5-1-2011 WiR

Monday we started EARLY getting our garden in!  Let me tell you, using the Weed Control Fabric makes gardening SO EASY!  Several years ago, Ryan built up gardening beds with enough room between them to run the lawn mower.  We then covered them with Fabric, cut holes for plants and covered them in mulch.  Rain & nutrients can go into the soil but weeds can’t!  So, all we had to do today was go in, pull up the fabric, till the mounds beneath (that were already weed free), mix in manure, recover with the same sheets, add a mulch topping, and put in our seeds!  SO SO SO SO Easy!  Everyone worked together and we had a wonderful time.  We found tons of animals including THIS ringneck snake {Image Credit} that was trying to act like a king cobra…we let him go off into the woods.  Click HERE for more pics from the day.

It was such a beautiful evening that after most of the kids were down, Ryan and I went out for a drive and ice cream.  It was so fun!

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Today was another beautiful day!  See Pics HERE  (Yes, my kids dress themselves….)

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Today started of dreary and rainy but it cleared up nicely and allowed for the girls and I to head out on an adventure in the woods. – Pics HERE.  My mom came and took the boys to scouts in the evening and Sylvie and I hung back, made cookies, and visited with my Visiting Teachers.  I’m loving the temperatures right now and the winds….oh, and the lack of bugs!  April is definitely my new favorite month!

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Not happy about the tornado watches all morning but the wind is divine!!  I got my hair trimmed today but drove with the windows down all the way home.  Now the doors are open and the music is on!  Click HERE for pics from our day splashing in puddles.

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Normally, I’m not as excited about the fact that my husband works second shift…however…Friday morning we were getting ready to go pick strawberries with the girls when Ryan thought he heard water in the walls upstairs…downstairs it was POURING out of the ceiling in the living room!!  The hole you see below is a good 10 x 6 feet!  I filled 2 garbage cans and almost 8 very large mixing bowls with water before it finally calmed to a trickle.  Ella was very excited…

…of the water pouring out of the ceiling, “Look Sylvie, it’s just like Rapunzel’s hair!!”…”A Leak!!  I LOVE leaks!!….they’re just like rain…”

We made her go outside! LOL  Luckily Ryan is very handy and found and fixed the leak with enough time to shower and change and not be late for work…I, however, got left with a ton of work to clean up!! (Thanks Jessie!)

 

Knowing the cleaning wasn’t going anywhere and that the girls had missed out on picking strawberries, I call my SIL who was coming over later and asked her to join us with her kids!  It was the perfect day to do it…not too hot, no one else at the farm, and the strawberries were perfect!

 

We got home with just enough time to clean up the LR and get ready for our rescheduled playdate.  I’m sure going to miss these weekly get togethers.  Click HERE for strawberry & playdate pics!  -- Our plants from last week are starting to grow and the girls are so excited!

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Saturday both boys were gone to see different relatives so it was just the girls and I.  I found out my SIL was headed to an art festival and begged her to let us come along!  We had a great time!  Click HERE for pics.  I then RACED back into town and dropped the girls off with a dear friend of mine who watched them while I ran and did a fun photo shoot for a super nice family. (Thanks, Tara! ♥ U!)

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Sunday…Sunday was the Best. Day. EVER!

Church went well despite my usual craziness as chorister and the surprise visit of Stake leadership coming in to see how I’m doing at my calling!  Then I got the most awesome bows for the girls made by my good friend KS!  She totally rocks.  I’m just sayin’…   After church both boys arrived home safely and Ryan and I headed out to listen to Elder Richard G. Scott, one of the 12 Apostles.  You heard right, folks…I said One of the 12 Apostles!!  A true Apostle of Christ here on the Earth today!  (Recent talks he’s given can be found HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE,  HERE and HERE.)  He was in NC to speak in another city and held a private meeting tonight for temple workers, their spouses and children.  As the congregation sang the opening Hymn, The Spirit of God, it truly was one of the most magnificent musical numbers I’ve ever heard.  The Spirit was SO strong and my heard pounded like a freight train the entire meeting and tears were often in my eyes.

As amazing as listening to him and the Spirit in the room was, as wonderful as it was to shake his hand, the very best part of my day was sharing that time with my family!  I have such a strong testimony of eternal families.  I am so blessed to have the best family ever!  I was laughing with my siblings (full belly laughs and tears) before we’d even left the chapel and they didn’t stop as we laughed more and more out front of the building.  They, my sister rode home with us and presented me with a CD of songs from our childhood!  We sang at the top of our lungs to the Cabbage Patch Kids and Ryan was the best sport as he just laughed and laughed.  Hugging my sister goodbye I knew that I wouldn’t/couldn’t trade her for the world and felt a love for her so strong that it gives me chills.  I know that the Spirit was carrying with me after such a heart felt evening with an Apostle and that He truly shared with me how lucky I am to have the family I have.  I love you guys!!  Best. Day. Ever.