Watermelon

We have our first watermelon!! Our watermelon has started growing and doubles in size just about every day.

6/18/09

6/19/09
6/21/09

6/22/09

6/23/09

We also have one tomato and some squash growing!!

And the baby keeps growing too : -)

Garden Update

Our garden is growing well. We have put up a fence to keep the rascally rabbits out. The squash is getting big, the watermelon has a bloom on it and I have things growing far from where the seeds where planted!

L just ran in to tell me that S touched a butterfly and politely requested we put this "on your big ol' blog Mama!"

The watermelon was taking over the bell pepper next to it so we transplanted the bell pepper last night. The watermelon is just massive it started out smaller than the plant below and now it's about halfway up the trellis.

These are zinnias from our friend in MO. They came from her flowers last year - how cool is that?!

Watermelon bloom

Tomato bloom

Fun Day (even with DOOMSDAY coming tomorrow!)

We had a fun family day today. The weather was so wonderful which enabled us to spend most of it outside, together! I snuggled in bed with Daddy Piper for a bit and he snuck out to let me get some extra sleep. Only 30 minutes later I was wide awake having felt so great like I slept for a month. Sometimes naps are like that for me - the 30 minute ones are usually the best. I got up and started my coffee and we walked out to tend the garden. It is looking amazing after the rain and cooler days we have had lately. We have onions that have sprouted along with some other things that I am not sure of. They might be weeds growing but who knows. I am not real good at this gardening thing yet : -) I was able to sit outside and read my paper (no coupons - so sad!) and enjoy the fresh air and family time.

For lunch we had the yummy pizza I already posted about. Goodness that was yummy. I finished it off with some peach cobbler : -) I got a little nap in this afternoon while not one, not two but all three of my babies were down for rest time. J napped in his crib instead of the queen bed he is loving these days. He has rolled out of the bed once though and I wanted him in his crib. Unfortunately, he sleeps way better in the bed.

Tonight was more outside time including the stone laying project, gardening and in general fun time for us all. I enjoy the outdoors now as an adult and want my kids to enjoy it as well.

More to write but not tonight - my own prince charming is awaiting my assistance in a screen rolling project thing for J's window!!

The kids spent some time running through the sprinklers this morning and were cold so they chose to lay on the warm sidewalk to warm up - clad only in their undies!

Warming up quite nicely!

S was contemplating the meaning of life when I caught this look on his face or maybe he was just looking up at the military jets that kept flying over our part of the world this weekend. Daddy told them the jets were up there to remind people (possible bad people) that our military was alert and ready to protect this holiday weekend.

This handsome boy is my son. I am amazed and delighted by him more and more each day.

The babies of mine (2 of my wonderful 3) love to dig in the dirt. They were a big help to Daddy today spreading out sand and delivering more sand (more pics on that in a minute).

The beautiful girl is not into my picture taking these days so she gives me these horrible faces in hopes that I will quit taking her picture - not happening sweetie!!!

Daddy killed a scorpion while laying this stone in the backyard. I would feel bad but those things are horrible little creatures that hurt when they sting you!!

S helping Daddy by delivering sand from the sandbox.

I got a kinda smile while she was loading up her dump truck.

"It's too heavy Mama". Well honey - drive the truck instead of trying to carry it! Of course Mama ran right over and picked it up for her but only after taking a picutre : -)

L dumping her sand for Daddy.

J freshly awake from his nap and ready to play outside!!

J can now stand on his own. He has cut another took for total of 3. His diapers are more wet these days thanks for pumping extra milk and the introduction of formula, which just kills me. He only gets about 2 ounces of it a day but still - WAHH!! I don't want to quit nursing. He may be my last baby I get to nurse (not if I have anything to say about it though!!).

Garden Update

We are slowly starting to get sprouts. The squash, corn, and onions have all sprouted. I think the green beans have sprouted too but it may just be a weed. My cilantro has died. One of the tomato plants has a flower. I tilled up some of the areas that weren't growing and replanted some cauliflower and broccoli - wonder how that'll grow?? It has been wonderful having the garden. It is so nice to have an outdoor area growing nourishment for my family. It does bring me piece of mind. I enoy watering it twice a day and the kids are enjoying it as well. It is a twice daily trek out to see what's happening out there.

The kids had made these cute signs. I had taken pictures of them so we could remember them. Unfortunately, I had the kids use washable markers so the signs don't look nearly as cute now :(

DONE

The final product! Another shot of the final product.

Now hopefully this stuff will grow....

More Gardening Pics

How Does Your Garden Grow?

We have been talking and contemplating planting a garden. Yesterday we did it!! Well between Tuesday and today, we finished getting it ready. Daddy Piper's work has stopped for the time being so I took advantage of his muscles and put him to work. Tuesday was spent getting the ground level and supplies for building the raised bed. Wednesday was spent building the raised bed, filling it with dirt, manure and good soil and then planting the goodies. We did it based on the Square Foot Gardening concept, giving each item a square foot to grow and then switching around the vegetables next planting season so that the soil gets used to grow different stuff each time. This time we planted the following: Tomatoes, Basil, Carrots, Radish, Onion, Chives, Cilantro, Green Beans, Corn & Squash. We also planted a tire in the ground to do potatoes but I need to find seed potatoes to do this I guess, according to the sources I found online. The kids were having fun helping. I did learn though that neither of the older 2 like to get dirty. Almost immediately after getting their hands in the mud to plant seeds, they want their hands washed! Baby J hung out in his Einstein or in the Pack-n-Play, enjoying the wonderful weather.

L standing next to the ground being prepared for the raised bed. We had to level the ground out before we could out the raised beds down.

S standing next to the level ground, on the tire we are planning to use for the potatoes. This was back breaking labor. I wanted to save the money on a tractor and do it ourselves, so we did it all by hand. I did help about 2 wheelbarrows full but Daddy did most of it.

Here Daddy and the kids are bringing around the manure and top soil for the raised beds. Daddy handing J to L to hold for a second. I happen to catch it from the across the way. She did great holding him all by herself.

Daddy Piper and L realize I caught them on camera after her holding J : -)
Daddy and his helpers hauling the material over to the garden area.
Daddy and Baby J
Baby J after a hard day working in the garden.