OUR LITTLE GARDEN OF EDEN

Finally, some pictures of the NEW backyard :) it only took two weeks for it to be completed, but we were out of town when they finished and then when we came home it rained for about two weeks. We have been enjoying our new playground. KJ and RJ love to play in the pool and make mud cookies, while Greg and I fight non-stop with all the pest that seem to be taking an interest in our garden. It really is so nice to have grass, now I can send the girls out and not worry about them taking off down the street.

View of the Garden and trenches for the sprinklers


View North- all the trenches for the sprinklers


Garden is now complete and the base for the patio is in place


Base for the patio and footings for the patio step


Curb for the grass and patio. It was fun to peek out the window and watch the little machine form the curb. I'm sure that the workers thought I was crazy when they saw me peeking.


Beautiful, luscious grass and brick patio are finished.


Completed back yard looking North


Grow little beans, grow



The garden complete with six tomato plants, green beans, cucumbers, onions, cilantro and a few other random seeds that the girls planted. We will see what grows :)

FLIGHT OF THE "MASSIVE" BUMBLEBEE












We found these amazingly gigantic lupins on our weekend Father's Day outing. We decided that we "needed" to take the trek to Truckee again, so Greg could indulge in our usual bakery goodies. Greg wanted to go on a hike for Father's Day, so we made our way to Azalea Lake. What a beautiful day! Besides frolicking among the georgeous lupins, we also braved our way through the hungry mosquitos to gaze upon some amazing views of the Sierra.

The Treat Box Bakery- Doughnuts $3.50, Sourdough Bread $4.75, Tall Hot Chocolate $4.25. Spending a day with family to celebrate Dad- PRICELESS



















Azalea Lake




Greg enjoying his Father's Day spoils. Buttermilk bar, sourdough "egg" toast, cards, and crafts from KJ. Happy Father's Day! We love you!

THREE STRIKES AND YOU WIN

My good friend Danielle from college came to visit Reno for a week. On Friday we decided that it would be a great idea to take six kids to Red Robin for lunch. We survived and the kids actually did great. I think the chocolate milk shakes had a lot to do with it. Since lunch went so well we took all the kids bowling on Sat. What a super duper time that was. We will miss you, come back soon.



RJ hoping for a strike

Luke at the control station. He loved pushing all the buttons.

KJ's up, and she's all smiles

Kaboom! Seven down, three to go.

Jocie, KJ, and Lizzy. Bowling beauties :)

Danielle and Luke, notice that he is still watching over all those tempting buttons :)

The big K on the top is me :) Yes, that is three strikes you see, and yes I did beat Greg.

I love bowling shoes...Don't ask, I know they are stinky, but they are so cool.

Wow! Those are some good look'n kids. RJ, KJ, Lizzy, Jocie, and Luke

We had a great visit with you Danielle. I'm so glad that we keep in touch. Hope to see you all again soon.

A QUICK DAY TRIP

We love to get outside and get ourselves into trouble. Truckee is only a short drive from our house and a few years ago we found a bakery that suits all our fancies. We always stock up on the doughnuts, hot chocolate and sourdough bread. So we don't feel guilty about the drive to get our fix, we always try to incorporate some sort of outdoor adventure into the treat run. This time Greg found a little hike to a waterfall. It was a beautiful cloudy day, the hike was less than 2 miles round-trip and we enjoyed a nice lunch by the water. The "trail" down to the water was a little hairy, but eventually after a few falls and some scratched up legs we found a quiet picnic spot.






Just hanging out throwing rocks


Greg had to do the manly thing and find a way to the top of the falls





Cool picture- it looks like they are in the water





Daddy and Raija going back up the "trail". Like I said, it was a bit hairy.

A VERY HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY TO ANTON

That's right, this little heart breaker is six months old. Unfortunately he got his shots yesterday, but all is well in the life of Anton. He is in the 50th percentile across the board, not too shabby for being born a month early. He still isn't rolling over, but hey, you can't ask too much from Mr. Smiles. He is starting to eat "solid" foods, aka slime on a spoon. Yummy, that will make for some good pics. later.


Sporting my cool fish hat,complete with turbo flaps, keeps the sun off my sensitive ultra white boy skin


Go ahead ladies, gaze into my beautiful blue eyes


Now how about a kiss? Pucker up!




Charming, don't you think?


Ok mom, that is enough pictures already