Wanna be green thumb has struck again!!!

All weekend we spent in our backyard. It’s sad to say we have been rather neglectful when it comes to keeping it all nice and purty. So we were out there all day Saturday and for the most part the girls helped but then a good share of the time they were doing this

Yeah teasing Dutchess don’t ya see!! They had her ball and were playing baseball with a stick!! Cracked me up though with QueenB pitching and Toughie swinging they managed to connect several times. Plus of course they always had a fielder. Dutchess has become very skilled in fetching. It’s the dropping part we are having some troubles with. Tug o’ war is a must in her book.

So then on to Sunday it was back to the grind. The Hubby’s Uncle came over and was our slave helped us. The lovely guys built us a new gate so that we can have a “dog yard” and “people yard.” When Dutchess was a puppy she broke the old gate that was up there. With a little help from Daisey too. While they were doing that, and cleaning up brush that was taking over the back shed, we were working in what is now known as “our” garden.

Yes no longer my garden It’s ours now. Toughie says and I quote, “Sammi since I’m working on the garden it’s mine too, right? I mean it’s ours now?”

“Well of course Toughie!! *laughing* Why didn’t you think it was ours before?”

“Because only you worked in it. But now that I helped it’s mine too!!”

Their thought process still perplexes me.

So as you can see our house is on one side of the yard, the road is on the South and we have a row of very tall trees on the west (you can’t see these I’m telling you). This is real nice once afternoon hits. When it hits about two pm most the yard is in shade. However before then it is all sun. We looked so goofy today I stuck a stick in the yard and put the beach umbrella on it. That way our chairs and drinks were able to stay shaded and cool. I don’t handle heat very well at all. I have had heat exhaustion several times, a couple to the point of completely passing out. I tell you that is no fun. So I have to make sure I have shade somewhere and of course TONS of fluid. Anyway off on a tangent again. Sorry I did not snap a picture of the umbrella but I will tomorrow when we are back out there. We finally have woodchips to spread out into our nicely weeded garden.

So we are going to be prepared…

and another just because!! Oh if you don’t know, or well I haven’t specified… QueenB is on the left and of course Toughie on the right. Oh and yup they both have glasses now. Yippeee for me!!!

See they have their gloves and tools!! Oh and here is something that ERKS me to no end, why on earth do they not make kid’s garden gloves small enough?? UGH we just said phooey and they put on some old winter gloves. Worked perfectly and they were happy. Not that they don’t like getting dirty I didn’t want a repeat of sliced hands from the grass just like when they were feeding Booger’s goats. That was not a nice afternoon.

So of course what next is this…

After all that work our family did what we do best. When it’s summer and it’s a holiday we grill together!! Well no need for holiday we just do it. Reason I am showing you these two pics is one it was Father’s day and that’s my Dad!! Two see behind him that little guy in the red shirt… Oh wait lets get QueenB to move…

Ok is that better? Do you see him now?? That is my middle nephew (in the far back is Booger the oldest and Moose is by QueenB in the front here) OK so HMMMM we will call him… Duck, yeah that will work because he is one weird duck… So Duck kept telling my dad to “do it again!” So my dad would lean back to squish him. He would start giggling and eventually you would hear “K up Papa up” all straining for breath. However after this round as soon as Dad leaned back we hear from him “up papa UPPPP you are hurting my weiner!!!” OMG did we all bust up laughing. I had tears running down my face it was so funny. Plus as soon as papa sat up Duck just adjusted and you heard “do it again!!” My sister claims he LOVES pain. I think it’s rather apparent oh and there were more stories to go with.

So eventually we got home and we were heading in the house and we seen this!

Toughie is jumping up and down, “a rainbow, A RAINBOW!! My very firstest real RAINBOW in my whole life!!!” *jump jump jump*

So of course I had to snap some pictures. She was just so SO excited!

Wordless Wednesday – Fun in the sun!! (Finally)

So mother nature FINALLY cooperated. We have had some fabulous days lately. This last weekend we spent all day Sunday playing in the water. I took these shots with my cell phone. I’m amazed at the clarity. You can see the water drops falling in all of them. I really think they are amazing because all you see is the kid as a shadow and the water and sun seem to be the highlights. Anyway enough words hope you enjoy!!

