Backyard stuff

I never thought my yard would look like one of "those" yards. The ones where there are a gazillon toys strewn about. The yard where is looks like the owners never give it any tender loving care. Were the grass is kinda brown and deadish and the grass by the fence is a bit too long. Ahh such is life I guess. The kids have a blast out here. Its kinda like our summer time family room.

This is what happens to your beloved Hosta that you transplanted from the old house. A certain toddler likes to run over it with his "mowahhhhh"

And the other beloved Hosta. Good thing they are hardy. I think they will survive the toddler abuse.

The shirtless landscaping dude getting ready to mow the lawn for the millionth time today.

See the dirt all over the fence? Mike and I cut lots of tree branches and weeds and growing things way back after the fence was installed. So every time it rains the mud kicks back up on to the fence. Now that this area is all cleaned out we have plans to put a layer of gravel next to the fence and then some mulch and maybe a shrub or too and make it all look landscaped and pretty. We started with 1 yard of gravel. Need to get another yard or 2. We also have to put gravel next to the house. The former owners had grass and flower beds abutting the house and a carpenter ant problem. Definitely need to get rid of grass and dirt and things that ants like abutting the house. The gravel also helps with the bad drainage problem the house has. We added some new seamless gutters a few weeks ago so that should also help as well.

Dirty fence

spreading the gravel

This is how it looks where the lawn goes right up to the house currently

And this is what it will look like around the house when we are done with it.

The climber

Blogger always reverses the order of the pics but Israel has figured out how to climb the picnic table ( which isn't hard) but then he swings himself onto the monkey bars and just hangs there. He is a good 2 + feet off the ground so its quite the drop when he lets go. I know it looks like he is standing on the swingset beam but he is just hanging there.

Vigneau 4th BBQ

Kelsey helps Israel with his sparkler


Illiana eats chalk





Keira eating her smore

Israel is not sure about these things called firecrackers. At times he said "Wow!!!!" and other times he looked scared.

Mike I think you are too old for sparklers...

Cousin Joseph's first 4th

Nairi and Memere

Uncle Joe and cousin Amelie and Mike

Nairi with her Godfather Paul

Mike and Israel with sparklers

Hmm soo good!

Could anything be cuter???

Mike tired from a long day at work... and Nairi tired from not napping enough today both sound asleep! After supper ( which Nairi cried through). Mike took her and a few min later this is what I found..... the funny part was that Keira and Israel where playing in the same room and making lots of noise and usually Nairi won't fall asleep when they are around.

Lots and Lots of babies

So many babies amongst friends and family lately! Its so much fun when we all get together. There were 2 more babies too that we didn't even get in the picture!

Learning to sew

Mikes cousin Sarah and her husband Travis and daughter Penny are staying with us and Keira has been very interested in watching Sarah sew so Sarah has started to teach Keira some of her skills. Keira loves anything crafty so she is having a blast. Thanks Sarah! We all know I can't teach her to sew so I'm glad someone else can!

Getting Big

Alternative uses for the Bumbo

Walkthrough of New House

Happy 3 Months Nairi!!!

Cousins from Austria

WE have lots of family around . My brother is here with his wife and 3 kids ( his 3 week old and Nairi are missing from these pics) and Mike's cousins and Aunt and Uncle are here from Georgia.

Its almost July...

I feel like summer is flying by. We aren't unpacking anymore per say but still busy doing things like organizing the basement, hanging shelves in the garage and working on the new super tight monthly budget ( that's always enjoyable). My brother and his wife and 3 kids are here from Austria for a bit as well as Mike's cousins from Georgia so we have been playing our hand at Hotel Vigneau. The kids have been living in the backyard when its not raining. This coming Sunday Nairi is getting baptized and then its time to figure out whether we have the energy to tackle the beach with the 3 monkeys this year or not. My first instinct is to say no, most definitely not. I am just tired from the move and of course my lack of sleep due to having an infant in the house. Not to mention the thought of packing ANYTHING gives me a headache. And of course there is the baby factor. What to do with a baby that can't sit up at the beach. Doesn't exactly sound at all like vacation or relaxation at the beach. But I know that Keira and Israel would have an absolute blast with all that endless water and sand and open space.... so we are considering it. If anyone has any input feel free to share. Keira was 1 the first year we did the beach and last year Israel was nine months and could sit up and crawl so he entertained himself and didn't need to be held every second.
Anyone done the beach vacation thing with a infant and toddler and preschooler and have any thoughts to share??? I'm all ears.