lots going on
So my in-laws drove in this week...ack! I cleaned like mad all last weekend, but I got the house looking nice...whew!
For those of you who do not know Louis and Martha, they are missionaries to Africa and have been there for around 18 years I think. They have been there so long that my mother-in-law actually carries her cash in her bra so it won't get stolen. (shh...don't tell!) LOL!!! They have ministered in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and most recently Ethiopia. They really are amazing people!
They are on deputation right now, which means that they are traveling around the US for about 2 years speaking at different churches to raise their budget for their next term of 4 years. Any chance they get, they stop by here to stay for a bit. The kids LOVE having them here (we all love having them, but the kids REALLY LOVE it). The first words out of Huck's mouth in the mornings have been "PawPaw." That little boy has a HUGE bond with his PawPaw.
This trip has been great for us because "PawPaw" is building us a deck (in 4 days...wow)!!! It is turning out so nicely! I can't wait to see it finished tomorrow. Here are some pics of it's progress so far...
the old nasty steps were just removed, and that cute little boy was checking it out
Louis hard at work on day 3
Rojo offering a helping hand
woohoo...almost finished!
My mother-in-law (MawMaw) has been helping Shiloh-Grace and I perfect our knitting skills...nice! She also taught me how to cut up a whole chicken. This was a HUGE feat for me because raw chicken meat seriously grosses me out! I can't get passed the whole salmonella thing. But I overcame that and dug into that bird. We are going to cut up another chicken tomorrow or Saturday to make some southern fried chicken. Rojo is going to video the cutting process and the frying process. So be looking out for a blog on Soul Food coming up!
Robert took today off of work, which gives him a 4 day weekend. And since we had a record breaking high of 83 degrees today, he and I decided to get our raised beds ready for this years garden. This will be our very first garden, and we are really excited about it. I can't wait to walk out onto my new deck, down my new steps and out into my beautiful garden to gather some yummy veggies! Here are some pics of what the raised bed looks like. Tomorrow we are going to add the soil, and then we will began planting in early May. Yay!
Rojo getting a work out
we decided on 1 L-shaped bed rather than 2 rectangle beds
he got the weed block tarp down and is laying the last block
nicely done Rojo!
Can't you all just imagine nice veggies growing in there and some cute marigolds growing in the cinder block holes to keep the bugs away?! We are even going to add some fun solar balls to the corners. I can't wait.
Here are some other pics of the kids this afternoon having fun playing outside on our record breaking 83 degree day...
Huck in the "secret passage way" in between the garage and the fence
sitting in an old school desk we found in the trash...needs to be cleaned up and painted
The kids enjoying Ice Cream Truck ice cream after eating pizza outside...gotta love spring!
This was a long post, but we have been having some LONG days! Thanks for sticking with me :)
Amy
ahhh Im super jealous of your garden!! Wish I had room for one. :( Your deck looks fab and little huck is darling...looks so much like your dad. So glad to know you guys are having a great time with the in laws.
dying over the money in the bra comment. DYING.
xoxo
April 1, 2010 at 10:37 PM
SoShawna
Hey this just reminded me of something my sister did in Texas when she grew a garden with veggies, tons of herbs, etc. There's a special pepper plant that you can plant (tiny, really hot peppers) all around the edge of your garden and it keeps ALL the rodents out, because the pepper plant is so hot to them. You can't even pick the peppers with your bare hands! But when you do harvest them and dry them out, they last a long time and when cut into tiny pieces, are awesome flavorings for meals. And if you are sick, you can cut up one and put into soup, and believe me you'll sweat that sickness out. Great little things and she loved how it kept her garden free of all the chickens, ducks, and other pesky rodents.
April 1, 2010 at 10:48 PM
Melanie
wow! looks good. where's huck's coffee mug?
April 1, 2010 at 10:53 PM
Eric
Our Lovely Mess! To FUN!
Found via Facebook... What happens on facebook definitely does not STAY on Facebook :>)
Great Pics (of course) and love the writing’s... We're pretty excited about our garden this year as well... Day's like today really fill our Midwest hearts with visions of ripe veggies and summer time fun.
For the Stone garden we're thinking a variety of tomatoes, squash, herbs, onions, sweet potatoes (although we never can get sweet potatoes to grow) variety of peppers, green beans and of course ginormous PUMPKINS for the fall!
Blessings!
Eric
April 1, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Us Four & No More
So jealous of your raised garden bed. I am trying to connive Nate into helping me make one... Where did you get your plans? Your house is looking awesome - what a great place for your kids to grow up!
I'd keep my money in my bra too... If I had something to keep it from falling on the floor. =)
April 2, 2010 at 12:14 AM
cheyenne
Every time I watch her reach in an grab a bill I just DIE laughing!!! We all do! She laughs too...I mean she has to know it's hilarious!
Janelle, I got the idea of using cinder blocks from my aunt. We didn't use any plans...I hope it works out. :)
Eric, we are going to plant some pumpkins as well!
April 2, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Melanie
So Louis is unoccupied today? Send him to Casa Kleimola!
April 2, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Cylinda Nickel
I am so dying over your fun garden, new deck, and fun days. You all are such great parents have I told you that in the last five minutes? Wow. Now I just need to fly up there and have some tea with you on that porch. I am not a good chicken cutter either :) Thanks for that!
April 7, 2010 at 3:21 PM
