Backyard Bonanza

This year I had the genius idea of tearing apart the backyard and making it more usable.  It was kind of like a hill back there and all the water would pool in one spot and then make a really lovely swamp.  Real fun for the kids.  Needless to say, we never used it.  In the 2 years we lived here we avoided the backyard like the plague.  Well, I got sick of it.  I spent my days looking out the back window envisioning what I wanted it to look like.  And since I have such an amazing husband, he said "whatever you want dear", or something like that.  So I told him what to do and he found the cheapest way to do it and away we went.  

I didn't get any real before pictures so you get a slightly begun before.

One day I went out there and started digging where I wanted my retaining wall/garden to be.  That is when we found out that there was/is a pipe going through that backyard.  Super.  Ironically the pipe was in the exact right spot.  We dug out in front of it and then where the pipe is a back towards that back fence would be raised.  So the above pictures are of the boys digging it out to start to make it level.  We took out 2 truck loads of dirt.  

Then we built my pretty wall (sigh).  Skyler and I went out there one day and knocked that sucker out in about an hour.  Boo Ya!  I was pretty proud.  I still am in fact.  It was exactly my vision.  

Then we brought in dirt.  Well compost.  I needed some good stuff for all the loveliness I had planned.  This was the kids favorite part.  Dallin had a small wheel barrow that was a perfect size for Ryker.  He sure felt macho.

He would give directions to my mom and then he would let one of the kids get in and he would give them a ride back to the truck. 

Come on Mia, more than that.  He was a little demanding.  Hey bud, you get up there and scoop it.  Geeze.

Reagan of course wanted a turn too.  That was a little scary.  Everyone survived though.

After the compost was in we finished taking out the bad dirt to make it completely level.  Next we got sod.  That is when I fell in love.  (okay that might be a little dramatic.)  That is when it looked almost finished.  

Oh the loveliness.  I planted vegetables on the one side and then did flowers in the rest.  Everything is growing  wonderfully.  

I love being in my backyard.  It makes me happy.  

You should know that the pictures do not do it justice.  So you should come over and hang out with me.  :)

Not pictured:  we put pavers under the deck and then have our sandbox under there.  The perfect spot for the kids to play.  

We never would have been able to do this without help from our family and friends.  Especially Mom and Dallin for the many times we used their truck and them to drive it.  

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Maxwell Lynn

This post is mostly for Rachel (and her family)

Every year we have a tradition of replacing the bark that is around the tree behind Maxwell's grave. This year we got to it a little late. The kids love going and helping us do this.


Everyone helped and had a good time.
(Sorry Rachel I couldn't keep them off the headstone.)

Some more of what?

We bought a fire pit this summer (it went along with the overhaul of the backyard. That post is to come. Be very excited.) So we have been having s'mores parties. This is a lot of fun for the kids and makes me a little nervous. You see Lorilei has no fear. Not with fire, not with water, not with animals, nothing. We are definitely on our toes with her. So here is our first s'mores party.

I learned to not do showers before these parties. :)
We have friends over for these parties, so next time you all should join.

I know, I know

Yes I realize it have been forever since I have posted anything. I'm sorry. I do think about posting and then.......life. We have been doing a ton this summer so I am going to try to let you all in on it. This is going to take a while so bear with me.


First lets go back to May.

Ryker and Reagan finished school. They both loved their teachers and had great experiences.
This year they will be going to a brand new school. No we didn't move, they just built a new school and we are in the boundries for it.


Reagan with Miss Thacker (Mrs. Kuhle) Reagan's teacher got married in April and Reagan LOVED that she got invited to the reception. She still talks about how her teacher got married in California. (she had a reception here too so we went to it.)

Ryker with Mrs. Gregory. He really had a great time in first grade and learned so much. I am pretty sure he had a little crush on his teacher. sshhh don't tell. She told me that Ryker would always ask if he could help people if he got done with his work first. He really is such a sweet kid.

Then back in April Paxton turned 1. He had a party at Jumping Jaxs. Let's face it, going to jumping jaxs was for my kids, but they loved it. These little cuties are going to cause a lot of trouble together in the coming years.


