grow, my pretties

If you recall, I was undecided about how to plant my garden this year. My mom helped me make that decision when she showed up last Monday with wood to make 2 garden boxes for square foot gardening. I was so excited and relieved to at least cut out some of the expense. I got right to assembling the wood and had a hard time drilling in the screws. Assuming it was me being a girly girl, I waited for Ryan to get home and give it a try. Throughout that week, he tried 3 different times with three different approaches with screw sizes and what not and could not get this one piece of wood to work. So it was decided, we had to buy new wood, this wood was too thick and it had too many knots. After seeing my step dad put my moms boxes together with the same wood, I got a little determined and impatient. My mom had some extra brackets for a little extra security on her boxes and said I could have them. When I got home I tried assembling the boxes with the brackets and about 15 minutes later, I stepped back and admired the two 5x5 boxes I had just assembled.
I got them all set up and continued to empty the 12 garbage bags of compost that my mom and I filled at the nursery and made my little SFG mixture. When it was all said and done the second thought that came to my mind (because the first thought was about how excited I was to have a producing garden) was "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."
amen sista!

the pretend boxes


planting seeds


Cloe loves to help and loves to plant a garden. She's measuring off each foot so that we could start planting.


viola. finito. betcha didn't know I was trilingual.



I planted some cold weather crops. Beans, peas, brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions, green onions, lettuce, spinach and carrots. My indoor starters are beginning to sprout and it is so cool to watch the progress of a plant when it starts from a seed.

thanks mom for the help and the wood!

today was a good day.

I got in a good workout and the kids, especially Charlotte, like watching the aerobics classes.


went to grandmas to watch them safely put together their garden boxes. Notice the glasses, so safe.

Cloe and Abbey were thrilled to sit in front of the store for 3 hours and sell girl scout cookies. sounds so boring to me!!! but they got to take the money from the customers, pretty exciting. And they earned their cookie booth badge. And they make dang cute Brownie and Daisy.

my garden is finished and cold weather seeds are planted (late), Cloe was marking every foot for me, I'll post my love affair pictures for my garden soon.

Brody lost his first tooth.

thank you blogging friends for voting for Cloe. I know it's a silly contest but the fact that you took the time to vote for her does mean something to me, I appreciate it. The prize is nothing big, but I just wanted to thank you, it's nice to know you have good friends and family. And yes, she did win the popularity contest.

will you please vote for Cloe, she's entry #10. Not because hers is the best, but because your my friend and you know it will make a little 8 year olds day, if she wins an egg crate.
http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/2010/03/chicken-photo-contest.html
and then look around, it's a cool blog and I'm friends with one of the cool contributors.

the G to the arden

This year I'm going to give square foot gardening a try. I think. I just can't decide and I'll tell you why. The fact that I would have to make a purchase that could possibly cost $50!!! I'm telling you, the guilt. I know, I know, so many benefits come from gardening that make up for the up front cost. Last year, my garden went well, I just felt like it was so spread out and I like the benefits of square foot gardening and the low maintenance and the look of a bushy, full garden. Right now my plan is 2 5 x 5 boxes and a 4 by 8 or 10 chicken coop. The wheels are turning and I'm trying to get real creative about building a coop. They are expensive! We have scrap wood and my friend said her husband could help so after talking to him, I'm sure I'll be more comfortable with the idea of building something with like wood and tools and stuff. ooooh, I just love gardening. I made pesto for St. Patricks day and couldn't wait to grab basil from my backyard during the summer. This year I'm planting heirloom and hybrid seeds. No reason, it just worked out that way.

My friend documents/journals her garden progress on her blog to look back on from the previous year, I like that idea. So these are just a few thoughts and a filler since there isn't much to blog about.

