A truck load of dirt.....

After adding a truck load of dirt and rearranging some existing plants, this is where we are as of today. We still need shrubs and the final rocks but it looks great so far. Can I just say that I have a new level of respect for anyone who does this for a living? Holy cow this little project is back breaking, exhausting and oh-so-hot!
And by the way, Greg asks me on a regular basis if anyone is commenting on his landscape so feel free to leave him some encouraging words! (Comments on previous posts about his hair would be fun for me though!)

Irony

So the irony is that as soon as I finished writing our anniversary post last night, I set it to post at midnight and went into wash my face and prepare for bed. You know the post where I mention hair and growing old? I found my first and second gray hairs! They are hanging out in my hairline, being covered by my bangs (which I now think I will keep!). I was amused and had Erin check them out. She called Greg at work to tell him and was immediately accused by my sweet husband of causing them! I love that man! But nothing is sacred as Erin and Makenna both had to quickly post my update on their facebook walls! Seriously. Greg says I have to feed them anyway. It's a good thing he loves us......gray hair and all.

17 years and counting........

Who is the young couple with all that hair? Starting out seventeen years ago was anything but easy. We had more than our fair share of bumps in the road, but praise God we were in His hands. I can assure you we had not invited God to the wedding or our marriage at that point. We were so young and selfish. Once we finally decided to be on the same team, life still threw us curve balls but we faced them together and grew to a place of comfort, unconditional love and true friendship. We are so blessed. But 17 years? Really? Isn't that a milestone for old people?

Politically Incorrect

We replaced Greg's lawn mower this weekend. Ty was as excited as Greg. New toys are fun and the older the boy, the more expensive said toys.....anyway, there is a large warning on the instruction manual declaring the lawn mower illegal in California because the emissions are harmful there (it honestly says they are harmful there as opposed to everywhere?). Greg and I had a simultaneous eye roll and random statement about the craziness that comes out of California. We then mentioned the illegal light bulbs that are made in the USA (specifically Kentucky) that are cheap, easily disposed and easily attained. Instead, Californians have to use the light bulbs that are expensive, made in China, contain mercury and have a 15 step disposable process on the EPA's website. Most will not follow those steps and therefore mercury will be found in landfills all over California. Erin then ads that she has a friend spending the summer in California and has posted on Facebook that he's seen pot smoking on the streets because it is legal there. We indicated that we knew that too. Then Erin said, "it sounds to me that a bunch of pot smoking politicians are making the laws in California". Well stated.

The boy who cried "poop"

Ty suddenly showed some interest in wearing big boy pants and using the potty. We've had a few sporadic starts in the past but this time, he seemed really excited. Marshmallows were a real incentive, unlike the sticker chart he threw away a couple of weeks ago! However, after nine accidents in which he declared, "look, I put pee-pee on the floor", we opted out of potty training for today! BUT, it is now bedtime and little man is yelling from his room that he needs to go potty and that he has pooped. I checked it out the first time but will no longer fall for that one!

Erin and I took him to Target the other night where he worked diligently to pick up the cement balls in the front of the store. He kept declaring them "stuck" and didn't appear to notice the audience he collected as other customers chuckled at the cute little boy determined to play ball. So, when we found a clearance bouncy ball, we couldn't resist. He is a crazy man with that thing! He throws himself onto it and bounces all over the house! I worry he will injure himself but he is having a blast.

And I caught him standing like this yesterday...so stinking cute! He typically crosses his arms in front of him or clasps his hands behind his back when he is standing still (which is clearly not often!) but the hand in his pocket is new.

 

Our house is eery quiet. Greg took Lauren to my mom's and Kate to his mother's for a few days. Makenna has been staying at her friend's house and Erin is always out and about. I had 24 hours of keeping Ty alone and hardly knew what to do with myself. Greg's home now and we've taken care of some errands and such but we have both commented more than once that it just feels weird around here without all the energy the kids add. I miss the chaos!

Locals are planning fireworks tonight. It appears that God is too. Simply beautiful!

Playtime

Kate's been asking to go to the park all week. I had both babies until today so we took advantage of our lighter load and headed over to play. Prior to leaving, Kate and Ty were helping  playing with the laundry and I attempted to get a few shots of Colby in his adorable overalls. He has to be bribed with toys to sit still now....such a busy boy! While I was working on Colby's photos, Ty was looking pretty cute himself wearing his engineer's hat backward.

New dog bowl?

Slowly Progressing.....

Greg's finished the retaining wall.....it's been a job! The leveling process Greg used to make sure we ended up with a straight and level line across the front of the house was complicated once we realized the patio and walkways he used as a reference point were not level. Rain has created several delays too. He's earned his stripes on this job! We will be filling in the landscape with top soil, especially the corner of the house under the arched window as there is a two foot drop there. Once we have that soil in, we will transplant our existing bushes and then add new plants. The final stage will be the river rock on the finished beds. We hope to have a very productive July 4th weekend.

