Operation: Backyard....

So most of you know that our backyard has been a task that we've only been able to do piece by piece and has taken longer than most backyards take. But, we have been doing what we can with what we have. Our Home Owners Association has been bugging us to complete it (Yes, they have a say on our backyard-lame). Recently though, we have been blessed with help($) from family so we're able to work on it some more. THANK YOU!! (You know who you are)
Our backyard is not done, but will be one day. Here are pictures that have been anticipated of the recent progress we've made on our backyard.

Here is Justin and Teig leveling the dirt after Justin and a buddy put in the sprinkler system...

Such a big helper that Teigen-boy...

The plants...

The placement of plants...

The result after planting(sorry the sun was setting-so kinda dark)...

The choice of rocks... I laid down the obnoxious black film, while Justin would bring barrels of the rock and then I would use a rake to spread and make a design with...

Such a poser-he sat like this with no instruction so I grabbed my camera...

Silly boy...
More black film...more rock...

So fun...

More fun...

YEA! The result...

Where there is dirt on the lower level will one day have grass... So happy to be done with that...took all day...

I tried to make some kind of design to look like a river with the red rock...

If you can see, there's an area by the rock that is dirt-that is where I will have a vegetable garden and above that(where the top tier is) hopefully grapes growing all across it. :)

We love it and can finally see an end in sight. At least the next steps will be less manual labor. I will also be planting a flower garden behind our bedroom window. So those pictures will come soon hopefully! :)

A Favorite Moment....

I have a lot of favorite moments, but this moment right now is my favorite. I have Teig napping (a late nap because I completely spaced it today) and the 7 month old (that I watch) napping. I just cleaned the kitchen.....oh I love a clean kitchen... and i just vacuumed and picked up the toys. This moment is a favorite:
I have the pleasant sound of a dishwasher swishing around, the faint sound of the laundry rotating in the dryer, a clean(for the moment) house, lights are off, windows shut, a/c on, me currently plopped in the middle of our "love sac" with my little love-pug, Chamaco, snoring just slightly away. This moment is my favorite. Alone time (adults need it).....complete peace.......serenity. Thank you moment for letting me have this stillness even though the world around me is still going.

Our Eventful Month...

It's easier to make a recap of the month in one blog. So, here are a BUNCH of pictures showing what we've been up to.

"Walk for the Cure-for Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis"

(I made Team Ashley shirts and a Team Mama shirt for Teig)

Swimming/sitting in our pool

Seeing Baby Issac and watching his baby blessing for Church

Visiting with Gramps and SuSu during the blessing time

PF CHANGS for Justins birthday dinner

(We chose the chicken lettuce wraps, honey seared chicken and pepper steak)

And two little yummy treats

(raspberry cheesecake-SO good and an apple pie)

Had Lee and Krystel over for my birthday for dinner and games

(Ate Quail that Justin and Lee had shot, salad,potatoes,zucchini and squash and Ice Cream Cake)

Father's Day-we ate steak, grilled asparagus and twice baked potatoes-YUM!

We also have been working on our backyard a lot!! On saturday, we laid rock down. I will blog those pics on another post this week.

Best dads...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! We love you!

Dada...

Papa...

Gramps...

Happy Birthday Justin!

I love you! You make my world complete. Thank you for being you! I hope you have a great day today sweetie! Happy Birthday-you're 27!!! Make the best out of today because tomorrow is my day! lol. But then you'll have Father's Day the day after, so this weekend is pretty much all about you! You are the best for me! You are such a hard worker and continue to take care of our family. Thank you! You're my #1. I love you the mostest!

Happy Birthday Savannah!

Today is my sisters' baby girls 1 year birthday! It's so crazy that she's already 1! She is such a doll and such a sweetheart! She is such a delight and light in their family...I don't think she realizes how much. I don't get to see her very often but I talk to her every few days or so. She likes to scream on the phone, say hi, bye, and attempt saying my name-"Auntie". But don't try taking the phone away from her.....or else.....!!!
I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to little Sav!! I miss you and can't wait to see you in 4 weeks! Hugs and Kisses cutie!

Proud Mama

So, some of you may know that Teigen has been struggling a little with pronunciation. I know he understands everything but when a word comes out of his mouth, it sounds a lot different then what it should. I had to make a chart of words that he's trying to say and what they really sound like. It has helped me alot. I know he's so smart and wants to say them correctly because he'll get frustrated when he knows they aren't sounding right. I don't even make a big deal when it doesn't sound right, he just knows so sometimes he won't try.

I have been working really hard with him with words and letters. He's been improving so much. I bought him "Leap Frog" videos, that teach him the letters and the sounds they make. I also bought him the foam letters for bath time to stick on the bath tub walls.

All of a sudden Teigen started naming off letters. During bath time, he'll pick up a letter at random and tell me what it is. I was so excited the first time that this happened that he got excited and wanting to show me all the letters he knew. Teigen has always worked better when there was praising, acting super happy, or cheering for him. (Sports in the future will be great for him)

Teigen knows a lot of letters now and they don't have to be in the ABC order. If I have letters on my shirt, he'll come up and tell me what they are or if he sees them on signs, he'll tell me. I'm so proud of him. This has encouraged him to talk more. It may be hard to understand him, but he's confident in trying and that's all that matters to me. He also knows most colors which is great. I don't want to practice numbers yet because I don't want to get him too confused with all the letter practicing that we're doing. He does not need to be a mathmatician at age 2! :)

I love my boy and am so proud of his progress that he's made. He is awesome in every way to me.

A gallon

So, I've been having really bad headaches everyday and swelling really bad with this pregnancy. I saw the doctor on Thursday and I asked how much water I should be drinking a day because I thought I wasn't drinking enough. Well, I wasn't. He said I should be drinking a GALLON of water a day NOT counting juice, milk, and other liquids I would drink. Holy Moly...I didn't realize that much. The last 2 days I've been working on the goal. It is actually hard. And on top of that I'm up all night going to the bathroom...not fun. But I have noticed that my headaches aren't as bad.
Here's to drinking a ton of water!

Good times in Florida...Jan/Feb 2010

It really stinks having your only sister live so far away from you. So, since I was 11?, I've gone to visit my sister every year. I'd go for a month during the summer when she was going to school at BYU. When she got married and moved, I rode in the moving truck with her and Jim from Utah to Florida (that was an eventful 4 days of driving-I actually had a great time). Since then, every summer I'd go out to visit her. I also decided to go and live there for about 10 months back in 2003-2004. So, when you wonder why her kids are so close to me....you understand....I was more like a sister to them. I tell Justin Florida is my home away from home. He doesn't like that too much, but he understands why.
At the end of January this year, I went to make my yearly trip to visit my sissy. Just Teigen and I went and we stayed about 3 weeks and had a nice time. Here are some pics from the trip...

Teigen and Cam wrestling

Savannah with my hat-such a cutie!

Bath time

Jim took this pic when we were all passed out

Gator Game-just me and Ang
Girls Night-Ladies Gator Game

Danielle reading to Teigen

Teigen cuddling Adam and Lauren's new dog-"Nacho"

Landon and Teigen playing Rock Band

Kailey with Teigen-so good with him

Cam and Teigen playing basketball

Kailey at her basketball game

Cam at his basketball gameDanielle cheering

Sweet Savannah

Kailey and Teigen