My thumb is turning Green

I decided that this year, I will work very hard on our gardens.  When we moved in, the yard and gardens were beautiful.  Then it got hot and didn't rain for a really long time and I let it die.  There was no way to keep everything alive.  It has been a learning experience that is for sure.  I have learned that I am good at taking care of small sections at a time.  I tried to have a big vegetable garden the first year, but it was hard to keep going.  Last year, we created a small raised bed.  It started out great, but didn't produce due to a drought and watering restrictions.  This year, I added 2 more raised vegetable bed, (making 3 total).  There is going to be so many vegetables that I won't be able to keep up!  The front bed is what I call my salsa garden.  It has tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, basil, parsley, spearmint and rosemary.  The herbs are some of my favorite things that I planted so far.  I love to go pick a leaf and smell it!  I also added some flowers.  I bought plants that were already started for the front garden.  The back yard is my salad garden.  I bought a seed packets for these beds.  It has cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and yellow squash.  My husband got 2 thorn-less blackberry bushes for his birthday and we planted them too.  I am so excited that it is going so well this year!  I feel like I got the hang of it.  I don't think that I can go back to just having a big garden in the middle of the yard ever again.  The raised beds are much easier to weed than the other type of garden was.  I was having to get out the rototiller several times a week and I couldn't keep the weeds and grass out of it.



The other thing that I accomplished is getting my flower beds in shape.  They were just terrible!  Weeds kept coming and the flowers dried up.  I have mulched almost everything and I use miracle grow all the time!  So far they are doing great, but we have also had a lot of rain this year, thank goodness.  90% of all the flowers and perennials that I have bought have been clearance.  I was really proud of that.  I could walk into Lowes and buy 2.5qt size perennials that look dead for $1 or less and take them home and they are doing great!  I bought about $70 worth of plants and one big bag of potting soil and only spent $20.  I have bought a few things that were not on sale though, like the vegetables and a few annuals, but I couldn't get those cheaper.  Since it looks good, it's fun to go out and maintain!

I remember what I was doing that day

There are certain times in your life that you just don't forget.  Wedding, baby's birth, baptism, May 3 1999 tornado, April 19 1995 and September 11 2001.  

I know exactly what I was doing that morning.  I was getting ready to get my retainer adjusted at the dentist at 9am.  I got up early to eat a good breakfast because I knew that I wouldn't be able to take out the retainer for hours afterward.  My first son was only 14 months old at the time and he was still in bed.  We had plane tickets to go to Wisconsin in about a week.  The phone rang and it was my mother in law telling me to turn on the TV, the world trade center had been struck by airplanes.  I won't forget the feeling I had that day and the sadness for all the people who lost their lives that day.  All flights were canceled, the lines to get gasonline was a mile long, people began lining up to give blood.  It was just crazy.  Our flights to Wisconsin got canceled and we had to drive instead.

List

I am going to make a list of things to do this weekend. I saw this idea on a blog I read and it sounded like something I could do.

• clean kitchen
• finish laundry
• sweep
• eat lunch
• print some 8x10's
• read a book
• make dinner
• watch a movie
• help a friend declutter
• play outside in the garden
• church
• get ready for the next week

Sounds pretty boring, right??? Yea I am sure it is, ha! I am going to start as soon as I am done on the computer!

I really want this

Ok, I have entered this giveaway 7 x's! I really want to win this Tamron lens! I need a new lens, but times are tough and lens cost lots of MONEY! It would be so awesome to win something. If not, oh well at least I tried.

I also entered to win this laptop too! How incredible would that be? Yea, I am pretty excited about entering! I usually don't enter contests, but I thought it seemed safe. Why not! If I can't be on Oprah's favorite things show, then I might as well enter contests, cause you never know when you might be a Winner! If I win, then I will be telling everyone. WOO-HOO!

Blogging

I am trying to change my blogging habits. I need to update badly and decide what I want this blog to be about! We have had a lot of things going on the past 9 months that I want a record of. I want this to be a journal in some ways and about other things too. Its hard to decide though.

Hey

Happy New Year! One of these days I will get on here and really do some updating. Our life has been hectic for a while and we are trying to get settled in here at the new house. I have so many pict and posts to do, but that will have to wait till school starts back next week.

