Tear out Weekend #2...

Yard work again this weekend. First we put down new metal edging around the house and shed and mailbox. It looks really nice. Then we dug out the stumps and roots to all the bushes and evergreen tree that we removed last weekend. That job went much easier with the rental of a backhoe. But the roots were so big and deep on the evergreen tree that it took at least 45 minutes of digging to finally get it loose. But it looks great and we don't have to worry about any of it growing back.

We had decided last weekend that we were going to do all of the landscaping ourselves instead of paying someone to do it. Well, that might have worked IF we knew what we were doing. The plants are a mystery. So many to choose from and we drive around looking at other peoples yards and we were more confused than when we started. Then, we started looking at what we have. We have a ton of rock still in the old landscaping that we wish we could use but we know the plastic underneath needs to be replaced because there are weeds growing up through it everywhere. But who wants to shovel all the old rock out just to shovel it all back in and risk still having some weeds in it. So...we decided yesterday that maybe we should hire someone who knows what they are doing. Plus, we were able to get two small beds done on the north side of the house and they took 33 bags of new rock to fill. It would probably take 200+ more bags of rock to finish. That doesn't sound like fun to me!! Hopefully I can keep Chris convinced to hire someone...wish me luck!!! All this yard work has also been really hard with Madi. She isn't mobile enough to follow us around and keep content and she is just too young to stay outside all day long. If it wasn't for my parents and Chris' parents to help out with her, we definetly would not have gotten as much done as we have. THANK YOU!!!

Madi is now 10 months old!!! And I am already starting to think about her 1st birthday party coming up in 2 months! It is planned for May 26, it's a Saturday. Don't have anything else planned yet though...keep the date open!!! I also talked to our pastor Sunday and today and we have her baptism scheduled for May 27th.

It's raining here!!! Have a great week.

Love, Amy

Madi and dad playing on the machinery!!
Evergreen roots.
Front step being destroyed.

Sunday was tear out day. We removed all of the bushes around our house and all of the plastic lawn edging. It looks 100x better already. It took about 15 minutes to cut down the big evergreen bushes and tree in the front and about 2 hours to get it all cleaned up and moved to the driveway. Chris, my dad and I worked outside and my mom kept Madi content inside. Thank you, Thank you for your help.
We had a friend of Chris' who owns a tree service come over yesterday and shred the limbs, so now we don't have a huge pile in front of the house. And just in time, today the rain is washing whatever was left of the mess away.

Last night Jason and Tabatha were in town. Everybody came over and we had supper and cake for Jason's 25th Birthday on Friday. Happy Birthday!!!! It was a very nice evening.

Madi is still cruising around. We practice standing on her own but she is still afraid to let go. No new teeth yet but still drooling like crazy. Last week she started to point at things. Now she points all the time. Sees something she wants and points. It's cute. And she is getting into everything. I have been letting her play in the kitchen when I am in there working and she would play with her letters on the fridge or she had her own drawer with stuff she could play with. But now she is wanting to get into everything. So, next trip to Wal-Mart I am purchasing a gate and she will be locked out of the kitchen. I don't think she is going to like it very much, but it is for her own safety. She'll get used to it.

Take care and have a great week. Bring on the rain!!!

Love, Amy


Before
After
Chris' truck is parked on the other side of the pile, you just can't see it!!

Last night Madi took her first bath in the big tub!!! She had a lot of fun. She was able to move around more, which meant more slipping. Need to get grippy pads for the tub and more toys!!

Daylight savings time did a nice job of messing with not only Madi's schedule, but I have had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. We both did better this morning so hopefully I have her back on schedule. It's been rough this week. Madi also has a terrible runny nose and drooling like crazy. We are ready for some new teeth to come in!

I have the renovating bug right now. I am so ready to get started in fixing up our house. I have a list of things we need to do a mile long. Chris has been talking more and more about it so hopefully he is getting ready also. We had a local lawn care business come by yesterday and tell us what we need to do to get our yard looking better. They are supposed to be here today to fertilize. But our main goal, hopefully soon, is to get those ugly bushes and evergreen tree pulled out in front of the house. The plan is to get rid of all the bushes around the house and start over. And then of course there is plenty to do on the inside, but I have to wait until Chris is ready. (The fun stuff is coming up...TAXES, ugh)

Enjoy the new pics!!

Love, Amy

Yesterday was Chris' birthday. We had our parents over for supper and cake. It was a very nice evening. I had planned this on Monday and thought that the weather was supposed to be much nicer than it was. So, we made hamburgers on the grill and it was so cold outside. Thanks dad for cooking for us!! Madi had so much fun playing on the floor with the wrapping paper. She is a hoot to watch!! She also got to practice for her birthday cake with her dad's cake. She had no problem diving into the icing. But her cake will be much messier!!! I think chocolate all around would be great (can't wait).

I have spring fever bad. Last weeks nice weather didn't help a bit either. We were able to go outside a couple of days and play in the swing and went to the park on Monday. I am ready to go to the lake, too bad there isn't any water in the lake. No boating again this summer, unless we get some serious rain.

Take care and enjoy the new pics!!!

Love, Amy