Why Yes We Are Exhausted, but not smart enough to stop!

All things should start on a note of beauty. Cause it's gonna end messy!

I took this while camping. It was fun learning to use my camera!

Don't they look happy. Every little boy should have entire dumptruck loads of dirt dropped in their yard at least once a month. The soil is soooo bad where we are putting in the orchard. We had to buy dirt. Go figure. You buy 5 acres of land and you still buy dirt:)

Warren's first day of school picture. He is loving his class. His teacher has so much energy and is so fun. I get to be a classroom mom once a week and I really enjoyed watching the day unfold.

Happy 3rd birthday James! He had a great day. Complete with an excavator cake and a train ride. One of his favorite things in life right now!

James looking out his window to see we've arrived at the train station!

Warren didn't appreciate the whistle!
OH, the continuation of a massive project. All things worth having come by blood, sweat, and tears, right?

Had to have dirt to level the spot out.

Sand to put under it! Don't ask how many trips we made to D&B. We just bought a trailer. Just a month late...

Our poor truck. It is no longer a lazy city boy. We've hauled, shoveled, towed, kicked, and abused it throughly. It's sure pulling it's weight.

And we wonder why jobs take us forever! Doesn't everyone have a child learning at their feet?

Grandpa was infinitely patient!

The leveling process!

We bought the pool on craigslist so we had to work on it a little. Just more fun for the boys!

Augh! the finished product. We didn't get to swim for long but it will be fun for years!

We did take one break and went camping at Sagehen Reservoir. The water pump was the boys favorite entertainment. Unfortunately it was on the corner of the road and I was terrified someone was going to get run over!

Greg and Glenn went scuba diving a few times and picked out our fishing spots. We still didn't catch anything!

The ducks were fearless!

FAMILY REUNION

Warren had an assignment to make a poster about him. One category was for his favorite things. I think he really just wanted a picture of the pizza but since he took one of me I'll count myself as one of his favorites.

Reality Check :) Yes that is my mess!

The during and the after. No one should take a picture after days of canning but here it is ladies, this is reality. I used to be able to can and not trash the place. What happened? At least the after was pretty!!!

ORCHARD PROJECT

I came home from grocery shopping the other day to find this war zone in my backyard. We've got our own fox holes.

I'll have to post more when we are finished planting. When all is said and done I'll have 4 peaches, 4 apples, 3 pairs, an almond, a pie cherry, a plum tree, and 8 grape plants. Yes, I have died and gone to heaven. Yes, we are crazy!

We've only got 6 trees in the ground right now. It's a long process since we are basically replacing the soil with some the trees might actually have a fighting chance of living in.

Happy Father's Day?

Yes I'm a little late and I don't even have a picture to insert but I had to shout out about our week. It was insain but I will get there in a minute. I just had to tell about Greg's father's day gift that he just got. Yes I know it's July. I promised Greg a whole day out for his present. So with my fabulous In-Laws we succeeded. Bruce and Patricia took the boys for the entire day! I think it was a present to me too. The boys must have been good because Momma Sexton invited them over again! Thank you Bruce and Patricia:)

Greg and I went to Roaring Springs first then went out for dinner and then saw Inception. Can I say wow, what a movie. If you haven't seen it yet, go. My mind is still going in circles. You have to be patient through the first 10 minutes and then it starts to come together.

As for our crazy week, It started with Warren and I getting rear-ended in Boise on Monday, had a fabulous day on Tuesday, went to the doctor on Wednesday and couldn't walk the rest of the week, Freezer died on Thursday and my meat went bad, Friday a cry for help! Mom and dad to the rescue. So all in all I feel very blessed looking back. Warren and I didn't get hurt, My foot feels better today, I got a day off with my sweetheart, I painted my living room, my jam wasn't ruined that had been in the freezer, and all is well. Maybe sometimes we have a weird week to remind us of all our blessing! And indeed I am blessed.

Step 1 Demolition

We can't make an omlete without breaking some eggs. We decided we needed something in a little better shape in the spot the hot tub was occupying. So, we bought a pool from craigslist and started trashing the place. Boy am I glad. We had looked at the hot tub and decided that it was to cracked to use. When Greg starting cutting it up we discovered that it had been made into the home of our earlier invaders,

They had scratched out the insulation and made a home inside the hot tub! Yummy. Greg decided that this was our grossest project yet! I'm so glad it's gone.
Greg's favorite part of the whole project was having an excuse to buy a sawzall! It cut through the hot tub like butter.

Now, onward with the work. And sometime this summer, a pool!

More fun this summer has included swimming lessons for the boys. James got to join the fun this year, and good thing because last year it was all I could do to keep him out of the pool.

The best parents in the world!

Yes, I am the proud daughter of the best parents in the world. My very patient father has been letting the boys help him mow. Notice I said he is mowing. He loves my new toy and is the only other person who has had a turn so far. He has come over two weekends in a row to "help" with the mowing. Tonight when they left my yard looked so nice. Who knew grass could make a person so happy!

Then there is my mother who went shopping with the boys and I for hours today! My goodness she is a saint! She has had more than her share of time helping here too. What would I do without you two!

Ruth and the girls drove all the way from Oaklahoma. Ruth is amazing. David is in the Middle East and she came up for the summer to visit friends and family. It was awesome having them here and leaves me with a pain because they live so far away. I wish we could see them more often.

We love you!

Happy 4th, Boy's 1st Parade

We went to the Middleton 4th Parade Yesterday. The boys had so much fun! Warren said the candy was the best part.

Getting My Martha On!

Alright it's time to start decorating! I picked these up yesterday ,(gotta love Graples) and Monday I'm picking up our Anniversary present... a picture of the Boise Temple. If I not careful, it will look like we live here!

Now I'm off to clean the top of that shelf. Hummm

Absent but not gone

Greg was trying to catch the beautiful view coming up our driveway. Warren Graduated from Preschool. This is fast becoming the picture wall in my house.

One of the mom's made this cake for the preschool celebration.

Warren with Sandy and Judy. He misses them so much!

Here is the reason for my absence. Our yard. Nothing like starting from Scratch.


He Rototills, I rake and level and we plant! Thank heavens we only have a little corner left. I never thought having lots of yards would be such a problem! Hee hee. These little lessons in life. But Hey, My arms are getting strong!


My littlest helper!
West side yard just over a month ago.

West yard today! I love grass!

Yes Greg is in the background. I'll just say noisy magpies. You guess the rest.

Warren decided we needed help so he made a water and food stand, complete with signs!

Greg has been busy cutting down the 20 or so trees that are dead on our property. This day he had me pull one over with the truck after he cut into it. Warren got to be the photographer!

Warren the photographer.
My children are learning to fend for themselves. Greg and I get to working in the morning and forget to stop and feed ourselves. I found a recipe for killer chocolate chip muffins. The boys made short work of them!Invaders, Just some of the local nature here. Doesn't everyone want 5 baby racoons in their yard! Where's my shotgun!My latest toy! Yes, I'm claiming the mower. Greg has enough to do this year. And really who wouldn't want to use it, right?

And for all you BSU Fans, it's a Bronco!Now for my favorite thing I've done during the last month, my own space! Now that the swamp cooler is hooked up (thank you Greg and Dad) I can stand the be out in this room. I've wanted a craft room for ever. I've died and gone to heaven!