A New Landscape

Since we purchased our home we have been trying to slowly but surely make some home improvements.  One thing we knew needed attention and fairly quickly was the front yard.  

While we wanted to redo the landscape for curb appeal it was also a need because of a major drainage issue.  Our house sits below road level and being on the lake we have a very high water table, especially in the Spring.  Needless to say, our front room has taken the brunt of most of those issues.  So the plan was to rip everything out, install drainage around the house and replant a landscape which would allow for more water absorption instead of simply running water:)!  So for the past month or so this little project has been all consuming of any free time we have.

Like all projects it has been much more than we originally planned with a few more things still to be added .  But for now we are pretty settled on taking a break and enjoying the lake for the next several weeks and will finish things up later in the summer.  

The before...

 The process of beginning to cut out some of the sod.

The view from the road

Everything is pulled, we have a clean slate and ekkkk... 

One of the perks being married to a turf guy:)!!

The finished product...

Our plan is still to take up the sidewalk and replace with slate stepping stones.  We also hope to find outdoor lights we can both agree on at some point but for now we are loving the improvement !

Along the front of the house we planted limelight hydrangeas.  I cannot wait to see them with a bloom hopefully soon.

This area below has  purple rhododendrons in the back with white azaleas in front of them.   We also added shutters to the left window.  We are hoping to eventually add a white trim to the middle window but as Gregg told me "that was not in the landscaping plan", so it will have to wait for now!

Along the road side we planted various hosta, and a climbing clematis near the mailbox.  We removed one of the large trees along the street and replaced it with another purple rhododendron accented by more white azaleas.  All our neighbors think we should remove the lilac tree as well, but I am not convinced yet.  

After removing a large bush near the mailbox we realized that we needed more texture so built a small rock display with various sedum.  There is also an ornamental grass the the center focal point behind the mailbox.

We  transplanted several ferns to a small shaded section on the far side of the street.  Our hope is that they will bounce back but are not all that happy with their new home right now, so this section may have to change.  

Everything was finished with a top coat of black mulch.  It certainly added the finishing touch we were looking for.

Graham is 23 months old!

How can it be that in less than a month  this little man will be 2 years old!  Graham has grown and changed a lot since our last update.  His personality, well yes he has quite the personality.

Graham here are some of the highlights of the past few months...

Likes:

Graham you love all things trucks and tractors.  You have even started emulating the sound of each with the back up beeps and chhhh for dumping!  You are a big fan of Minnie Mouse.  Whether we are in the grocery store or you spy her on television, you never miss a Minnie sighting.  You LOVE to be outside.  It is always a battle to get inside even in the rain.  

Your personality:

You are very independent.  You want to try to do everything yourself, whether it be putting your shoes on, putting a straw into "box" (juice box), or climbing up the play structure by yourself.  You are almost 2 going on 8.  You don't understand nor think you can't do anything your brother does and you certainly are not intimated to try.  You are incredibly silly.  You love to try to find ways to make us laugh whether you put together a chain of words which sound silly together or just being goofy.  

You are opinionated! Wow you know what you want and will be sure that anyone else around also knows.  Often times this has to do with not sharing with your brother or being the center of attention.  Thank goodness Reece is so incredibly patient with you.

 Your diet:

For the most part you are a really good eater.  Graham you will pretty much eat anything from veggies, meat and fruit to donuts.  If your brother is eating it, you will DEFINITELY want whatever he is eating.  Some of your favorite food lately include yogurt, blueberries, peas, pickles, ham sandwiches or anything which you can "dip".  Just like your bother, you have a cup of chocolate milk every morning.  

Sleep:

We are still on the fence between one nap and two.  For the most part you take a morning nap around 10 am and sleep until around 12:30 ish each day.  Some days you will take a late afternoon nap but if not you go to be by 7 pm and sleep until sometime between 6 and 7 in the morning.  You are easy to put to sleep as long as you have your baby and binki.  Then we read you a book.  If Daddy is home, you insist on him putting you to bed:)!  You are quite the Daddy's boy needless to say.

Words:

You language has exploded in the past month or so.  We think that has helped with fewer meltdowns because for the most part you can really communicate what you want.  You are putting together two words now and sometimes even three.  It seems like everyday you have a new word.  For instance yesterday you said "unbuckle ease" when we were dropping Reece off at camp.  You don't discriminate between trucks and tractors, they are all trucks with the exception of some being Big trucks or like Dada truck!  Everything in the lake that looks like a duck is a geese, even Donald Duck has become Donald Geese.  The list goes on and on.  Its really fun to listen and watch you learn something new everyday.  You are such a little sponge.  

The fine print:

Its a good thing you are so darn cute because being completely honest you have a few not so nice things we are trying to work out.  You hit:((  and you hit hard.  When you don't get your way, look out for the full arm swing.  We immediately remove you from the situation whether a time out of leaving the location we are in followed with major tears.  So it is clear you understand that hitting is not ok!  Also you do not like to share, especially with Reece.  You do not want Mommy or Dada sitting next to Reece and you want everything he has.  It is a good thing he absolutely adores you and is incredibly patient with your antics.  

Graham, 

It's so hard to believe that it has been almost two years since we first met you.  We love your curiosity, your passion, your blue eyes, your sillies, and every ounce of who you are!  

We love you,

Mommy, Dada, Eecie, and Esley

Happy Father's Day

I have a hard time putting into words my Dad.  It is interesting because often times you hear that relationships with parents change as we grow up but I can honestly say I feel the same way about my Dad as a did when I was a kid.  He is the anchor in our family.  He is the calm during the storm.  He is the hardest working man I know and he unconditionally loves his family beyond words.  He is our biggest cheerleader.  He is funny, beyond generous all while humble.  The father of three girls, wow !  He really is the greatest man I know.

I knew when I found the right guy to marry, he was going to have to have those same traits as my Dad. To watch Gregg as a Dad makes me fall even deeper in love with him.  The boys light up when Gregg is around.  I couldn't have wished for a better partner and father of our two boys.  Graham and Reece have big shoes to fill but with Gregg and my Dad as role models it shouldn't be too tough.

Today we celebrate all the amazing fathers especially the two in my life!!

I feel incredibly blessed to be loved by such amazing men!

Happy Fathers Day Dad and Gregg!