blessed

I know blogs have a reputation of making your life seem like gum drops and rainbows but I THINK I do a fair job of not doing that on mine but unfortunately this post is but that's because life really is gum drops and rainbows for me. I've just been thinking lately about how great my kids are. I used to get frustrated when the kids were younger because the first three are so close in age and it was tough. I was young and worked, went to school and then also lived in Italy, but as I've gotten older and wiser I've learned to just go with the flow. I've learned to accept curve balls even if it interferes with my schedule. Through prayer, I'm learning how to better relate with each kid individually because they are very different and believe it or not, have different needs......okay, I can't make my voice change and fluctuate when I'm typing. I've figured out that my day is better when I put them as a priority from snuggling to being outside with them. The dishes can wait (somedays, too long) and I'm okay with that, just don't expect me to invite you in if my house is a mess :) Family is a part of my testimony. Heavenly father knew how important family would be and how we must respect each member and their importance. Media affects our views on so many things, it seems to either down play or even over play so many things. My family is far from a "model" family and I'm sure some, usually moms, feel inadequate about their family because they don't feel that their family is this or that because another family is...on the surface at least. That is just another way for Satan to tear us down and tear apart the family and it's sacredness. I'm guilty of feeling that way when my kids were younger. My kids bring joy to my life and I love spending time with them. They are hilarious. And my hot husband, he's the bomb. He cracks me up and has motivated me to be better and want to achieve more. We've come a long way from our student days and as stressful as it can be at times, I enjoy the adventure of a self employed artist and am anxious for what he has in store for his future. So many ideas. I am blessed to have these fabulous five in my life, AND they love me. Even though Brody is starting to get embarrassed to kiss me! At the Dr office, I asked him for a kiss and he said no because he was worried the doctor would walk in! He did give me one, but it was quick.

The Pioneer saying does apply

Do you get scared or feel a little guilty when you make "larger" purchases? "Larger purchases" being relative. I don't know if it's because our income is so unpredictable but I hate/love (of course who doesn't love new stuff) buying big ticket items. I remember when I bought my Dyson two year ago, I found the best deal possible which made it almost 50% off but i was so worried to spend that money not knowing if I would need it for the next month. Of course looking back, we were fine.
We just bought our kids a new bed, the one they had before was bought for MY little sisters when I was 15, so 15 years ago. It was old and it squeaked like crazy because it was all metal, but it's free to whomever wants it. Again, we searched for the best deal possible and best quality and are still amazed that we got such a nice bed for $300. But.......ugh......and then, my phone is awful. It is the phone they offered for free when we signed up, it's cracked and I can barely hear the person on the other line and I just happened to be up for a phone upgrade. When I took my phone in the guy started naming off all the problems they have had with my current phone, while I was checking off my list because I had had all those problems. So I should feel justified right? Man, paying fifty bucks for a new phone......ugh....the guilt. Well....my current phone, although I curse it every time i use it, it does still work.
Am I the only one that gets like this???

Sunday morning snow

it was all melted by late afternoon



and that's how I like it.





she just can't resist eating that fluffy white stuff.


the burning cold hands set in

what is your blogs carbon footprint?

I've neutralized the carbon dioxide emissions of my blog by adding the button to the right. Now a tree will be planted on behalf of my blog this spring. Hey, just doing my part and you can to my friend. Click on the button or this site

Curious where the tree will go? Wish it was my backyard, I could use some shade but somewhere that needs it more.

Cloe's day

I loved Cloe's baptism but the day went by way too fast. My friend Kristy braided her hair so I didn't have to try and comb through wet hair while everyone waited, and because I think a french braided crown is so cute on a little girl. We had to be to the church by 11, so we got there at 11:15, standard for our family and she went and changed into her baptism clothes.
Abbey said the opening prayer and got so stage fright that I had to bribe her to go up and whisper into her ear, we sang "Baptism" and then it was time. The whole morning seemed surreal that I had a child old enough to be baptised but when I saw her in the font, it really hit me. Ryan got pretty chocked up when he said the prayer and I thought it was sweet, touching and I was a little surprised. Out of the 10 years we've been married, that is the second time he has cried. I went and met her in the bathroom and was so excited for her, while she froze and her teeth chattered, I drilled her with questions about what she thought and how she felt. She looked so beautiful all dressed in white and was so thrilled and reverent. We went back to the room and there were two short talks and then she was confirmed. I love the baptism of eight year olds, there is such a sweet spirit and I didn't want it to end.
We had everyone stay for a luncheon at Ryan's studio, hence the art clutter in the background.
It was a great day spent with family.







The Sunday after her baptism was fast Sunday and she wanted to fast for the first time. She made it to lunch. She also wanted to bear her testimony in Sacrament meeting. I was a little hesitant about her being ready to get up there by herself, but she hopped right up when it started and gave her sweet little testimony about being grateful to be baptised and receiving the holy ghost. So I guess it was more of a thankfulmony.

move over cake Boss

Holy crap, Cloe gets baptized tomorrow!! I am so excited, I've loved all the preparations and the build up but I am nervous about everything going smoothly.
Ryan and I made this cake. I guess since we cut away at the cake we ended up with crumbs all up in the frosting. tacky. But it still tastes good and I like how it turned out.