So two years ago, I had a landscape design done for the front of the house {see it HERE}, and we're finally getting around to starting it.

I haven't tackled the extreme slope of a garden that's in front of our porch, but the hubs has definitely risen to the challenge of breaking up the dirt clay that makes up the sections of garden we have added. He fussed at me for lifting the pick axe. Its only 5 pounds, but something about being 5 months pregnant or something, so I went and sat down on the porch and directed for a few minutes. As you can see, our entire front yard is nice red clay. No wonder there are several brick factories in and around us.


We've taken a couple of weekends, only working on Saturday morning, while the front is shadowed by the house. We still have 2 or so weekends of work in front of us, but its coming along!! I didn't realize that when the plan called for about 17 plants, it really, REALLY meant it. 7 liriopes did not cut filling in this space.


Luckily, I found more liriopes at the Lowe's in Manassas and bought 10 more plants to help fill in this space!

Doesn't the clemaits look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book? I can't wait till he gets bigger. Hopefully it'll bloom this autumn, but the coreopsis surrounding it have really started to take off. Of course, all the plants are new, but I can't wait until these buggers fill in!

I also decided to move two of my huge clumps of day lilies to around our trees in the front yard. So Steve dug them up for me, separated them and then planted them inside the new tree rings.


All that is left, is to tackle the new garden over by the garage and then the sloped garden. I'm afraid of the sloped garden, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the lovely work we've already put into the yard. What I didn't show you was the enclosed garden, because it looks pretty much the same as it did 2 years ago. The big difference? Everything is larger. :)

See you guys later!

I'd like to know when being 7 was the new 16. Dev is 7.5 and lord almighty does he have an attitude some most times. Its aggravating. I know he's exploring his independence and all of his new-found knowledge, but please, I'd really like my sweet little boy back. Granted some of the acting out is probably due because of baby #3, but seriously, I'm over it.

So in order to help with the harmony of the house; the hubs, Devlin and I sat down and discussed the chore situation. It was a huge bone of contentment. He didn't want to do them, but wanted to get paid for them. Complained constantly. Basically the house was always angry at one another, mostly because of the fight the chores had become.

We came up with 5 chores that had to get done, every day, no matter what. If he didn't get these chores done, it would affect the allowance he could earn. The other 5 chores we came up with were the ones he'd get paid for. $.10 for every chore done (providing the 5 basic ones were done). He can earn up to $.50 a day, which equals $15 a month (what he was earning before). The difference being that the money offering chores were not mandatory. He could choose not to do them, but he would not get paid for them. We decided that all the chores needed to be done by the end of dinner, because at the end of dinner; we'd tally the monies earned/forfeited and write the amount he earned for that day. At the end of each week, we'd total up his take.

Everyone agreed and signed a contract. Steve and I then made a simpler one for Harrison, and he can earn half of what Dev can earn. Same rules all the way around.

The first couple of days were rough. Very rough. I didn't have the chore charts done yet, so it was hard to track what had been done and what hadn't been done. Behavior was also an issue. Well, I got the chore charts done and then a funny thing happened. The boys started competing with each other. Who could get the most stickers (magnets) done before the other. Competition is good for the soul, because the first 3 days, Harrison not only earned more money than Devlin, he wiped the floor with him. That first week, Harrison made only $.05 less than Devlin, because by the 5th or 6th day Dev had had enough. It was game time.

The chore charts were simple enough to make. 1 1x12, Galvanized Flashing, Silver Upholstery Nails, Magnet Paper, Cardstock, Glossy Accents and Black Vinyl. I stained the wood with Kona from Rustoleum. Mostly because its a one coat wonder and its quick and dirty. I needed these things pronto! I glued the galvanized sheeting down with some liquid nails adhesive, and then finished off the edges with the upholstery nails. I like the industrial look it gives them.
 I used my Silhouette to cut out the vinyl, cardstock and magnets. After getting everything just so and assembled it all. I topped off the magnets with glossy accents to help protect the cardstock from use. I also made sure to have the magnets attached to the metal so they wouldn't curl up. That made a huge difference.


As you can see the competition is going strong. We make allowances for evening where we might be out and not home for dinner, but the time frame is usually the same, and things are flowing much smoother now. Thank goodness, because the next thing we get to tackle is the play room. Its time to start planning the nursery!!!

So 2 weeks ago, Dev saw a guinea pig. It was love at first sight apparently. So for the next week he studied and readied himself for pet ownership. He approached us with a well thought out request and passed all of our tests.

He's also gotten quite capable with said new pets. He takes care of them. I help here and there, but only with such things as refilling the hay wheel and figuring out why the water bottle won't stop leaking (fur was the culprit last time).

Here are our new friends. Yep there are 2 because H wanted one, and he's super cute. :)
 Harrison's guinea pig is named Bee. He also named Mom's fish, Mouse. He seems fascinated with naming animals with other animal names. Dev's is named Pika, who is not quite as docile as he would have had us thought. :)

 Here are the boys with their pets! Aren't they all so cute? Well I think so. :)

Maybe one of these days I'll get around to taking pictures of their new room set up.

Have a great day guys!