Flashback Friday: Snow Fort Circa 2008

This Flashback Friday is in honor of the Church Snow Day we had back in February of 2008. It was an incredible amount of snow that fell. The 9 am block of church was stuck in a giant mess in the church parking lot so they canceled the rest of the day. The kids were in heaven.

(Nate, with Ryland on his lap, Ally, Hailey A., Ethan and Taylor A.)

 Nate decided to go out with the kids to build a giant snow fort. Before we knew it the neighbor kids had started to flock over to our place and help. It was epic! It is still talked about all these years later.  

(Ryland, Trey S., Ally, Mariah S., Hailey A., Ethan)

 They worked so hard on it. You can see in this picture how high the walls were.

(Taylor A., Mariah S., Trey S., Ethan, Ryland, Ally and Nate)

They then added the super cool towers on the top. It was a fun day and project that they enjoyed for days to come. Such fun memories.

Wordless Wednesday: Frosty

Wordless Wednesday: Princess Jedi

Wordless Wednesday: Expectant Bike Ride

Wordless Wednesday: Giving It A Whirl

Tetherball

I surprised the family with a Tetherball pole this week. Everyone is super stoked to have it and to finally have it set up. Nate as you can see has already been relegated to playing one handed, and left handed mind you, when playing. I see many Tetherball tournaments in our future. 

27 Days Til Spring: I Need To See Something Green or Flowery

I am slightly torn. While I do enjoy winter time, I think I am ready for a little sign of Spring. I am really enjoying the laid back quality of winter right now. Once Spring hits I feel like life hits the gas pedal and it just gets C-R-A-Z-Y!! But today, to wake up to a new onslaught of snow, well, that was a bit rough. So I took a few minutes and looked online to find some images of trees that we have planted in our yard. I didn't use my pictures, because we don't have a photo of all of our trees yet, and they are still smallish. I wanted to see my trees in their potential full size. Some of the trees I opted to just show a closeup of the blossoms. Now, we have more trees than just the ones I have posted. Quite a few more actually. In fact, I may have a problem, because I still want more trees in my yard. Good thing I have a half acre. They better start to grow faster so I don't think I have any more room for them. Any how, enjoy this little digital splash of Spring.

Eastern Redbud

 Coralburst Crabapple

 Kwanzan Flowering Cherry

 Hakura Nishiki Willow

 Purple Prince Crabapple

 Purple Prince Crabapple

 Hawthorn Paul's Scarlet

 Krauter Vesuvius Flowering Plum

 Royal Raindrops Crabapple

 Royalty Crabapple

After enjoying all of that flowery prettiness, I now turn you back to our regularly scheduled program, at least for a few more weeks....SNOW.



Mother's Day 2012

We had a great time having my family over for a Mother's Day dinner.

 Travis, Jen, Heidi, Mom. Ronda

 It was so much fun hanging out.

 Evelyn, Shaylen, Megan, and Julia

 Cole, Ridge, Ryland and Carson

 Wyatt and Tyler

 Bob and Travis

 Garrett and Ethan

 Ally and Logan

I Love You Mom!

Why I Love Where I Live: Rainbows

A couple of weeks ago I was out mowing the lawn. I was close to being finished when I saw some mean clouds rolling in. A fast, heavy rain started while I struggled to finish the last few passes. It seemed as soon as it came it left. I immediately noticed a brilliant double rainbow over our mountains. It was beautiful. I hurried in to get a photo of it before it was gone.

Since living here we have enjoyed the many rainbows that appear over the mountains

after each rain. It is beautiful and we love it!

Riding Lawn Mowers

**I have no idea why my post is spaced like this. I have tried to fix it about 6 times. I give. Sorry**

We live on a half acre and we are an anomaly in the neighborhood.

We are the only family without a riding lawn mower.

Why? You ask. Because I refuse to get one.

Here are my reasons:

#1 I like the exercise it provides.

Here's where I let out a little dark secret about myself.

It always makes me snicker a little inside when I see one of my neighbors, who also happens to give us the most grief over not owning a riding lawn mower. And who is also used to zipping along on his mower, beverage in hand,

with his yearly expanding ponch,

and is usually done with his half acre in 20 minutes,

be reduced to pushing his mower while his riding variety is in the shop.

I feel a little ripple of pleasure watching him struggle up and down the lawn,

(taking almost two hours, like the crazy Mills family)

while I cruise along like it's nothing. hee hee.

It makes me feel good inside.

I know, I know, I'm terrible. Normal. Human. Terrible. Yep, that's me.

Here's where I will try to redeem myself.

#2 I grew up on around two acres.

With a huge garden, and lots of variety of little animals to take care of, etc.

There were plenty of opportunities for learning work ethic.

Come hell or high water, I WILL teach my kids work ethic.

Since we live in a slightly different environment than I grew up in
I have to take every opportunity I can to teach my kids this wonderful trait.