And speaking of progression, Colby is now mobile enough to follow Ty, his partner in crime. They ended up in Ty's room and played quite well together for a long period of time today. I kept peeking in on them but love how they interact without me hovering. Marley spent the weekend with us while his family traveled. He doesn't know enough to be afraid of Colby and tried to sit on his lap! Marley didn't even notice Colby pulling his fur or tail! He is just a happy little dog. Lauren will be going through some serious Marley withdrawals once he goes home.

Date Night

Kate needed a date night with Mom. We had ice cream and then went shopping for a kiddie pool. Once we arrived at the store she remembered she wanted a baby gift for our neighbor too. It was a nice evening of togetherness. I was even able to sneak in a quick stop at the new craft store! That never happens without a lot of groaning from the "under 18" crowd! She fared well as we ended up with two little projects I will be making for her while she waits in her p.j's tomorrow (at least this is what she believes!). One will be her outfit for her special BBQ with Andrew, who happens to be Cameron's dad. They are coming over as a family but the official "Andrew countdown" has been taking place for the last two weeks! This girl is the president of his fan club for sure!

And then we blinked.

Lauren 7, Erin 9

Kate playing dress up with Lauren's old dance team costume, age 6.

I could not believe my eyes when I saw Kate descend the staircase yesterday afternoon. Playing "dress up" left me wondering where on earth the time has gone. That stage of Erin and Lauren's life seems like yesterday. I love the teen phase we are in now, but still miss those days of innocent playtime and how much they adored their dance coach.

They are still friends, or more honestly, friends again and I love it. However, their bonding tends to take place after I have gone to bed and they are raiding the freezer for ice cream, making Lauren's famous grilled pesto, mozzarella and tomato sandwiches or scrambling eggs.

We have Paige here most nights to take photos and aid in the cleaning out of said freezer. She's like one of the family.

And in the morning, I attempt to keep little ones from climbing all over what remains of the sleepover.

Makenna has a series of friends who are in and out around here but time with Hannah is extra special because we have to schedule those gatherings. Hannah doesn't live in the neighborhood and usually gets to stay a few days when she comes. They have a blast and are constantly giggling together.

Candy enjoyed cuddling with Colby while I coaxed Ty into the water. He was having no part of it!

We checked out the free water park in Louisville this afternoon for 20 minutes. It took me longer than that to get out the door but a thunderstorm blew in once we arrived! Ty was not impressed with the "showers" or the rain! Colby was pretty laid back about it all. Kate was freezing! We'll try it again another day. Candy's family fosters two little girls right now and the oldest wanted to play at the water park so the day was for Hailey and she had a great time. Fortunately, they arrived an hour before us so Hailey was not disappointed. 

The boys like to "help" me.

And so do the girls? They better hope I don't hold them to their idea of a meal plan! This is what I get for failing to update this week. Did I mention how much I enjoy the teen years?

Happy Father's Day

Our card read, "Happy Father's Day to a Dad who's fun, terrific, good looking, kind, thoughtful, talented and smart!.....Just like his kids!" We're a humble bunch.
We spent the day relaxing as a family since the weather changed our landscaping plans. It's just as well. Greg clearly needed his regular Sunday afternoon "Nascar Nap".

We enjoyed a grilled steak dinner complete with roasted cauliflower and slow cooked green beans. Kate asked me if the cauliflower would turn into broccoli when it was cooked. We don't use that particular vegetable often, but I ran across this recipe in a blog I enjoy. (Not all blogs encourage me to eat chocolate!) And cauliflower will now join asparagus as my two favorite roasting veggies.

Ty, in an effort to keep things balanced, woke up with a cold sore today. It's his third since Mother's Day. He loves us equally.

And our Katebug continues to be as colorful as ever. She has been wearing her life vest out to play? I have no idea why but she's cute! She is also modeling what she calls her "new smile". It involves her strategically placing her larger top tooth into the space where she's missing a tooth right now.

Fridays are always homemade pizza nights here. It's a tradition and one the kids (even those not living here) look forward to every week. This week though, I was pretty busy with the boys and the girls were hungry early. So, they made the pizzas! They did a great job and  have rather boastfully declared them, "the best pizza ever"! New tradition? Mom gets Fridays off???

I am currently reading a great book, Becoming More Than A Bible Study Girl and I love it. For me, it's like a conversation with a trusted friend. I am also starting a new bible study this week with some ladies in the area and looking forward to it. Just knowing accountability and camaraderie are available in new relationships locally will help make this place feel more like home. I've been missing my girlfriends lately.

And Brutus, well, he's the same....no matter what day is on the calendar. It's a perfect life and Lauren makes sure it's comfortable too.