Time Together / Chicken Coop Mostly Done

The kids have been off track this past week.  The weather has been beautiful and I have been a bit more tired.  We have spent most of our time at home just being together! 

One Day #2 Boy did all the boys hair... parted down the middle with a spike at the back

Who does that remind you of?  For me it was Alfalfa from Little Rascals

playing pass

We have enjoyed playing with cousins and neighbors.  The children have also done a ton of reading, origami (mostly #2 Boy and I), and playing outdoors. 

Our tulips in bloom!  We have been loving these beauties and noticing other things beginning to bloom around the yard!

Boys with the Tulips

 Dad and I have been working on getting the chicken coop and chicken run done.  There are a few more touch up details but it is mostly done and we love it! 

#5 Boy cracks me up in the photo!

Our Coop with the little chicks underneath and hens inside...We have sectioned off the coop and added a roost and a ladder down to the chicken run.

The run is now fully enclosed

#4 Boy opening the coop and #3 Girl locking the gate

The children were delighted on Saturday that Nana and Papa made it down to their soccer games.  It was a beautiful morning for soccer.  While Dad and I worked in the yard the kids had cousins over playing and also enjoyed playing with the chicks.

#4 Boy in the middle of it all!

Nana

Kids and Papa

#1 Girl with her chick

#2 Boy likes to have the chicks roost on his head, crazy kid!

Other Happenings

We had other things happen during the week.  Some of which I got pictures of and some I didn't.  Life is busy and even though I usually have my phone on me I am not always ready to pull it out for some pictures.  However, I am better at keeping track of what really happened during the week if I have a picture to remind me.  There is lots that gets lost in the day to day.  Some of the things I don't have pictures of but are still note worthy include: finishing my blog books for 2011 and 2012, running into an old friend at Costco, getting together with a couple old friends for a couple of hours, going out on a date with Dad, watching the neighbor boy for 5 hours, and babysitting cousins.  Now for a few with photos:

Straw Space Ships from Storytime

#4 Boy told me he wants his hair long so he can have a ponytail and then he told me he wants it all cut off so he is bald.  I stuck it up in a ponytail for him one afternoon and he laughed saying he looked like a baby with their hair up.  He wanted it out shortly after.

Then he went for the crazy hair look

#6 Boy got sick...ear infection and pink eye.  He is on three different medications...doesn't love the nebulizer.

#2 Boy playing with him while he has a treatment.  But now he has found he can pull it off...so I have to hold him the whole time.

The kids have been crafting again, making cards, odd snowflakes, and a mess! I must say though that I love that they enjoy creating.  They made a bunch of things yesterday afternoon and this morning during my presidency meeting they spent their time creating more things.  I just wish the mess was not included!

#2 Boy brought this up to me.  It says, "Home Sweet Home" with arrows pointing to the hole.  I asked what animal it was for and he said, "I don't know! I just made it!"

He has also started doing origami.  This shows a couple of his creations. 

General Conference

Each conference we look forward to spending time together listening to the prophet and apostles and also spending time with family.  After Saturday afternoon session we meet at my parents home for dinner and then all the priesthood holders head off to the Priesthood session.  This tradition has been going for many years, I believe it was started by my grandpa.  It used to include many of my cousins but now most of them do their own thing.  However, we still meet and enjoy dinner.  While the men are away the women and children visit, play, and change diapers!  After the men return we have a treat and listen as they report on what they learned during Priesthood session.  It is fun to have having some of my nephews old enough to join in and hear what they gathered from the talks.  After that we get the kids "into bed" (some earlier then others) and then enjoy the evening playing games and visiting with each other.  The next morning my parents provide a great breakfast and we enjoy watching Sunday sessions together. 

Dad (the convert for the evening...since he left his clothes at home on the couch)

Some of the grandchildren enjoying ice cream out on the deck

Sunday session of conference

#6 Boy playing