 

 

 

 

Theory Thursday – Outdoor & Animal edition.

It’s Theory Thursday again!!

I wonder if I could make this a weekly Meme……hmmm maybe someday. Or if someone wants to add their two cents, I’d love to link ya up here.
So I’m a little late in the day, but at least I got them in here. I mean what more do you want from me to be perfect? HA HA well that is not me!! I will succeed in this blog thing however on my own time. So sometimes you may get a post everyday, (if you subscribe by email, ya should ya really should) or you will get two in an email only because I missed the send out time. Well enough blabbering here is my Theories for today.

Outdoor & Animal Edition
When submitting a request to Mother Nature always ask for the opposite of what you want, she is quite menopausal as of late.
Kid’s will always want to bring in or home ALL “animals”. (bugs included in this house)
You are more likely to win the lottery, than get sunshine on your outdoor plans.
Dirt, grass, bugs, and anything else that grows or is outside is all natural, so should be safe for baby consumption. (some limitations will apply)
There are no toys needed outside, only an imagination and what is already there. EX – sticks, rocks, anything else.
Mud puddles are a great stress reliever, have a jump!! (kids and adults alike)
Dust bunnies are the best pets ever! No need to feed, water, and are housebroken.
Multiple kids equals multiple pets. EX We have two kids, two dogs. No more, no less.
No matter how much a kid begs and promises to take care of the pet, it always ends up Mom’s responsibility.
Retriever dog breeds should be required to retrieve kids. They also should be allowed to retrieve kids by what ever means necessary. EX Clothes that are tugged on and torn are replaceable.
Hubby’s will never learn there is a difference between outdoor “farm” clothes and other clothing.
Note to previous if you have a stained shirt or pants save them, plan the most outrageous outdoor activity to get as filthy as you can and not have to ruin another set of clothing. I promise your kids will enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday – buried with kids.

Looks like a great time, don’t it??

 

We were cleaning sand from everywhere when they were done.

True Confessions of a Wanna be green thumb.

So here it is my true confessional of the month week day time being.

I wish I had my grandmother’s green thumb. Instead no, I got the thumb of death, or dust, or well absolutely no gardening talent at all. If I was put in charge to grow a garden for us all to survive, then I’m extremely sorry folks but we are SCREWED!

Now just because I don’t have my thumb yet, (I’m staying hopeful) doesn’t mean I don’t try.

Last year I tried, and I think my setup was rather splendid in the front. What was suppose to grow back is and I’m very excited about that. I’ve taken a picture here for you to see what it looks like at this very moment and I hope as spring and summer progress I can show you what more I have accomplished. Plus the important part of what's actually growing back.

Off to the left is where I will have a gorgeous bird feeder that my Hubby’s grandpa made, that has stepping stones back to it. There are also various other garden statues/items that were put away for winter. My next goal out here is to fill in the empty areas which really only is one, and figure out what to put down to keep the grass out. (any tips would be greatly appreciated) For the most part up front here I have a theme which I’ve been old that a neighbor has named Fire and Ice. Most, if not all, my flowers are red, orange, yellow, and the bush there you can see has red leaves. It’s also a pretty picky bush, but maybe that will be a deterrent to someone trying to get in the garden later on. Now the ice comes from the glass blocks I used, which were free from a friend, and you absolutely can’t beat that.

Next was the mission of something in our back/side yard. I started it but rather lost inspiration halfway through.

We had originally tilled up a diagonal section in this corner, had placed an arbor that I’m hoping to plant climbing roses up this year. I love roses, and really hope they can bare with me and survive.

 

Our biggest problem is this little thing in the bottom right corner. A bunch of the stuff I planted back here she went and dug up. So far all I see coming back is what I believe are the Iris’s.

 

I originally had went and dug/picked all these rocks out of the rock piles at my parents farm to run along the diagonal edge to mark off the flower bed. However like I said I lost inspiration on the whole project and really all they seem to line right now is the front fence.

Whether the lack of inspiration or energy was the culprit I don’t plan on that being the issue this year. We are going to make a fence with a gate to section off a doggy part of the yard, and a people part of the yard. After that is all set, I hope that my green thumb will magically appear this year, and I’ll get to share it all later.

