Lets Take a Walk

 Can I just say I LOVE spring and working out in the yard? Lately, I have just enjoyed wandering around the yard which totally reminds me of my mom and GrandmaDean.  For as long as I can remember, they would just wander around their yards.  I have always enjoyed light (or is it lite?) yardwork, but it wasnt until we bought this house with the "diamond in the rough" yard that I fell in love with getting dirt under my nails and creating pretty spaces with God's land.

There are many people who read my blog who I dont get to see often enough, so let's take a quick "walk" around the yard.  If you were to walk around my yard right now, this is what you would see.

The Front Yard



Daylilies pushing up through fresh pine needles



The prettiest (and my favorite color) iris' blooming everywhere



A birthday gift in its new home

What are these?  Bluebells, maybe.  Whatever they are, they are courtesty of GrandmaDeans yard and they are coming up in places I dont remember planting them)



My 1st love- monkey grass.  again, from GrandmaDean and GrandpaGordies.  I think I am about to the point that I can start splitting mine.



New growth from the gardenia. Cant wait to smell as I walk through my front door.

Brilliant color lining the side bed



Knock out rose bushes putting on tons of new growth after Feb trim.



The Back Yard

Under massive magnolia- this groundcover is spreading like wildfire and I love it.  Look at the petite yellow flower.

My new/ 2nd love- Creeping Jenny.  This is courtesy of mom's yard and if you need a spreader of a groundcover, this is your girl.  I have this stuff everywhere now!

Massive "shrub" of rosemary.  I clip on this thing all the time when cooking and she keeps on growing

I so wish dogwoods would keep these blooms on longer.

Dogwood

Lorapetalum, one of my new favorite shrubs. 

Entrance to a mini garden

Broccoli and Romaine- we also have spinach and green peppers.  I think okra, watermelon, squash, and corn are going to be making an apperance as well.  I think we have enough room. 



"Our forest" and the power wheels trails.



Firepit and hardscape.



The boys fortress

A spring yard for little boys just can't be complete without a baseball diamond (the fall is a soccer field).

To finish up our "walk", I guess I have to show the ugly parts to.  This is the current project in the corner of the backyard.  This whole area was Covered (with a capital C) with weeds.  The space is about 84 feet long by 21 feet wide so it is a fairly substantial area.  It feels like I have been pulling weeds non stop out there.  My dad told me about putting cardboard down and then putting pine needles or mulch on top.  The cardboard prohibits the weeds from coming up and as it decompasses it is good for the soil.  I tried it in a smaller area last year and it seemed to work well, so I got ahold of a bunch of boxes that I have to breakdown and puzzle together.  Then hopefully only 2 more van loads of pine needles and I can check this off my list.

God is truly amazing in these beautiful spring gifts.  To think that He knows how to lift my spirit with colors of flowers, texture of dirt, the sight of an earthworm, the prickliness of pine needles, and the warmth of the sun brings me such joy.  He truly works everything together for my good.



Song, Hair, and Potty

For when you are having a bad bad day.
 If you have ever seen the movie, Despicable Me, then you have probably heard this song (I'm Having a Bad Bad Day).  Hunter's class does this school and have little dance moves that go with it.  I absolutely love it when Hunter does the dance moves for me.  This clip, Hunter gets his Rocky Mount self on with his hoodie.  Ashton, who must be like Hunter, is hoodless until he gets a bright idea....

Again, I had to record the video off of my computer so it is a bit blurry... sorry

Dont you just love it?  It makes me smile,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news....
I am sticking to my New Years "Resolutions" and not cutting Ashton or Shepherds hair (at least for now).  I am $30 poorer but they have a couple cute cuts. 
Ashton Before

Ashton After - Though it doesnt look like it, she took off sooo much of his hair.  Really like the way it turned out!

The back

Shepherd Before

Shepherd After - - (not a good picture of him) I will be honest.  I like Shep's hair better in the before picture (I know it is a mess but it suits him so well), but I think after a couple weeks of growth the cut will be less defined and more Shep- like.  Like it or not, I had to get it cut and out of his eyes... he was starting to resemble a shaggy sheep dog. 

The back - really like the back

My stipulation for Ashton's cut was pretty simple, a bit longer on top and the sides trimmed up pretty good. 

