Feeling Lighter--One Year Later

Have you ever felt bogged down with EVERYTHING that has to be done? I know I sure do! I swear I could use 5-6 more hours each day just to feel like I'm getting ANYTHING done.

It's been one year since we moved and since the girls were born, and I'm FINALLY feeling lighter about the backyard and our garden.

Last year it looked like this:



and this:



It started out looking like that again this year. I know I spent A LOT of time getting rid of weeds last fall, but the ground was so dry that I could only remove the tops of the weeds--not the roots. So this year I started attacking the weeds by the roots early in the spring. Then it rained and rained and rained. That was not good for 2 reasons: 1.) I couldn't get out to weed and 2.) the weeds thrived on the rainfall and grew and grew and grew.

Besides the weeds weighing down on me, I was also feeling weighed down about finding time to get a garden planted this year and about figuring out a way to water it.

That's when things started to look up. One day on the way to get the mail I "randomly" noticed our neighbors' garden had a sprinkler system. They were kind enough to show me their system and send me in the right direction to get a sprinkling system that would work for us. (I didn't plan on getting an education in Sprinklers 101, but it's been a great benefit on the side--and not nearly so scary as I originally thought.)

Another thing that lifted me up was when my mom came to help us one Saturday. With her help and Darrell's they were able to attack some of the biggest weeds. My mom also helped prepare the garden boxes so I was able to plant the seeds and get the hoses set up for the sprinklers. The kids were SO good that day and we were able to get so much done. Such a blessing!

Emily and Megan LOVED their new swings and even fell asleep in them. We used blankets to shade the swings.



Emily enjoying the sun. (Notice the tall weeds behind her that would soon disappear.)



My mom and I were able to attack a few more weeds last week when she and my dad came down to help with the girls' one-year check up. And the cooler weather yesterday allowed me to get out and weed while the girls watched Tyler play in the sandbox. It has helped that the kids are one year older. Now, instead of this:



the girls look like this:



And although Tyler still wants to share the sand with the girls, he now understands consequences so much better.



So this is how the yard looks today. (Isn't that brown dirt BEAUTIFUL?!?!?!?)



And here is the garden and our sprinkler system:





The yard's not perfect yet, but it's soooooo much better than it was. Here's the never-ending pile of dead weeds with more weeds growing around it, but compared to last year this is WONDERFUL! I also bought a couple sprays to help attack the weeds. One will kill everything in the areas we don't want anything growing and the other will attack the weeds under the fruit trees without killing the trees.



(One more blessing: 3 sleeping kids all taking their naps at the SAME time so I can post this to our blog!!!!!)

First Birthday

Here are some pics of Megan and Emily's big day.

Good morning birthday girls! (Notice Megan's band-aid. She fell the night before on the night stand and got a nasty cut above her eye.)





Going for a birthday walk.



Birthday mischief.



Let's get this party started!





The ladybug birthday cupcakes.



Happy Birthday Dear Emily and Megan!



Emily dove right in.







Megan was a little timid at first but then she got the hang of it.







Yummy! Yummy!







More fun!





Bath time. This is the first time all 3 kids took a bath together and they loved it.



Presents. (The best part was the curly ribbon--of course.)

Happy Birthday Emily and Megan!

Emily and Megan arrived on earth one year ago today! We are so blessed to have these 2 little miracles in our home.

Climbing, Dancing and Counting

A couple weeks ago I gave the girls stair climbing lessons (free of charge, of course!)

Emily has been able to crawl up the stairs for almost 3 months, but she never dared crawl back down. Megan would just sit at the bottom of the stairs and cry. So I helped Emily's legs learn how to go down the stairs and I helped Megan's legs learn how to go up the stairs. It turns out that Megan mastered going up and down the stairs all at the same time.



A few days ago we were going to get the mail. We came across an ant colony strung along a crack in the sidewalk. Tyler thought they were spiders and he kneeled down get a better view.

I explained they were ants and he watched them for a little bit and then he said to them, "Hey guys! What you doing?" Then he answered his own question, "Oh, dancing." (Of course!) Then he ran his finger through them and went on his way. Totally made me smile.

Tyler has really gotten into counting lately, and it's so fun to watch him learn. Here he is counting in his Clifford dictionary.

I Ain't Gonna Lie...

This is NOT my favorite phase of "babyhood"--the "pull-everything-out-of-every-cupboard-and/or-shelf-and/or-drawer" stage. Then multiply that times two little bodies on the move and well...it's exhausting!







Here is my attempt to block drawers and cupboards. Why don't we install those fun little clasps on every drawer and cupboard, you ask? Because those are equally annoying to deal with EVERY time you want to get something out of said drawers or cupboards. And this is only a phase that will (eventually) pass...soon...I hope.





We also have to keep trash cans off the floor. (Notice the clothes basket in front of the TV so Miss Emily can't turn the TV off and on--one of her favorite discoveries.)





Despite my best efforts, look who figured out to still pull the plastic baggies out of the drawer.



Yes, this is not my favorite stage, but I'm so grateful for 2 healthy, active babies that I can't really complain. Besides, they ARE pretty dang cute.