The Garden - Part 6

Todd decided to build one more box to fill the space in our garden better (the long one in the back) and then we had to put landscape fabric in all the boxes and sink them into the gravel. 

Next was the dirt.  Heidi says I can't call it dirt because it's too expensive to be called that and to call it soil.  But I keep forgetting and call it dirt all the time.  We had a big pile delivered and dumped in our driveway and bought the other 2 kids that we would need.  Apparently, with garden boxes you do a very fancy mix of three types of dirts inside to make them grow everything right. 

Then we filled the boxes.  We layered the dirt and then I shoveled it and then Todd used the rototiller on it.

During this process the kids each got their special pots.  Yellow is Tayson's and he planted strawberries.  The green is Luke's and he is going to plant a cherry tomato plant.  Blue is Claire's and she wanted flowers and the red is Sophie's and she originally wanted to grow noodles but then agreed to do flowers instead.  We also planted the herbs in pots and started on our strawberries in the cinder blocks in the back.

We worked until 9:00 pm and I was dead tired by the end.  I woke up early did my 16 mile run, took a trip to Home Depot and then worked outside all day.  Talk about exhausted!  I had to take a picture the next morning so it was light enough to see everything. 

Next step:  plant!

What my kids do when I'm working outside...

A great surprise

Today while I was at work my awesome dad came over and finished hauling gravel into the garden.  He filled it all the rest of the way and now we just have to do the final touches on Friday before our dirt gets delivered.  Seriously - he is amazing!!  I am sure grateful to have my parents living so close and I can't believe how much they do for me all the time.  I already ask too much of them and then they still surprise me by doing more.  Thanks dad!!

The Garden - Part 5

Next steps were to dig out the extra dirt, flatten the dirt, lay the landscape fabric and the gravel.  First we had to fill the outside holes with gravel and cover the concrete footings.  Then my dad and I filled and dumped 5 or 6 wheel barrows of dirt.  Todd rented a clay compactor and got the ground level.  I'm pretty sure I filled 20 wheel barrows full of gravel today.  It was so hard for me - I'm no good at manual labor.  Todd and I were even joking about how I can go out and run 10 miles no problem but if you ask me to pick up a shovel I can't :)  Well I proved myself and him wrong today by helping all day.  We even worked while it rained on us.

 

We are getting so close to being ready to plant!!

The Garden - Part 4

This huge pile of gravel was delivered.

 

Todd finished the cinder block support walls

 

Concrete footings were poured and signed by the family

 

Staycation - Day 4

Swimming at Lehi indoor pool.  It was seriously so much fun!

Then to top off an already fun afternoon we grabbed dinner at In-n-Out on our way home.  Delicious and we didn't feel totally under dressed in our swim apparel.

The WORST part of Spring Break

My sweet baby Sophie went outside while Todd was working on the garden and I was at work.  Todd put sunscreen on her around 11:30 am.  She managed to get burnt to a crisp!  And then had an allergic reaction to the sun - swollen eyes, bumps and all.  Poor thing.  Thank goodness the rest of the week was cold and overcast!!

The Garden - Part 3

Outside wall done.  Now to level the ground a bit.  My dad brought over his rototiller to help soften the ground.  The boys cleaned and shoveled.  It's starting to really come together.

 

Staycation - Day 3

Picnic at the park was on the list too.  So we packed up the kids and met my parents at the park (they had Jeannie's kids too).  We had subway sandwiches, rode bikes, fed the ducks and played on the playground.  Shadow LOVED it at the park too.

 

Staycation - Day 2

 Next item on the list was to do hotdogs and s'mores in the backyard in our fire-pit.  We don't have our firepit finished yet - but that didn't stop us.  Todd threw together a quick fire-pit in the middle of our soon to be garden with cinder blocks.  The kids loved cooking over the fire and getting completely dirty and sticky. 

My little beauty queen

Almost every morning Sophie climbs up on the counter next to me and does her makeup with me.  I love it and I love her!!

Spring Break - Staycation Day 1

We sat down with the kids and wrote up a list of things we wanted to do during our staycation spring break.  One item was a late night movie night.  So we popped popcorn and we down to the theater room and watched "The Adventures of Tintin".  Sophie was sound asleep on my lap by the time the movie was half over. 

Timmy's Birthday

For Timmy's birthday he requested funfetti cupcakes in an ice cream cone.  He saw them on pinterest and they looked like fun to make.  They were actually quite time consuming - but turned out really cute.   Plus he is totally worth all the work. 

 

Happy birthday Timmy!!!

Easter 2012

Easter this year was less of a production than most years.  Between the wedding and spring break and how busy we were it was just fun to do a few small things together instead.  I bought the kids new blankets for Easter but gave them to them weeks ago so there goes the baskets....oh well.

 

We did make these yummy birds nest treats.  Delicious and Fun!

Sunday morning before church we dyed eggs

I'm pretty sure Sophie and Luke couldn't look much funnier.  

Crazy hair and Sophie did dark eye makeup.  Ha.

The sun was in their eyes so we couldn't get a cute picture ... oh well.

After church we did a lot of egg hunting at my parent's house.

Sophie's Perm

Sophie's hair drives me crazy so I took her in to chop it off and get a perm.  How cute is she with the curlers in her hair.  Sadly the perm didn't really take - but her short hair is really cute and she doesn't look homeless anymore :)

A day at the park

After we bought the bikes we rode over to the park with the kids and Shadow.  It was a beautiful day and nothing is better than playing together as a family!

New Bikes

Todd and I decided it was finally time to just get the boys good bikes.  We took them to Sports Authority and let them pick out new bikes.  They were so excited to have "real" bikes.  It took about 2 times up and down the sidewalk with Todd then Luke was riding like a champ.  Sure he didn't learn to ride a bike until he was almost 8 - but when he decided it was finally time he picked it up fast.  

 

On a side note:  did you notice both of our cars parked in the garage?  Yippee!  I didn't think the Durango would fit but with a little space management we've got them both in. 

Family Bowling Night

We thought it would be fun to go bowling as a family - Todd and the kids LOVE bowling.  

 Sophie was hilarious.  She would put her fingers in the holes.  Then run as fast as she could and throw the ball.  Then as it slowly rolled down she would stand watching it and was so excited when it would knock down pins she would jump up and down.