Square Foot Gardening!

FINALLY! I've been begging Karen for years to let me plant a small garden in the backyard. Being the sensible one, she of course said no (if you knew our backyard, you'd know why!).



Well, she stumbled on the new small yard craze...Square foot gardening! She gave me a budget and said "go for it!". Off I went on Saturday morning, plans in hand, budgets in place, happy as a clam. First, I had to by the lumber. I initially bought 2 boards of 2X6X8 untreated lumber (but later added another to make an extra garden table).

I cut them into 4 foot and 2 foot lengths, and had plywood cut into 4 foot X 27" pieces, and then cut two 8 foot landscape timbers into 2 foot pieces for the legs. I used 3" wood screws to attach the pieces together, and the assembled tables began to take shape!




I drilled holes in the bottoms for drainage, and then filled the boxes with two bags of 2 cu. ft. Miracle-Grow soil for flowers and vegetables. Once the boxes were assembled and stocked with soil, Nicholas and I planted - We planted tomatoes, beans, peas, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, jalapenos, cayenne peppers, and lima beans!

So exciting!!

My new summer challenge!

I have to confess I am not a very good housekeeper. Nick is definitely much better at it than I am. We have always shared duties and everything has managed to get done. I am a great organizer and love to keep everything in its place, but I definitely need to improve my housekeeping skills. So I have challenged my self with 2 goals this summer. The first one is to better track my spending and find ways to save money. The second goal it to improve my house keeping skills. Now that I can be home Monday-Friday (if I don't have mommy stuff to do) I want to better myself in this area. Last week on Hip2save she published her schedule for cleaning her house. My intention is to follow this. It is Tuesday and so far so good! (Although I did combine some of Monday's duties with Tuesday because I was at the kids school for most of yesterday).

I heart CVS!

I have been meaning to do a CVS post for a couple of weeks but just haven't had the chance. Now that I am forever free of preschool (can you see me dancing with joy!!) I should have more time for these things!!

There currently are not very many CVS pharmacy's here in the Memphis area. I have to drive several miles to the closest one. But it is well worth my time! They are soooo coupon friendly and want to help you save money! A couple of weeks ago, Nicholas was dx with strep. So we filled his prescription at CVS--by doing so we paid $5 for our prescription and got a $25 CVS gift card!! A $20 money maker!! So with that gift card in my hand I went to CVS last week. This is what I purchased:
1 bottle Bayer asprin
1 Sally Hansan nail paint pen (75% off-clearance Item)
2 Right Guard deoderants
1 12 pack of Cottonelle toliet paper
4 Airwick I motion air kits
1 box kotex tampons
1 pkg of Huggie Supreme diapers (NOT for me--a baby shower gift)
1 Crest Pro Health toothpaste

I spent $17.73 which I used my CVS gift card to pay for and I received $15.50 back in ECB's to use next time!! So I am only out $2.23!!!!!! My savings was $77.85!!! I challenge all of you to go shopping at CVS!!!!

5/5/10

Otis Javier Lopez Holland turned 2 last week! He is so very funny and he keeps us laughing, here are some pictures of his "Boston Terrier Cream pie" birthday cake and him begging for it.

When Lindsey wants chocolate.....

This is what happens when Lindsey wants chocolate. Last Monday night, Lindsey was hanging out with me and the kids watching Dancing with the Stars. She had come over earlier that evening to sit with the kids so that Nick and I could run to his end of the year faculity party. Then he had to play on a recital, so Lindsey hung out with us. About 8 pm Lindsey says "Karen, do you have any chocolate?" "No", I say "but I do have a brownie mix!" That was all it took. There were squeals of happiness as Lindsey, Nicholas and Caroline jumped up to make brownies!!

Caroline is toothless!

Caroline lost her 2 front teeth last week and is SOOOOO proud of her new smile. She looks forward to smiling at everyone she sees. I must say it is fun to watch her in all her toothless glory, but I am having a hard time with this. It is really hitting home that my baby girl is growing up! Here she is mugging for the camera!

Judas

Looking for a new church is so hard. We were at FHCC for 9 years but that church doesn't exist anymore. We began our search back in February and still haven't found a place to settle in. But we feel like we are close. It is difficult finding a place we all love! Plus I have to make sure that the church has a strong youth group--Nicholas is almost there! We have heard many great sermons since we have started this journey. One of the highlights was at High Point Church, where we heard a great series called 7000 days. It was a series on parenting--you have 7000 days with your child from the time they are born until they leave for college. You can look it up at 7000days.org! But the sermon I heard last week has stayed with me like nothing has in a while. It was from the book of John and the story of the Last Supper. We have all heard the story again and again. This was Jesus last night with His disciples. He taught them service, love and so much more during this one meal. But he also singled out the one who would betray Him. One of His very own would hand him over, so to speak. We know Judas betrayed Jesus. I always remember thinking, "How low down! How dumb! How selfish! I would/could never do that!" But I realized after hearing this sermon that I HAVE! I have betrayed Jesus many times over! How about the times I have had the opportunity to share the love of Jesus and I kept my mouth shut? How about the times I have chosen to be mad and angry instead of offering forgiveness? How about the times I have turned my back on a person in need because I was just to busy? How about the coworker that drives me crazy, but I can't find it in myself to love her like Jesus would? It has been a humbling experience to realize that like Judas, I could and would betray Jesus. Forgive me Lord, make me more like Peter the rock your church was built upon!