Grater Gardens in Summer Bloom

Being home with Burke has given me more time this year to spend in the yard. We had such a mild and long spring that everything grew extra big before it bloomed. I carry Burke around in a little pouch out in front of me and narrate as I garden every day. "Mom is watering the plants, plants need water to grow." "Mom is dead heading the garlic chives." "Those purple flowers are lavender, and those pink flowers are echinacea." "Mom is getting rid of the spider webs, we don't like spiders. Well, you can like spiders if you want to, but Mom doesn't like them at all." That sort of thing. :) He seems to be fascinated by everything and has started to grab the hose or pruner handles to help me out. I was even washing my hands today at the sink and he reached his little chubby hands out and stuck them under the water. It was the cutest thing ever! Enjoy these pictures of our beautiful garden this year.

This is the view from our kitchen window. I love the pot with all the decorative grass in it. Sonya helped me pick those out. Rosemary, thyme and basil in the small pots.

Impatiens.

The back deck is such a relaxing place to come and sit in the shade.

View from upper deck to lower one.

Close up of decorative grass pot. My favorite one this year.

Mr. Gnome is taking a break from working hard and resting in the shade.

Front garden next to our front door. Someday I'll really spruce this up. I think it has too much green and not enough color during the summer months. It helps when the pink zinnias and purple russian sage finally bloom in late summer, but that won't happen for a few more weeks.

I put this path in a few weeks ago. It goes from our driveway into the front lawn. We were always walking there so Stu suggested putting a path. When the green moss fills in over the next few years it look even better.

Purple gazing ball amidst the lavender.


Simon waiting patiently for me to throw the ball. He is feeling MUCH better by the way. Almost back to his normal athletic self. Thank goodness!!!

I love this view of the front yard. I planted 3 white daisy bushes in the fall just to the left of the arch (that Stu and I got married under) and they are about 3 feet tall and so beautiful!


Last year I dug out a bunch of grass on this side of the driveway with plans to have another sun flower garden, but didn't do anything else to it because I was all preggo and too hot to work outside. This spring I finally finished it and everything is starting to bloom. It is so pretty and one of my favorite spots in the yard now.

The garden by the new mailbox sure turned out pretty this year. I love lavender. It's pretty to look at in a garden and so nice to use for a flower arrangement inside cause it smells so good.


Close up of the white daisies.

Pink echinacea. I transplanted 2 of these flowers from another place in our yard 3 years ago and they keep spreading and spreading. I'm ok with that cause I think they are SO beautiful. :)

And a quick thank you to my wonderful, handsome husband...Stu, you are the best! Thank you for providing for our family and making it possible for me to stay home and take care of our little munchkin and make our home beautiful. I love you!

July 2010

Stu and Uncle Calvin being dorks at the pool. Calvin put on my Mom's outfit. :)

Ahhh, the infamous Johnny Jump Up.

Burke at the pool.

Dad trying to making the same face as Burke.

Everyone sucking their lower lip like Burke. :)

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa Grater

We went camping last weekend with Guy, Sue and Snoopy at Red Canyon campground, just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park for 5 days. We had so much fun! Burke LOVED meeting his Grandma and Grandpa Grater. He ate solid foods (rice cereal) for the first time while we were camping and Grandpa and Grandma gave him his first 2 spoonfuls. He didn't really like the taste initially, but seemed to like it more towards the end of the bowl. The weather was perfect the whole time; it was in the 80's during the days and thunder/rain stormed every day for about 15 minutes to cool things off and freshen things up. It was beautiful.

Guy and Sue, we love you and had a wonderful time hanging out with you, as always. :) We miss you already.

Burke meets his Grandpa Guy 'Old Granddad' for the first time.

A 3 generation photo. How cute!

Burke meets his Grandma Sue for the first time! He loves his Grandma Sue!

We recently purchased a Johnny Jump Up swing for Burke ($8 off of ksl.com yippee!) and he loves it! Stu set it up in the campground and he spent some time here every day.

Burke loving his Johnny Jump Up.

