Nana's in Memphis!

Carter's happy face when he sees his Nana - notice he is forward facing in his carseat. He's so big!
Carter likes to wallow on Nana's bed.
"Batter stance!"

Carter looks at the neat tic tac toe puzzle on a big toy in one of Memphis area's beautiful parks.
Matching up the pictures.
Next to balls, Carter loves books most! He will sit and read by himself for long stretches of time. Such remarkable focus!

Is there anything cuter that a Carter?

Carter spends some quality time in the sandbox.
This cool toy has a "water wheel" that spins as sand pours over it.
Carter can really swing the bat!
Carter patrols the used car lot as we wait f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the car to have its oil changed and the two new tires mounted... Carter amuses himself with the maze toy (still at the car dealership...)

The "New" Table

We bought this cute white-washed oak table with a tile top along with the four matching chairs in Billings many years ago. It looked darling in Billings and pretty good in the 414 Colorado Street house, but it was not well suited to the new house... This picture is a couple of years old featuring Juan and Joe just as they are finishing a dinner of Cortez Chicken and Wilcoxson's Fudge Bars.

So after much searching the the perfect replacement tiles, we moved the table and chairs to the garage work area.
The chairs go from white to black.This table will be transformed from ordinary to spectacular!
The salesman had said, "All you have to do is pop out the tiles when you're ready for a new look." Yeah, right...
The tools required to "pop out the tiles"...

The table also gets a couple of coats of black paint.

A layer of tile padding is needed before laying in the tiles.We moved the table back inside and placed it on a new round rug. Notice the sage-y green cushions on the chairs.

Another look at the re-finished table and chairs.

This shot lets you see the lovely black grout / caulk that separates the tiles.

Rolling out the Grass!

This Spring, Trevor, our landscaper, has been laboring on our yard. Last Fall, he started with the sprinklers and this Spring, he continued his work. Using the landscape plan Ric created, Trena and I scouted out and bought trees and shrubs for phase one of what will most likely be a five-year endeavor. Take a look...

Pallets of sod ring the yard.Prepping the earth for a covering of grass. Those rolls are HEAVY!
Laying it down like strips of wallpaper.
It takes a village....

Erin and Carter try out the new grass.Juan's primary request was grass you could roll on.

"Cabana Boys" Help with Landscaping

Trena plants a red-colored clump of Pampas Grass. Trena works on the Daphne while Kaden drags

the tarp over to Morgan.
Morgan digs the hole for our matching Daphne.
Kaden hauls over the wheelbarrow loaded with a perfect mix of Colorado earth and potting soil.
Morgan is the hardest working cabana boy ever!

Landscape Phase One -- Done!

The front yard with maple tree and cranberry cotoneaster bushes.A closer view of the front showing the Dwarf Spruce, Carol Mackie Daphne (a shrub with wonderfully fragrant flowers), and vinca ground cover. The shasta daisies were planted last year and the dead-looking, lank leaves are the remnants of the crocus that bloomed last Spring
Looking at the side yard from the patio. The tree is a honey locust, flanked by shrubs and exotic grasses.

The backyard.Front view with the completed path.

Side view - you see this when arriving from the west.

Mama Joe, Mrs. Joe and the Twins Visit Cortez

Rez wants to get acquainted.

Papa Joe with Tessa and Madison bathed in a celestial light!
Tessa and Maddie are ready for work with

camo t-shirts (lace-trimmed) and Carharts.
Joe and Sarah relaxing in the Living Room.
Chris, aka Mama Joe, chats up the happy couple while the babies nap.