Home on the Range

So we have been having quite an adventure here. It all started when I said to Adam, "I think I'm ready to do animals this year." This has been an ongoing discussion for a few years, with Adam and I tossing it back and forth, mostly with me not so much wanting to since I didn't think I would be able to eat them. I grew up with my food coming out of a package and not having to face the life part of the animals I knew as meat. However, in light of the treatment of animals of late, I've decided I would rather raise it myself so I know they have room to be happy and grow naturally. So the city in me is slowly giving out. Chickens grew into discussions about pigs and then turkeys. So now we have a regular ol' family farm. We have 24 chickens, 6 turkeys, and 2 pigs. I have to remind the kids (and myself) that they are food and not pets.

The Buff Orpingtons are meat birds and the dark ones, Barred Rocks are egg layers.

This has been great for the kids, who seem to enjoy the animals. Hannah, my little carnivore, is very excited about the idea of eating these poor animals, though I don't think she is as heartless as it sounds. We were moving the pigs yesterday (we do it every two weeks) and Adam said something about trapping them, and she got very upset. This made me feel a little better.

Jacob and Daniel like to help catch the chickens and turkeys. We have to do this everyday, morning and evening, because Adam is still working on the coop. I am excited because it is almost done. We have a large box in our cellar that currently houses them (it was made rather quickly as the day came and we were not as ready as we should have been). Sometimes Maddy comes to my rescue and helps too, especially as the birds have been getting bigger so it is more trips with the dog carriers.

Adam building the coop

Jacob and a turkey

Gathering chickens

Stone Soup

I was going through pictures and figured I'd post an assortment of the last 6 months or so. I admire those of you that are much better at this blogging thing. So in the last 6 months we've:

Had Jacob's birthday. It was Easter Sunday and yes, that is a peep in the middle of his cake.

We gathered at Grammie's house with the family for Easter dinner and an Easter egg hunt.

Jacob's baptism

He just can't help but make silly faces

An awards assembly at school that Hannah and I attended. Hannah danced with Maddy and her friend Paxton. Maddy made high honors and got her certificate then.

And Daniel's birthday

We had a pirate themed party because the boys have kinda been into that stuff. It was actually a combined party for the both of them. I made Daniel a bean bag toss (Adam helped with the back) and I did a treasure hunt with them. The pirate booty was a treasure chest of goodies to share with their friends. It was a big deal for them because it was their first big party with friends. They had a blast.

More to come later!

Little Bits

So nothing too deep here, just wanted to post a couple of fun pictures. So yesterday morning I walked past the living room and I saw these two boys just sitting next to each other. They both know how to read, but Jacob was reading to Daniel. Then I went back a few minutes later and they had switched, Daniel reading to Jacob. I thought it was really cute so I took a picture.

Then today we took a trip out to Orange to visit some friends and before we left, Hannah decided she wanted to bring Snowy (her favorite dog she got for Christmas - not real). She also decided that Snowy needed a helmet, which was a leftover skiing helmet. Sometime on the way home she apparently thought it was necessary to wear it (NO I am not that bad a driver!). Then she promptly fell asleep. It was so funny I had to take a picture. The funny thing is, I was able to move her blanket and Snowy out of the way and she was still sound asleep.

In the blink of an eye

In the space of time it takes to blink, you may find your babies doing things like moving up to high school, or pitching their first Little League game. You may also find that a week no longer is enough to do all the things that need to be done, let alone a day. I love watching my kids, seeing the stories they create, the carefree attitude or the serious business of being a kid. Despite the white hair that seems to be chronicling the passage of time, it amazes me how time stands still until the big moments come and you stand back and reflect on how all these little day to day memories define us. Life here really is short. So if everyone wonders where I have dropped off to because I do not keep up very well, each day I am stroking the paintbrush of my life, and watching the masterpiece unfold. This entails many things, that I am sure most of you also choose to do, like songs and stories, games, car rides to too many places, Little League, endless chores, laughing and goofing off to time outs and tears. Learning, growing and stretching. I love my life and the people I share it with. Here are a few pictures that share some of my life.

Daniel catching for the 1st time

Look at my giant to the left (not the coach)

Jacob's 1st game pitching

Preschool graduation, though she has another year

Maddy's 8th grade graduation

Have you seen laughter and tears at the same time?

I can't get this girl to stay out of water...

Hannah loves mud!

Most recent photo of my babies

Palmyra

Shortly after we came back from Girl's Camp we all went to Palmyra, New York. For a Young Men/Young Women trip the families were invited to camp on some 200 acres about 40 min. from Palmyra. It was beautiful and we were glad there was no rain! We left on Wed. night and came back Sat. morning. It was loads of fun.

Walking around

After we went to visit my grandmother in Indiana we thought we wouldn't do any more long trips with the kids (26 really long hours), but I really wanted to see the Pageant. So I told Adam I would take the boys and Maddy.  Hannah would stay with him because that would be too much for me to do on my own. He decided at the very last minute to go and I am glad he did because we all enjoyed it.

Fishing

Daniel's 1st fish (he caught 7)

Poor Jacob caught 0

Maddy is gonna play chicken
 (if she doesn't drown her friend 1st)

Canoeing

We had a pond to fish in and we did some canoeing (which I had never done before). Of course there was lots of land to hike on and we had to do s'mores over a bonfire. Maddy and I played a lot of games like Ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. Adam and the kids were looking for frogs when we were goofing off.

The last day we were there we went to the Palmyra temple. I stayed outside with the younger kids and walked around while Adam went in with Maddy.  It was very peaceful and lovely and the kidlets did surprisingly well. It is funny to see the variety in the clothes of my children. We forgot Hannah's dress. Then we toured the Sacred Grove.

Aw, how cute

Service project to say thanks

That night we went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant, which was a very interesting experience. Hannah slept through most of it but Maddy and the boys said they enjoyed it very much. A family that we knew participated this year and they shared how it all worked as far as "auditions" and practicing. (I am including a picture of the Doneys, Laura, for you to see.) It is amazing the way it all works and to see the end product, it is incredible. If you don't know and are interested, just let me know.

In the Sacred Grove

From the top of Hill Cumorah

The next day we cleaned up and left. It was a long journey (really it was about 8 hrs), but worth it.

Out of order Pageant pics here on out

 

The Doneys