Home Maid Simple

Tag: Yard Work

  • May After – The Yard

    May After – The Yard

    Well we did it, we got sod laid down in our backyard.  It’s so much nicer and easier to take the kids out back, or even just open the door and let them run.  I no longer have to worry that they’ll come in with dirt all over their heads, because let’s face it throwing dirt in the air is the funnest (hint of sarcasm here).
    Unfortunately you can tell we did this ourselves and on a limited budget.  We tried to flatten the ground as best we could, but it’s still pretty bumpy.  It’s also dieing in some spots, so we’ll be headed out for some grass feed this weekend to try and save it.  I think we’ll also need to readjust our sprinklers to make sure they reach this spot.
    On a happier note, Mark bought me flowers and tomato plants for mothers day. and they are looking good!
    The tomatos are starting to flower now too! I’m pretty excited for another good tomato year (so far they’re my most successful plant)

    The kids love the flowers too!
  • May’s Before – the yard

    May’s Before – the yard

    This month I’m focusing on our yard.  Actually there’s a lot I’ve got to do this month, but I know I can get the yard done, so it’s what I’ll be showing you.
    When we bought the house it had this fun two tiered garden circle in the middle of the yard. I personally liked it, but Mark didn’t. So we began tearing it out so we could lay some sod.  Before we got the sod laid, it started to snow, so we had to wait until this year.
    We didn’t get right on it either, with all our inside projects going on, so the weeds really started to take over the area as well.
    The kids had really taken it over as their “sand” box as well. I’ve had a hard time letting them play outside because they come in just covered in dirt.
    We taught Princess V a little lesson in hard work last night as well. She has become very picky with her food, to the point she’ll just refuse to eat, but then ask for treats, and throw major tantrums when she doesn’t get them. So we told her if she ate, she could have a popsicle, if she didn’t she would get to do some hard work with Daddy. Guess what she ended up doing?
    Yep, Hard Work!

    We’ve got the weeds out, and some sod laid, but we need more than we assumed. I also got some tomatoes planted.
    Mark got me some flowers for mothers day that we’ll be planting in the front yard as well. I’m very excited to get out there and get them in the ground.
    Hopefully at the end of the month I’ll have a nice bakckyard without a dirt pile to show you. 
  • Sentimental Sunday – Family Fun

    Sentimental Sunday – Family Fun

    This last week we had a lot of fun just finding fun things to do as a family that didn’t cost a lot of money. On Wednesday Princess V came home with a coupon for free ice cream at arctic circle. It was such an easy decision what we were going to do that night. I had a walmart gift card so we won’t and got some groceries and a new laundry basket for the master room. Mark and I grabbed a cheap candy bar and soda, then we took the girls out for ice cream. Princess V got her free cone, Princess R got a courtesy cone, and we paid $1 for Princess C’s cone. Cheap, fun and something I will always remember as a fun night out.

    Thursday night Mark had a concert. He is the new community band director, and this was his first concert conducting. The princesses all did pretty well. I had to chase Princess R down the aisle a few times, but it is such a casual gathering it didn’t matter all that much (I will say this though, don’t let your kids play their gameboys at a concert with the volume all the way up. That’s just plain rude, no matter how casual the gathering is!).  Princess V fell asleep during the last song, sitting up in her chair. It was so cute. They had a great selection of songs – Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and others.

    Friday was UEA (Utah Educators Association). Mark took Princess C to Salt Lake and hit up the booths for some free goodies and candy.  Princess C won a dollar, and “got a tummy ache eating too much candy”.  Princess V, Princess R and I pulled out our halloween decorations and got them set up.

    Saturday we all got up early and went to the church to clean. I like that we can give this service to keep our church buildings clean.  Everyone else was a little less thrilled with getting up so early.  After dance for Princess C and Mark got some school work done, we all headed outside. It has been so nice during the days here lately! We were able to get a lot of yardwork done. I’m almost ready to get the grass in our dirt spot, and I’ve been planning a better garden for next year. Mark has been getting our wood ready for the winter, and keeping up with lawn maintenance.

    My man is so amazing! I sent him some plans for this really nice looking wood platform. So he took the idea, used what we already had and created our own!  Love him!

    Yes that’s a lot of wood! It used to be the garden border before we tore it all up.

    And of course he got lots of help stacking wood from the Princesses.
    This last week brought back many memories of growing up. Cheap family outings, lots of nightly games, chopping wood and stacking it, and many memories of weeding.  I feel blessed to continue these good uplifting experiences with my children and a wonderful husband! 
  • Yard Sale Find and halfway in 10 tasks in 10 days challenge

