Phase 1

We have had a crazy couple weeks trying to get this retaining wall put in!! Last week we knew our sunny weather would be coming to an end on Sunday so Mark had to work all day and then come home and go straight to work outside. Which was exhausting for him and equally exhausting for me since I was on kid duty 24/7!! BUT...our lovely neighbor Ken helped us out tremendously and we couldn't have finished in time without all of his help! We are happy to report that the deed is done and that after 2 days of rain it is still standing!! 

This adventure has been the most fun for the kids though. The day the dump truck arrived and dumped this in our driveway was the best day of their little 2 year old lives!!! Mark was clapping during and after and they couldn't wait to climb to the top. Mark loved collecting rocks in buckets then dumping them in the wheel barrow. Elizabeth climbed to the top then 'slid' down saying 'WEEEEEEE'!!!

 Elizabeth took some time to water our plants with a spray bottle before we completely ignored our flowers and spent all our time in the back!

Eating dirt:

 Digging, lots of digging! Elizabeth would wake up every day and ask if she could 'Dig with Daddy'. I think this picture is 7:30 am....

 Then the highlight of this soon to be 1 year old's life was to actually be allowed to get in the dirt and play!!!!! She was SOOOOO CUTE doing it, she picked up a shovel and tried to dig:

 Then tried to take out the dirt that Elizabeth was pouring into her bucket:

 She noticed Elizabeth climbing up the dirt hill and then throwing dirt like a dog digging for a bone and decided that looked like fun too!

 Look at how dirty her bum is!!!

And the finished result!!!!!!!!!!

 And the future home of my vegetable garden (I hope, I think, I mean, ya..I'm going to do it this year!):

Mark amazed me once again at his skills and did an awesome job on the wall. I was a bit nervous since this DIY project was the most expensive one we have taken on! But....he did it well, just like everything he does!

Indoor time

 Up until yesterday we have had BEAUTIFUL weather and have been spending every bit of it outside. We also decided to start phase 1 of our backyard renovation, which I will post about next. The following is a bunch of silly pictures that I had to include in this post!

The twins had their first ice cream sandwich last week and it was quite funny to see how they approached eating it! Here is Elizabeth's technique:

Poke with finger:

 Lick it:

 Stab with fork:

Then smile real cute and not eat that much more of it!!

Can anyone guess what Mark did? He crushed and devoured EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE of that ice cream sandwich!!!! And then asked for more.

And sweet Annie was happy to chew/suck on a piece of cantaloupe:)

 Elizabeth is can do the splits freakishly good:

 She is also a great helper in the kitchen (they both love to fetch me spoons) and had fun helping me make some homemade graham crackers:

I know I'm a bit late with this one but how could I not add this one in?! Mark picking his nose and Elizabeth looking at the bunny like what the heck?!

Video time.

I  miss this little guy. I rocked at getting him to laugh, like seriously laugh. It didn't take long for me to become his favorite aunt:) The other two are of Annie showing off her mad crawling skills as she 'chases' the twins and she likes to dance/jump along to the chicken! This girl is always busy doing something!!