Our New Home (next month)

We are buying a new house!!

Ok, here are the details

• 2.5 acres,
• 3 bds
• 2 baths
• 2 living rooms
• Kitchen/dining combo
• Huge 24 x 30 Workshop w/contrete floor
• a well house, gardens, pergala, 1960's storm shelter and a huge deck
• 1 mile from Family (we could ride our bikes or walk thru the farmer's field)

We have been looking for a long time and were pre-approved in July. We looked at this house August 30 and put a bid on it the next day. We didn't do a contigency for our current home to sell. Aaron and I were afraid that we would lose this home because there were 2 other offers, so we took our chances. We even upped the asking price so that we could get it. Our closing date is October 30th and hopefully we will have a contract on our current home and not have to pay 2 Mortgages. Now we have to get our house ready to sell. Our goal is Tuesday the 8th of September. So we have labor day weekend to get cleaned up and move a lot of stuff to Kathy's garage. (Thank you Kathy So Much)

Passing the time....

This is what I have been doing to pass the time this evening. Taking pictures of Zac sleeping on the floor next to his crib. He woke up about 10:20 screaming, probably with gas pains. When he stopped screaming he laid down beside me and wouldn't let me put him back in his bed. So I got out the camera and started taking pictures. The light was not ideal, and the pictures are a little blurry, but I still like them. I think that Aaron is in there right now laying him down again.

The reason I am passing the time, is that my best friend, Dani, is having her First Baby. We have been friends since 4th grade, were room mates in college, and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. We know everything about each other. Dani and her husband have been waiting for this for so long! They are going to be great parents.

I had a message around 7pm from her, saying she was in the hospital ready to give birth. I so wish I could be there. I don't think that giving birth is something you ever forget. It just reminded me of what I was doing 2 years ago. It is exciting and scary at the same time. And you know when it is over, a whole new adventure is beginning. I am praying that everything goes well and I have news soon!

And Aaron's friend and roommate in college, Jesse and his wife had their First Baby tonight too! The room mate's mom cuts Aaron and the boys hair. Sandra, (Jesse's mom and hairdresser extraordinaire) was not at church today because they were driving to be there for the birth! They have also been waiting a long time. And he was a big baby too, 8lbs. 2 oz and 11 days early.

Update: Dani had her baby after being in labor since May 30th. He was finally born on June 1st around 1am, weighing 6lbs. 4oz and 18" long.

By the way I have tons of post's to put up. I am trying to get it all typed out and pictures up, so hold on. It will be about a months worth of stuff! We have been very busy!

A Little Diddy

Rain, Rain
Go away.
Come again another Day.

Seriously, Rain go away.
Come back in July and August.

Thanks
XOXO
B

Mowing, garage sale and other junk....

• I mowed today. I love how the yard looks freshly cut!
• It is warm this week. Right now its almost 90 degrees. It isn't even summer yet!
• I didn't get the job I really wanted. They needed someone on call during the day. I don't have anyone to watch the baby and pick up the boys, if I would get called to work. That's a Bummer, because I would have really liked it.
• The same job now has an assistant position open that is not substitute and you have to have a college degree. It is 20 hrs, but they need someone with a flexible schedule. I could have a flexible schedule if they told me ahead of time!
• It is supposed to get stormy on Sunday. Yippee, I am going to get my camera out this time!
• I have been slowly getting rid of things. Now I have a collection of stuff. Should I put it in a garage sale or donate it and get a tax credit? I am torn, because I hate to bring it home if it doesn't sale and then have to donate it anyway. Don't know what to do. Plus, I really like to go to garage sales, not have them. I have never made more than $80 :(
• We are going to a small group in our church every week.
• Someone I went to school with since 2nd grade died last week. He had a wife and kids. Very sad!
• I am already making dinner. My kids are so hungry after school. I thought I would give myself a headstart. Maybe they will all be in bed early?
• Zac and I have been outside all week for hours at a time.

Blah, blah, blah....anyway have a good rest of the day!

We are going!

My husband just bought our U2 tickets! 11.5 years ago, my parents asked me if I wanted free Rolling Stones tickets and I said no. When I told Aaron, he made me call them back and say Yes I did want them. I thought he was crazy, but it turns out that that was one of the best concerts!

