The chicks' new digs

We're two weeks and two days into our chick venture. The kids are enjoying them. Jakin and Corban have morning and evening chick chores and I'm very glad about that. I'm still not feeling any warm and fuzzy chicken feelings. Perhaps some of my hesitance is because these chicks and their need for more permanent housing stand between me and my kitchen. Time spent building a coop isn't the same thing as time spent building kitchen drawers! But it's all good. Jack is working so hard all the time. The kitchen will come.

This temporary wooden box more than doubled the chicks' square footage. However, they can already flap their wings and get to the top of the box.





When we got the chicks, I told myself that I would pick one up every day. I knew that they would get more difficult to catch, so I wanted to keep up with them. I haven't picked one up in at least a week. They're fast and flighty and I think I would have a tough time trying to corral one of them to pick up. The kids can still do it, but it's getting more difficult for them, too. So far, Jack has led the way in overseeing chicken care. I think that task should eventually fall under my job description. I need to start my chicken care education!

Grandma's visit

We live far away from our families, so we're grateful for every chance we get to see them. But it's especially nice for us when our families are able to come to our house to visit. I suspect they feel the same way about us coming to their houses. I just enjoy sharing the routine of our daily lives with our families. My mom was here last week. In addition to fun times, it's also a huge help to have her here! Five kids, home school, house work - all of that seems more manageable when there another person here to help me! Come back soon, Grandma!

Big rocks, little rocks

This pile of rocks has been in our front yard since we moved in almost a year and a half ago. I've never liked it, but I didn't have any idea what we were ever going to be able to do with it. Our village public works department has solved that problem, both to our benefit and to theirs. You can sort of see an old rock retaining wall behind our pile of rocks. That's supporting the road and it needed to be secured. We happened to have a pile of rocks available for just such a project! The public works department asked if they could use our rocks to strengthen the wall. "Uhhhh, yes please."



After a day of work, there was already significant progress. The men working were very particular about where they put each rock.



The end result is a beautiful rock wall that spans the entire length of our front yard. This new retaining wall will certainly do its job. And these rocks now enhance our landscaping rather than create an eyesore. I'm not sure who got the better end of this deal. I think it's a draw. Truly a solution that benefits both parties. Cool, huh?



I keep looking outside, almost in disbelief. I can't believe that this wall is really there. I love it!


While the new rock wall was being constructed in the front yard, our stone mason was coincidentally here at the same to wrap the stone around the foundation in the front of the house. It will be nice to get this project finished up. I love what this stone (all from our property) adds to the house.

Six

Our big girl turned six last week. Six is getting to be grown up... kind of. Having two younger siblings means that Annie has a lot of responsibilities. But six is still a little girl. She still sits on our laps to listen to books (as long as our laps aren't being occupied by one of those younger siblings). She still plays dress up and dolls (well, with her American Girl doll). And she still wants to tell us every little thing about every little thing. It's a great age. And we love our little/big girl.

One very special gift Annie received was this homemade "Little House" dress and bonnet from Grammy. Lauren had already received her bonnet, but she opened her dress on Annie's birthday, too. Aren't the dresses beautiful? And aren't the girls irresistibly cute in them? So thought everyone at the coffee shop on the day of Annie's birthday. Grandma was visiting and took the four big kids to the coffee shop as a special outing on Annie's birthday. The girls wore their dresses and bonnets and made quite a sensation, I'm told.

Practicing their cursties


The girls were calling each other "Laura" and "Carrie" after a while. In fact, "Carrie" was yelling at "Laura" to open the door for her so that she could go outside. hmmmmm




I've already mentioned the little girl/big girl paradox. We also have the girly stuff/boy stuff mix going on in this house. Annie has two older brothers who have daggers that Grandpa made for them, so naturally, Annie wanted a dagger, too. Grandpa made hers a little bit more dainty and feminine, but it is still a dagger. I think Grammy was giggling to herself as she wrapped up a dress and a dagger for her sweet granddaughter's birthday!



It was so nice to have Grandma here to celebrate with us!


One of Grandma and Grandpa's gifts to Annie was a scooter. Green. Her (current) favorite color. Annie was very excited. And I think Corban may be breathing a sigh of relief that he won't have to share his scooter quite so often.



Annie's American Girl doll "Mary" (or "Catherine" as Annie has informed us of her new name) got a new outfit for Annie's birthday. Annie has been saying that Mary needed an Easter dress. whew. Now she has one!



