Lots of stuff happen'n round here

Well, to say the least, its been pretty busy around here. I worked six days this week, three of which I baked, had a volleyball tournament, then I got a cold mid-week, we worked a little in the garden yesterday, went to a wedding reception, and I'm am going to be going full steam ahead with girls camp plans now. Whew! Briant says, "But despite the busy schedule, we're seriously so blessed." Ha ha!
Thanks to all who made my birthday great! Especially my hubby for the great post, he's the best! He always knows how to give me a good surprise and make it special. We went to my parents for a Birthday/Father's Day celebration and had a lot of fun. Thanks Chantelle for the awesome cake!
The gardens are coming along nicely. This is what it looked like when I got back from camp:

The panseys are growing and they don't look like they are in shock anymore.
These things still look cool.
The veggie garden got really big while I was gone.But can you see that ugly jagged border? Well, we did some work yesterday, and...
look close,
we put a brick border around it! It took a while, too bad I didn't get more of a tan.
I'm happy to say, my carrots did come up despite all of the rain. I hope they continue to do well. You can see them behind the onions.

Well, this week I will be working on girls camp. They gave me an assistant today so that is good. We're having a meeting with the girls this week to plan lots of stuff, and the YW president and I will be looking at supplies to get ready and such. If any of you have ideas or if you'd like to suggest fun things you did growing up at girls camp, feel free to comment! We have lots of other things planned this month to keep me busy. I'm taking pictures for two sets of families, have lots of meetings for girls camp, we have our 1st Anniversary coming up (can you believe it?), a friend is getting married, maybe a camp out, we are hopefully going to start trying to improve the appearance of our backyard's grass, a Melaleuca picnic, a high adventure trip, and then girls camp! Lots to keep our minds busy!

Blue Toes

Well, I did a pretty dumb thing today after church. Let me back up. Briant and I walked to church today, and I wore my heels. They weren't high ones so I thought if I just walked a little slower I wouldn't get blisters. Not true. When I got to church my feet had a couple blisters. "On the way home" I thought to myself, "I'll just walk barefoot so I won't make the blisters worse." Dumb idea. The pavement was hot and it burned the bottom of my feet a little. So after church I got out the medicated BLUE Aloe Vera, put it in a gallon sized Ziploc, and "soaked" my feet in it.
I hope they feel better tomorrow, but lets just say I learned my lesson.

24 Reasons to Celebrate!

You are about to read a post by Briant...

This week we celebrate Melissa's birthday. I'm not going to tell you how old she is because she may not want me to, but I will give you 24 reasons why I will celebrate her birth on June 21.

In no particular order:

1. Because if I don't, she will come home from a week long camp that she has been volunteering at, with high expectations for some kind of birthday wishes, and she will deliver the proper punishment.
2. Because she makes the best mashed potatoes I have ever had.
3. Because when she goofs around and makes funny faces, I never laugh harder.
4. Because she has a heart of gold.
5. Because she climbs trees in our front yard to cut down dead branches while I watch March Madness.
6. Because if she were a Melaleuca product, she would have to be more than just one: 1. Tough n' Tender because, well, she is tough and tender, 2. Simply Fit because she likes to ride her bike to work, 3. Unforgettables because she's got the kind of heart and personality to make her someone you won't soon forget, 4. Diamond Brite because her wedding ring sure does shine, 5. Access because she is a great listener and easy to talk to, 6. Koala Pals because she's my best friend, and 6. now that she's a year older, FiberWise.
7. Because she takes great pictures, that require me to be very patient to get the right smile, angle, lighting, and all of that other camera talk, but for which I am grateful when I get to see the pictures in the end.
8. Because she's sat through quite a few ice hockey and football games with a smile, and will probably sit through many more in years to come (keep your fingers crossed).
9. Because she has a positive attitude about life that really shows.
10. Because she is very patient.
11. Because she works hard at Great Harvest and brings home delicious breads and cookies (much better than the free personal care and laundry care items that I bring home).
12. Because she likes to go to the driving range and claims she can hit the ball farther than me.
13. Because she is always forgiving.
14. Because she likes to garden and grow a lot of vegetables for us to eat with every meal (because she doesn't want me to die before her).
15. Because during floor hockey games, she delivers a mean slash to the ankles, for which we call her "Bertuzzi."
16. Because her greatest desire in life is to be the best mom she can be.
17. Because she likes to play tag in the house, even if her nieces aren't here.
18. Because she gives in and lets us eat pizza probably more than we should, and her favorite pizza is from Pizza Hut, just...like...mine.
19. Because she knows what is right and does it.
20. Because her nose makes the cutest crinkle when she laughs.
21. Because she watches The Bachelor and The Bachelorette with me, I mean, other way around.
22. Because her hugs after work are the best.
23. Because she said "Of course" in Chocolate World on March 14, 2008.
24. And finally, because she's excited to come home from that week long camp and be with...me!

