He never promised me a rose garden...

but I got one anyhow.

So, we have this garden. It has about 40 tomato plants (forming a tomato jungle), jalopenos, cayenne peppers, zuccini, raspberries, strawberries & some unknown plant (I hope it's not a weed). There are also about 10 rosebushes around the yard. Anyhow, I am NOT a gardener yet. There are tons of green tomatoes, and lots of peppers growing. I've picked two zuccinis (we ate one), and there are several blossoms.

I am so afraid of killing this garden. I was out there trying to tie up some of the overburdened tomato plants, but I'm out of stakes and my time is limited. It was really nice to be out there "working" in my garden and I really look forward to next year, starting from seed. The roses are intimidating also, but I have dead-headed them once or twice (some once, some twice).

I really wish there was someone who could show me a thing or two about this gardening business. I am very interested. Once we are settled, I will spend more time reading up and visiting the nurseries so that I know what I'm doing by next Spring.

I would like to be all organic and compost even.

Next lesson will be canning tomatoes, any advice out there?

Picture Time

Well, I have finally brought the computer and camera together to upload some pictures. I'll try to keep it short on words (ha!).

Steve testing the keys (or just posing, I forgot). Yes, we have stained glass on our door.

Ryann in her (and Tara's) new room. Needs a makeover.

Our backyard visitor. I hope to see more, just not in the garden.

Yes, we bought a garden that is growing quite well. Our first zuccini (that is regular sized paper).

Tara in her Bumpo. I love those little feet.

The triumphant dragonfly catcher!

Already?

Talking on the phone with Daddy.

Is that a green tub? Yes, and you should see the matching sink and toilet. Luckily, I love green, I'm thinking a frog motif in here.

My dinner time view: handsome husband, beautiful mountains and not so beautiful mounds of boxes (all emptied by me).

How do you spell trouble? R-Y-A-N-N!

We're in the Villa!

I finally have internet!! I have a new e-mail address, I'll send an e-mail to those of you who "need" it (leave a comment if you haven't gotten it yet).

Well, we took possession on Monday and slept on cots Monday night. That is when I started to notice the smells, stains and other little things that you don't notice when looking at a house (everything is fixable, just...well, you know).

The movers brought our things on Tuesday,don't get me started on the broken furniture. Okay, I said it. I can't believe how much they broke, book shelves, desks, cake plate, and even an oscillating fan.

Wednesday, I started unpacking like a crazy woman with 2 little girls underfoot. I think I did pretty well.

Thursday, a friend came over to help for a while (what a blessing). She lined all of the kitchen drawers with contact paper and held the baby some. It was really nice to have someone to talk to, also. Steve picked up Sandy from the kennel Thursday evening, she seems to really like it here. We bought a dining table and chairs and some hoses/sprinklers. Steve put the table together.

A deer came up to our back fence on Friday, she just stood there even after I opened the door for a better picture (which I will post as soon as I download it). Ryann still talks about the deer. I finally unpacked my Bosch (now using it is going to have to wait)! Ryann lost her pacifier (it's really in the van somewhere - I did look) and has managed to sleep without it, even though it takes a while for her to settle down. Steve got two chairs put together.

Yesterday, we tackled the putting-boxes-in-the-rooms-they-should-be-in game. I took my first trip to the grocery store. I didn't like the closest one, so I will have to go further. A neighbor told me where she thinks the best place is, and it's atleast 20 minutes away.

We went to a very nice church today, but we will probably go to several in the area before settling on a new church home. Steve also left for his first business trip today. Yuck! He will be back very soon.

I will post pictures when the girls give me a few more minutes. Ryann is out of her crib for the 4th time tonight. It's time to get her a big-girl bed, but that makes me nervous too.

Can you say "Cute"?

I knew you could!

Deeper and deeper...

into debt! We now own two houses!! Well, we do have a contract on the old house, so we won't be paying anymore on it.

Just signing away!

Good job, Daddy!

I can't wait to move into the villa! We take possesion on Monday!

For some reason, I can't seem to add a title to my post. Oh, well.

This is the view from our apartment window.

Ryann helping M play piano while waiting for July 3rd activities.

Daddy and his little girls.

Ryann after an ice cream sandwich.

"BOON!"

I forgot to write about Ryann's really adorable reaction to the fireworks the other night! She was so cute! She would make this little jump and yell, "BOON!" or, "and BOON!" I think she really enjoyed it because, she is still saying it every once in a while.

Celebrating Freedom

Last night, we (Steve, the girls & some local believers) went and handed out tracts to people waiting for the fireworks display (they do it on the 3rd in the valley). We also put tracts on cars. I actually had fun, I've never done anything like that before. Afterwards, we went to where one of our group was street preaching near a parking lot and watched the fireworks from there. I can't believe how I didn't mind being outside for so long, it actually got cool while we were watching.

Today, Steve and I took the girls down to Salt Lake City for the Sugar House Park Art Festival which was pretty neat. Then we went to Tony Roma's for dinner. I don't know but I'm not super impressed with Utah dining, so far the best food has been from national chains. We did eat pitas from the Pita Pit while waiting for the parking lot to clear out last night, it was pretty good. Oh, I've had some homecooked meals at Susan S's and they were excellent!

I am dreaming about my new kitchen, where will I put everything? There is so much counter-space, I can't wait to cook there.

Well, I'm pooped! Gotta go!

Praise God for the freedom we have in this great country! Thank a vet/soldier, too!

So far...

Well, the trip up was uneventful. We left late Thursday (21st?) and made it to Salina, KS Friday evening, we went swimming. The next day we made it to Cheyenne, WY! I loved looking at the mountains but they were far off. The next day, we started seeing the most beautiful and wild landscapes, prong-horned antelope & buffulo. I loved it! We hit some traffic a few miles before Utah, but it wasn't too bad. The camera battery was wonky so I didn't get to take pictures.

We've been staying in a tiny apartment! Ryann and Tara have been doing pretty well. It's kind of good that Brendan and Kyla are at their dad's in San Antonio or we'd be squeezed in tight.

I miss my "big" kids. They both have cell phones so I've been able to talk to them almost everyday.

How did they both get cell phones? Well, lack of communication between me and their father. I went and got one for Brendan about 12 hours after his dad did (we found out when B called his dad to tell him his cell #). Steve and I decided to let Kyla take the "extra" cell phone with her since she likes to call me a lot. She's only lost it once (what a pain). I'm pretty sure that her dad and stepmom wish that she didn't have it, but oh well, what was I going to do with it?

Last week we got TWO offers on our house! One was really good so we accepted it and will be able to move into our new house (the "villa") in two weeks. We got to see the"villa" again last Tuesday, I'm so excited! I can't wait to move in!!

Sandy is tolerating this whole thing quite well, I can't wait to have a yard to let her run around in.

Ryann and I are getting to know each other again. It's been fun.

Well, tonight we are going to pass out tracts at the fireworks celebration. I've got to get the girls ready to run some errands now.

We're Here...sorta

Well, we got to Utah last Sunday!! We are in temporary housing near Ogden. The weather is really nice here...dry!

I didn't know that we had internet access until today. I will try to update again soon.