Happy 6th Birthday Amelia!

Birth Day 2005

1st Birthday 2006

2nd Birthday 2007

3rd Birthday 2008

4th Birthday 2009

5th Birthday 2010

6th Birthday 2011

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Square Foot Garden Update!

We have made progress on our Square Foot Garden!

Phase 2 and 3 are complete!

Now for phase 4....the planting!

Easter in Pictures!

Coloring Easter Eggs

Dad LOVES to color eggs!

In the Garden on Easter Morning

Holding Audriana in her Easter dress.

The Cousins Getting Ready for The Egg Hunt

HAPPY EASTER!

The Beginnings of our Square Foot Garden

Last year, Stan and I decided we wanted to start a vegetable garden. After some research, we decided on Square Foot Gardening. It uses raised beds with a special soil mix of 1/3 Peat Moss, 1/3 Vermiculite, and 1/3 compost (from at least 5 different sources). You never use your own ground soil for a Square Foot Garden. Another feature of this gardening method is that you plant in squares instead of rows. This conserves space and time. Each 4x4 raised bed has a grid that shows you where to plant. We did not have time to accomplish the garden last year, so we are hitting the ground running this time around.

Phase One

Constructing the Boxes

Laying out Pathways

The box construction was very simple and not very time consuming. I am glad Stan is just as motivated as I am for this project. But, I am confident I could have easily built these boxes as well (and so could you!)

We used outdoor carpet (the same that we used under the playset) for the pathways. This provides for excellent drainage and weed control. I DO NOT like weeds creeping up where they dont belong so the paths are worth the time and money. We will cover the paths with mulch when we are finished. The back two boxes already have the grids built. We ran out of screws for the other two grids so we will do that tonight. We will also atttach weed cloth to the bottom of each box so you will not see any grass when we finish that.

PHASE 2

Soil

Building Vine Trellis for the back two Boxes

PHASE 3

Build Fence Around Garden to Keep Critters Out

Lay out Mulch on pathways

PHASE 4

Plant!

Haircuts!

The girls (especially Amelia) have been wanting to get their hair cut for some time now. I told them if they still wanted to get it cut in the spring then we would. Well, spring is here and we took the plunge! Here are some pictures of the exciting day...

It has taken some getting used to (mostly on my part) because I am so used to braids, and pigtails, and ponytails. I do miss that. But, their hair is MUCH easier to wash and dry and there are fewer tears when we brush it out. Plus, they do look adorable! I love you girls!



Happy 4th Birthday Mada!

My baby is growing up!

Birth Day 2007

1st Birthday 2008

2nd Birthday 2009

3rd Birthday 2010

4th Birthday 2011

(Playing with Mada's new tea set after the party)

Happy Birthday Mada!

Look Who Got Her Ears Pierced!

I decided before we had the girls that we would let them get their ears pierced when they decided that they wanted to. Amelia got hers done when she was barely three. She was SURE she wanted to get them pierced. She knew it would hurt and she was willing to endure the pain.

  Mada was SURE she DID NOT want to get her ears pierced. Recently, I asked her if she was ready to get her ears pierced, and to my surprise she said, "Yes!". Grandma Nita, Aunt Danielle, and Donald took her to get it done.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

She didn't even cry!

That's our Mada.

Happy 31st Birthday To Me!

Look at my sweet girls with their hands on my shoulders.

 I am loved.

And I blew out ALL of the candles!

Audriana Kaleigh

Meet my new niece, Audriana Kaleigh!

January 31, 2011

6 lbs 3 oz.   19 inches

Just moments after birth

Danielle allowed me to experience the delivery of her first born. It was an awesome experience.

Danielle, Donald, and Audriana are all healthy and happy adjusting to life at home in these early weeks.

We love you Audriana!

Oh the Snow!

It was extremely cold this week! Amelia got to stay home 3 days this week for snow days! Stanley shoveled the driveway so the daycare parents could get in and out. A LOT OF WORK! He has all his winter weather gear on from the military. What a lifesaver.