Plenty of reasons to celebrate! And don't plan on ever seeing more than 29 reasons to celebrate!

Happy Birthday Kyle

I feel really bad, because I made this AWESOME card for my AWESOME brother. Problem is I don't have an envelope big enough to send it.

Front:
Inside:

Kyle, is a great brother! He's always been there for me through thick and thin. I know he cares very deeply about his family... not only his brothers and sisters but his wife and children too. He's always been someone I look up to very much. Thanks Kyle for all you do! I sure love you!

Update on Our Yard, Flowers and Garden

It has definitely been a while since I've updated you on the garden(s). Our yard went wild while we were in PA. We came home with leaves on our trees and more flowers blooming. The tulips were seriously like 1 foot taller, and they were almost done blooming... SAD! THIS is my last post about our yard and what was up.

On one of the days after we got back, I went to the green house and got some annuals to plant in my big pots on our porch.
Here is the finished product.I also planted some pansies, and some other annuals around the yard.
This one was one that was already in my yard when we moved in, and it looked really pretty so I thought it needed some spot light.

My big project when we got home was to get my garden planted. But first I had to get the area ready, which meant digging out all the grass, ugh! I did most of it myself, but Briant came out and helped me with the last little bit, and then he helped me till. It was so much funner with him helping and it went by a lot faster. He even helped me till a spot for the transplants my mom gave me... oh I will get to that in a minute. We were gone that weekend to the Barn so I didn't actually plant my garden until the next Monday (June 1st). I planted: Peas, Beans, Radishes, Onions, Carrots, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Peppers, Watermelon, Cucumbers, and a Crock Neck Squash. Whew! It's a good thing I planted then because it proceeded to rain the remainder of the week, and it is still raining. Anyway, I went out to see how my garden was weathering yesterday and look what I found:

Radishes!

Lettace!

Peas! The rain washed away some of the dirt covering them, but you could still see that they were sprouting like good little peas. So I covered the seeds back up with a little dirt.

The tomatoes and peppers look like they are doing well too, despite the cold nights we have been having.Come on Mother Nature, it's June! A little more sunshine... please?!?

Mom my has been going through quite the project. She had to dig up her front yard because of a leeky water pipe. So alot of her flowers had to be dug up too :( She asked me if I would like to have some, and of coarse I agreed! She dug a bunch of them up and put them in buckets for me (until I got back from our trip). I planted the Iris' in the front yard, and the others in the back yard. I know they look a little shell shocked but... you would to if you just moved from somewhere you lived for 30 years! I went out to check on them today after work and they looked great. The Day Lillies were blooming, (don't mind the weeds in the background) and the Columbine were too.

Oh and do you remember these? I took this in March.

Well they are finally blooming. This is what they looked like today.

Fun Filled Weekend

We had a pretty great weekend. My side of the family had a little get together up at the Barn in Ashton. Briant was able to go Friday night, but had to leave early so he could go hiking with his Varsity Scouts the next day. But not before we all played some 500.

Kat and Kami watching the action.We did all kinds of fun stuff. We stayed up late and watched a movie that night. Saturday we had some yummy breakfast; pancakes with strawberries and homemade whipped cream (thanks Mahon and Cindy!), played some Frisbee Golf, had a photo shot for Devin's family, and Kyle's family, had hoggies for lunch (thanks Chris and Chantelle!), and played Sardines.

I think Sardines was my favorite because the whole family got involved.

Here is Cindy looking for someone.

Katie hid in a kitchen cabinet - how clever!
Chris hid underneath the pool table

Anna even hid with all of us, she is so good and never cried once.

Hmmm, I wonder where Devin is?

Kyle is it hot in there?

Can everyone really fit in the shower?

I hid in the little space behind the chair, everyone else just tried to look inconspicuous.
For dinner Mom and Dad made Dutch oven chicken over rice, potatoes and cobblers! Mmmm.

I think we all had a great time together. It is always good to play and visit. All the babies are getting so big now. It was sad Briant couldn't be with us but he had a good time too.

Thanks for a great weekend everyone!