Abundant Recompense Copy

We got some new chicks! They're cute as can be and thus far we only suspect that one of the seven is a rooster. We decided to diversify a little bit from the last batch. We didn't get any leghorns this time around because, although they are egg-producing machines, they're also pretty skittish and don't like to be touched. We wanted to go for some that are friendly, especially for Bryn the chicken lover's sake.  So here's the tally: two Rhode Island Reds, two Buff Orpingtons (my pick), two Barred Rock (Nate's pick and one of these is likely a rooster), and an Americana - also known as an Easter Egger, because it lays blue eggs! They're all supposed to be friendly, cold hardy, and good, consistent egg producers. We kept them inside in a giant tupperware for about a week until the suspected rooster figured out how to get out, run around in our library, and poo everywhere in it. Sick. Also they caused our children to wake up at like 6:15 every morning. Not o...

We took Leah in for her nine month check up last week. She is healthy and smart and doing great. height - 45 cm (80%) weight - 18 lb 14 oz (61%) And her current tricks: - love, love, LOVES books - gives high fives - a big fan of the vaccuum - loves baths - gives hugs by leaning her head over and touching people with it - waves - very good at playing "roll the ball back and forth" - claps her hands -dances - she is fascinated by animals. Fish, the cat, chickens, you name it. She gets really excited when she sees them. It's really cute. - has her two front teeth on the bottom and is working on her fangs on the top. Yeah. She's gonna be a vampire baby ere long.

Last Friday started like any other day. The kids and I got ready and got to work on chores. Addison and I suited up and headed out into the snow to feed the chickens and break the ice on their water and give them something to drink. The chickens have dealt with winter admirably. They don't like snow on their feet and have a hard time walking in it when it's deep, but they're always up with the sun and out to greet us when we go to take care of them. Nate shoveled them a nice path and put some fresh straw out for them to stand on, and they really enjoy that. They pretty much just spend their whole day standing there in the straw. A couple days earlier some dogs from down the road had gotten loose and come bounding into our yard. Dogs and chickens don't exactly mix, and I heard frantic bawking as we were getting home from the grocery store, so I sprinted to the back yard and had to chase the dogs off with a rake. The poor chickens were scared to death and had all headed f...

Bryn is thrilled to be a Sunbeam this year. A couple weeks ago, she got to give her first talk in Primary. She was excited about it (she memorized Addison's primary program part with him last year.) We spent practiced a little every day and had fun coloring the pictures together too.

Well Leah is nine months old today. How to describe her? Adorable, pleasant, smart. She pulls up, walks along whatever she's pulled up on, plays the piano after pulling up on it. Her sleeping is improving greatly - usually just getting up once a night to eat, which I accept gratefully. She loves to eat and is still nursing! She loves looking at pictures of our family. She loves her siblings. She has one tooth, with another one that is stubbornly refusing to break through. She loves to play "roll the ball back and forth," occasionally substituting a plastic potato from the kids' kitchen if no ball can be found. Peekaboo is another favorite. And she lives for bath time. We hadn't planned anything special to commemorate this day. Just an extra squeeze, perhaps, and some vaccines on Monday. We did give her spaghetti for the first time last night, come to think of it. She dug. She had bigger plans, though. She saw her chance this afternoon while I was spaced out readin...

Leah and I just got back last week from my Christmas trip to Georgia. The weather stunk for traveling, but other than that, it was absolutely wonderful. A huge thanks to Nate and his mom for taking care of the big kids while Leah and I ran away for the weekend. I loved seeing my family and spending some good time with them. I loved the place. Georgia just feels so homey, and the temperatures were in the fifties! We played basketball and went for a walk outside! Definitely a far cry from home sweet arctic tundra. I loved showing Leah off and letting her have some one on one time with my family. Here are pictures from the trip. Ryan photobombing Leah and Jackson Leah and Kaylyn Movie night! Juliann, Jackson, Aunt Shauna, and Leah Kaylyn and Leah Ryan and Kaylyn playing with Leah Sewing with Mom Ryan the goofball Leah loved her bed and slept great most nights Teething on celery Again, Ryan the goofball Getting to spend some time outside was great. This is the leg-powered go cart. Bri and ...

Addison has officially begun piano lessons! He is really liking it so far. Nate's his official teacher that he has his lesson with every Saturday. I crack the whip during the week. Addison and I are both learning a little patience as we struggle to get through ten minutes of practice every day. He's catching on, though, and doing very well. Addison also just finished up his second year of swimming lessons. He absolutely loves to swim and can actually do it a little bit after this second class! He is not afraid of the water at all and will dive to the bottom for rings and roll over from tummy to back and back to tummy now. It's been nice for him to have a place to get all his winter-time wiggles out. It's amazing how much better he eats, acts, and goes to bed after swimming for half an hour. Bryn cannot wait until she is four and gets to actually swim during swimming lessons instead of just watching.

The temperature has finally risen above freezing, so Addison and Bryn and I ventured outside during Leah's nap this morning to do a serious construction project. Presenting . . . Snow Chicken!   Complete with eggs in a nest.  The kids were very concerned that the eggs stay warm, so they sat on them. And here are a few other photos of our wintry fun as of late. An actual snow chicken This girl lives to eat snow. An attempt at a snow house. The snow was too powdery, though. Must've lost a mitten.