Spending time with the grandparents and Snoopy in the trailer. Burke was mesmerized by Snoopy.

How cute is this picture? Old Granddad and his Grandson. BFF's.

Just starting on a hike in Bryce.

Family photo in Bryce.

What a view! This was from the trail at Bryce.

Champions! We made it to the end of the trail and are just about to start back up.

Stu and Guy standing in front of the mountain that they DID NOT tackle. :) They attempted and made it a long way. Way to go guys!

Grandpa and his little man. Guy had Burke laughing pretty hard here, it was so cute!

Grandpa and Burke can't get enough of each other. I think they kind of look a like. Two handsome guys.

Saying goodbye. :(

Burke is cheering because he's so happy to be a Grater! :)

One last picture before we all hit the road.

Burke is tuckered out from a long weekend of camping and hiking and playing with Grandma and Grandpa. He fell asleep like this about 30 seconds after we put him in his car seat. What a good boy!

June 2010

June has been a delightful month. We've been loving the warmer weather and spending lots of time at the park and at the pool. We got to spend a lot of time with Grandma Faye which was wonderful. We celebrated Stu's first Father's Day by lounging around the house and yard, it was really relaxing and fun. I love you Stu and think that you are the best Father ever!

Burke is getting bigger every day and doing such big boy things. He can almost sit up all by himself. We think he's getting two bottom teeth, he's been chewing everything in sight and you can see 2 white dots on his lower gums. Crazy! He smiles and laughs a lot and has started a new thing where he talks (long ooooo's and aaaaah's and eeeee's) really loud and long. It's like he is totally telling you something and it's just about the cutest thing in the whole world.

I was losing weight pretty good after Burke was born, but then we found the world's best popsicles at Costco, so that has come to a halt. They are 4 creamy flavors: coconut, pina colada, mango and strawberry, and they are freaking delicious! I am always telling Stu that in my heaven, there will be creamy coconut popsicles everywhere. :)

Well...enjoy these pictures and videos and have a great day. We love you all!

What a terrorist Sonya is... I mean, what a babe! ;)

We were watching Nacho Libre a few nights before Sonya left, and she came jumping around the corner wearing this luchador mask. It was hilarious! We love and miss you Sonya!


Me and Burke having a play date at my Mom's house with a long-time family friend, Kristy and her new baby Janessa. Janessa is 4 weeks younger than Burke and they are about the same size! She is SO cute.

The Eckstrom family came by to visit for a few hours. What a treat! Burke laid like this in Magan's arms for a long time and actually fell asleep for about an hour.

Fritz, Burke, and Bella.

CHARGER FANS!!!
From left to right, Bella, Dan, Magan, Burke, me, Stu, Fritz. We had such a great visit with the Eckstroms and wish we could have spent longer with them!

Stu and Dan, BFF's for life!

Burke in his big boy PJs.

Check out those chubby legs and feet!

Grandma Faye, me and Burke at the pool. This was Burke's very first time in the pool and he really enjoyed it.

Seeing Grandma Faye off at the airport. What a wonderful visit we had with you Faye! We love you and will miss you!

Me and Burke at our neighborhood breakfast this year. Stu went fishing that day, so he wasn't there.

Burke is SO excited to go swimming!

Swimming with Uncle Abe.

Motor boating at the pool with Dad.

Swimming with Dad and loving it!

Mom and Burkey at the pool.

Burke getting a bath in the tub. Too cute!

Simon and Burke just hanging out. They played like this for a long time. Burke notices Simon more and more and I'm sure before long they will be best buddies.

Burke in his new big boy overalls that cost $1. Nice!!!

Burke playing with Simon in his room.

I love the look on Burke's face in this photo. You can kind of see the dimple in his cheek. He looks like Jabba-The-Baby.

Another priceless look on Burke's face. What a cutie pie!

Burke on Grandma Maxine's 89th Birthday

Burke is looking so cute today I had to post a pic!

My Grandma Maxine, me and Burke at her party. Happy 89th birthday Grandma!