Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Landscaping

It seems like we've been SO busy these days with all the different projects going on...mainly finishing the basement and landscaping my parent's yard. Mom and Dad bought a home that had zero landscaping so we've had fun beginning that process.

Before

During

After

One of our big projects from this spring is finally complete! We started our day yesterday at 5:30 am out at Sara and Joe's for pancakes and bacon; then we moved the party to Coal Creek and gathered some nice round river rock to put in our 'water feature' in the front yard. This was our final touch to the front and it's finally done, yipee! Check back in 30 days when the garden is leafy green and producing deliciousness!

We had so much help from so many different people in so many different shifts. Dad plugged away and has been getting up early each morning to get 'er done. When the crew in Cedar was feeling worn out, more people would come to visit and help motivate to get one more aspect of the yard complete. Thank you all!

Dirt moving to fill the raised garden beds.
Their soil is a rocky-clay combo so we hauled in 8 or so yards of soil for the beds.

Kaden's concentrating face - mouth open!

We get the workers started young around here.

Alethea spear headed the garden beds, they really turned out great! Here Sara and Alethea are hard at work leveling the block. It turns out it's harder than it looks, or seems it should be, to make sure the bricks are all level. I love how the terraced beds look, well used space for the sloping yard.

Abbie took on the pathway. An area in town was ripping up part of the sidewalk to redo, so we gathered up the chunks and made a seriously heavy-duty pathway to the basement entrance, it's bomb proof!

We also put in a french drain to catch the run-off and shoot it into the back yard.

Here is a cute little face that will love playing in the yard and working in the garden! Next up is the back yard - we've already got fruit in (apples, apricot, grapes, and peach with plum and cherry to come). We're also putting in another raised bed, and a sand box for the kiddos. For now we're enjoying the front yard and are pleased with how well it turned out. It definitely was a learning process...we now know a lot more about laying patios and walkways and leveling block. It's been a great busy spring!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Spice Up My Life!

George did just that... Remember how on Mother's Day he got me an awesome spice rack, but it wasn't quite finished? Well it's done now, hanging on the wall in our kitchen just waiting to be used. I love it, it seriously makes me giddy when I see it. I love that you can see all the different colors and textures of the spices. I love that my spices are SO organized and functional, clearly labeled, and alphabetized. I love the vintage look of the old milk crate and bottles.


You can't really tell by the photo that they are mounted on the wall, but 'tis so, and 'tis awesome :)

Decorative and functional...just how I like it. Thanks George!

Just Because...

He really is that cute :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Papa's Day

Look at these amazing dad's (and amazing son). Three generations of good looking boys!

Dear Papa Giorgio, You are an amazing father. Sawyer and I are so blessed to have you. You are such a great example for our little Sawyer. I'm so happy you wanted to have a family with me. Thanks for making it possible for me to be a mom :) I love you ._

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Eating solids...

Here is Sawyer trying mangoes for the first time, haha. It is so funny because he LOVES all veggies, but any fruit we give him it makes him shudder and we see lots of the faces pictured above. He is very particular about the temperature of his food, it must be warm for him to partake! We have SO much fun with this little boy. Love him!!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Nappy Time?

Sawyer feels he is much too old to nap anymore :(

This is how he spends nap time, except usually he's standing and crying. Hopefully it's just a phase...and luckily after a month and a half 'break' from sleeping through the night we are back into that, yes!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

3 ♥

3 years and counting

We celebrated our third anniversary on June 7th. We had a delightful picnic. The weather was perfection...slight breeze with warming sun. Sawyer napped the whole time. We are a happy, healthy family and feel so blessed!

My mom made us a delightful beebop-a-reebop rhubarb pie (have you heard Garrison Keillor's radio show?)

Monday, June 6, 2011

Yee Haw!

Rope 'em and Ride 'em!

Check out this gal's skill! A unicorn and horse at the same time, and they're even both pink!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Prune

Sawyer was having too much fun in the bath last night...look at those pruney feet!
Sadly his chunky thighs will disappear all too soon because as of May 28th Sawyer is a crawler! We also found out he gained two pounds in the last month - at his 7-month appointment he's tipping the scales at 21 lbs 14 oz!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

The Deck

My parent's have a wonderful deck on the north side of their home. It is quite pleasant during meal times.
Notice Kaden's boomerang...Abbie got that for the nephews and niece while visiting Australia. We miss you Abbie! It was so fun to have you here :)