Yard work.........the unexpected kind. ;0)

Last friday afternoon I tried to turn on the washer but no water came out.....thought I was going to get a new washer. :) And then tried to make lunch and the sink did not work. So next I went outside to see water just coming up out of the ground and realized that something was wrong with either a pipe or the well pump. Keller came home and we got to digging and found the pipe repaired it and by that evening had water back on in the house. There always seems to be something to do around here planned or unplanned. :) We did get the front yard seeded and if all the bunnies, doves and quail don't eat them all we will soon have grass.

Homeschool

We had our first day of school on August 31st. We also have started a new blog about our homeschooling and I hope to update weekly. It should be lots of fun. http://www.shepherdingourkids.blogspot.com/ I hope you all enjoy seeing what the kiddos are learning.

Small Transformations

This is what about $100.00 and some good ol fashion hard work will do for you. :) Homedepot was having a great sale on plants today and we saved a ton of money buying at the end of the season. Slowly the yard is coming together. Over the next two weeks we will be putting in some grass seed to finish the grass in the front yard and then put in the planter boxes and the front porch. YAHOOOOO it is all coming together.

Summer Fun

This dirt area we just cleared and will be adding grass to.

New grass area and behind it will be a front porch/deck and flower box.

It has been really really hot this past week. We have been trying to stay cool since we don't have a/c or swamp cooler yet. :)

So to help the afternoon heat today the kiddos ran through the hose while I watered some of our new lawn. They had so much fun and got a little work done at the same time.

Keller and I have been working hard at moving gravel from the whole front yard and preparing to put in grass. We have grass and a new tree on one side and are almost ready for grass on the other side. It has gone a bit slower than expected....but that is ok because we still have done a lot of work this year.

Gracie's New Hair Cut

Gracie has been wanting Kit Kitridge hair for about 6 months. Last night we were at our friends house for dinner who went to beauty college and so we had an impromtu hair cut. :) Thanks Rebecca!!!! Great Job!!! Lots and Lots of fun. Gracie just loves her new hair cut. She looks so adorable.

Sheldon Antelope Range

This past weekend we went to my dad's favorite hunting spot to spread his ashes. We had some of his closest friends and some family. It was good to have some more closure. I do miss him more everyday.

We had a great time shooting and enjoying the beautiful scenery. It rained much of the morning and then cleared for the day and then started raining right after dinner. It was what my dad had asked us to do with his ashes and we all felt it was a day that honored him.

Here are some pics from the weekend.

Disney Land

Well we made it back from a great trip to Disney Land. We drove down after church on Sunday. Then spent four days in the park and headed home on Friday.

What a trip.....we had more potty stops going and during the trip than ever before. :) I think we stopped 5 times between Reno and Sacramento. Wow that is a lot of stops. And believe it or not they both went every time we stopped. :0 )

Keller and I surprised the kiddos every day with a gift box waiting at the edge of their bed. They were so excited to have surprises waiting for them in the mornings. It was neat to do the unexpected for them. :) Each day they had a tee shirt to wear in the park.

We had a great time in both parks. We were able to go on some of the bigger kid rides this time now that Ashten is bigger. Gracie still loves the fast rides and Ashten not so much. And of course we just love the classic rides. Our newest favorites are Nemo underwater submarine voyage and the Toy Story midway game. Ashten loved Buzz lightyear and shooting laser guns and Flying Dumbo. Gracie loves loves loves Space mountain. We went and saw the Aladin play again and it was just as good the second time around. What a neat production!!!!!!

We ended our adventure driving home in rain and then snow at the top of the pass on our way home. That was a bit scary being in white out conditions in the car. But Praise the Lord we made it safe and sound. We are happy to be home and resting. :)