Shep's were a bit more complicated as I want to keep it a bit longer because of 1) his ears stick out (Shep when you are old enough to read this, just know you "are fearfully and wonderfully made" even your ears.) and 2) he has just a bit of curl and I love it when it gets humid and his little curls spiral.  So, Miss Amye layered the snot out of his hair. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And since I am sharing, I think Shepherd is about 60% potty trained.  He only had one accident today and that is when Chad was home with them... so far he really only likes to pee pee on the potty when I am at home.  He did try to tell Chad but it was a bit too late.  Hopefully over the next couple weeks, he will be completely potty trained.  Woo Hoo!!!

Have a good night!

And one more makes 30

A birthday in our house is more like a birthweek. 

My big 3-0 is today... EEK! 

"Party" 1 - The celebrating began last Sunday up at Chad's parents house.  I LOVE Chad's dads ribs... they are seriously amazing!  So it was a no brainer that ribs is what I wanted to eat.  We all had a great time enjoying the creek and the weather. 

My ribs                                                                       Blowing out the candles

              Hunter and Ash talking to Grandma

   Love this Smash face                                               Brotherly love?


                    His hair is OUT OF CONTROL

"Party" 2 - Nolan took me and the younger two to lunch Tuesday.  He then picked Hunter up from school and took H and A birthday shopping for me.  (Nolan, thank you for taking them out, they were so worried about how they were going to get my gift).  Funny story- Hunter had to poop and tricked Nolan into believing that he could not wipe himself.  My poor 22 year old brother proceeded to help Hunter wipe his butt... man, Hunter is lazy and Nolan was fooled! 

"Party" 3 - Thursday after school, Jodi and her children met us at Par Tee Time in Easley (Jessica was able to join us after work).  The boys (and girls) jumped away and the adults got to sit and chat.  McDonalds followed.
  Again, CRAZY hair in mid-jump                            Jessica, Madi, and Jodi

Blurry picture of Ash playing putt putt

Shep and his buddy Connor

Head first

Hunter's buddy Karson with her cute little bob!


"Party" 4- Today- Again, Jodi and I teamed up and conquered the zoo with Ashton, Shep, and Connor.  Lunch followed at Jason Deli's.


Ash and Connor

The boys with the lions


"Party" 5 - Once Chad got home tonight, we headed to Cracker Barrell.  It was so good and the boys ate really good too.  We had a gift card that we had saved from Christmas so the out of pocket for my birthday dinner was a $5 tip and .39 cents not covered by the gift card.
Hunter, Ashton, and Shepherd gave me their sweet gifts which they picked out with Uncle Nolan.   They each picked out a pretty flower for the yard.
                                           The boys playing a game while waiting on food

 Love this face as he plays with Chad

Ashton being sweet!

My guzzler (spelling is wrong I do believe)

 Mom came over to watch the boys for about an hour while Chad took me "shopping."  Got to admit it is weird/ awkward going "shopping" with him and no children. When we got back home mom (and the kids) had "spooned" (it is supposed to be forked, but mom mistakingly bought spoons instead of forks- hahaha).  Anyway, we proceeded to eat a "Janet" birthday cake on Tangled plates.  (Thank you mom for taking a bit of time to make my entry into 30 extra special)

                         Singing Happy Birthday!

 

Olivia, I forgot about the candle until we had already started eating, so I quicly grabbed and lit it.  hahaha

 Beside my sign

The "spooning".  that just doesnt sound right : /

Queenie and the boys being silly.. Mom, are you a flamingo?!?!

     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here are my "gifts".  I got some really sweet things this year and I so appreciate the thought that went into each one.

The flowers from Nolan, Hunter, Ashton, and Shepherd. 

One of my best friends knows me well... Jodi gave me a gallon of Chick fil A sweet tea and a Panera gift card (my favorite cookie in the entire world comes from Panera... mmmmmm)

 My other best friend made, yes I typed MADE me this awesome tote.  It is reversable and washable.  Olivia has become quite the seamstress and does really good work.  I love this bag!

My mom bought me a scarf that was made by a friend of hers.  I can keep either the pink/ red one or the blue/ purple one.  Hmmmm, decisions decisions....  Mom has also insisted that she buy me some shoes, so we will go shopping soon.

 And another amazing gift is this bracelet.  It was purchased in 1941 by my grandfather (my dad's dad) whom I never met and given to my grandma.  It is made with coins and mother of pearl.  Mom and dad got the clasp repaired and handed it to down to me.  Besides the history of it, I flat out adore the actual piece.  I would buy this if I saw it in a store.

I come away from my 30th birthday with so much appreciation.  To say I am blessed is not adequate.  Thank you to my dear family and friends for making such an impact in my life.  I am anxious to see what these 30's have in store! 

