Cheepers

We got chickens!  Today Blake and Reade became fathers.  Piper became a chicky momma.

Here is video footage of them putting them in their makeshift nursery:

Firetruck Nozzle Hose didn't look good 10 minutes after we put her in her new home.  She was dead within the hour.  I showed Blake and Reade and Blake said, "Oh Reade, it's your chicky that died."  Reade fought back tears, tilted his head and said, "We just need to give him some medicine."  He learned that sometimes it is too late and I promised him a replacement.

I headed back to the grange and we now have Firetruck Nozzle Hose II.

The other chicks are named: (B) Hop Lego Chicken, (P) Quail, (S) Donut, (A) Sensei

Ours

I got one of my very own. I can't wait to frame him.

Preschool Patience

Monkey Business School

I have been super busy interviewing preschools for Reade.  I have seen two and have been frustrated each time I get back home (okay, 5 minutes into the open houses).  The top-notch preschools are all full for fall and have huge waiting lists so I am kind of limited in my choices.  I have three more to tour so I am sure I will find something interesting in the end.  Maybe the school of our dreams?

Mr. Postman

I am back home and Andrew showed me what Blake had been up to while I was gone.  He wanted to write a letter to the mailman so Andrew helped him create a message.  They put it in the mailbox and Blake got to lift that little red flag.  This is what it said:

 Blake received this note back:

Cutest thing ever.

Birth Days

My sister threw one heck of a joint birthday party for Reade and my Nana. We ate pizza, ate cake, then headed outside for goodbyes. A police car was driving by and they saw Reade on the sidewalk with his balloons. They stopped and offered for Reade to take a picture in the squad car. That was so nice of them, but the policeman lifted Reade up and he freaked out and started crying. He then fell asleep with his "friends from my party."

Decorating

Things are finding their place around here.  I still am in search of a bookshelf so that my books can make their way out of boxes.  I got a country hutch so our alcohol cabinet will soon be set up.  I think I need to add some salvaged doors to the front of it so that my kids don't kick a ball and knock off all the wine glasses.  I am always looking for an excuse to get back to the building salvage store here in town. I fly back to Sacramento with Reade and Piper tonight (yes, alone - God help me) so that my Nana and Reade can party together since they are kindred birthday spirits.  I heard a rumor that is is 90 degrees there.  I have gotten quite accustomed to my 52 degrees with a touch of wet.

Reade is Three

The middle one turned three today.  He steals my heart a little bit more every day that passes.  It blows me away that he can be so painfully shy at times, while having a complete understanding about who and what is around him.  Usually, kids hide behind a mother's leg, but Reade will stand tall in his surroundings just hoping that everyone will pass so he can get back to what he was doing in that space. He finds the world amusing and has a happy disposition.  The way he runs cracks me up because he adds a little hop in there because he finds it so fun to move his body so wildly.  Things he likes to do include: throwing things, talking/screaming at such a loud volume his head must reverberate, play and create fireman situations, read, stack things and organize things into lines or creative scenes, and ask for a cup of milk and a cup of water at the same time.  His skinny legs and tiny bottom and ears pull at all of my DNA to protect this kid so I can make sure I get to see what kind of things he will do in all of his future days.  Play on Readey Peadey.