Starting the Yard Work

Front Yard- "Before" Picture

Back Yard from 1 angle

Back Yard from the other side.

This weekend we finally started working on our yard. Yeahoo!!! I am sick of looking out at our brown dead ugly yard every time I do dishes. We split up the yard. I get to be in charge of making decisions for the back yard, and Hubby gets to figure out what to do with the front yard. He keeps threatening to put large gaudy objects in it. I hope he is just kidding.

This weekend we picked up 3 tons (no exaggeration) of compost from the dump and spent 7 hours taking most of it to the back yard to till in later. The kids all came out and helped, and they worked so hard.

Here is Allen scooping compost into the wheelbarrow. He worked so hard.

We gave the kids rides back out to the front yard until our arms gave out. They loved it. Hubby lasted several hours longer than I did.
For dinner, we enjoyed pizza in the garage. We sat on the car bench that we pulled out of the van. Man those kids are filthy. When we were eating Michael said, "You might think this is my worst Saturday, but you know what? It's not! It's my best." This was after working for about 5 hours. I was pretty proud of my little helpers.

We also planted one of our new peach trees today, and we removed most of the large slab of concrete that was buried in our back yard (Stupid builders!). It was at least 6 feet across. We bought a pick axe and Hubby went to town on it. We should finish getting it out in the next few days, and then we will plant our second tree.

Stay tuned for the "After" pictures. I can't wait until we are done!!

Shots!!

I hate shots!! I hate getting them. I hate having my kids get them. I know they are necessary, but I still hate them. When I was about 12, my parents realized that I needed my MMR booster. Several of my siblings needed shots too. They got us in the car, and didn't tell us where we were going. I remember pulling up to this large red building. My oldest brother said maybe we were getting our new camcorder. We were all excited. Then he saw the word "clinic" on the sign. I had no idea what a clinic was, but he did. He let us all know we would be getting shots. Instantly we all started yelling at my mom. I'm sure there was much "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth." I asked my mom later why she didn't tell us before we left. She told me we would just worry ourselves sick about it. She is probably right, but I will never forget the extreme panic I felt when I found out I would be getting a shot. I determined that I would never do that to my kids. It is a tough place to put yourself in. You let your child know that they will be experiencing something painful so they can prepare themselves, but you have to break the bad news to them. I ease my conscience by letting them pick out ice cream. The kid getting the shot gets to pick out their favorite flavor of ice cream, and the family gets to enjoy it. It gives us something positive to talk about along with the shots, and the rest of the family is appreciative that one kid is experiencing the pain so we all can enjoy the ice cream. I think the gratitude makes up for a bit of the pain.

Okay, so to get to the point, today I took my two youngest in for their well-child visits. I knew that we would be getting Morgan the 50 (or 4) shots he needs. I hate the 4 year old visit. I hate seeing my kids in pain! Makenzie needed her Chicken Pox booster, and she crumpled on my lap and cried for a minute after they poked her. I hugged her and told her, "I hate shots too, but they keep us healthy."

Then it was Morgan's turn. I know that some of those 4 year old shots are really not fun. Most of my kids would cry for the first few, and then scream as the put in the last one. I hate holding them as they get them. I think I even talked Hubby into taking Michael in, because I couldn't take it.

Morgan was such a trooper!! He was giggling at the end. As I was putting his shoes on after the shots, preparing to go home he said with a big smile, and tears streaming down his face, "Those shots hurt so much, but they keep us healthy." I am glad that is over. Allen has to get several shots on Monday when we take him in for his 12 year old check-up. I guess we will all get to enjoy ice cream again.