Annual, One Day Only, Fall, Family Yard Clean-Up Day.

We have a 3 acre yard, which would be a full time job for any ordinary, normal person, to keep looking beautiful, without the help of a yard maintenance company.  Apparently my Grandfather {who this house/yard used to belong to} was no ordinary, normal person, becuz until we moved in, this yard looked like a golf course. We have had our years where we did a pretty decent job of keeping up, and a couple of years, that even the flower beds looked awesome, and it did look good for both of the kids high school open houses,  but those years usually involved serious commitment on every one's part!!!  This year the yard became another one of those projects that got put on hold for the sake of motocross. We barely had time to mow, let alone anything else, and the weed wacker took a crap. Needless to say, things got pretty rough.

Yesterday it was decided, we would have our Annual, One Day Only, Fall Family Yard Clean-Up Day.

That's right, every year, no matter the condition of the yard, we have ONE day, and ONE day only, that we hold a Fall Yard Clean-Up Day.  One day that my husband, who IS NOT a lumberjack, is allowed to wield a chainsaw, like he is a modern day Paul Bunyan. And inevitably he will get carried away with the chainsaw, and I will get ticked off over something he cuts down. {This year it was a perfectly healthy pine tree!!!} Thus the ONE day only rule.  If we had to do yard clean-up for several days in a row, odds are, we'd kill each other.  By spring time, I've forgiven him for his lack of control with a chainsaw. And he's forgotten how pissy I get over his lack of control with the chain saw and we hold the~ annual spring yard clean-up day.  I will attempt to plant flowers, with the husband bitching the entire time, becuz I spent money on flowers, and he knows I will forget to water them and they will die.  Which is true, I hate gardening! I love the way flowers look, but hate taking care of them.  This year I planted NONE. And the weeds took over. Every spring we spray for weeds too, but we are pretty certain that we are now growing a hybrid species of weeds, immune to every type of weed killer. Yes, we've even tried commercial grade weed killers. This year the weeds under the pines grew to epic heights, nearly blocking out the sun!!!! I was afraid the dogs might become confused and get lost in there.  Our house is surrounded on two sides by several rows, of really old, pine trees, and they've become really messy.  After hours of work yesterday, our yard is looking better, but honestly, if you hadn't seen it before the work, you might not even know we'd done anything!!!LOL!!!
And of course, here are some pics.

I planted some mums for our janky looking, tiny porch area

At least these two seem to be enjoying the warm day...

This is the BEFORE.  

Found this UGLY spider. begged Ryan to kill it,
he refused. Yeah, that thing is in my yard still
YUK!!!! 

And of course I have to take some weird pics,
during breaks, of course...

another random pic of weeds.
Ryan and I debated about what this vine was
I'm certain it's a grape vine.

Cool gourds I got at Farm Market earlier that morning.
Still deciding if they'll go outside with mums
or be a centerpiece in house

Tallon loading up the truck with fallen branches
to go to bon fire pit

This is just the beginning.

Doing work!

Even Ali is trying to pitch in and help

Stella and I took a quick nap
cuz yard work is hard work

Thor steals as many sticks as he can!!!
The bon fire pit is overflowing
And there's a GIANT pile along the road ready to be mulched up.

Back section of trees...
weeds mowed down!

Looking pretty good.

I have a belief that, in everything there is a life lesson, some times you've just gotta go looking for it. So let me tell you what lessons I learned today...  When making the decision to gather pine cones, you should consider waiting until AFTER your husband is done running the mowing under the trees. Otherwise, you are likely to get blasted with dust, and flying debris. Now, if you are as slow on the uptake as I am, you will not learn this lesson until you've taken at least two pine cones to the head!! ALSO. When your husband is staring at you from behind, on the stopped mower, odds are, he's not doing it cuz you're bent over and half your butt is hanging out of your pants. And, you continuing to go about your business, becuz you foolishly think that he's just stopped to enjoy the scenery, will only result in his eyebrows doing that, furrowing together in the center, thing they do, when he's annoyed with you.  Followed by an angry response "YES! You are in my way!!!!!"

