A Post for Patty: Part 1 (revised with better yard pics so you can actually see whats there!)

At every family event on Jeremy's side, his sweet sweet Aunt Patty always says to me, "Get your butt in gear and update your blog!"  Although she says it much much nicer, but that's the message!  So, Patty, this update is just for you!!  I'm officially unloading my camera and throwing the last 3 months into one big update.  Here you go!!

This summer we've actually kept quite busy doing this and that and all sorts of stuff.  These are a few pictures from our trip to the museum to see the King Tut display.

*Warning:  The lighting was HORRIFIC for pictures, so most of them didn't turn out too great.

"I'm sexy and I know it..."

It was a somewhat disappointing trip... everything was a poorly made replica...I would've enjoyed it much more had it been free, but knowing we spent many bucks to see it....meh.

But the kids enjoyed playing in their Kids Discovery Room afterwards:

So it took me 4 1/2 years, but I FINALLY took the time to sit down and learn how to french braid.  Hallelujah! Something different than our everyday pony tail!

Waiting for the 4th of July parade to begin.  And boy did we score...tons and TONS of stuff! children's books, jimmy johns sandwiches, treats, candy, toys, frozen yogurt. Nice!


A lot of our summer has been spent prettying up the yard.  Since Jeremy is going back to school we opted to buy a double wide with a nice big yard of our own for the kids to play in, rather than a stuffy 2 bedroom apartment with people on both sides, above, and below us. (And then we'll build our dream home after he's out of school and rent this one out). We gutted the entire thing and remodeled every single square inch to make it ours.  And now it's time to pretty up the outside as well!

Starting with a new shed.  We've had our lawn mower, snow blower, tiller, shovels, rakes, bikes, you name it we had it, everything and all...stacked up against the house.  It made for a not-so-pretty site to see. So we FINALLY got a shed. I say Finally because I have been waiting for this moment FOREVER!  Jeremy's sweet Dad came up and helped him put it together.

Courtney and I sitting up in the loft.  And I know NOBODY would have noticed had I not pointed it out, but check out my foot!  Now, I swear I do NOT have Fred Flintstone feet, but man, look at that!  I don't know if it's the angle, a trick of the camera..a shift in the atmosphere... not sure... but it sure looks like I have some extra footing on that foot!

The shed isn't done yet.  There's some trim pieces still needing to be put up, and then painted to our liking.  But all in all, I'm pretty darn excited to have it!

Next is the flower beds and gardens:  This entire yard was one large weed patch when we started remodeling.  So Jeremy started up the tiller and went to town.  Flower beds everywhere.  Flower beds, strawberry patches, vegetable gardens, bird houses... I love that man :)

Our vegetable garden. Yumma!

This is the plant stand Jeremy saved from being tossed out because it had a bent leg.  We'll love it up a little, give it a paint job, and it'll be good as new!

Pardon my sprinkler hose.  I wanted to hurry and take some better pics before the sun was too glarey and didn't want to have to turn off the water, move the hose, take a picture, move the hose back, turn the water back on!

The bricks I found under the deck, which are debuting as our make-shift edger until we get some real ones!  Maybe I should go out there and actually line them up straight...

These are some flowers that will be planted infront of the shed.

Okay, this is actually pretty cool, but right now looks like total crap!  The back edged in area is Courtney's digging patch.  She and her friends would dig in the dirt, make their mud pies, build their castles, etc back in this patch.  But then the weeds grew in and it hasn't been weeded since.  Once it's weeded, it'll be awesome again!

Courtney's and Alex's playground. Sure beats being in a crammed apartment with no yard at all! I love what we've made/are making of it. A place of our own while Jeremy is in school. And then off to bigger and better things!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our summer catch up!