Progress on the Yard

We finally have sod in the backyard! After 9 months with stinky mud in the back, the grass is beautiful! Here's a few photos of the progression.

Here you can see our garden. We're growing tomatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, sugar-snap peas, marigolds, morning glories, green pepper, strawberries and some annuals. Nothing seems to be thriving so far, but we've not had much sun this spring so I'll be patient.

The darker dirt is a four-way mulch mixture for under the sod. The regular dirt that came with the home is a gross, clay-like, stinky mess. Not great for growing anything!

Progress!

You can tell we're pretty excited! Of course, we still have the bark and the fence to complete eventually, but those aren't needed for awhile.

Little House Series Completed!

Weston and I officially completed all 9 "Little House" books yesterday! This morning he asked to read some "little house" and was so bummed when I reminded him there weren't any more to read! He tried to talk me into starting the series all over again, but I think we'll take a little break and read some other things ;)
I enjoyed the first three books of the series more than the others, but all nine were very good. I feel like I learned so much about life for pioneers in the 1800's. How much we take for granted in our "instant" society! They certainly didn't take survival for granted like we do here in the U.S. If they didn't work, they didn't eat!

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Today was our 8th anniversary! Mike surprised me by having these beautiful roses sent to the door. They had a little "I love you" balloon attached, but I think they look prettier all natural, don't you?
We'll celebrate our anniversary with a weekend away later this month, so tonight we watched our wedding video with the kids and spent time as a family.
In some ways our wedding day seems so long ago and in other ways it seems like just yesterday. Of course neither of us look like it was just yesterday! ;) It's strange to think we've already been married 8 years, are the parents of 4 children, homeowners, etc. I'm sure we will always feel younger than we really are. The years are just going to keep going faster and faster. Older women at the grocery store are always telling me to appreciate my kids now as they grow up so fast. Another 8 years will go by and Weston will be 13 years old!
As we watched the wedding video Mike and I were saying we are so glad we've matured since June 10, 2000. Of course this is said with complete awareness that we have a looooong way to go still (2 steps forward, one step back). I'm so glad that God promised us in His Word that he continues a good work in us until He returns! (Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.) I know part of the way God will continue to grow and mature us will be through trials, but I take comfort in knowing He will be with us during the good times and the bad. I had a quick thought today that I could have been alone with 3 (almost 4) children if God had decided to take Mike home the day he was hit by the truck. I'm so thankful He didn't, but I know God would have met my needs and given me peace! I'll still pray that Mike and I will be able to celebrate many more anniversaries together!

First Soccer Season Complete!

Saturday was Weston's last soccer game of the season. We had a great experience for Weston's first sport although it was a bit more of a commitment than we anticipated. Mike was the assistant coach and loved being out on the field with the kids. The kids were troopers through it all, even playing games in the pouring rain and not complaining (notice I didn't say that I didn't complain. After getting rain down my collar we invested in one of those massive sporting events umbrellas :)
We were blessed to have a wonderful coach, Tim Hardt, who obviously has a gifting in coaching children. Unfortunately I don't think we'll have him again as a coach as his daughter was not quite as thrilled about soccer as he was ;)

Weston even scored quite a few goals throughout the season.

You can see the kids are holding their soccer trophies very proudly. We had a little team party after the last game with a trophy ceremony and finger foods. On the way home Weston started crying that he wouldn't be with the same team ever again. He didn't understand why it wouldn't all be the same next year.

They look so tough! I'm sure the other teams were pretty nervous, especially to play the one on the end!

Trip to Bend!

Here's a few photos of a trip to Bend I took with the kids this past weekend. Mike has been so busy with work and yard work that we decided I'd take the kids for a few nights to visit my parents. We had a wonderful time riding bikes, chasing lizards, exploring the 2.5 acres, making s'mores, flying the kite, swimming at my aunt's country club, and relaxing! The only bummer was Mike not being there with us!

All three kids loved to ride their bikes around a loop in the driveway. Elsie couldn't peddle on her own, of course, but she loved for us to push her around and around on the tricycle. She has to do everything Weston and Grace are doing!

Elsie and Grace had a little tea-party in the bathtub. Cheers!