New beach towel


One of our gifts to Annie was a fairy drawing kit. She can trace different parts of a fairy onto tracing paper. I was pretty sure Annie would like the gift, but I had no idea how much her older brothers would like it. Seriously. They ALL played with this gift for at least an hour on Annie's birthday. You know a gift is a hit when the older brothers of the six-year old girl have as much fun with the gift as the girl herself.

Weeeeeee!

We'll just start off with a picture of little sweet Aidan enjoying the weather.



We have been loving the beautiful weather this week. It's been a big week. Jack and I celebrated our 13th anniversary! And I'll post later about some happenings involving rocks, a visit from Grandma, chicks, and the birthday of a certain 6-year old girl. For now, the jumping off the big rock pictures.

Something new

The chicken revolution has made it to our home. Jack and I have been kind of sort of talking about maybe getting chickens someday. I think I've been pretty content with just talking about the idea. When Jack recently brought home a few books about raising chickens, I knew he was getting serious. He flew through the books and began to interview people in our lives who know about chickens. And then on Thursday, he came home with six 2-day old chicks. Here we go.

I'm not sure how I'm going to like these ladies. I haven't had a pet since I was about 3 years old. (My brother was allergic to the dog and cats we had. I vividly remember wondering why we couldn't get rid of the brother instead of the pets. Despite losing the pets for which I must have had at least some affection, I spent a very contented childhood without pets. And it was nice to have a brother!) I'm not anticipating loving these birds in the way that some people love the animals around their house. In fact, when I think about coordinating chicken care for the times we travel, it makes me grumpy about this new addition to our family. On the other hand, there must be some reason why the chicken revolution has come to be. I suppose some people really do like chickens. And I suppose that could happen to me. The kids are certainly enjoying them. Annie and Jakin were the first to dive in a start holding the chicks. Corban was much more tentative at first, but now spends as much time staring at the playing with the chicks as his siblings. Anyway, without further adieu..... I'm pleased to introduce....

Spot, JoJo, Fiester, Athena, Pop, and Chippy! And I'm very proud to say that not only do I know which is which, but I've even held them.

Aidan's new games

With four siblings, two parents, a houseful of stuff, and a steady influx of friends in and out of the house, there's always something or someone new for Aidan to play with. We had friends over for dinner last night. A couple of Annie's friends thought of pulling Aidan around in the dump truck. He loves it!


Big boy on Daddy's shoulders on a beautiful day outside




Aidan has discovered this low shelf of plastic cups and plates. I don't really have a problem with this relatively low level of destruction. Easy clean up.






I know I've said this before, but isn't that smile just the sweetest thing in the world? It's addictive!

March Madness

It was too nice outside this evening to watch the selection show, but the boys are eagerly filling out their brackets for the tournament.

Spring!

After waking up to the coldest morning we've had since November on Tuesday, the last two days have been glorious. Sunny and warm. And even people who enjoy winter (like our family) have to love days like this. We probably didn't do as much school as we should have but we've lived in New England long enough to know that spring isn't here yet. We can catch up on school for the rest of March and April when it's cold and raining. On days like these, we just had to be outside.

The boys had each built a snow fort last week. The game yesterday was to throw snow balls at the other's fort and try to knock it down while attempting to protect your own fort from the barrage of snow balls that one boy can unleash. It was funny to watch how serious the boys went at both the offense and the defense of this game.




The girls, and Aidan, and I hung out by the brook yesterday


Lauren is big enough to go higher on the rope swing this year


Today was even warmer than yesterday. We had lunch on the porch. Aidan sat in the exersaucer for about an hour and a half. I just kept giving him food and he just kept eating and jumping. He was very happy. And I was very happy. He was especially excited about the apple slice I let him gnaw on.





I don't usually end up IN any of our pictures. Here's the closest thing I have for now. Me and my little guy. And the sack of potatoes attached to my leg? I don't know what that bump on my right leg is....

Dr Seuss

My children and I have the great good fortune know some wonderfully creative and ambitious friends. My friend Julie (the same friend who totally spoils me teaching my kids science) has had an idea stewing around in her head to have a Dr Seuss party. She made it happen last week. Crafts, games, dressing up, and even green eggs and ham made for a fun morning!

The girls dressed up silly