My Amazing Gare Baby

When we moved in to our house, we were surrounded by dirt, as was everyone else around us, of course. I had just thought we'd throw some grass seed down and call it good. I even thought about not installing sprinklers. I thought I'd be able to hand water the lawn every day.

But Gary had a vision.

Soon, Gary was out working in the yard until three in the morning , shaping our yard by hand with nothing but a shovel. (Is that a contradiction? Oh well.) He did use a bobcat to shape the hill in back, but that was only after our neighbor rented one and said Gary had to use it because he said, and I quote, "Gary's crazy!" Gary installed all our sprinklers and planted all our grass and installed our perfectly level retaining wall in the front yard for our plants.

This spring, after I got home from the hospital, it became very clear that this was the year we'd have to break down and get a fence. A few weeks after I got home, Ben escaped out the front door. He had just gone around to the side of the house, but I had to bring him back in so I could know where he was. When I got in, I collapsed on the couch and couldn't move for seven hours, and even then, Gary had to help me up to bed. I just didn't have the energy to chase escaping kids all day, and they were going crazy being stuck in the house. Gary made it possible for us to get the fence this year, and it has saved my life, and the kids' lives- probably literally.


And, after years of having a beautifully shaped gravel patio, (which was really great 'n all, what with the neighborhood cats using it as a litter box and tiny rocks getting stuck in little people's feet) Gary and some friends and family got their wheelbarrows, poured the concrete, smoothed it out, stamped it and colored it for next to nothing. Oh sure, it has some personality, but I love it so much. The boys ride their bikes, scooters, and skateboards on it all day. We get to eat outside on nice nights, and with the fence, the boys can play without my constant fear and supervision, and I assume, the annoyance and nervousness of the neighbors when they have to be constantly looking out for my boys who are so drawn to the luxurious wide, open space the road has to offer. I promise, I teach them not to play out there!!

I do have some "before" pictures that would make this more interesting, but I just had to say how amazing and hard-working Gary is. He just makes things work, and he does it all with a smile, even when he's covered in sweat and mud and dirt and dried concrete and mosquito bites, and he does it all because he loves his family. We love him too! Thanks Gary! You're the best husband and dad in the whole entire world, and you're a real good-looker, too!