GRASS!

(The area that is still dirt is where we are going to build our deck, in case anyone was wondering...)

Back Yard Transformation Continued...

 This is the truck that our sod came on. it was huge!

 This is the view from one of our upstairs bedrooms.

 View looking towards the third car garage and gate. 

(Eventually we'll put a pathway through the rock, so it's easier to walk through.)

 View looking towards our longest expanse of fence...

 looking down the fence...

 side yard

 8 pallets of sod, or roughly about 4000 sq. ft

Almost everything is done. The sprinklers are installed, the rock border with drip line is in and so now we are just waiting for the sod to go down. It rained all day today, and those poor workers got soaked, so they will be back tomorrow to finish the sod! 

(More pictures will follow soon!)

2 Birthday Boys, 1 Party!

This Saturday we had a family birthday party for Levi and Caleb. Levi celebrates his birthday on the 1st and Caleb is on the 5th. So we had a party for them both! We had a lot of fun and I honestly can't say why we didn't take more pictures, other than maybe we were having too much fun to think about the camera too much. Here's the double birthday celebration!

Caleb is 7!

I guess after 7 years, Caleb really isn't a baby anymore, but I can't help looking back at these pictures and remembering what a happy little guy he was.  We are so glad he came and joined our family! We love you Caleb! Happy Birthday!

Back Yard Transformation, DAY 1

I think Levi was in "Little Boy Heaven" yesterday for his birthday. About 9 AM we got a knock on our door. It was the workers here to start work on our back yard. We knew they would be coming, but they hadn't given us a specific date so we were a little surprised when they did show up- ready to go. Levi couldn't have asked for a better birthday present. Between playing with an empty box (see post below) and staring out the window at the workers prepping our yard and moving rocks he had a pretty good day.

Here he is, watching intently as they dug the trenches for our sprinkler system.

This is the side of the house next to our neighbor. (We live on a corner so the other side is street, not neighbor, in case you were wondering.) The rock is about 10 feet out from the fence on this side and eventually this is where our garden boxes will go.

The back of our yard is not exactly square, but you can see the rock border going across the back. Eventually we'll plant some bushes and flowers in the border, but you get the idea...

The workers left their supplies here overnight. We couldn't resist taking a picture with the big machinery that Levi had watched them use all day from the window.

LEVI is 2!

 I made Levi a Happy Birthday Banner while he was napping. I think it turned out pretty well.

 The birthday boy!

 opening presents... 

(Kellie and her friend at school made him some cards during class. That's what he's holding right now...)

 Levi got an adorable firetruck jacket from his grandparents! He likes it with the hood UP!

 We gave him some little push-and-go animal cars.

 He loves them!

He also got an elephant. 

(He has been carrying it around with him under his arm like a football!)

Birthday Boy in a Box!

 

 Levi is TWO today! He woke up in a good mood, got dressed and has spent the morning playing in an empty box. Sounds like the start of a great birthday to me!

Happy Birthday Levi! We sure love ya!

Looking back on the day he was born in this picture...

 He is 1 week old in this picture... 

(you can see he was still slightly jaundice)

(More exciting birthday pictures to follow soon!)

1ST day of PRESCHOOL

Miss Kellie was so excited to start Preschool! She loves her new teacher Ms. Alison and she also LOVES her new backpack. Have a great year Kellie! We love you!

Visiting with Family...

Matt's parents came to visit us this weekend and to see our new house. It was fun to have Grandma Carol and Grandpa Lane for a few days!

 Kellie loved playing Pretty Pretty Princess with Grandma. Don't they look beautiful?

1ST and 4TH GRADE!

Aaron is in 4th Grade! Time sure does fly. Although this year was the first year that I am officially "an embarrassment." We got to the school a few minutes early so I could help them find their classrooms and show them where to line up outside. When we got out of the car Aaron made sure he was walking about 15 feet ahead of me. 

I called out to him, "So are you too cool to walk with your Mom?" He gave me a pathetic look, but slowed down to being only about 5 feet ahead of me, which made me smile. When we got to his door I gave him a hug and asked him if he wanted me to wait a few minutes,or if he was okay. He motioned for me to bend down and he whispered in my ear- "Mom, you're embarrassing me..." 

At this point I laughed out loud. One of the other teachers saw us and asked if everything was okay. I smiled and told her everything was fine- it's just that I was "embarrassing him." 

She smiled and Aaron rolled his eyes and said "Mom! Don't tell the whole world what I said!" and turned a million shades of pink. (Which if you ask me- being PINK is a whole lot more embarrassing than having your Mom drop you off at school on your first day!) 

To the teacher's credit she smiled, winked at Aaron and told him, "Don't worry- I didn't hear a thing!" As if she was on his side and understood all about Mom's embarrassing their sons. 

Not wanting to "humiliate" him any further- we left to go find Caleb's room.

 Caleb is my big 1st grader. He has been really excited to start school and he is really looking forward to the "super cool" playground that our new school has. He is a sweet kid and was fine when I dropped him off. He wasn't even too embarrassed to hug me, so I guess I should treasure that while I still can.

 Good luck boys! Here's hoping we have a great year!