More to come!

Thumb Sucking Twins

Yeah. ALL THE TIME!!!!

Kindy 500

Reagan had her "kindy 500" today. This is an activity at school where the kids make a car and bring it to school then they do a program singing songs about America and then do a parade around the school with their cars. It is a lot of fun. We made a "Fillmore" car. (VW bus from Cars). She had a great time painting it. She was really nice and let everyone paint something on her car. (Ryker didn't let anyone touch his)

After the parade they spend the day going to different stations to learn about some the the Nations symbols. It is a fun day for the kindergartners for sure.

P.S. I did take pictures at the school but most of them turned out blurry because of all the movement. So we snapped a couple pictures at home.

Supergirl!

The other day the kids were playing with the costumes and Lorilei brought this to me. So I put it on her. Seriously cute.


We would say "supergirl!" and she would put her hands in the air. Then she took off running. It was funny and of course very cute. I love my kids.

Pictures at the Park (I am still alive)

I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything, and you are probably getting sick of looking at those pictures, so here you go.

This is just a normal day of us playing at the park. (Ryker was at school which is why there are no pictures of him)



They are really cute. I should post more often!

I (heart) Birthday's

Lorilei is 1!!

And Everyone is excited....

We had a couple of parties for the baby girl. It was great!

Here is her Birthday cake for the first one (Feb 13th). I made fondant to cover it. ( I was pretty excited about it) It is really simple but cute. It has flaws but it was my first time.

She liked it though.

She actually lifted the plate up to her face and tried to eat it like that it was funny, but alas, the camera decided to run out of batteries at that moment.

Pax liked the cake too.

He saved some in his ear.

Maddox enjoyed hanging out. He told me so.

Lorilei got lots of gifts, and enjoyed opening them

Maddox got put in the car (of course, baby torture) but he wasn't really a fan.

Lorilei and Pax rode together (again baby torture. "Let's see if two will fit")

Some how Lorilei ended up sitting on Pax's lap.

And then just climbing on him. Sorry Pax.

Then on her Birthday ( Feb. 14th) Sandy and Steve came over.

She got more presents.

And was super cute. (after the medicine kicked in. Getting molars on your birthday is no fun.)

She liked to get in her car. The kids liked to push her around. Win win.

Then we had cake again. This time (since it was Valentine's Day) I made molten chocolate cake. HELLO! SO GOOD!

I think she agrees with me. Actually everyone did. Of course, what kid is going to complain about getting their own cake.

MORE!

Here are some things that Lorilei does.

- She has been walking for about a month now and she thinks it is great fun to walk backwards. She is also starting to walk fast/run.

-When the older kids get a snack while watching a movie she gets one too. She has to eat it in the room with them. Even if I try to have her sit with me (to monitor the mess) she will get up and go sit with the kids. When she is done she will find me.

- She can growl and pant like a dog.

- She likes to click her tongue. Sometimes when I check on her at night she is doing it in her sleep.

-We like the phrase "who's the cutest". When someone says it she will raise her hand and say "me".

-She loves to watch stuff in the microwave. She is stand there and hold on to the handle and the when it beeps she will try to open it. Then when the stuff is out she will close it.

-She loves to dance, sing, and lead music.

-She loves to climb on the bunk bed ladder. (scares me to death) She gets up to the top but can't get in by herself yet. So she stands there (a couple of times I didn't know she was climbing it and just heard her cry and found her at the top of the bed hanging on for dear life.)

-When she wants something or is excited, she will make fists with her hands and clamp her teeth and shake. It is funny.

-When wakes up she will call me "mom. mom." Until I answer and then she will wait for me to get her.

-She LOVES to be outside. Lately she has been throwing fits when she wants to be outside. She will look out the window and get mad she isn't out there. If the garage is open when we are getting in the car she will throw a fit when I try to put her in her seat.

-She gets SO excited when Skyler comes home. Let's face it they all do but it is cute when they are little.

Those are just some of things that make us love Lorilei.

At night when the kids go to bed Skyler and I just sit and watch her. She is so stinkin' funny.

We love our baby girl. Who wouldn't.