In the spring, we started adding some landscaping to our, to be honest, ugly yard. Our new house had been a foreclosure and flipped, but the landscaping was not something updated at all. And it was clear the people did not keep their yard up, especially to my husband's standards.
We started with the front since that is what everyone sees as they come over, but knew the backyard was our major project. It was filled with weeds, ant beds, holes. Just nasty. We definitely played the redneck card by having all our toys, pools and lawn chairs in our FRONT yard to enjoy the outdoors. That's how bad it was. We couldn't even let the kids play.
Stage One: {Front Landscape}
Stage Two: {Grass}
We mowed down our Bermuda grass and replaced it with St. Augustine {our fave}.
Before
Mowed Down and Ready for New
After
Mostly finished flower bed in backyard. Needs a few more bags of rocks in back to prevent mulch splashing on house during a rain.
Stage Three: {Extending our patios}
There is another one just under the other window right as you come out the door so Brent's grill no longer has to sit in the dirt. He did a great job using pavers found in our yard!
Stage Four {Free Tree}
On Saturday, Brent was trying to finish up the backyard because Cole's party is in a couple weeks. He was looking for a couple things and went to Houston Garden Center. They were having one of their 70% sales and he saw trees for $30! Well, he came home telling me all about it and saying how nice it would be to plant a tree to block out seeing the house directly behind us. We are close and it is an eye sore. Later that night, he drove me by to look at a couple but didn't have our truck to actually purchase one, so we went onto Lowe's for something else. Pulling out of the parking lot, we see a TREE in the middle of the feeder road! It's getting dark and raining a bit. This is going to be a hazard. Brent said, "Oh I wish we had my truck I would go get that tree!" I wanted to put it my jeep but he said no way. Anyway, we decided to pull it out of the road for safety reasons and then called our friend Keith to help us take it home. Yes, we pulled a tree out of a BUSY road to take home. It was FREE, why not? We were looking for a tree and one was provided. We saved that tree. haha.
And now, our backyard is useable and complete. For now. We like our projects.
One Year
It was so fun to celebrate Claire's first birthday! Hard to believe how fast the year went by. There was lots of family and friends that came over to celebrate her big day. We love you Claire-bear!
Ball Pit
Silly Cousins
First Taste of Cake
Love celebrating your life, sweet Cole!
Birth {6 days old}
One Year {13 months)
Two Years
Three Years {taken at 3 years and 4 months}
The Games {Longest Drive & Closest to the Pin}
Our Friends
The Birthday Boy
Stage Two: {Grass}
We mowed down our Bermuda grass and replaced it with St. Augustine {our fave}.
Before
Mowed Down and Ready for New
After
Mostly finished flower bed in backyard. Needs a few more bags of rocks in back to prevent mulch splashing on house during a rain.
Stage Three: {Extending our patios}
There is another one just under the other window right as you come out the door so Brent's grill no longer has to sit in the dirt. He did a great job using pavers found in our yard!
Stage Four {Free Tree}
On Saturday, Brent was trying to finish up the backyard because Cole's party is in a couple weeks. He was looking for a couple things and went to Houston Garden Center. They were having one of their 70% sales and he saw trees for $30! Well, he came home telling me all about it and saying how nice it would be to plant a tree to block out seeing the house directly behind us. We are close and it is an eye sore. Later that night, he drove me by to look at a couple but didn't have our truck to actually purchase one, so we went onto Lowe's for something else. Pulling out of the parking lot, we see a TREE in the middle of the feeder road! It's getting dark and raining a bit. This is going to be a hazard. Brent said, "Oh I wish we had my truck I would go get that tree!" I wanted to put it my jeep but he said no way. Anyway, we decided to pull it out of the road for safety reasons and then called our friend Keith to help us take it home. Yes, we pulled a tree out of a BUSY road to take home. It was FREE, why not? We were looking for a tree and one was provided. We saved that tree. haha.
And now, our backyard is useable and complete. For now. We like our projects.
But usually, for the kids, I just buy the store brand of wherever I am shopping. Because it's a store brand, like HEB or Great Value, I am having trouble finding the nutritional information online. In comparison to the Greek, they have 4 times the amount of sugar. I guess it makes sense now why they are so cheap.
This is the Greek yogurt I tried:
There is more sugar in Yoplait Light (1 gram more)then the Danon Greek, but not a drastic amount like the store brand comparison (15 grams more). This morning was the first time I served the Greek to my kids. I tasted it, but a little scared to take a big spoonful. Kids were not in the room to see my face. :/ I mixed theirs with fresh blueberries and raspberries and 1 TBS of sugar. I wanted honey but we were out. And some granola. Cole ate about half then wanted to go back to his morning how and Claire ate her entire bowl and the rest of Cole's. Not surprised. It definitely didn't phase them that it was new.
Has anyone ever tried this yogurt before? Have any good ways to naturally sweeten it to take the edge off? It tastes like sour cream to me. But they like it so that's the main thing. I may try my favorite brand Yoplait's Greek to see if it is better. Never been an Danon fan. It was just the first one I saw that wasn't outrageously priced.
Why am I typing this? I have been trying to learn about what I am eating. It can effect me in more ways then weight control. Our moods can be affected, energy levels, and so much more. I want to eat more healthy but I also want to provide super healthy and yummy options for my family. It is so hard in a fast food world, so I think I am going to start small and just try to find good alternatives at home to fill our pantry and refrigerator.
Heard of this book?
I don't have it but I did pick up this at the Kohl's register last week:
I have looked/read through most of it in two days. It takes you through big chain restaurants, fast food chains, and grocery stores explaining the foods NOT to eat and the better alternative. I was shocked at some of the items that they said were better for you and then not so much at others. I found it very helpful.
The book definitely knows the world we live in, the fast-paced, I need to just grab something kind of world. It is a helpful tool to help me make better choices for my family.
