Well, we are on our way to "better first impressions" as Randy puts it! For mother's day, i had the choice of getting "some" flowers for the yard or getting a kitten. I have to admit, i had to think about it for a few days. I really want(ed) a cat, since Opie has been gone now for almost 2 years, & i am finally feeling the urge for another kitty to love, but honestly, i have enjoyed not having to get attached to something else right now, & not having to worry with the maintenance of another animal. So, i chose "some" flowers. What Randy didn't know was exactly what he got himself into! But we have been needing a better first impression in our yard for a long time! The big trees have gotten SO big that the entire front yard has become mostly shade, thus killing most of the grass. So I (with MUCH help from my friend Theresa who has the brightest green thumb around) made a plan for the front yard. One thing constantly led to another & before i was done, i had the plans to revamp the look of the whole yard, rather than just get "some" flowers. Today was "D" day & since they called for thunderstorms & rain showers, & we found out that Randy would be working this weekend also, we decided we had better get a head start last night.
Then we moved onto planting all the MANY shrubs & hostas we bought. This included 6 hostas, transplanting one hosta, splitting another hosta that we already had, planting 2 gardenia bushes, 4 new azaleas (which i forgot to take a picture of), a beautiful hydrangea bush, & 4 purple lorapetulum! 
I started with the pruning (which i am ashamed to admit was so incredibly overdue!! I was amazed at just how much difference that made alone!!) while Randy tilled up the area that we were going to be planting shade grass. I trimmed 3 of the 4 japanese maples, all 3 myrtles, as well as several (poplar or oak?) trees. That pretty much took care of all our daylight hours last night ( & i was incredibly sore just from that this morning when i got up!! So out of shape!)
Then this morning, i took Jackson over to Meredith's house because she invited him to see Sesame Street Live (so sweet & more on that later once she sends me pics), & once i returned we got straight to work!
We started off transplanting several shrubs, including a lost/forgotten azalea that was basically buried in leaves & still alive (pray for this poor bush!) as well as 3 shrubs that we found in random natural areas along the sides of the yard. 
Then we moved onto planting all the MANY shrubs & hostas we bought. This included 6 hostas, transplanting one hosta, splitting another hosta that we already had, planting 2 gardenia bushes, 4 new azaleas (which i forgot to take a picture of), a beautiful hydrangea bush, & 4 purple lorapetulum! Later this afternoon, Randy planted grass seed & then we finished off with transplanting all of the 5 fire bushes that surrounded one of the japanese maples & moved them along the side of the driveway where we pulled/dug out these "ugly bushes" as we have labeled them- they are some kind of cedar i think. Here's one:
We still aren't finished but have made a huge dent in the work. We were unable to transplant one last "tree-like" shrub that is growing into one of our boxwoods, because it is housing a hive of bees right now. And we have to go back to Lowe's to get about 4 more hostas for the larger natural area & 2 more purple lorapetulum for the area in front of the porch. (I also want to plant some annuals for color, but we will have to see if i get burnt out first!) Then we will need to mulch the entire 2 huge areas in the front to make them the official natural areas (that is a days work in itself!) 
We worked so hard all day (we literally had dinner around 8:30pm!) & the kids were troopers too enduring all the outside time & getting involved. Jackson especially enjoyed watering the plants for me with a little bucket once he got back from his morning outing. I let the boys play in a big tub of water i placed in the sidewalk with toys in it. This kept Eli entertained most of the morning & then again once Jackson got home & he was back up from his nap. They ate an incredible amount at dinner too which was probably due to all the work outside! Of course they were incredibly nasty like us, so they had to get baths, etc before bed so it has been one LONG day ( & i still stayed up to post this- i must be the energizer bunny or something- or just devoted to this blogging thing!) I will post the pictures of the fun the boys had in the yard with us tomorrow! I am too tired to do it tonight!!
And this is the view if you look to the left out of the door of the camper- surrounded by water!!
Our view from the boat...
We had a resident goose which made his rounds each morning & got really close. Eli especially enjoyed pointing to him, "talking" about him, & throwing food at him (which NEVER made it to the poor bird). While the bird was a little precarious of us, he still got pretty close depending on what was offered (French Fries are not his favorite!)
The first day was pretty windy & chilly, so our activities were limited to fishing on "our" rocks, & digging worms for the guys. The little ones really got into this & i was surprised that they would touch them!
After the first day the days got really warm & the kids really enjoyed playing in the water. The days activities revolved around boat rides, water play, "mowing" the water, & eating!! Of course, there was also lots of bike rides & roasting of marshmallows! Here are LOTS more pictures to feast upon.....