Which is why I put my foot down every single time the riding lawn mower issue gets brought up.

Every. Single. Time.

We can get one when the kids are grown and I don't feel equal to the task.

This year two more of our kids are joining the family ranks of hand pushed lawn mowers.

Ally:

And Ryland:
Because our kids are born with sticks for arms, we have found that we generally have to wait til around the age of 8 before we turn em loose with the mower.
The year the kids turn 8 they get to mow the lower, flatter part of the back yard.

Which Ryland is doing this year.

They eventually graduate to including the other, more hilly part of the back yard.

Which Ally at almost 10 is doing this year.

Ethan has graduated to doing the ENTIRE front lawn this year.

At age 12 we felt he was finally ready. It's almost all hilly and slanted which

makes it a bit more of a beast to do.

I will admit.

I enjoy watching it get done while I work in the flower beds or the vegetable garden.

However, I do LOVE to mow the lawn and this year is bittersweet for me.

While I have had opportunities to mow, thank you scout camp, I have had to turn most of

it over to the kids this year.

Bittersweet for sure.

But it is worth it in the end if it brings me to the ultimate goal of teaching

my kids how to work hard and contribute.

Bloom Day - May 2011

I have been meaning to join Bloom Day for quite some time now. I always seem to miss it. Well, not today! Even though it was like living in Idaho with the crazy wind we had today, I still went out and took some photos of what's blooming in my garden this 15th day of May. Earlier in the day Nate spied Ethan through the window trying to protect one of our young trees while it was being whipped around in the wind. Isn't he a sweetie?

Just a quick shot of the front of the house. Our yard is still fairly new, I often tell Nate I wish I could just fast forward five or ten years to see what it would look like, just for like 5 minutes. I can hardly wait! So anyhow, here goes shall we? My first Salvia of the year. It was blowing so hard that this one was definitely difficult to shoot.

Sea Thrift, it always makes me think of Dr. Seuss. So fun and whimsical.

Creeping Thyme

So excited to see these Geraniums starting to wake up in my rocks. They never disappoint.

My flowering Almond Bush. What a fast grower, and so pretty. When I planted her she was barely more than a twig. Now two years later she is definitely worthy of the title shrub, can't wait to see her spread out a bit more.

Some more Johnny Jump Ups and some Phlox. Of course I have a lot of different colors of both around the yard.

My luck with Aubrieta has been a little hit and miss. I guess she is just finnicky about what soil she is sitting in. I n some areas she is busting at the seams and others it is just so sad. Oh well, she is a Spring beauty.

I am just terrible tonight, I can hardly remember the names of anything, including this cute little succulent. I planted her last year and she is really earning her keep already this year.

I love the blooms on this little Speedwell. They always remind me of an eye with long eyelashes. So pretty. Although an early bloomer I love her trailing reddish/purple leaves in my rocks the rest of the year.

My Eastern Redbud. I love the blossoms, so glad there are four of these beauties around the back fence.

The wind was so obnoxious. I really had a difficult time getting a shot of my catmint. It's one of my all time favorites. The kitties seem to like it too.

Still have a few tulips hanging around, some more phlox and again I cannot remember the name of the yellow cutie up front. I planted it last year and am so far quite pleased with her.

My Homestead Verbena is just waking up. She always puts on a great show throughout the summer. I'm super excited to see what she has in store for me.

I cannot for the life of me remember the name of this little cutie. She is another great rock wall plant. She is just so sweet to look at every spring.

I love my Candytuft. I planted this one a few years ago. It's now well over 2 feet wide. She has been in bloom since early March. Although she is showing signs of being almost done she is just a lovely evergreen the rest of the year. That's why I have planted like 4 more around the yard.

Last year I decided to try my hand at an Azalea bush. So glad I did. She is just thriving and it is so fun to see her in bloom.

I enjoy seeing this beauty in my rocks every spring. I want to say it is a Speedwell, Veronica? maybe? I'm too tired to recall tonight. Anyhow, I love her and she has two homes in my garden.

I was thrilled when I came home the other day and saw my red crabtree in bloom, I planted it during the summer last year. I had no idea the blossoms were gonna be this dark. I am definitely looking forward to this tree growing and filling in. Yay!

I can't remember the name of this one tonight. I planted it last year in my shade bed. I was excited to see it show up this year.

As I made my way around the yard looking for blossoms I was heartbroken to come upon my bleeding hearts. I was so proud and excited for one of them in particular. It was just huge and beautiful this year. Stupid wind. If I had known she was in such a dangerous situation I would have told Ethan to go protect her for me. So sad.

We took in the fallen branches and tried to save some of the hearts, at least long enough to enjoy them a little longer. They found a happy home with Ally's bouquet Nate and I gave her after her Dance Recital yesterday. They have perked up a lot more since this photo was taken. I tell you what, they are pretty, but they kinda stink. :)

So there you have it. Can't wait to see what else has shown up in June. See ya then!