Happy Birthday Kenan!

Yesterday was Kenan's birthday, so we went out for steak to celebrate with our dearest friends. We had a great time:

 Birthday boy!

 Machicek family - look at those cheeks!

Almost ready for night-night :)

Happy Birthday, Kenan! I love you!

Another New Addition

There have been blessings all around - Brandon Gage Stewart was born April 6 to Chris and Bonnie and isn't he just gorgeous? It's a very lucky birthday if I do say so myself...

He's precious beyond words...one more family we're so lucky to have in our lives!

Happy Birthday to....ME

Yes, yesterday was the big 3-0 for me. I had a great day - ate all three meals with my husband, who took me out to lunch and dinner. BIG points for Kenan - he took me to my very favorite restaurant (The Lodge) and had flowers there for me, and THEN took me home to open my presents. 

Here we are at the Lodge

My pretty flowers

 Kenan bought me some boxing gloves that no one else would dare use :)

My present from Mom#2 - I haven't had a chance to spend anyone else's gifts yet! ;)

What a great day!

Family Visit

We were so fortunate this past weekend to get a visit from my Grandma, who came all the way from Iowa! We had a great time with our family - did lots of eating, of course:

Front row, left to right: me, Grandma Kramer, my sister Liz

Back row, left to right: Mom, Dad, Liz's husband Richard, Kenan, my Aunt Denise and her husband Gary

Annual ATV Trip

The boys went on their annual ATV trip (it is becoming a tradition!) Here are a couple of pictures from the trip:

Getting equipment ready

Goofing off (shocker)

It never ceases to amaze me how dirty they get. From left to right: Kenan, Rod, Clint and Bradley

New Landscaping

We decided to put in some trees and plants this year, and Kenan decided to do all of the work himself (yay for saving money!) Here are some pictures from the enormous amount of back-breaking effort he put into it. Everyone that drives by gives us compliments and people think it was professionally done.

Hauling one of the trees. We planted a mix: Cedar Elm, Chinese Pistachio, Crepe Myrtle. We focused on trees that thrive here and also change color with the seasons.

 Here Kenan is planting one of the trees - the ropes are to keep them upright and allow them to establish a healthy root system

On the tractor, digging - he laid several thousand feet of PVC in order to get a drip line straight to each individual tree. That way they thrive and we don't lose any.

Here are most of the trees in the front yard (blooming already and looking great!)

Kenan also hauled in tons (literally) of dirt and planted all of the landscaping himself. Here are a couple of pictures:

Garden Progress

Kenan planted a beautiful garden again this year! We changed up the mix of what we planted (um, less squash, more tomatoes) but the technique remains the same. He planted the entire thing himself and it's already growing beautifully! Here are some pictures:

Here it is after Kenan created the rows but before planting

 Here is what it already looked like Sunday - everything seems to be coming up already!

This was Madison and I's contribution (hey, I could have been reading about gardening - but I wasn't) 

We can't wait to can pickles again this year and especially make salsa entirely out of our own garden :)