Memorial Day

It's nice having Mabel's birthday around a national holiday.  

We usually get a three day weekend which means 

we get some extra family time to celebrate. 

(and an extra day to do spring yard work :)

I glued one of my vintage buttons to these Target decorations to make

a little patriotic door decor.

We only live a few minutes away from Veteran's Memorial Park and we go there at least once a week because our library is right behind the park. At the main entrance to the park there is a memorial wall honoring veterans.  I am so thankful to those people who serve and have served our country.  Nate's Grandpa Tew served for many years in the military and I have two cousins who are currently enlisted.

  

On Memorial Day the park sets up rows and rows of American flags.

They kept it up for several days and when Mabel and I went to the library 

Tuesday we got to see them.

We decided to have a family bbq 

to celebrate Memorial day, 

our yard being pretty much done, 

and our little Mabel turning two!

Mabel LOVES the big trampoline at grandma and grandpa Tew's house. 

She loves the little one that is in their basement. 

She loves the one hanging from the ceiling on display at Sam's Club.  

So we thought she would love this mini bounce house too.

Helping daddy get it set up for the party:

Almost ready....

and after days of being so excited to bounce this was her face when she got in:

She hated it...

and wanted out.

This was how she preferred to enjoy it...

from the comfort of her non inflatable no bounce lawn chair.

Grandma and Grandpa Naylor were the first ones to arrive 

and Mabel got to open a present from them.

A cute stool so she can reach the bathroom sink, some little toys, 

and a notepad with crayons and band-aid stickers.

With some coaxing and help from Aunt Kristy and Grandma Georgia

she finally got in the bounce house and had some fun!

A few weeks before the party I painted the interior of several of my old bottles.  

Thought they would be colorful and pretty filled with 

fresh flowers on the tables at the party.

Well, apparently acrylic paint isn't water proof and the paint 

started to peel off after an hour or so.

Before

After.

 Pinterest Fail. :(

Time to PAR-TAY:

We made homemade ice cream in a bag - so fun!

You put all the ingredients in a quart size bag, put that in a gallon bag with rock salt and ice,
wrap it with newspaper and duct tape and throw it back and forth
until it hardens into ice cream.

It was really tasty. 

We made four bags and we should of made more because the birthday girl loved it.

My nieces Morgan and Brenna were my professional ice cream throwers.

I made Mabel a simple little #2 cake:

(I need a cute cake stand....where can I get one?)

She got a sneaky lick of frosting before we even lit the candles!

She was so excited to blow out the candles and had been practicing for weeks.

 

She thought this Minnie Mouse card from Grandma Georgia was so cool.

You push a button and her hula hoop wiggles!

 

I wanted to get a picture of Mabel with Great Grandma and Grandpa Tew 

and Great Grandma and Grandpa Naylor. 

I didn't remember to take the picture until my grandparents were leaving,

AND at that point Mabel told me she needed her diaper changed.

I said, "Mabel, let's hurry and get a picture before grandma and grandpa leave!"

To which she replied, "NOOOOOOOO!!! POO-POO!!!!!"

Thought we could sneak in a few pics but she was not having it.

She just kept saying, "Poooooooo Poooooo!" 

I can't blame her, a poopy diaper isn't very comfortable.

I changed her and she got to stay up late until most of the family had left.

She was exhausted and happy and has been talking about the party for days.

Thanks to everyone who was able to come celebrate!

two (our favorite number of course!)

Our sweet and sassy Mabel Jane turned

two!!

I'll love you forever, 

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living,

My baby you'll be.

PROJECT: Yard

When we bought this house it had been empty for several years.  The front and back yards had been seriously neglected and we knew we were going to have to do a lot of work to get things looking good again.  We made a list of "wants" & "needs" and have been slooooowly crossing things off those lists.  Here is a little outdoor progress report:

  

before

a few weeks after we moved in

 October 2011

Nate mowed the lawn so short so the weeds kind of looked like grass.

 after

May 2013

new sod, curbing, replaced a few dying bushes, trimmed trees

before

pet cemetery with dying tree
 

during

dug out the hideous cemetery fence & planted trees

new curbing and ripped out dying tree in the corner

after

hello new dwarf cherry tree!
(and LOTS of plants and ground cover that I would would grow faster)

both my hired helpers are pretty cute:

before

after

yay for awning shade!

before

after

this was such a quick project, 

i wish we would have done it sooner...

it looks so much better!

In between all the before and afters there were:

sprinkler problems

(Nate has worked so hard on our sprinklers and drip system - 

I think he was having sprinkler nightmares. We are beyond thrilled

that everything is done.)

voles

dead weed lawn

(sorry neighbors!)

no gate where our hose spigot is

(now there is a gate)

 

more sprinkler issues

(thanks for all your help Rick & Georiga!)

chicken idea put on hold and the 

coop moved to the side of the house

and some late night projects.
Not to mention dozens of trips to Lowes!

We had a family BBQ on Memorial day (post soon to come) 

and we are looking forward to spending a lot more time in our backyard!

It's going to be a great summer.

PS:  My garden has only been planted for a month and
it is growing so well!
(Despite the entire row of beans that Nate dug up
when we was burying the sprinkler.)

5/09/13

5/31/13

I also planted strawberries and cucumbers along the side of the fence here.

Can't wait until that cherry tree grows and gives us some privacy!

One of the downsides to living in the burbs.