Last birthday post, I promise!! Thye boys had a blast at their party and spending time with their grandparents and uncle. They got some things they will really enjoy using. Lots of art supplies, legos, sciency-stuff: butterfly, frog and aquasaur habitats, k'nex, the kits they picked out from the Montessori Services catalog- my mom got them the Egg slicing kit, peeling a carrot, and the grinding (Mortar and pestle), plus the big baking accessories for them to share. I was pretty happy with their selections- I must admit I have gotten a little picky on what I want them to play with, and it doesn't help that Paul's family is a battery-operated family. There was one thing I am not too happy with- and it wasn't even for the b-day boys!! Paul's mom and grandmother have also started the tradition of bringing the NON-birthday boy a present. The 3 older got one on Lakin's and Lakin got some yesterday. It may not be that bad, except that my MIL called me and asked me before Lakin's b-day if I wanted them to bring something for the other boys and I told her NO, I didn't want that started. She said she just wanted to make sure, but then showed up with presents (3 total for each). I just don't like it. They need to learn that it's not always about them and somedays are special for others. If they feel left out- which I don't think my boys would- then tough! Anyway....back to the other thing I wasn't happy about- Lakin's un-birthday gift:

I made it 7 years without owning anything like this. It's the new extreme Tickle-Me Elmo. Yuck! They of course find it funny. I doubt it will take more than a week before I can stuff it in the closet though. Really the only character stuff we own is the Thomas the Tank Engine wooden trains. Nothing else, and I like it that way!!!

Rylan and Paul also went out last night to pick up the replacement chicks. They are cute. Easter Egg chicks. Hopefully both girls! They are cute though- they boys love having babies in the house! Rylan seems okay...he did get a little teary eyed yesterday when my dad asked him about Shadow and wouldn't talk about it.

This is HIS chick. So far nameless. She looks a little like Phoenix did.

And here is the 2nd one. She's a little more flighty right now, but hopefully will calm down with 4 pairs of hands wanting to hold her all the time.

Today my son turns 5.

Happy Birthday, Cale!

Happy Birthday to me.....

Today I turn 28....

Handmade cards,birthday wishes and 4 smiling faces make every birthday a good one

On Monday we headed back up to Townsend to swim and fish- although it was too hot to fish and the algae bloom in the lake made it not too inviting, but we did swim. A goal this summer was to get the boys swimming. Rylan, up until this year, as been very scared of the pool. But now he can walk the length of this pool (4ft at it's deepest) and he is relaxing a bit more. BUT still not enough to swim. Cale on the other hand paddles all over in his water wings and wants to learn. I told them they are both taking lessons in the fall if it doesn't happen in the summer and they have a reward for learning too. So this week we got them some kick boards and they helped a lot- got their bodies up in the water. And when they saw a 3 yr old jump in and swim under water both immediately dunked!! I was so pleased with that since the week before it took 10 min of reasoning to get Rylan to dunk his head.

Now this little boy.....he fell off the step on the 4th of July and went under for a second- not even under he was bobbing with his eyes out.....he didn't even choke. But he got scared. I was sitting right next to him, but looking on my otherside....turned around to his eyes peering out. So last week he cried and cried and refused to get near the pool. He did finally sit on my lap on the top step. This week he sat on the first step in by himself and thanks to a big beach ball and Lakin throwing it- he came out into the water with me- nails digging in....but out in the water.

And this one just floated around....chasing a beach ball....dunking his face in the water in front of him....

And today when Rylan and Cale were out playing with the chickens....Lakin and Cohen made bubbles....2 buckets of water, 2 whisks, 1 hand beater and some soap. It took awhile for him to work the beater fast enough to get a good foam....but soon the bowls were overflowing. They had a blast. And were covered in bubbles. Cale came over later and threw bubbles all over the walls and glass door. Then they dumped them and paraded around in the foam. Rylan was too good for this activity....it might get him dirty??

We also did a chemical reaction experiment today....forgot my camera...but they experiemented for awhile. I set out baking soda, paking powder and corn starch. And water, lemon juice and vinegar. All unlabled (although the liquids were easy to guess). They we tested each possibility for a reaction. Cornstarch made none. They were suprised when they discovered that water and baking powder produced a reaction. We talked about baking and the bubbles that cause rising. We also talked about carbon dioxide and it's uses and dangers. Then we made dancing popcorn. Back when Cale 2 or 3 he wanted to make dancing popcorn all the time. He vaguely remembered it....but they all had fun watching the kernals dance and dropping more vinegar or baking soda in to make more bubbles.

