Landscapes

Well, Jennifer and i are planning a back yard redesign! We are planning on adding on a 25 x 16 foot patio attached to the existing porch and putting a few flowerbeds in, one with a fountain. Before, our back yard was just a porch with a yard. After, it will make a much nicer retreat.

We were going to attempt to do all this ourselves, but now we are leaning toward getting someone else to lay down the patio and we would do the flowerbeds and the fountain. Doing it this way will not kill my back! (But I will put my back at risk if they want to charge too much!)

Turning over a new leaf

I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna stay "in the zone". I've been at a high point before where everything seemed easy and right, and I want to get back there and stay there.

Here is my plan:
1. Take time for the "little-big" things. Little in that little time or effort is involved, big in rewards: taking walks with the family, playing games, reading.
2. If something is out of place, put it on place. Makes things feel right.
3. Calm down. No more yelling about little things.
4. Pray. I'm not going it alone.

I can do it, and I can stay "in the zone."

Today was a good day.

Today was one of those awesome days when you feel like anything is possible.

Cameron and I had some good father and son time in the morning.  We read some books on his bed,  played with trucks, and generally just took it easy.  Then, and this is something only a parent can get excited about, he used the toilet for the first time!  He just told me he had to poo poo, and I put him on the toilet and he went!  Amazing!

Later,  I installed outdoor speakers, and enjoyed a beer with Jen on the back porch. While we were back there, we planned out our landscaping project for the back yard. We had a good dinner at the Mellow Mushroom, where Grace really helped out by being an excellent big sister. This evening, I even cleaned out the closet. It was a day when it seemed like everything was good and anything was possible.

It's a rainy day here today, so we've been taking it easy. We watched My Dog Skip (it's a great movie if you've never seen it, and it's filmed here in Missisisippi), relaxed and had some coffee, and now I'm scanning old photos that my Mom left with me to scan.

It's kinda cool looking through these old photos. Some aren't so old, but all have memories in them.

I had to stay up last night and test out a change to our system. I was up untill about 2am, then they called me again at 5:20am. It's over now, and everything went well, but I think I'll just relax today.

Happy Father's Day!

FathersDay
Originally uploaded by JoeMoab

I got this nicely decorated stepping stone for my Father's Day gift! I think I'll just relax today and ignore the fact that the grass needs cutting.

Off to Camp

Off to Camp
Originally uploaded by JoeMoab

We dropped Little Bit off at camp this Monday morning. She was all excited about her first ever week at overnight camp. Jen was all depressed of course!

So we've been child-free. Jen was bored, so she decided to decorate the guest bedroom. I've just been chilling.

A new day

Sunrise
Originally uploaded by JoeMoab

I was treated to these nice colors when out walking Hershey this morning. I love watching the colors of the sky at sunrise or sunset, and I love it when I think to grab my camera.

It's been over a year since I last posted, and a lot has happened. Hershey has grown into a small pony (I'll post pics later), Little Bit has gotten another year older and smarter, and we've moved into a new house. I plan to most more again to my blog, but I'll make no promises.