Square Foot Gardening

Since we've lived here, we haven't had any luck with our garden. Either the critters eat all the plants or they just haven't done well in general leaving us very disappointed with our efforts. The last couple of years, I haven't even bothered trying.

But this year we decided to give it another go. I ran across a gardening book that I really like called All New Square Foot Gardening and finally this year, we're giving it a try!

One of the things I like about his ideas is less work ;) Another thing is planting anywhere you have space. With that in mind, I put some things on our deck in hopes of keeping the critters out! Hopefully it works!!

Here's one of our containers a couple of days after planting seeds:

 I couldn't believe how fast they spouted!

This is today (a couple of weeks of growth):

 Gorgeous!

Todd made this one for the yard. Hopefully the critters hate peppers and tomatoes ;)

 I'm so excited about having some fresh veggies at our fingertips!

I had told my mom about it and last Friday, the kids and I went over to help her get started:

 We made her three raised beds 4'x4' each.

 Megan is a little gardener ;)

 Yep that's me. Bet you didn't know I could handle power tools! Todd usually keeps me away from them though ;)

I'm loving the simplicity of this gardening! Hopefully, I'll be posting pictures of yummy veggies soon :)

Memorial Weekend

I'm just getting around to blogging this! I've been busy and lazy all at the same time these past couple of weeks. So much going on that my head is spinning and when I have "down-time" and can blog, I'm unmotivated. UGH The next couple of weeks don't really look any less crazy (this weekend and all next week is giving me fits!) so it's now or never so to speak :)

The Saturday of Memorial weekend was spent at Russ and Judy's. They had screened in their patio and invited us down for a little cookout so we could check it out (and also to gift us! More on that a bit later). We had a wonderful time! The food was yummy and the company, wonderful :)

 Isn't it fantastic??

 Megan loves Molly :)

 Of course, we had to play cards ;)

 Think Jon's peeking at Megan's cards?? I thought so too ;)

 There was sprinkler fun...

 And a wonderful cookout:

And there's our gift from Russ and Judy!! When they enclosed their patio they decided they no longer wanted two tables outside so we were the recipients of a patio set! It couldn't have come at a better time for us either as ours has officially bit the dust :) We had just taken one of the chairs apart to see if we could give it a face lift. I think we can, and we probably still will since just our family fills one table all by ourselves, but now there's no hurry! We love this set! Thank you Russ and Judy!!

The Sun!

This spring has been brutal for me. I look very forward every year for the warm sunshine to return to our little corner of the world and this year it took it's sweet time. I thought I was going to have to move! Sheesh! Finally it's warm and sunny and all I want to do is watch our kids play outside! We're not getting much school work done around here ;) That's ok though, I hear we're in for some more rain so we'll get it done then, right??

Sunny days also give me lots of photo opportunities :)

 She turned her head just as I snapped this picture and I ended up with a sweet little picture of her curls :)

 These two have played together constantly and sweetly. I think sunshine makes it harder to argue ;)

 These next two have smiles, brilliantly blue skies and bubbles...perfect.

 Those were from yesterday. Today was...

reading in tents in the yard:

And now they're waiting for me in the swing. :)

Mother's Day

On Mother's Day:

-I slept in
-Todd brought me coffee in bed
-went to church
-Kristen and Jon joined us
-we all took my mom to lunch
-got two beautiful baskets of flowers, one from my mom and one from Kristen,  that are now on my front porch
-enjoyed every moment of sunshine...immensely ;)

From my mom:

 From Kristen:

 I love them! Thank you!

Then...I received the best gift ever. A gift that so perfectly celebrates the season of parenting we are currently in...

 I love it!

 I'm so very excited about all the family reading, dreaming, talking, morning coffees, relaxing that will happen on this swing! I'm not the only one either! The following pictures were taking at various times Monday:

Early morning:

 afternoon (working on schoolwork):

 evening:

They had their bedtime stories out there :) (Jon and Kristen donated blood which is why the red tape ;))

I can't wait for summer!

Shake It!

Yesterday was so good for us! Yes, there was rain but only here and there and the weather was so warm. That means we play outside!! Our kids have been penned up with nasty weather for way too long (did you know we might break the record for rainfall this month?? 6.3 inches as of yesterday morning...) and everyone's getting pretty snippy, but yesterday I could say, "Go outside and play!"  Of course, the backyard is a swamp but the kids found things to do in the front like ride their bikes, practice their dribbling, and....

 working the hula hoop!

 She was so determined! It was adorable how she'd shake her entire body trying to keep that hula hoop up.

 I love this photo....the little tongue stuck out in concentration, the purple nail polish (thanks Margot!)

 She called to Nicholas to watch her success :)

She got better and better and, more importantly, she had a fantastic time trying! It was a great day to be out in the sun :)