My body feels like Jell-O

The past two days have been fun-filled days of landscaping.  Pretty sure Jeff and I couldn’t move from our spots on the couch if we wanted to. 

You see…the back porch area under the awning needed something done.  It looked really pitiful.  Pardon all the junk.

 

So, we got some of this.  That is a lot of dirt folks!  And, 144 of those 22 pound stones. 

Yesterday (Wednesday) we started early with dirt work. 

Then, we dug out and leveled where our stones would go.  Then, we started setting stones.

Hayden thought they looked pretty comfy.

This morning, I set out on an adventure.  I pulled this trailer to town and back to pick up our sod by myself.  First time ever to pull a trailer anywhere other than a pasture.  On our winding road.  Took the corners wide.  Didn’t dive into one ditch.  Didn’t hit anything.  I was pretty proud of myself.  I guess my hubby trusted me and probably a good thing my brother in law didn’t know I was pulling his trailer.  He might not have trusted me.  Ha! 

We did a lot more dirt work.

Have you ever used a tamper?  It is the 15 pound thing you stomp the dirt with to pack it down.  I mean, if you would like to make your shoulders and arms burn like never before, go ahead and try it for about 30 minutes. 

Jeff got the capstones on while I made another trip to Home Depot this afternoon. 

And tonight, after Hayden went to bed, we finished up laying the sod in the dark.  Definitely the easiest part of the whole project! 

Now, tomorrow, we have more dirt work and another pallet of grass waiting for us. 

If. we. can. move. 

Blurb and Mpix

Do you remember my post about the blog book I made for Hayden’s first year?  I used Blog 2 Print for that book.  Today, there is a Dallas Groupon for another similar company called Blurb.  It is $20 for a $45 credit.  If you are interested in making one of these blog books or just making a photo book to remember an event, you can click here to get today’s Groupon.  Oh, and just FYI…you have to use it by July 1, 2011.  If you don’t they will issue you a $20 credit. 

Also, if you are in need of getting some pictures printed, Mpix is a great source!  They are a little more expensive than CVS/Wal-Mart/Shutterfly, but the quality is GREAT!  I have used them the last few times to print my pictures.  Anyway, you can use the code prints15 to get 15% off your prints through today.  I ordered mine last night!

Just thought I would share both of these with you!

(If you missed my last post about Robin’s senior pictures, click here.

A few of Robin’s Senior Pictures…Unedited

My beautiful niece Robin turned 18 yesterday.  Good grief…where does time go!  We attempted senior pictures for the second time a couple of weeks ago.  I think we got some great shots for an amateur like me taking them!   We are going to have another photo shoot when she gets her cap and gown in a couple weeks.  She is naturally beautiful inside and out and she is so much fun!

We took a few pictures in front of the barn behind our house.  Then, we took the rest at a historical park in Edgewood.  We had to climb over the waist high fence to get into the park area.  Luckily, Robin’s boyfriend lives close by and he brought us a step stool to help us get over the fence.  Robin hopping the fence in her dress was quite the site! 

Here are some of my favorites…unedited!

        

Funny/scary story about that railroad tracks one.  There were three trains on the tracks at the time.  We literally ran on the tracks and snapped about 5 shots and ran off.  They were all going slow getting ready to pass each other, but still.  It was a little scary!  Glad we got some better railroad track shots last time!

Boys just want to have fun!

Jeff bought this balloon toy about a year ago from some random guy at Canton.  I am sure he paid way too much for it, but this provided quite the entertainment around our house tonight!  I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share Hayden’s precious laugh!  He got so tickled over this flying balloon!

New Landscaping…

 

We have again, spent our time outside this “weekend”.  With Jeff’s new schedule, our weekend is in the middle of the week!  :-)  We got so much accomplished and really enjoyed our time together after we got our baby boy feeling better!  Monday morning Hayden slept until 10 AM.  I knew this was abnormal but thought it was because he was just worn out from playing and the lack of quality naps the past few days.  Then, that afternoon, Jeff, Hayden (in the jogging stroller), and I went for about a 3 mile walk and Hayden was not feeling so hot when we got back.  He was pretty lethargic and very clingy to his daddy.  He kept moaning and was quite warm to touch.  So, we took his temperature and sure enough it was 101.  We gave him a little Motrin and he seemed to feel better.  Well, he woke up in the night with a “different” cry and running 102.  We decided to take him to the doctor that next morning and sure enough he had a double ear infection.  Tuesday was a pretty rough day for him.   Luckily since then, he has been pretty much back to his old self.   So, we were able to spend the next few days outside doing some work around the house!  Lucky for us, we were able to do most of our “work” while Hayden was taking a nap.

