No Training Wheels

I have been trying to get Parker to try to ride his bike without training wheels for a while now. We tried at the end of the summer last year, but he wanted nothing to do with it. As the weather has gotten better here, he has been out on his bike quite a lot. I talked to him and he decided that throughout the summer he would try to learn to ride without the training wheels. Well the other day our neighbor girl who is about 1 year younger than Parker learned to ride her bike without the training wheels in a few hours, Parker didn't want to be out done by a girl so he came in to the house and said, "mom take my wheels off" I took the training wheels off and he practiced quite a bit that day. He was doing pretty good, but still not great at stopping and steering. He kept getting frustrated that he wasn't getting it in a few hours. But I told him it would take him a lot of practice and then all of the sudden he would get it and he will be able to ride a bike for the rest of his life. I know he will get it in the next couple of weeks and we will all be amazed!
 

Flowers/Garden

Well I finally got my flower beds planted and our garden as well. The weather here has been so awful that I have been putting off planting either for fear of giant hail storms or freezing weather. Well I decided this past week that it was now or never. If I didn't get the garden in soon, we wouldn't have anything to harvest before it got too cold. So Matt got the ground all tilled and ready on Tuesday and I planted on Wednesday. We decided not to plant too much in the garden since we have been doing Bountiful Baskets and can get so much produce from there at a great deal. And also last year the squirrels ate so much of our garden that I didn't want to invest money for feeding them. So I planted things this year that they didn't seem to enjoy last year. We planted some cabbage, green peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, and zucchini. I hope it gets warm so the plants can grow and produce a good crop!!

Along with the garden I got most of our flower beds planted as well. We had a two layered flower bed in front and the top layer was so over run with quack grass and weeds that I am going to just have to spray it and plant something next year. So there is nothing on top but between the front and back I planted almost 250 plants!! Isn't that crazy. Yeah, my back hurt the next day, but it sure looks pretty and it will be even prettier once they fill in and grow. I really enjoy having a nice looking and well maintained and cared for lawn. It makes me feel good. And I think if some one's yard is cared for than most likely their house is cared for as well. So having our yard look nice makes our house more inviting. (my opinion only) Now the only chore will be keeping it weeded!!

Is it finally Spring?

It was nice outside for a few days last week and the kids took advantage of being able to play outside. We are sooooo ready for nice weather here at our house!!!

Spring is here???

When Matt and I got home from our vacation, it had snowed here all week, I wondered if Spring would ever get here. My kids have been dying to go outside and play. Well on Sunday we had a beautiful day along with Monday and Tuesday and the kids got to play outside. I took some pictures of Parker riding his tricycle, he still can't seem to get the hang of it. Paige loved to be pushed around on the tricycle too. It was so fun to be outside together and to let the kids out of the house. Tuesday we were outside all day doing spring yard work, which I hate!!! It seems like we have 10 times as much this year since we cut 2 trees down last fall and we are still cleaning up the mess from that. I was out there working from 11 in the morning until about 4 in the afternoon. Yard work is hard work and I considered that my workout for the day and skipped going to the gym. The kids loved being outside with me and Matt. Parker explored our yard and even helped out a little. Paige discovered what a few things outside taste like and got her first sunburn!! I couldn't believe that she got sunburned, now I know I have to slather on the sunscreen. I felt so bad when I noticed how rosy her cheeks were and the next day when her eyes looked a little swollen. But we had a great time and hope spring is here to stay!!!! Tonight we are celebrating Paige's 1st birthday. Her birthday is on Easter this year, and today was the day that we thought would work the best. I made the cake and got the decorations all put up and we are ready for a great time! I will post more about that and the rest of the weekend at the beginning of the week. Happy Easter to everyone!!!

Our Vacation

I can not believe that we will be in sunny California in 24 days!! We are so excited, I can't believe that this month is finally here. It seemed like so far away when we booked the cruise and now it will be here before we know it. Matt and I are looking forward to spending some alone time together without the kids and re-getting to know each other. We don't go on dates very often so it is a rarity that we are actually alone so it will be fun. I am sure you all are tired of reading about this, but this is like a journal for me and I just want to remember how excited we are about our first cruise!

We are sure looking forward to spring here at our house. The kids are going crazy being inside all day long. Last night I went to a friends house and the kids were so good. I think they were having fun being somewhere different and having different scenery, and toys to play with. I am so looking forward to warmer weather so we can go on walk to the park and have picnics outside. And despite how much I complain about Matt and his golfing, I am excited for him to be able to get out and have some fun of his own away from work and school. Parker can hardly wait to go golfing with his dad. I am glad that he enjoys that and that Matt is willing to take him along for some father son time. There is one thing about spring that I am not looking forward to and that is... SPRING CLEANING!!! I hate the list of things that need to be done, but I know that after they are finished, I will feel so good about our house and how clean it is. I love the feeling of a clean home!!!

I can hardly wait

Only 52 more days until our vacation. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have managed to get Paige somewhat weaned, I am thinking she will be totally weaned in about a week. YAY!!!! I am so liking the bottle right now!! My mom is getting ready to watch the kids too, she is a little nervous about if they will be okay spending the night with her. Parker tried to stay the night over there about a month ago and came home at 10:30 because he wanted mommy and daddy. So I hope they will be good for her and that she will be okay when we get home. Everyday I think I get more and more excited, this is the first time I will be going out of the country and out of the western states. It will be a much needed break from everyday life. I think Matt is excited as well, he doesn't let on that much if he is. I know he has to be somewhat excited because he keeps asking me questions every once in a while about the cruise, so I know he is thinking about it. He just doesn't say out loud that he is "so excited".

I can't believe it is February 5th already. January flew by so quickly. I haven't been that great at updating. After posting every few days in December it seems like we have such a boring life after the Holidays. I am looking forward to spring and being outside with the kids. We are all feeling a little cabin fever. I know it will be here before long!!