Garden Transformation

So we have been doing a massive overhaul on our garden. March 11 was my official start date.

See all those egg shells that missed the compost pile?

Honestly, if someone showed me this picture, the LAST thing that would come to mind would be 'garden'. You really can't even tell that there are raspberry bushes to the left thanks to the overwhelming amount of weeds covering them.

 It makes me feel exhausted just looking at these pictures! I had no idea at the time how much work it would take get the garden ready for planting!

This is the view towards the rabbit cages (important to compare to later!).

So, I weeded and pulled up a bunch of dead plants/weeds/old tomato vines etc. Not a huge difference, but a difference nonetheless!

A few weeks later, Pat and Mac (Mr Grenier) worked on the garden all day while I went to a retreat. Pat's mom generously watched Kateri the entire time. The first raised bed went in really smoothly~ the wood was nice and straight and perfect! But the following three beds were a royal pain as the wood had been sourced from the reject pile. All was worth it though, as the grand total for the beds came to only $30!

                           

It was also bitterly cold outside, but that did not stop them!

Kateri did her best to assist whenever possible . . .

 Later in the afternoon, Mike came and helped as well! He designed the curve of the garden fence, which I LOVE! Pat and Mike worked until there was not the slightest bit of daylight left.

Can't you just imagine that fence with a beautiful flower garden in front?

While pulling out the weeds in the main garden bed, I realized that a massive root system innervated the entire thing. Over many many days, and many many hours, I have turned the soil shovelful by shovelful, and broken apart the earth by hand to remove these roots.

To give you an idea of how many roots there were, this handful came from one normal sized shovelful of dirt!

Rather an arduous task. But this guy definitely helped keep me in high spirits!

Two years ago, we planted some gladiolas. I felt like I was digging up treasure as the bulbs had greatly multiplied and there were MANY more then we initially had planted.

Just a few of them!

Here are the raspberries which can finally be seen~ the weeds covering them are no more! We are trying pine needle mulch this year so we will see how that goes. So far it has been very effective in weed prevention!

Pat also put up this small lattice fence, which is spectacular because now Wrigley cannot get into the garden if we shut the garden gate.

After turning the soil, we did another lasagna garden layer to replenish all the soil nutrients.

I kept noticing that my toes were getting a bit wet as I worked in the dirt and mud, and so I figured there must be a crack in my boots. Well, I finally checked, and yes! There is a crack indeed :)

Best $10 I have ever spent. These boots served me well for many many years!

Next we planted some of the herbs, some lettuce, peas, garlic and cabbage . . .

And kept plugging away on the main bed (and killing all the gross grubs!) . . .

And kept working on turning that soil!

And guess what! Today, April 15, 2015, after many many hours and many days, we finally have finished! No pictures because it is dark, but they are coming! Thanks be to God.

Find Your Beach

So, we had really been hoping that all the predictions for snow were just hype and that today would be nice with a big dose of spring in the air.

We were brought back to the cold and dismal and wet reality that is Virginia Weather in Spring as soon as we got up this morning:

The morning was rather dreary and both kids were starting to show signs and symptoms of cabin fever setting in. So, we took the advice of Corona commercials and decided to find our own beach . . .

So first, Kateri and Sebastian got all ready!

Kateri checking out her new bathing suit (she insisted she wear that hat . . . which of course she refuses to wear if there is ever actual SUN)

So excited!

He really doesn't look like a little baby . . . he is growing too quickly!

They were both very VERY happy 

 So we went to set it up! Sebastian, of course, discovered that bathtubs provide the perfect medium for pulling up to a standing position today. He also quite suddenly developed a strong belief that he is, in fact, a fish, and can do whatever he wants in the water. I enjoyed the 1.5 (total) baths where he would just reliably sit in one place and content himself with splashing!

Kateri is in charge of all the toys. Sebastian just has to deal.

However, I took this opportunity to bring out a new beach-set! We were at the beach, after all! (Thanks to Catherine, Steve and Jason for the gift!)

Seeing the new toys!

Even without sand, shells, or ocean, she was very happy with a shovel, sieve and bucket!

Of course, as previously mentioned, Kateri is the toy dictator and made sure to hoard all the new toys, while quickly shoving any of the "old" ones at Sebastian.

Stay Away! Don't Touch!

But Sebastian, with his newly discovered water-confidence, started launching himself across Kateri's lap and all the toys, causing loud cries of dismay, and general confusion as water splashed everywhere and the new toys were spread all over. Ultimately, he ended up with one of the "new" toys each time, so his strategy was pretty successful. 

Soon, Kateri (understandably) requested that Sebastian be taken from the tub to leave her in peace. "Bash, OUT! Bash, OUT!"

But they ended up working it all out!

Soon, Kateri noticed Sebastian's feet were turning into prunes, and she said,  "Uh OH!!!!" And not long after that, it was time to get out, which was not one of the most popular parenting decisions I have made. BUT, it was fun while it lasted, and they are taking a nice nap now!! 

Happy Second Birthday, Kateri!

 A few weeks ago, we celebrated Kateri's second birthday! We decided to go for total originality, and so we picked a Frozen theme ;) .

 Here is a little tour of the food we served! Thankfully, Pat encouraged me to take these photos otherwise I would have none.

These were so yummy and easy to make!

Thank you for the extra sandwiches, aunt Betty and uncle Bill! They were delicious and a big hit!

 We scheduled the party for 4 pm because it was daylight savings, but both kiddos were still sound asleep when the guests started arriving! Kateri finally woke up, but it took her a few hours before she was running around and acting like herself!

So so serious at the beginning of the party!

Kateri made out like a bandit and received many wonderful gifts which she has really been enjoying!

Mihi with her grandaughters:

Partially blurry, but I have to include a shot of mom's awesome outfit! Definitely something Queen Elsa would wear!

 Kateri is such a dear little two year old. Every morning, Pat or I ask her if she had any dreams the night before. She always says, "Yesh." And when we ask her what she dreamed about, the answer is inevitably, "Birds".

She loves to eat eggs, especially egg yolks, peanuts, raisins, Greek yogurt, and beans. She really doesn't like bread or cookies, and when given a donut will carefully pick off the sprinkles one at a time and only eat those.

She is not so keen on trying new food, but is starting to be more open to it when she see that Sebastian is eating it. I was shocked to see her finally try applesauce (after offering it to her multiple times over the past year) because she realized that Sebastian was really enjoying it. She seemed surprised to realize she actually enjoyed the stuff!

She loves Sebastian, and will be the first to let me know that Sebastian's tray is empty and he needs more food. She always makes sure that he gets to go on the swings, and that he has a toy if he is fussy. She has no problem directing who goes where, and will loudly assert that Papa should hold Bash and Mama should hold her during night prayers.

She loves reading books and singing songs, especially if the songs have particular hand motions (a la Head and shoulders, Knees and Toes and Pizza Hut, Pizza Hut (her current favorite). If I sing her the ABC's, she will request that it be sung over and over and over.

Kateri hates coming inside after she has been playing outside, or heaven forbid, leaving the park. She loves bath time and brushing her teeth.

She finds it hilarious when we are heading out the door to escape my clutches and take off running down the sidewalk. The gales of laughter that accompany each of these episodes make it totally worth it!

So grateful for the blessing of spending the past two years with this precious little gal!!