There was still a TON of work to be done, at quitting time, but we called it a day!! There are still a bunch of weeds to take care of, and I will get pumpkins for the tiny porch, and maybe another purple mum. But for the most part, that's it, The Annual, One Day Only, Fall Family Yard Clean-Up Day is over, and we are ready for Fall.  It was a pretty nice day to be outside doing yard work. Which I suppose is good, cuz I'm such a baby when it comes to cold, but unfortunate too, cuz there is nothing hotter than a dude wielding a chainsaw in a pair of Carhartt's!!! Just saying!!!

Notice Anything New...?

Notice the new look for Fall...? Yep, I got all crazy and gave the blog a new look for Fall. Once the snow flies, it will most likely go back to boring black, cuz I like black, and I'm kinda boring!!

Also notice that I moved the Instagram pics, so they are front and center. Turns out that if you make your Instagram profile "private" pics don't post to your blog. So I fixed that little issue too.

Enjoy!!

Good Bye Summer, HELLO Fall

This past Summer ALL things were put on hold, except 2 major projects. Getting my husband to Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Motocross Championships and hosting a baby shower for my niece. Both were a pretty big deal, but fun.  Both took a lot of work and flexibility. I feel, a little bit, like summer just flew by. We didn't get to really enjoy the normal things that summer brings. I didn't go camping or sit at a single bon fire. I laid in the sun in my back yard, but never on a beach. I stood ankle deep in a river in Tennessee, but never saw the lake. Don't get me wrong, I'm not actually complaining, it just wasn't a normal summer, but nothing is ever really normal for us!!! I enjoyed the things we did do, but still missed the normal stuff. I was happy to host a baby shower, I enjoyed the process of making all the stuff, and was glad to be able to do the shower.   I enjoyed the trip to Tennessee and helping Ryan get there, {not that I was really much help} but it was a very stressful time, and I missed relaxing on a beach.

Summer is over and all of our big, important plans, have come to a conclusion. I am tired. My house is a complete disaster. My exercise program has gotten completely off track. I wouldn't take anything back or change a thing, but I plan to experience fall with a full intension. I'm going to enjoy every last thing that IS FALL! It is my second favorite season and I'm going to live it up.
So, I've come up with a plan to help me celebrate and live it up to the fullest. I'm creating a Fall Manifesto!!! YEP, I'm making a list of things I intend to do this Fall and making a scrapbook of it!!! I started a list last week, and here's what I've got so far...

~Carve Pumpkins
~Drink cider & eat doughnuts
~Eat LOTS of Honey Crisp apples!
~Go on a color tour
~Ride my new bike at least twice a week, every week until it snows {okay, maybe just until it gets cold}
~Rake leaves
~Go on a hay ride
~A deep thorough cleaning of the house
~Go on a shopping trip with my daughter, to buy all things pumpkin.
~Go on a weekend get away
~Buy & plant a few mums
~Attend a rock show
~Buy several new CD's
~Pull weeds & decorate my tiny, small porch for fall
~Make an attempt at baking some Gluten Free Pumpkin recipes Maddy pinned on Pinterest {yeah, that one may not work out so well, but we will try!}

Seems like a pretty simple list, but then again it could turn into a very big challenge to complete this list, either way, I am going to enjoy Fall!!!!
What's on your list...?????

Best Photo Moments of Summer 2013

As of this past weekend Summer is officially over. I am sad, I really do LOVE summer, it is my favorite season of all. I will miss the SUNshine and the heat. I do NOT look forward to the darkness and the cold, that winter will bring.  BUT Before the horrible winter weather shows up, I am going to celebrate what summer I did experience with a "Best Photo Moments of Summer 2013" post...

Tallon racing. Ryan giving advice. Portland{??}

Ryan

Ryan, Tallon the mechanic

Tallon holds the bike, while Ryan readies his gate

Gate choices require deep concentration

dogs enjoying the new camper

Maddy watches at Big Air

Maddy and that blurry red blob off to the right, that's Ryan

Stella and her rock

She's cold!!!

Midland Polka Dots. Ryan racing the Area Qualifier

Tallon elevating his ankle. His area qualifier ended within the first lap, when he was taken out!!
 Stella took good care of him though...

Ryan. Midland 

I hosted a StampinUp! party

Stella is pretty happy about life!!!

