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!!