Boys and Jeans

I dont know if this is an exclusive boy  problem or not BUT, my kids (especially Ashton) can wear out a pair of jeans so fast!.

Take these jeans for example.  These jeans were Ashton's last year.  They were bought exclusively for Ashton and within one month, they had not one but two huge holes in the same knee.

I, like, most of the other women in America have become quite smitten with pinterest.  Now, I am not crazy with it and I dont just scroll through looking for ideas, but when I have a problem, I will go to pinterest to find a solution.

I saw this cute idea for patching the holes in jeans.  And since Shepherd is already wearing Ashton's clothes from last year, I had to try and salvage the jeans.

Those who know me well will chuckle when I say that I actually thought about using my hot glue gun instead of a needle and thread... YES, I do in fact own a needle and thread.  I doubted that the glue would hold up through multiple washes so I went digging for my needle and found it!

I bought 3 squares of felt at Hobbly Lobby for .25 cents a piece.

And, wahla!

Cute monster jeans repaired.

This picture makes me laugh... this is typical Shepherd.... goofy! (his cheeks are flushed from a 3 hour!!!!! nap this afternoon.)

I think I should add that after I put these on Shepherd and took his picture he told me he didnt like them and wanted his other pants back on.  Oh well, I think they are cute and he WILL wear them.  I will bribe him or something. 

Happy Saturday!

Proverbs 22:6

 With the weather being crazy warm, the weeds that are our lawn needed to be cut.  I look outside to see this precious, but more importantly promising, picture of Hunter helping Chad mow! 

Now, dont flip out!  I am well aware that Hunter is a good 6+ years from doing this task solo.

I was reminded of a Bible verse from Proverbs.  "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  I am voting that one way of "training" is round and round the yard pushing a mower.  I am banking that one that all three of my boys will be my go-to mowers when old enough. 

Because, goodness knows that though Chad "loves to mow" and though I really dont mind it, I am already looking foward to 10 years from now when we will have not one, not two, but three extra "assistants" in the mowing arena. 

A Weekend with GorDean plus a little updates

Another Saturday without Chad led to a great weekend with mom and the boys.  Mom was headed up to see her parents Friday.  The boys and I decided to tag along since we had not been up to see GrandmaDean and GrandpaGordie since Christmas.  We slept their Friday night and the boys did amazing!  I was seriously so proud of them with their behavior and their sleeping!  Go H, A, and S!!!

Nolan and Aunt Christy  joined in on the family gathering Saturday.  The girls decided to leave my 3 boys (and GrandpaGordie) under Nolan's care as we went out to Mary Joe's and a couple other little shops.  It was good to get out with some of the women of my family... and Uncle Nolan did a great job with the boys... Thanks Nolie!

I didnt think about pictures until the very end. 
Quick shot of dinner

Hunt and Ashton chowing down

The good byes.  Mom and Aunt Christy

GrandmaDean saying bye to the boys.  GrandpaGordie was even able to make it out to bid us farewell!

The boys listening to GrandmaDean


We got home Saturday night.  Sunday afternoon, I left Chad in charge of the boys to go and see Clemson's production of "Guys and Dolls".  Mom invited Chad and me to go but Sunday afternoon is a hard to time to get people to watch the boys plus Chad hadnt seen them much this week, so it was just mom and me.  The show was really good especially considering it was college students!  I had never even heard the plot of "Guys and Dolls" before but I am definitely a fan.  The music and orchestra was great and the acting was good too!  Thanks mom.  :)
                                                                       The program

And, now we are on Monday.  Ashton had his first ever dentist appointment.  He did fabulous!  The hygeniest was amazed with his canine teeth... how "pronounced" they are for baby teeth... afraid he got my canine teeth.    Forgot to take a picture.

Shepherd has turned into the king of puzzles.  He amazes me (and others) with his ability to do puzzles.  He know most of his letters.  He is a smart little sucker.  He is still a momma's boy to the nth degree. 

Shepherd's little feet when doing his puzzle

To conclude the day, I was 20 minutes late picking Hunter up from school because Ashton and I lost track of time while playing baseball in the backyard.  When we got home, I had 1/2 gallon of paint pooled on my driveway.  The wind has been crazy today, so to prop Ashton's basketball hoop up, I sat the (what I thought was a) closed can of paint on the back.  Turns out, not closed... OOPS!  Hunter was such a good helper and did a great job hosing the paint off.

The mess  and Hunter helping clean it up.  He has become such a better helper the past few months.