Thor Ali Stella playing outside

Maddy coached a travel volleyball team

planted these for baby shower, killed them all, replanted with mums later

the knee, AGAIN

Maddy and I cleaned out the attic. She narrowed down her stuffed animal collection to these lucky few.
 The rest were given to a good home.

We had lots of baby birds falling from their nests this summer. It was a constant battle to keep the dogs from chasing/killing them. 

a few pretty flowers 

We had a deer hanging out VERY close to the house.
I took this through my bedroom window screen, so it's not real clear

Big Air. Ryan & Stella the Moto Pup

She LOVES being at the track. And she's very well behaved there!!

Lots of trips to the Farmers Market!!

Regional Qualifier at Baja Acres
Tallon the mechanic with his Fanny pack!

The ribs. Not broken, but dislocated and tore the stuff that holds them together {??}
He raced anyway.

Baja

Maddy & Tallon watch some of the racing from the camper

Maddy & Ali watch too

Regional Qualifier at Baja Acres 

Ryan watches as he waits for his race

Baja. 

Ryan is going to the BIG SHOW!
Qualified for Nationals in 35+ class and 40+

flowers & rain

Check out that cool bug!!

4th of July we had a BBQ with the Elko family
Maddy got these little tanks, she loved them!!

the kids had bottle rocket fights...

The boys also set off fireworks. Ryan drank wine

Ryan and I went to Red Bud to watch the PRO Motocross

He loves that I'm always taking pics!!

Dungey.

Even when it's 90 degrees you train in a sweatshirt. Cuz it's gonna be hot in Tennessee...

taking lap times

New graphics for Loretta Lynn's

Heading to Loretta Lynn's Amateur Nationals

setting up camp.
Home for the next 8-9 days

walking the track.

Ryan and Tallon walk the track

we watch the buildings go up and the track be built

pretty amazing that this was a cow pasture just a few days ago

Today is HIS 22nd Birthday!! He drinks a mini bottle of wine to celebrate

Maddy, Chris, Tallon

swimming at the Creek. Maddy, Tallon & Jake Elko

tallon

maddy

Maddy & Chris

changing tires

Cicada's hatching everywhere!!! 

Ryan Chillin' at camp. About to assemble his new grill

Even on vacation, the workouts continue

Tallon, Chris Elko{Sr.}, Chris, Jake, Ryan

Red Bull Beach.

working on bikes...

Maddy & Chris

practice session

Tallon down in the mechanic area.
Must've gotten there plenty early, cuz it's usually full

Dorks!

My Red Bull tower entry bracelets 

Tallon loading up the fanny pack!

It's race time!!

Awesome!!!
Cicada hatching!!! 

Look how little his wings are...

Drying out, unfolding those wings!

And it rained, and rained and rained!!!

And they rode in the mud

Ryan tossed his goggles!

The bike broke down!
Tallon & Chris worked like crazy to fix it!!

And just when everyone thought it was fixed...
It wasn't!! Got the wrong parts from Honda tent

Ended up getting free parts from Honda and help from Naveen Honda team.

tryouts for talents show

Tallon busting out Wanted by BonJovi at Talent show.

He won. It was fun.

Dorks watching the racing.

Tallon holding the umbrella for Ryan on the line.
John Grewe snuck in  to offer Ryan some advice. 

talking race stuff. With bike sounds, of course.

These two...
They biked a thousand miles, they watched a ton of racing,
they helped Ryan and Jake, they broke the wheel off the golf cart,
they swam, they ate. Unless it was raining, they were on the GO!

and when it rained we read. 3 books in total.

I made baby shower invites

I got a new bike!!!

Baby shower monogram letters!

I made baby shower art

My niece Kiri had twin girls
Khloe & Karmen

Baby shower stuff

Sign in table at baby shower

door prize table

M&M's...

guest tables...

drink table

M&M's
in gray, yellow, and white!!

desert table

gift table

gift table decoration, and gifts...

FOOD 

opening gifts

Me & Maddy

Maddy helped with the shower, a ton.
and made awesome fleece blankets for girls

new yellow {clearance} shoes and gray toenails 

Karmen

Khloe

That's it for my summer. Not too bad. Good bye Summer, until we meet again...