Springtime yardwork!

Benjamin - what are you doing to that bush? Massaging it?

Why no mom, I'm trimming it! It's spring, and for the first time ever our efforts to beautify our yard will be ours to reap for years and years to come!!

Mom, can you see that? It's my glider that I found in the bush! Months have passed and it's still flies!

Ah, the blessings of yard work!

I'm a strong believer in hard labor. It does the soul good.

Jordan decided to try his hand at chopping up our old fence posts. Go Jordan!

What strength! What form! What stamina!

If at first you don't succeed...

Try, try again!

Marcus tackled putting in the raspberry bushes from our neighbor. We had so many we also shared some with Kelly. Fresh raspberries - Yum!

I think it's the Navy in him that help promote the watering. :)

Benjamin was our roving quality control. He measured the earth worms, found the airplanes and in general just ensured we were all working diligently. I don't know how we would have gotten it done without him. Meanwhile Marcus tasted the bushes to make sure they had the right flavor before planting them. We used a section of our old fence to have the bushes grow against.

Jordan is still at that wood!

After checking the status of our lawnmower and weed-eater (Thanks to George, the previous owner, for leaving them for us!) Mark began working on netting for our resident woodpeckers.

Thanks to Casey for weeding beds and de-cactusing a raised bed! She was also our official gardening photographer. We are so lucky to have such a multi-talented girl!

Overheard during our gardening:

Casey: Didn't we leave Grandma Meyers to get away from this? (Gardening and weeding)

Benjamin: This is just like Grandma's, without the corn!

And now for a short diversion.

What mom? Why are you bothering me?

I'm so comfortable here. Please don't bother me.

And please stop all that typing on the computer, as it's really ruining my beauty rest.

To secure the priviledge of sleeping above the office Benjamin vacuumed the ledge which had been covered with pine needles from Christmas decorations. He became very adept at climbing up and down the ladder with pillow, blanket and books too! He says it's the most softest carpet in the house!