How Does Your Garden Grow?

Here's a little picture of my garden(s) this year.  Admittedly, not the best quality photo..but you get the idea.  So to answer the question...how does my garden grow?  Well, lets just say it takes lots and lots of chicken wire!  I finally finished bunny-proofing it this week...and just in time.  There was one victim before I was able to get to it...a tomato plant.  Luckily, I think it will come back with a little TLC.  Everything is planted and now we are enjoying watching the little plants starting to sprout out of the ground.  We have tomatoes, spinach, basil, bell peppers and green beans.  The basil we might have to re-do because so far I only see one plant.  I'll give it another week and then maybe re-plant some.  We will be looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labor this summer/fall!

Staple Gun Giddy

I've wanted a staple gun for awhile now. There have been several times in the past where I would say to myself, "if I just had a staple gun." So today while Gwen and I were on our Tuesday morning Target outing, I splurged the whole $9 and bought one.

So my first project was the ottoman you see below. We've had this ottoman and rocking chair since before Jackie was born. It's been used...A LOT. It's also been abused...A LOT. As you can see, the latest embellishment was from Gwen and a pen...amongst many other grimy finger and dirty foot stains. In the past I've scrubbed it and made it look, "good enough." Today I decided it was time for a little reupholster.

Along with the staple gun splurge, I also found a clearance shower curtain and used this as my material. A little ironing, a snip, snip and some good ol' stapling...and well, check out the pictures below!

Before:

After:

I have to admit the hardest part was getting the top of the ottoman unscrewed and screwed back on. Just imagine an out of shape pregnant lady bent in positions she probably shouldn't be, sweating profusely. OK, maybe you don't want to imagine that. But, I'm happy with the clean and nice looking result.

Watch out world...I've got a staple gun, and I know how to use it!

Five Years Ago....

So you might have heard by now, but this past weekend was our 5th year wedding anniversary. What was cool about this year, was that the day fell exactly how it did the year we were married. There were a lot of  "5 years ago this moment" memories going on all weekend.   John and I were able to get away for the afternoon and spend some time together.  My parents happened to be in town, so the girls were left in good hands and I think they had just as much fun as we did.  I guess the traditional gift for the 5 year wedding anniversary is...wood.  Well, to celebrate John and I spent some time in the woods.  Ok, we did not plan that, but that's what we did.  We went to a local park/lake and did a little fishing and hiking/nature walking.  It was quiet and relaxing.

He looks pretty studly in this picture, don't ya think?

I didn't fish...but I snapped a few pictures to entertain myself. 

Lots of butterflies and mini toads on our walk.

To extend the anniversary celebration, John took Monday off!  Five years ago today we were on our way to Kauai...now, it's no Kauai, but a close second....so we hit up Deanna Rose Farmstead with the girls and finished the morning off with a picnic lunch.

Gwen checking out the one-room school house.

John showing Jackie where we live on the globe.

Jackie got to take her pony ride.



Jackie showing Gwen the worms, as we get ready to do some fishing.

We caught one!  Jackie proud to hold the fish!

Gwen was all about the springy rides.

Jackie looks just huge on these now.  It's funny to see her as one of the "big" kids at Deanna Rose now.

Easter Weekend

We had a fabulous Easter weekend here, with perfect weather and lots of time spent with family.  The girls and I spent Good Friday morning dyeing Easter eggs with Cousin Finn, Aunt Angie and Grandma K.  I would say it was a success.  We ended up with about 15 colorful eggs and no disasters to report.  Saturday night we attended a beautiful Easter Vigil and watched as John's brother-in-law, Roy, became a member of the Catholic Church.  Sunday we woke up to find a certain E. Bunny had left the girls some treats and filled their Easter baskets with goodies.  Then we headed to John's sister's for an egg hunt and a yummy Easter dinner with family.

Quicky Egg Hunt

Remember a couple days ago I posted pictures of the girls in their swimsuits, running through the sprinkler? Well... Welcome back Spring! Yesterday Jackie had her Easter Egg Hunt at school and the exact minute of the hunt, it was 45 and raining outside.  It was the quickest egg hunt in the history of egg hunts.  The teachers had those kids in and out in 15 minutes!  I still managed to snap a few pictures!

Notice Jackie's chocolate pudding dimple?  It was "P" day at school and so they had pudding.  Apparently, she didn't get her mouth wiped off real well :)  Love her smile though!

And, she's off....

Trying to balance the eggs in her basket while running!

In line with her classmates, ready to go inside.

Class picture!

Field Trip

Last week the girls and I went on a little field trip to the local Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. They have a kid's area and the girls enjoyed it for something different to do. We took in the sights of the beautiful flowers, waterfalls, turtles and frogs!

Gwen rocking the shades on the way there.  Don't worry, I took this at a stoplight!

Jackie found a little waterfall to sit by.

Toitles

Hello Mr. Frog...I see you.

Gwen digging in the pebble rocks.

Gwen is thinking of her next dare devil move right here.

Jackie poising on the cute little stump seats.