The beginning of a lot of yard work

Our yard is in need of some TLC.....but it is going to be a lengthy project! I hope by next summer we have a yard that looks like our neighbors!

We underestimated what Crab Grass can do out here, so right now we are killing it off, but it is leaving bare areas in our yard- mostly the back. We won't be able to seed until the fall b/c of what we put down, so until then we will just have some bare areas unless we get a little sod!

The people that had this house before us just planted whatever, where ever! It drives me crazy! So beginning last fall I began digging stuff up/transplanting others.....and I am still on that mission! Also the weeds were CRAZY in the flowerbeds and I am not one who loves to pull weeds. So the last 3 weeks I have laid paper down on all the beds: back, sides and front. I have also gotten 1 truck load of mulch (Thanks Lisa) and finally got it all placed in the front! I think I am going to need 2 more truck loads! But I am happy to know that I won't be pulling weeds all summer!

Here is in front of Matthew room!

And this is in front of the porch! I did buy new bushes for the back there...3 Euonymous plants. I maybe should have gotten the bigger ones, but the smaller ones were $10 cheaper and it is a fast growing shrub! I have Daylilies in a circle around the flagpole and there is Monkey Grass lining the walkway. Oh there are also Easter Lilies in the corner by the driveway, but they are just barely popping out of the ground! I think it will be very pretty once the lilies start blooming in later summer! Now if it would get warmer and stay warmer so I can buy flowers for my pots! I think I will be going with RED again this year! :)

Just my boys

I am definitely lacking in the picture taking area lately, but I had these 2 on my camera that I just saw!

4 years old

I can't believe that 4 years ago today that we welcomed our first born, Jackson Garrett, into this world! He decided to surprise us and come about 3 1/2 weeks early - weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces and 20 inches in length! Oh the joy and laughter he has brought to our lives......I can't wait for many many more!

Happy Birthday Jackson - we all love you more than you will ever know!

His 4th Birthday Party

3 years old

2 years old

1 year old

Happy BIRTHday sweet boy!

Well Babies

The boys had their 4 year and 18 month check ups today! Days like today make me glad that they are exactly 2 1/2 years apart so that I can get them BOTH over with at the same time!
But this is our last one like this since Matthew will just be on a yearly schedule!

Both boys are healthy....Jackson had a little more build up in his ears that the Dr wanted, so we have some drops to use to break up the wax. Other than that both boys received a good bill of health!

Jackson is now up to 30 pounds (which I think is about a 1 pound gain from his 3 year check up) and 40 inches tall (which is about 2 1/2 inches in growth).

Matthew is at a whopping 19.8 pounds (which is about 1 pound more than at his 1 year check up) and 31 inches (about 2 inches with with him too, but in a 6 month period).

Here they are CHEESING for the camera!


Jackson does has 4 shots to get, but I am letting Daddy do the honors! I have done all the other shots, so I don't feel bad one bit! 4 year olds are STRONG and I don't want to have to hold him down!

Snow??

Can you believe we had snow again last night.....just a little before turning to rain! All is gone today and the temps should be back in the 70s by the end of the week! :)

Happt St. Paddy's Day!

Dentist

Jackson had his first dentist appointment today and he did SO good! I have been talking it up and he has been SO excited to go!

All ready to go!

He even got to wear cool sunglasses too!

His hygentist was super nice and so gentle with him! I wasn't sure what all they would do this first visit, but he got it all - x-rays, cleaning, flossing and fluoride!

No cavities for this almost 4 year old - but the dentist did tell me that bc of how his "bite" is that he will most likely have to have braces in the future! Sorry David - I guess that aiplane is on hold for even longer! :)

I fought the law and the law won.

Remember that song??? Ughh that has been my week!

After a perfect driving record for almost 16 years (minus the warning ticket I received the day before my 19th bday).....I finally got pulled over and received my FIRST speeding ticket. Let me tell you - that can make a perfectly GOOD day turn BAD really quick!

I was on my way to get the boys from MDO (thank goodness Jackson wasn't in the car bc I can only imagine what he would be saying in the backseat), running a couple minutes behind and not really paying attention. The road to get them is a 4 lane and just seems like it should be AT LEAST 40 mph- right??? WRONG - it is only 30, THIRTY, really??? Yes I knew this, but going the speed I was going I still felt like I was creeping. So I see this cop kind of swing out of a nearby duplex a little faster than usual and still thought- they can't be after me as they get behind me. I proceed to turn left and so does the cop and then .....Blue Lights! UGHHH are you serious?? Then it gets worse.....out steps a WOMAN cop! Yep there is NO getting out of this one!

So I give her my license and insurance while she goes back to her car to run my history which is NOTHING and I "stay in my vehicle for her safety and mine" (or that's what she says anyway). So I break another law probably and text a friend to call the church bc I am running late to get my kids. Then all the other moms start driving by to get their kids.....and yes I just wave! :) Ughh how embarassing. She comes back and no warning from this cop - a nice little TICKET ($121 to be exact).....44 in a 30 which should really be 40 in which case I wouldn't have gotten pulled over in the first place.

Then I still have to get my kids and see all the other mommies that watched as I got my ticket! We had some laughs and then on the way home where did I see Miss Police Officer??? - running radar in the same spot. But this time I was going 29 in a 30. I wonder how many other criminals she caught yesterday???

After a few tears and feeling completely rotten, I pulled myself together and started figuring out Kansas Laws and what I had to do to get this taken care of......I certainly didn't want my insurance to go up. After several calls this morning to our Mayberry Courthouse, NC DMV, and my insurance company - it seems like I can get it reduced to a non moving violation which will still be on my NC driving record, but will NOT raise my insurance premiums. Now I am just waiting for a call back from Pam or Paula (who couldn't have been any nicer and yes I am on a first name basis with them now) for my additional fee to get this taken care of.

Hmmm I could think of better ways to spend this money than on this. Oh well - lesson learned and you will now see me with my cruise control on and in the slow lane where ever I go!

Birthday Song

Here is Jackson's song!

An Early Birthday

We had Jackson's 4th Birthday Party a little early.....oh the fun he had! Both of his Nana's and Papa's were able to come along with some of his good friends! We had it at a local little gym place for kids! It was actually perfect for Matthew's age too!

They had trampolines and foam pits.....

and all sorts of equipment to play in, on and around.

Matthew had NO time for pictures.

Mommy and the birthday boy!

Both Papa's playing with the kids!

Taking a little rest after lots of jumping.

Then it was time for pizza and cake....YUM!

It was all about Thomas this year!

Blowing out his candle.

Then to all the great gifts he got- moon sand, a remote control truck, 3D bubbles, a kite, a rescue-copter, etc.

Then home for presents from family- a cape, marble works, games, money, clothes, dive sticks, etc.

And then his gift from Mom and Dad - his first real bicycle!

What a special day for a special little boy!