So now we both decided not to let U2 pass us by. Because he works for the University, he was able to buy tickets before they went on sale. It is hard to see exactly where we will be sitting, but I am sure that it will be fine. I am just excited to go! When he asked if we should spend that much money, I gave him a choice, either take me to a nice hotel for our anniversary or see U2 in concert. You know what he picked, haha :)

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Kathy!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you have lots of yummy sweets at the Melting Pot.

Happy Birthday, Pa Pa

Happy Birthday Grandpa Harold

Did you know....

I recently made a TO-DO LIST for our house. Yep, I did, and it's pretty long :)

I have been applying for jobs? I was offered one and turned that down. Last week I had an interview and haven't heard back from that one yet. (I am a little nervous about that, hopefully it will work out. I think that I would like it)

I would love to have a huge yard. I would plant gardens of all kinds and spend all my time outside.

I read all the time. I am talking one book in 2 days or less. I am a speed reader. It used to be just sci-fi, then romance, and now mystery/suspense. I never read non fiction, unless I have too! I had started posting the books I have read in 2009, but there are too many and it would take up too much space

I collected dragon figurines a long time ago.

I would love to have one more baby!

I always made A's in English and C's in math.

I would love to be a storm chaser, maybe when my kids are older

I don't like to eat the food I make, it tastes better when someone else makes it!

I really dislike all the clutter in my house. It isn't even my stuff, but it is not junk (most of it) and there is nowhere to put it for safe keeping

I love photography and developing pictures

I wish I lived closer to friends :(

I am a shy person

My parents drink and smoke and I do not!

I like to cook and hate to clean it up

My favorite season is Spring

I have an eclectic taste in music-Irish folk, Johnny Cash, William Shatner, Nickelback, CCR, & the Beatles to name a few

I want to take my kids on vacations to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Alaska, Redwood National Forest, the ocean, the Rockie Mts. Anything natural.....

I am a den leader in Cub scouts and a teacher at church.

I have a college degree in Art and a minor in Photography. I wanted it to be a major, but they didn't offer it and still don't.

I want to find a job I love and will enjoy doing it no matter what. Any ideas?

My best friend

This is my best friend and I. She is having a Baby!!!!! Woo-hoo!!! It's her first, and I am so excited for her! You know you just don't realize how much it changes your life. I was thinking of that today at her shower. I would never have believed it if someone told me that. They probably did tell me and I just didn't know it.

I remember when I was pregnant with my first baby a co-worker told me that "raising children is the hardest job" I will ever have and I didn't believe it. I have never forgot how silly I thought that statement was. Boy was I Wrong! I have since learned that it is the hardest, most rewarding job I will ever have PERIOD! I wish that I lived closer to her so I could see this new baby all the time. She and her husband are going to have a blast being parents.

One thing is for sure, I am a better person now that I am a parent. I am so glad that having kids changed my life in every way! I can't wait for her to go on this exciting new adventure!

Our Vacation "Las Vegas"

I would most definitely go again!

las vegas part. 2

Well, currently I am waiting on Aaron to get done with classes for the day. I think that soon I will go see the Living Garden's and visit a rare book store in the Palazzo. When Aaron is done we are going to walk to MGM Grand to see the lions, to the Bellagio for the fountains and the gardens, the M&M store and then find somewhere to eat dinner.

Last night we saw Mystere' and it was spectacular!!! I have never seen anything like it before. It was well worth the money. Las Vegas is nothing like I thought it would be, (not trashy at all, hehe). It is a very cool place. I would definitely come back, especially if it was cheaper and I could win some money, which I haven't yet! I will have pictures later. Right now I have to finish my chocolate cappuccino and focciachia du jour, yum!

Las Vegas, so far

Well I made it. It was a very long day! I would not recommend flying that way again. I got to the airport about 12:15, left at 1:30, had a 3 hr layover in Dallas, a stop in Lubbock (there is nothing there, and I mean nothing!), and I finally got here at the hotel about 9:30 my time, 7:30 their time. We went to Treasure Island to see the outdoor show and had a burger. It is pretty awesome so far. More later.......