt finished putting everything up. He and Gracie have been having a great time outside.  We have all enjoyed several laughs.  ( I will just say this about this picture which appears quite impressive- the great thing about this goal is that it can be lowered to 8 feet for Gracie.)