SFA School Picnic

 Every year our church has a carnival or school picnic as they call it. Its serves as a funraiser for the school and church. Last year we didn't make it because we were out of town for Memorial Day weekend. But we were excited to take Cooper this year since he was big enough to ride some of the rides. He has never been on any kind of rides before. Except a merry-go-round. 

 We tried this Dinosaur ride first. And he just wasn't too sure about it. 

 

  The Merry-Go-Round he wasn't sure about and insisted on sitting on the bench .. ha!

 

 

 

 We tried this car ride next. By the end he loved it. And we came back and rode it again later.

 

 They had some little carnival games that were just his size.

 Cooper and Joe did this GIANT slide. I was surprised but Cooper wasn't scared at all. He must take after me : )

 Cooper loved this race car thing. It went around in a circle and on the turns it went pretty fast. Poor Joe isn't really into rides. Sometimes he can't do spinning things. But since I'm pregnant I couldn't take Cooper. Joe was really a trooper.

 

 

 

 I can't believe Joe didn't break this ride. HA!

More carnival games.

More race car ride.

.We had a great time! Looking forward to next year!

Family of 3 - not for much longer...

Well I feel like such a slacker in the blogging department. I'm not sure if I'm just haven't been in the mood. Or I'm too busy with other things. Or just a combination of both. We are doing great. And summer is going well. I can't complain at all because at almost 33 weeks pregnant. I still feel great (knock on wood). And I think I definetly have the 'nesting' bug.. ha! I'm trying really hard to get organized and go through things, etc.

Its funny that people say that your second child the whole experience is a little different. Of course the child is their own new miracle and the whole experience of pregnancy is a little different since you've already done it once. Not to say its any less exciting or awesome or anything. Just different the second time. I think for me I feel I've been so busy that I didn't do some of the things I did the first time around. I'm always reading a lot, and with Cooper I journaled quite a bit. I've haven't been doing much of either. Of course I think about the baby... baby Gwen all of the time. And wonder how life will be different. Wonder how Cooper will react, etc. What she will be like? But its funny even though I've done it once there is still that same anticipation.. the same 'unknown'.. even a bit of the same anxiety. What will things be like? How will our little routines change? Will everything be ok? Of course the list of "what ifs" could go on and on.. I'm nervous I'll remember how to do everything newborn related.. ha! I think its even still a bit surreal that very soon a new little person will move into our home and our hearts permantely. And I know in a few months or a year, we'll be saying I can't imagine life before Gwen. Such a crazy thought.

But I think we are doing what we can to get ready. And for now that has been very Cooper-focused. We are trying to get his 'BIG boy room' ready. Joe has been painting. I have been assembling furniture (little by little). We have artwork picked out. Some new, some old from Joe's previous 'boys den'. And a few new little surprises for him. More about that eventually. At the same time trying to get all of the baby stuff unpacked and gone through. Getting the clothes and onesies washed up that are neutral. Putting those things away. Finding the gizmos and swings and bouncy seats that have been sitting in storage disassembled. I have quite a list of 'to dos' before Gwen makes her grand entrance. But I'm just trying to slowly peck away at it on the weekends during naps etc.

Time sure seems to be flying though. And its hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she is almost here. Our little family of 3 will soon be a family of 4. Its plain and simple we are very blessed. I just hope to make myself really enjoy this last month or so of pregnancy. Whether I get physically uncomfortable or not. Just try to be in the moment. And really treasure the time with Cooper. "Smell the Roses" as my parents would say.. as we embark on the next new journey of parenthood... having not just one, but TWO.

P5

You may be wondering 'what the heck does P5 mean'? Is that a typo or something. Well no, this post has nothing to do with Cooper or baby Gwen. It has to do with Joe and his yard. Ha! For those who don't know, at our old house Joe called our backyard "Paradise". So each time he landscapes something, like our old front yard was P2, he did his mom's front yard, etc. Its kinda an inside joke. So hence the "P5". Not even sure if its really 5. But oh well..

As most of you know Joe has a wonderful 'green thumb' and our yard at our last house was pretty awesome! He completly gutted and re-did it all. I knew it wouldn't take him long to do the same thing at our new house. This yard just like our last one was in need of some major TLC. Last summer he didn't have much time to get started since we didn't move in until the end of the summer. His project then was just the grass. There was literally no grass, but mostly weeds.

So its Summer and the new grass is taking shape. And so is Joe's 'master plan'. I wish I had more before and after pictures. But this will have to do. So far Joe complete riped out what was on the side of the house. Then he planted a new tree to the side of the drive. Added new shurbs and flowers and stuff in the front. Lots of digging out big old nasty bushes and putting in new stuff. Its really looking great!!!

BEFORE (this fall) - notice the huge Pine Tree next to Joe's car. Well its gone....

 

NOW

 And in its place this cute NEW little tree. Sorry I didn't get the picture from the same angle. FYI... that is our neighbors new house they build (after the other one burnt down). 

One of our really nice neighbors helping grow add staks to the tree before a big storm.

Right side of the house. I don't have a before on this. But it was pretty gross. Very over grown. Half dead bushes etc. This is an in progress photo. Joe planted all new bushes and then

NOW :   River rock in place. It really looks nice!

BEFORE:  Sorta notice the big christmas tree looking bushes on either side of the mailbox. Well what you can't tell is they are half dead. Lots of brown spots all over. In this picture, that tree with the ball looking things is waiting to be planted.

 NOW:  Joe ripped out both of the dying bushes. Planted that new ball looking tree thing (I know that is very technical of me). And some little plants. A smaller bush. And added a few of our planters. The ball bush really makes it more airy so you can see our hosue behind it.

 

BEFORE:   Rock garden looking area to the the left of the mailbox (which I just showed you). It was pretty overgrown. Even in the distance behind it, closer to the house, those bushes didn't look so great. I'll show you that next.

 

A closer look. (before). 

NOW:  May be hard to tell. But Joe planted many new little plants (the purple ones). Added all new mulch. Trimmed some of the bushes, etc. 

BEFORE: These bushes were sorta cute. But also half dead and overgrown.

AFTER: Two new bushes, new mulch and some of our yard art. 

 BEFORE:  Last fall, when there was a tree right next to the house.

Then Joe cut the tree down. Just the stump left.. 

NOW: Our fountain is assembled. Our pots are in the background on the front porch with new plants and flowers in them. And new mulch, plus our ducks.

I don't have a before of this. But its to the left side of the house. A place for our bird bath, from our old house.

 And Cooper playing in the fountain. Even though he isn't suppose to.. HA!

I think the front yard is done for now. But with Joe, who knows.