We wanted to put in some new landscaping in front of our house.  So, that we did! 

We did a little dirt work…

We maneuvered these 25 pound stones (120 to be exact).  My legs are screaming right now!  Jeff did way more work than I did.  I am sure he was happy to be able to go to work tonight to get some rest!  Ha!

Swept some dirt…

Looked for bugs…

Found some bugs…

Oh yes…and did a little planting too!

Here is what all we planted…Yuletide Camellia tree, dwarf yaupon holly, dwarf nandina, loropetalum, fushia, impatients, sweet potato vine, hybrid begonia, and melting fire heuchera.  I really felt it hard to find things that took shade or mostly shade.   Now all we need is some mulch and for it all to get to growing!  We are going to put in a  retaining wall in the back  and we ordered two pallets of St. Augustine to fill in in the front and back for next week.  More back breaking labor.  Can’t wait!  ;-) 

I also did a little more painting to these pots! 

Before…                                                                                      After….

Last night we had us a little bonfire!  We had two piles that needed burning. 

While Hayden ate his dinner outside. 

He kind of likes to do that.

We had a great “weekend” and hope that you do too! 

Walking in Momma’s Shoes

Hayden has recently started taking interest in walking in my Sperry’s.  I have no idea why this pair of shoes, but he loves them.  Maybe because they are light weight and stay on his foot?  I have to admit, I really think he might need some of his own.  They would have looked pretty cute with his outfit!  :-) 

He can also get his legs in Jeff’s boots now on his own.  It is quite a sight, but he get a little frustrated when he can’t walk in them.  Jeff’s size 13’s are a little big/heavy for him. 

Pardon the unmade bed.  It was all I could do to make it to Sunday School on time a little late this morning.   Atleast we made it, right? 

Speaking of Sperry’s…Here are some of my new favorite styles…Just for fun!  :-)

What did you do today?

What did you do today to enjoy this beautiful weather?  I hope you were able to spend time with friends and family.  I know we have enjoyed our time spent outside (which is pretty much all day around here).  I do wish the wind would subside some!  I gave Skooter (our male Yorkie) a bath tonight and the water immediately turned yellow.  Gross I know!  Pretty sure it is from all the pollen in the air.  Or, it could be from rolling in cow poop.  Who knows!  Ha!

This morning we got up and started cleaning out our storage container that had some remnants of the house fire that needed to be gone through.  Joy!  I spent most of my morning going through old photos deciding what was salvageable and going through all my teacher/administrator self help, motivational books I collected over the years.  None of the books were salvageable but I at least could write down all the titles so I could remember what I had so I could replace those that mattered most!  It was kind of fun to look back at pictures of Robin, Taylor, Blaze and Blade when they were little.  So precious!  And, I had so many from my high school days.  Those of you who read this…all I can say is wow!  We were so cute!  ;-)  I didn’t remember my hair being to my rear end!  It was so long!  And seeing pictures of Mom.  She is so skinny now and looks SO different!  And found pictures of a college spring break trip to Panama City, FL.  Oh my.  Ha!  And pictures of a cruise taken with some great teacher friends.  So fun!  It was sad to see pictures thrown away because I couldn’t pull them apart but it was fun to look at those that portrayed our life over the past 15 years. 

For lunch, I made PW’s famous Marlboro Man’s Sandwich. 

It was quite easy and quick and pretty tasty too!  Jeff thought it was fabulous!  A man’s meal for sure!  Ha!  I will add more Worcestershire and Tabasco next time.  Even with all the butter, it didn’t have quite enough flavor for me.  (I made it from the cookbook and it didn’t tell you how much to add.  The website has more details so I would have known to add more Worcestershire if I would have looked online.) 

Tonight after Hayden went to bed, I emptied all the dirt out of my planting pots and did a little spray painting.  Mom gave these two pots to me last year and I spray painted them white.  When, I went to Lowes yesterday, I kept eyeing some large green pots.  So, I bought some spray paint at Walmart yesterday.  Tonight, I put a green coat on them.  Not really the green I was going for unfortunately.  So, I will go back to the store for a different green.

I got these flowers for my pots yesterday at Lowes.  They were 94 cents for a 6 pack.  Such a good deal!  We are going to be putting in a new flowerbed soon and I could hardly contain myself.  I love planting new flowers! 

Hope you have a great rest of the weekend!