    Yard Sale Find and halfway in 10 tasks in 10 days challenge

    We spent a little time yard saleing today.  We found one that was advertising some free items, and good prices.  So off we went.  We got some really great deals.  Today we found
    • Half a can of purple interior paint – FREE
    • Summer Dresses for myself – $4 for 3
    • 4 movies – $1
    • a brand new computer mouse (ours went on the fritz this week) – $2
    • some tools (Mark picked these up, not really sure what they are for) – FREE
    • a sleeping bag – $1 
    • a basket – .25
    Total spent was $8.25 
    The sleeping bag will be perfect for our Princess R next week while we’re in Yellowstone. I know I can find something to do with the purple paint for the other Princess’. I think if there is enough I’ll paint over the blue squares in Princess C’s room.  The basket however, was my most exciting find today! Sounds weird probably, but it was the perfect size for what I needed for my magazines!
    So now instead of sitting under the table in a large box, they are neatly organized and easy to get to.  Cross this off my 10 tasks in 10 days challenge.
    Yesterday was the halfway mark for this challenge hosted by Cha Cha at Sit Relax and Read.  On Wednesday I posted some pictures of what I had already accomplished, but let’s just take a look back at that list HERE, and see just how much has been crossed off.
    1. Organize Kids Rooms and toys
    2. Price and change out old light switches. Mark had already priced them apparently, and we’ll have to put this little project on hold until we get back from our trip.
    3. Fix curtains. I’ve started this one, but I still need to fix the epic fail.
    4. Set up Craft and Sewing table so it can be used YAY. I’ve even started using it to put a puzzle together. Something I’ve sorely missed doing, but am finding it a tad frustrating with little hands wanting to “help”
    5. Organize around Computer Desk
    6. Paint Accent Wall in Master Bedroom
    7. Organize laundry Area
    I can actually use this area for the laundry now, and we can get in and out of the renovating cold storage room much easier.
    8. Find and hang large mirror
    9. Finish Christmas Stocking – I plan on taking it to Yellowstone next week, since I won’t be able to get anything else done while there.
    10. Help Princess R paint a picture and hang family art
    11. Plant Okra
    12. Hang Mark’s hats
    Mark made this coat rack, and we decided it would look great for hanging his hats. And it does. Although the yellow one is mine, we will get the rest of his hats up there (there’s a good amount).
    13. Create a better place for the magazines – see above!
    14. Start Cloth Diapering – we did it and we stopped it. Unfortunately Princess R got a bad rash from them, and they just didn’t fit properly. It would’ve saved us tons of money though if it had worked.
    15. Wash Windows
    16. Organize and decorate counter between dining and family room.
    I must say I am pleasantly surprised that I already have 8 things done.  I don’t feel like I got that much done, but I did! A lot of the other items on the list are halfway done, so I’m almost there.  Good thing too, since I won’t be home for the last few days of this challenge.  
  • Yard Work

    Yard Work

    We didn’t have a whole lot of time yesterday, but we managed to squeeze some yard work in.  Mark was at school until almost 5, and I had a Relief Society Meeting at 6:30 (come back Saturday for a great giveaway from that meeting!)
    So when Mark got home, he gave me a quick lesson in how to use the tiller. I headed to the back corner and started tilling, while he filled the wheelbarrow a couple times and brought the dirt to my tilled areas.  Wow, tilling is hard work, and your hands vibrate pretty good after you’re done. But I had lots of fun with it.  I love working in the outdoors, and getting such a big project accomplished!

    Mark and Princess V working the dirt.  See behind them in that corner. That’s where the dirt is headed, we just had to get rid of the weeds first.

    Oh yeah! Look at that. I had just finished all the tilling! It used to look like the patch in front of me there. We need to plant some grass in those dead areas.
    Eventually our plan is to build some outdoor living area in this back corner. Some nice stone flooring, with a rock wall, and raised garden beds around the whole thing.  In the meantime, I’m going to plant some pumpkins and okra here this year. Just need to finish moving the dirt!

  • Memorial Day

    Memorial Day

    Memorial Day – a day to remember our soldiers fighting over seas, and those who have passed on.  It is also a day to remember our own loved ones who have passed on.  Living where we do now, I am close enough to visit my grandfathers grave site.  He died before I was born, and I wish I could have met him.  I don’t know much about him, other than he was a farmer, and a hard worker.  There are times while I am taking care of my grandma that I wish I could’ve met the man she loved.  I feel very grateful that I have the opportunity to at least visit his grave site, and tell the little I know to my children.
    We cut some of the Iris’s in our front yard to take with us, and off we went.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, so I had to go off memory, and my mom’s directions.  Of course we woke up to snow this morning too, so I left the family in the car while I went on my search. Once I found it, I headed back to the car to get the kids out.  I brought one flower for each of them to lay.

    Then because of the weather we went and saw Kung Fu Panda 2.  I know not the most educational way of spending our day, but it was cold outside.  Then we had some friends over for a traditional Memorial Day BBQ, and the sun came out.  It’s amazing what you can get kids do to if they think it’s a game –

    Our original plan for the day was to do yard work, but the weather wasn’t really cooperating.  So when we had 7 kids at our house,the sun out, and a shovel for each, the yard work became play!  I think we got maybe 5 loads moved over!
    I hope you all had a memorable Memorial Day, and took time to teach your children about our brave men and women who fight and die to give us the freedoms we enjoy!