Off to work in the yard now can’t pass up this 70 degree day. Especially in Northern Michigan where last Thursday we woke up to snow on the ground.

Blog Party 2010!! What a great restart! (again)

So here I find myself once again aimlessly wandering back into this bloggy world to try for a third time. Let’s start again and see if I can keep at it only ‘cuz third times the charm right?? So as I’m meandering around a few of my favorite blogs and begin to see a reoccurring post from yesterday. Now I’ve been wondering where I can find some tips, or tricks, advice or what have you on how it is these blogger ladies (and men) find something to write about everyday. How is it that by chance, or miracle rather, I come across……

I mean what are the chances!! Now I get to see/meet hundreds, probably over a thousand bloggers all in one place. Has to be a miracle right? So come on over join the party click the banner above, or in the side bar, don’t be shy!! There are some awesome prizes to be won too!!

Now to the PPPAAAARRRTTTTAAAAYYYY!!!

Watch your step as you come in the dogs will surely trip you or at least maul you with kisses.

Now that you have been officially welcomed to our home, dog slobber and all. My name is Sammi. I’m a small town northern country gal, living in the same Nowhere Ville town I grew up in. I was married on 07/07/07 to a wonderful man on the beautiful sunset shore of Torch Lake. Which is the Somewhere Ville he is from. (It’s only somewhere instead of nowhere because of that tourist trap lake) Now how I convinced him to move to Nowhere Ville with me I may never know. Now I love my hubby but the best part of gaining a best friend in him, was that the hubby came a packaged deal. Not only did I get him but also two for one special, of twin girls.

I introduce you to the one and only Toughie in pink, and miss QueenB in blue. Now they have adapted to country life the best as you can see they don’t go anywhere, not even egg hunting, without their S**t kicker, I mean rain boots on.

Plus with their daddy being a Fire/EMS addict I think its already rubbing off. I’m not sure who jumps more when the pager goes off daddy or them.

Which now is even worse only because the hubby convinced me to take an EMT class with him. Now in the beginning when he drug me to class kicking and screaming convinced me to take the class with him, I was rather hesitant. However now its only one more test to go and it will be a fight and a race for the first to be out that front door. Plus he knows that I don’t think twice about fighting dirty racing him out the door.

For the most part I am a caffeine, chocolate, crafting, social site addict. However we do love to be outside too, when its not 40 below!! For example just the other day at my sisters house who by the way claims, on most occasions, the other three kids in the previous fire gang picture, we had a great time teaching her hubby a lesson.

Don’t bring home pieces to hunting blinds to only sit in the yard. We will build/put them back together only for the kids to use as a fort of course. (notice the boots again) We aren’t afraid to get dirty, filthy, down right grungy for the sake of a good day of fun.

Now when I’m not curbing an addiction, or chasing kids, I also have my own business I work from home called Motivated Mom’s.

I love the fact I pick my own schedule, that I completely run my business from home, and have the pleasure of talking to mom’s from all across the USA and Canada. Such a dream job that has been a heaven sent to become my reality, and I’m loving every minute of it.

Now as I said in the beginning I’m trying to get my blog going. I’m working on a fan page on Facebook as well as a separate Twitter account for the blog. I’m hoping to get everything semi straightened out and in order soon. I’d love for you to follow and fan them both, as well as grab my button and show some LOVE!! I’ll definitely return the favor!!

****Now as for the prizes, there are a ton to choose from at the UBP so here are my top three...

** Of course the Grand Prize, who wouldn't want it!! A Toshiba Satellite. **

Then next is the Be My Guest Certificate ($250 value) for a 2 night stay for a family of 4 at any Hilton Garden Inn Courtesy of Bloggin2Noggin.

Then third Id love LOVE a Customn Blog Design for my blog!! To awesome it's provided by StartRankingNow.

Now if by chance those three are taken I would like any of the following in order... US-11, US-95, US-105, USC-13, INTL-14, INTL-11, US-98, USC-35, USC-39.

However if all those are taken I'll gladly have any other blog, giftcard, or girly kid stuff as I have the twin 4 year old girls. Hope you all come visit and party with us too.****

Look forward to meeting you all soon!!! Party on!!!