We're really, truly still alive.  We struggled through December- 2 birthdays and Christmas do me in for a while, and it's taken me this long to get back into the swing of things. 

The boys are growing by leaps and bounds.  We outfitted Gabe (now 8) in new clothing in the fall, but he has grown several inches over the last 3 months, and everything is too small, so a winter shopping spree is soon to come.  Apparently, a size 3 shoe in children's equates to about a 5 in women's sizes, because my Mom's Timberland hiking boots fit him perfectly!!   Joe (6) is all arms and legs, and has taken an interest in dancing lately.  He jumps into the air and lands in a full split, twists his body into unimaginable positions (he is super-flexible) and makes up dance moves and gives them names, like "The Pretzel" or "The Backwards Man."

Home construction is at a stand-still, though we are far from finished.  Plans are  underway to add on to the chicken house, possible building a run and another larger house for more hens.  We can't keep up with the demand for eggs. 

Our rooster, Telemachus, has provided much entertainment of late.  The boys discovered, quite by accident, that he will chase a soccer ball across the yard.  When rolled in front of him, he runs up to it, kicks it, chases it, and kicks it until it's out of his way.  I guess he sees it as a threat to "his girls,"  as the boys call the hens.  

Our chickens were also the recipients of a vicious hawk attack several weeks ago.  I was sitting at the kitchen table when I spotted a flurry of activity from the corner of my eye.  I turned and saw an enormous hawk struggling with one of our small hens.  I hit the window, then ran outside, screaming like a mad-woman.  The hawk didn't let go until I was within 8-10 feet of her (it was so big- we think it was a female).  The hen survived, but is now missing most of her tail feathers.  Well, the rooster was frantic.  The other hens must have run  for the woods when the hawk attacked, and 2 of them came back  within the hour, but the other 3 went missing for several hours.  The boys were certain that they had been attacked as well.  Logically, it didn't make sense, but we searched and searched, to no avail.  We gave up and went inside.  I was researching hawks on the computer when I heard the rooster, making funny noises, and we ran onto the porch and saw him running down into the neighbor's yard, where his girls were emerging from the woods.  He chased them back into our yard, straight into the chicken coop.  It was quite dramatic.  Gabe said, "Mom, I think I'm gonna cry.  He sure loves his girls."

We are planning a long-awaited Texas trip for late Feb./early March.  Angel hasn't been home to see his extended family in almost 3 years.  It's a 19-hour drive, not exactly a picnic with young children, but the boys are super-excited.  We'll make stops along the way, and hopefully get to spend some time at the beach on South Padre Island.  I am looking forward to Gulf shrimp, though.