The Long Trip (Part I)

When Mike got the job here in Utah, we discovered that in a 3 1/2 week period of time he would be gone training, being trained, on work trips that we could not follow him in during most of June. As I hadn't seen family in almost a year, we decided I would jump ship for the same period of time, journey back to California and visit with family and friends. Of course, being prudent and not telling people the house was vacant for a month was another a decision we made, so I have not blogged.

The kids really missed their dad. I didn't think it would affect them as much as it did, but they loved the conversations they got to have on the phone with him, cried at times that they missed him and were so happy to be home with him when we got back. It was a great discovery. I think they would miss me that much if I was gone that long...I am hoping more...but don't tell Mike. It just happens to be my full time job, so I hope it would have a bigger impact. At the same time, I would enjoy a nice cruise alone with my husband, but that is another subject.

Before we left we tied up a few loose ends. First there was some gardening that needed to be done. This is the front flower bed. It had flowers, but I felt it was a little anemic for my tastes. I have been looking forward to having my own gardening space for awhile. Next year I am hoping to put curbing by the entrance, starting at the closest corner of the cement below and then curving it around to the front corner of the house. Maybe even the back corner. It is a little sad back there. Then I will put in some nice bushes that will help the front window not look like a hanging space ship.
Here is the final product. I put in a Japanese Maple that will get about 10-11 feet tall. I moved all the pansies to the edge...saved some money there. Put in some more annuals and closer to the middle a bunch of perennials. It makes me happy to look out at my flowers.
This is the same place from the back. The backyard had a flower area also...you just couldn't tell. Getting all the grass out that had grown through the landscaping tarp took me most of a Saturday. Here is the back yard one. It is a little more anemic...I will add more perennials next year. I took out the "volunteer" tree they had let grow in this one also. It is still a vast improvement. The only problem I am having now is that because this is an aspen, there are bugs feasting on my flowers. I need to spray them to keep them healthy/alive.
Katie put flowers in her hair that had come out while I weeded hastily. It was very cute...
Before we left we also had to celebrate Christian's Birthday early so that Mike could be a part of it. Although that ended up being very confusing for him...it was what we did. We just did a really simple birthday cake with ice cream, opened presents and sang to him. He loved it. He got spoiled at Grandma's house when she wanted to make a cake for him there too. She didn't want him to feel unloved. It was a shared with one of his cousin, but it was all his as far as he was concerned. Katie is wanting three celebrations this year too. Life isn't fair though...
Christian lost a lot of teeth in the last month. On the "celebration day" he was sporting his Tow Mater look as the tooth loosened and stuck out. It is now gone.

Here is a little video from his party. Katie made up a little song for him.


(To be continued...)