Easter

The kids spent easter morning with their Dad this year so Russell and I had a nice relaxing morning around the house. We later picked up the kids and headed to my Mom's for a delicious dinner with the family. We had an Eater egg hunt in the back yard and Jackson got to have a horse ride before heading home see what the Easter bunny had left for them (Copper even got a basket with toys and bones).

  

Hunter's B-day

I need to backtrack a month to catch up. My laptop is out of commission again so I haven't been on top of blogging and it's taken a while to get the older pictures onto this computer.

We were invited to Hunter's birthday party at Classic Skating (my kid's cousin). It was a blast. I hadn't been roller skating in, I don't know how many years. It took a few times around the rink to get the hang of it again but it was really fun. I'm glad Russell and the kids talked me into skating.

Strobe lights, disco balls and music to get you tapping your foot makes for some fun skating. It always nice to visit with family and old friends and Hunter got some great birthday presents!

  

My Garden

I turned this pile of pallets:

Into this:

...and couldn't be happier. I spent hours of planning and day dreaming for this garden throughout the winter. Originally I had plans drawn up for a beautiful wood fence around the garden and garden boxes. Then reality set in regarding the cost of such a beautiful design. So, it was time to get inventive and revise my plans. My stepdad, Mark had a ton of old pallets from work. He and my mom brought a couple trucks full of pallets over to me and I got busy. 

I took an unused, weed filled, eyesore behind our garage and turned it into our family garden. It took just over a month, start to finish. It all started with cutting down a wild growing tree that shaded the area. The tree was pretty tall so it needed to be cut down in chunks and what better place to start than on the roof.

Meanwhile, we started some seeds inside:

 Fence to keep the dogs out and clear all the weeds:

The building begins. I spend time afterwork and on weekends measuring, sawing, and assembling. In case you didn't know, I love power tools.

Inside, our seeds had sprouted, were transplanted into cups and were doing well.

After the garden boxes were all assembled, I added landscape fabric on the bottom (to block weeds) and added some support posts.

 I got the idea to line the inside with some paper grocery bags online, it keeps the soil from falling out through the slats.

Next step was having soil delivered. This is the first of two truck loads full and the task of filling the garden boxes seemed never ending!

Our seedlings were getting huge, and ready for transplanting by this time

As I was building the trellises I looked back into my yard and it looked like a secret garden behind my rickety old fence.

 I had kept some of the long branches from the tree I cut down to make a teepee trellis for the peas.

It felt amazing to get it all planted. I absolutely love my garden and we've already gotten a handfull of ripe strawberries.

I will keep you updated throughout the summer. This is what's currently planted:

Veggies

• Corn
• Yellow Bell Peppers
• Zucchini
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Cauliflower
• Brocoli
• Leeks
• Red Onion
• White Onion
• Garlic
• Tomatos - 8 varieties 
• Banana Peppers
• Sweet Peppers
• Radish
• Peas
• Carrots
• Cucumber - 2 varieties 
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew
• Pumpkins
• White Pumpkins
• Gourds
• Spagetti Squash
• Potatoes - 2 varieties

Herbs

• Chives
• Mint
• Chamomile
• Basil
• Parsley
• Cilantro

Edible Flowers

• Nasturtiums
• Pansies

Fruits

• Strawberries
• Apple Tree 
• Cherrie Trees
• Plum Tree

(the trees were already planted when we bought our house 5 years ago)

Thankful Thursday (Sunday edition)

I am at a point in my life where everything has fallen into place.

My kids got into Monticello Academy for school next year and I am absolutely thrilled.  Ashleigh got in right away after the school's lottery process but Jackson has been on the waiting list. I checked my email before bed a couple nights ago and saw the magic acceptance letter sitting in my inbox. I was so excited, I couldn't sleep. It's a charter school right down the street from my work, with small class sized, motivated and talented teachers who really help their students to succede. Ashleigh wasn't particularly thrilled to move to a new school, away from friends, and having to wear uniforms but Jackson is excited after being bummed out when he didn't get into the school right away.

All my hard work from my garden over the last month had paid off. I couldn't be happier with what I was able to accomplish from a pile of scrap wood. I just pray that it produces an abundant amount of food for my family this summer.

Finances are on track and that's always a good feeling. For years I've thought of getting into the stock market as a day trader and I am finally going to do it.

Russell is doing great and enjoys work a lot more after being promoted to a different department last month. He's been so supportive and helps me out with my crazy projects. He is able to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to go to Hawaii for a week long drill camp in July. I am very excited for him, it will be an unforgettable experience.

There's always ups and downs in life and I'm fortunate to have everything 'up' right now and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.  Just last week I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. It's amazing how fast things can turn around. It just takes patience and faith.

An extra dose of patience please

This is what I came home to after a karate class last week. 4 berry bushes, 2 tomato plants, carrots, lettuce, and flowers, all gone. I cried a little. Most of those I had been growing since last summer. I babied them all winter long. Who knew I would end up loosing them at the paws of a bored puppy.

I have a print from my favorite artist which happened to break from someone not paying attention. The glass is shattered and it's currently sitting on my dinning room table.

Copper ate a ball point pen.. Broke it wide open.. On my new couch... Ink is not covered in the fabric stain warranty. Go figure.

I'm feeling a little down, now would be a good time to reflect on some of my thankfully Thursday posts for a little pick-me-up. But I'm thinking an evening of relaxing with something good to drink and not having to cook (read that as clean up from) dinner might be better. Especially if I can talk Russell into a back massage.

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have, here are a few things I am thankful for today:

• My son trying new foods now (especially veggies!)
• Tweezers - for those nasty splinters
• Wheelbarrows & shovels
• My garden
• Home grown fruits, veggies & herbs
• Having the next four days off from work
• How hard Jackson has been working to get ready for his next Karate tournament (5+ hours a week at the dojo and time practicing at home everyday. He is competing in seven different events)
• Video recording/cameras
• Magic bullet - makes the easiest smoothies ever
• My kids not complaining too much about me removing the microwave (as an experiment) and I am loving the extra counter space.

Thankful Thursday

I saw this picture on Facebook (thanks Char) and thought it would be perfect for my Thankful Thursday post. The picture is adorable and I think it puts things into perspective.

First and foremost I am thankful for my family and all of their individual personalities that make them unique.

I am thankful for being brought up in a household of acceptance which has allowed me to grow up appreciating diversity and, in turn, pass that to my children.

I am thankful for patience. Lots and lots of patience. (especially pertaining to one certain puppy)

I am thankful for a roof over my head. (Which does not leak *knock on wood* like the picture above)

I am thankful to have been able to build a treehouse with my kids in the backyard last weekend. I have always wanted my kids to have a treehouse, ever since Ashleigh was a baby, so the project was very near and dear to my heart.