And finally...since I took away a lot of their toys...including their plastic car garage....they have a renewed interest in the wooden unit blocks. They are all about the monster trucks right now so they have been making tracks, ramps, garages, etc....Today Rylan made a huge high rise hwy for them during quiet time. But yesterday they built this:

(Good thing I took a picture when I did, since hurricane Lakin knocked it down a second later trying to drive up it). They specifically asked me to photograph it so we could show my brother- Uncle Justin- they love to build with these when he visits. So Uncle Justin- if you read this- the above building ramp is for you.

I really like this picture. Maybe because getting my oldest to hold a pen the right way was torture- he was heading on 5 before he did, or maybe because this hand looks like it belongs to someone much older than a 14 month old...

And Lop- who is the most adorabe bunny

1 of 3 loaves I made yesterday, from a recipe I completely threw together. It tasted delicious too...and I used 5 of our many dozen eggs

The passion flower that sprung up in our compost section a few years ago. It is beautiful, and I have sucessfully trasplanted at least one into my flower bed this year

I really don't know how they can tell them all apart. The red-stars all look the same to me and Rylan gets very exasperated when he has to tell me who is who all the time, or when I can't tell him which one of the 5 are in the nests. They are so good with the birds. They go out and tote them all around the yard. Have chicken "races". The birds just let them pick them up now without a chase.  

We got 15 eggs today. Just over half are laying. We are going to try and sell some of the extra dozens we get. But the boys are eating them up too and it's nice to know they are getting more protein in them now. Now if I could only get the moody one who has spent all day laying with a lightbulb in a very bad spot to get up. She lays her egg then sits on it for hours. She even steals other eggs if one happens to jump over next to her. We'll have to watch her....she'll be the one to go broody and I can guarantee that with no roosters in sight there will be no hatching!

We've been homebodies this week, our schedule is virtually  non-existent. But even at home we have eventful days....

Last Thursday our family grew once again. We welcomed Peter and Lop into our home....

They are SO cute and the boys adore them. Currently they are in our playroom, but we may move them outside when the heat wave ends.

On Sunday we had another chicken jump the fence. Once again I looked out to see the dogs and a mess of feathers. When I ran out the dogs came to me, so after locking them inside I went to survey the damage. She was on her back, legs up, her neck and head bent underneath. She was breathing. I am NOT good at this sort of thing. I don't have the stomach for it. So I ran in and banged on the bathroom door until Paul got out of the shower. Luckily he was home still and he is good at this sort of thing. He looked at her, pulled her leg a little to flip her over and she jumped up and ran. She was bleeding and limping. After I finished freaking out we got her into our dog carrier and inside. Her neck had clotted but had/has a pretty big wound. Just the skin though. We kept her in for 2 days, before setting her back with the rest of the flock. She is still limping and we clean and put neosporin on her neck everyday- at least she's got a naked neck to start with (Turken). She's okay though...

The chicken attack and the fact that Rylan and I  spend most of the evening between when the littles go to bed and dark chasing chickens who jump the fence, Tuesday morning was spent at Lowes. Buying posts and the most inexpensive barrier we could find- deer netting. Tuesday evening Rylan and I attatched a few posts to the fence and strung the netting up....it was a quick job considering Lakin and Cohen were whining until we stopped half way through, but so far we haven't had anymore jumpers. Ao I feel safer now. I just need to train our dogs to protect the chickens if that is possible and get the neighbors to keep their dog out of my yard....

1. I  **think** we now have 5 chickens laying or trying to. One egg was a complete failure that consisted of a squashed shell only. But since last Sunday we have had 10 eggs!! Today Saddle Bags decided the nests weren't good enough. She jumped the wall in the coop and found a corner under a leaning board and on top of an empty trash bag. She's lucky the dogs didn't get her since the doors were opened at the time. After a long while we heard her honking. The egg was huge- well for being only 6 days into the whole process- it was as big as a store large egg.

2.  Today Cale made us Banana Bread for dinner.

He has this little baking set with recipe cards. He loves to bake and he has finally mastered the hand mixer. He was very proud to be able to do all the mixing, pouring and even put them into the oven by himself. The most excitement came in the middle. The cracking of the egg. He cracked the forementioned big egg and found this:

This discovery was HUGE. I have told them about double yolks before but they have never seen one. They even called Dad at work to tell him about it! When I was younger I was a little put off by these. If I happened to cut open a hard boiled egg with a double yolk I would usually refuse to eat it. To be honest, it is still a little freaky. But mixed up in bread it was fine- and made for a very yellow banana bread!

3. We also had these for dinner:

It was only like 3/4 of a cup. But it is the first time we've ever had enough to bring in. And since the attack of the squash bugs have left our zucchini wilted and they are moving in on the cukes too....this and the fresh cherry tomatoes we picked are almost all we are getting right now.