I have a teenager...

Elle (standing at the TV): "Mama, can I watch a movie?"
Me (sitting in chair with laptop, emailing): "Sure, just a second."
Elle: "sigh... I just reeaaallllly want someone to watch a movie with me."
Me: "I'm almost done, just a minute."
Elle: (very audible sigh, now with a movie picked out in hand) "I just REALLLLY want to watch this movie"
Me: (with a bit of agitation in voice) "Elle, I said you could, just wait a minute..."
Elle: (with back turned to me, under her breath...) "Okay....stop freaking out..."

ARGHHHH!!!! She is barely THREE years old! =) Maybe she is just getting this out of the way early and when she's a teenager she'll be super respectful and agreeable.... =)

Accidental Chicken Integration

We accidently integrated the pullets (sort of like teenage chickens) with the full grown chickens this weekend. (ie: the door fell off! Yet another repair project...) It was a major concern at first because the bigger chickens will literally try and peck the littler ones to death. It worked out okay though, I think because 1. the pullets haven't had their wings clipped yet and can fly. 2. there are 26 pullets and only 13 hens. and 3. they have the whole yard to roam and have their own space... it seems to be a much bigger problem when they are confined in an area or chicken house when the integration occurs.

It was clear to see that there is one Road Island Red hen that is the "rule of the roost", she immediately sough out each of those pullets to show them who was boss and they all learned well to stay out of her way IMMEDIATELY.. Now they are all happily getting to be outside together, which makes my job SO much easier... I was having to let one group out for the first part of the day and then round them all up and let the second group out for the last part of the day...

The lighting in these pic's sort of makes them look old fashioned... I like it...

Ode to Goggles..May these pictures make your day...

Burfoot Park, Olympia WA

What a gorgeous day! I took the kids via bike trailor to Burfoot Park. It was so nice and warm, hardley anyone was there since it was early afternoon.

Didn't take long for Elle to get in the water.Much better than the sand and rocks he was just

"chewing on"!Picinic lunch... I just liked this photo... =)

I LOVE warm days in Washington!!!

Widening the bridge

Our driveway has a really narrow "bridge" (really a culvert) over a ceek to get to our house. It was a TIGHT squeeze for all the big trucks when we were building our house. We thought we were in the clear, not having to cut/remove any fencing along the sides of it...until the VERY LAST truck that brought our flooring! He couldn't make it through so we had to cut and lay 4x12s for him to get accross... so anyway... Here is Michael and Elle putting in an I beam to widen the crossing and make it a much easier manouver to get to our house... which I am sure if a fire truck were ever needed...is a very good thing!

A man and his shovel....

Play time with cousin Bella

Elle: "Do you want to dance with me?"

Bella danceing...perfect form...

Nice arm spread... good focus...

Elle dancing... rolling on the floor...

Snorting like a pig...

oh... the little angel....