Baby Chicks

Yes it's true! We have little baby chicks! Last fall I decided that I want to have chickens of my own to raise for eggs. I grew up with chickens and it only made sence when you think about food storage and such. When hurricane IKE hit last September, Ryan's sister was right in the middle of it. They were fine, but when they returned home, Walmart didnt have produce or dairy products for weeks because they couldn't truck anything in. It was hard for them to cook or make anything normal without eggs. So that's when I for sure decided that I wanted chickens. Since I had grown up with them- I thought, "I can do this!".

About a month ago some friends in my ward decided they all wanted chicks too, so we went in together and ordered them from a hen hatchery. They come in the mail; yes, you actually pick them up at the post office! They got here Tuesday and we have been having fun with them since!

Kate and Clark just love them and we go out to look at them at least a dozen times every day. They are pretty good about being soft, but I still catch them sticking their little paws in the box. Ryan has really taken a liking to them. He's been teasing me all along about getting them, mostly because he has to build the coup, but he was out there for about a half hour yesterday just watching them. It was cute- he even checked on them before we went to bed- just like he does the kids!
We did loose one today. I'm not sure why she didn't make it. Most likely from being transported here. I noticed that she wasnt doing very well today so I was watching her and then this afternoon I went out there and she was gone. It's sad, but I knew that was bound to happen.

I will to post more pictures as our 12 chickies get bigger!

I Finally Chopped it all Off!

Yes I did, I cut 10 inches of my hair off. I started growing it out about 2 years ago and about a year ago I decided that when I finally decided to cut it, I was just going to cut it all off. So it only made sence to grow it out long enough to donate it. So I did just that. I had grown quite attached to my hair and was really hesitant to cut it all off- but when I hated blowdrying it and I procrastinated washing it- I knew it was time to go. So here's the pics...

Before

This is after when I got home and then I colored it darker.

This Is Why I Love My Husband

I've read a lot of blog posts, one spouse praising the other, and it's about time Ryan got his fair share of the glory. Ryan is an amazing man and a great husband. He is the kind of guy that will and does do anything for me and our family. There are so many great things about him, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to put them all down on paper- plus I wouldn't want any of you to be jealous! There is just one little experience that I'd like to share with you that gives you insight into just one reason that I love this man.

Last night I had to go down to the church to do some canning, and would be gone for about an hour. Before I left Ryan said to me that he was kinda glad that he'd have some time alone with the kids, since he hadn't seen them much this week. So I went and did my thing and when I got home I found Ryan sitting down one one of the little kids chairs, playing with the blocks with Kate and Clark. So why is this so significant? First, to see this big man on this little chair was amusing, second that he actually had the patience to sit there for so long and build something with them, but the best part of all was that he had built this pretty good size house with the blocks! I love that he could actually build something with the blocks, because all I can do is build towers! I love that his creative mind is always at work, even when he plays with the kids. He is so good at playing with the kids because he actually plays with them! I'm not creative or patient enough to sit down long enough to come up with something. I love him because he is in construction and it shows through in everything he does, of all the things he could build with blocks, he builds a house! I'm so proud of him for how hard he works at his job and what a blessing that is to our family- that he still has a job in construction at this bad time in the economy.

So I just had to put a shout out to the best husband in the world! I love you Rye.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

The day after Christmas we decided to pack up everything but the kitchen sink and head up to the cabin. Three of my sisters and my parents decided to try to tackle the weekend with 2 two year olds! When we got up there Friday afternoon, it had just started to snow and the kids got to see their first snow storm. It was AWESOME! I love the snow- especially when it is coming down. There is just something so peaceful about falling snow. It is just such a nice change to see clouds and snow and actually have some cold weather. I miss the snow of Idaho and having a white Christmas- but having it the day after Christmas was just as good. Saturday the weather had cleared, but it was still really cold. It got to 0 degrees at night and didnt get warmer than about 25 degrees that day. But it was sunny- so it didnt feel that cold. We got the sleds out and had a great time sledding down the hill behind the cabin. Clark and Kate didnt like it so much- it scared them when other people would come down the hill and "crash" at the bottom. So they stayed up on the porch with Auntie Nancy for most of it. I had a great time and managed to get Ryan to go down a few times too. It was fun to see my Mom and Dad take their turns sledding. I guess you never get too old for some things! Sunday it warmed up quite a bit and the snow started melting, I just hope it doesnt all melt before we get up there again!

Clark on the porch Friday during the snow storm.

Kate with Nana

Daddy with Clark and Mommy with Kate

Way to go Paco!!

My nephew Wyatt

My niece Hannah- the only one brave enough to go on her stomach!

The peanut gallery(Ryan, Hannah, Nancy, Aimee and Paco)

Christmas

There's really not too much to say about Christmas- so I'll let the pictures do the talking.....

Clark opening presents with Daddy

Clarks breakfast- a chocolate Santa from his stocking

Clark playing in the new sandbox

Daddy showing Clark and Kate what to do in the sand box!

Kate in the sandbox

Kate at Grandmas with her new stroller and cell phone!

Just Like Daddy

Okland had their Christmas party last week and in addition to getting all day passes to the zoo and zoo lights that night, they gave each of the kids an offical Okland hardhat with their names on it! Kate and Clark love to wear their " hat like Daddy's" although I have not let them wear them out in public. Not because I don't think it's cute, it's because they are big and bulky and I would end up carrying them after 5 minutes. So as you can see, Kate usually has on her "pretty shoes" , a purse and her hard hat! Clark just does the usual boy thing and wears it when he's workin with his tools! I just had to share- I think it's too cute!

Life

Geeze Jel, update your blog already! I know, I know, I know. Life is just crazy, as I'm sure it is for everyone else. It doesnt help that everytime I sit down to blog I can't get my pictures off my camera and who wants to read a post without any pictures! So anyways I was going to write about my kids having to take their clothes off from the waist down everytime they go outside- but it's just not a cute without pictures of their bare butts. So maybe another day.
I have been really busy with just life in general. I feel like I have so much going on that I dont even have time to keep up with the normal day to day things. I acutally just got called to be the 'Activities Committee Chairman' at church and had to plan a Christmas party in 3 weeks for 200 people. So needless to say, I haven't had much time to myself. Plus I've been so BAH Humbug about Christmas this year- it's really been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit. I think it was because I was so busy Thanksgiving weekend, that I didnt have time to just sit and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season. I usually get my Christmas decorations up that weekend but was too tired after baking for a boutique and running the Turkey Trot. I just barely put up some decorations on Monday and dont have the energy to put the rest up. I debated for about a week whether or not to even send out Christmas cards. But I ordered them yesterday- so if you get one- it might just be after Christmas. I dont know if it's because money is tight and things all of a sudden seem way too expensive, but I just don't even want to buy a dang thing. So we will be having a very humble Christmas this year- which really is fine with me. We're just going to build the kids a sand box in the back yard and call it good. Gosh I sound depressing! Really life isnt that bad, but sometimes all the bad stuff piles up and just comes out! Like in the book "These is My Words" when Sarah just explodes on Savannah one day- that is me today! So anyways- I think I've vented enough, and if you actually read this post without a picture- you really are a good friend!