Babies!

We lovingly welcomed five new little ones into our home today...
Meet Pepper, Paprika, Snowball...and the other two still don't have names. After the mysterious* disappearance of one of our chickens last week, we felt it was time to add to the flock. Originally we were only getting four, but we couldn't resist getting one more. We're pretty sure we have a buff Brahma, Black Orpington, and White Leghorn. One is possibly a Rhode Island Red, and the last I have no idea. The lady we bought them was only guessing because she bought an egg laying pack, which is a variety of breeds that are all good egg layers. We're really excited to see what they grow into!

*the fate of Cinnamon is a mystery to the younger set. She escaped from the chicken run early one morning. By the time we came out around 6am, all we found were feathers in the yard and alley. According to the younger kids she flew out of the yard and went to live at someone else's house.

Some as Big as your Head

One of the cantaloupes that the garden grew was really as big as your head. Proof:

And to boot, it wasn't too bad when we ate it.

No More Cantaloupes!

The garden this year was a self-directed affair. We just didn't have the time/desire/energy/pick your excuse to do anything. We missed the tomatoes, so we will have to not do that again. But, since we do composting, some seeds get through. OK, a lot of seeds get through, but most don't sprout. Except for the Cantaloupes. We got five million or so through the Bountiful Baskets food co-op, and it turns out that they grow easily. The following picture is just a small selection of the ones we harvested.

Luann gave some to neighbors, friends, family, an I we still have one in the fridge. We probably got around 15 out of the plants. I do not want to see another one any time soon.

First Day of School, 2011

This is just the yearly picture of the kids on the "first" day of school. So it was really the second week for Kiwi, but G-man was starting that day.

Backyard (Near) Flood

It is always fun to play in the rain during the monsoon season. There is always the one storm that just dumps too much water at one time, causing water issues. We got a good one at the the end of July, and it happened on a Sunday, so we played until we were soaked.

What is not in this picture is the flood by the chicken coop. We have to raise the coop on some pavers to keep it out of the water. The chickens, being sooo smart, were huddled under the tree getting wet, instead of in the coop staying dry. That is the difference between dogs and chickens, I think.

Walking

I had to post this video. Who wouldn't start walking at 11 months with this kind of encouragement from an older sister. Kiwi loves her baby brother.

J-dub Turns One

This is my belated Happy Birthday post for my baby. G-man seemed so much older when he reached a year. Jared doesn't seem nearly big enough to be one. But he started walking three weeks before his birthday and has four teeth. G-man was toothless at a year and still not walking despite the diligent attempts by Chad and I to make him do so. Crazy first time parents...

I had a lot of fun getting ready for this birthday. We had balloons...

Which he loved!

We had presents...

Which we forgot to open until the next day.
They consisted of food and a ball.
He's lucky he didn't just get something cleaned up from the shed.

We had a homemade cake...

I got lazy at the end, so the face isn't the best.
But isn't it cute?
I've been having a lot of fun with my new decorating tips.

Finally, we had a mess...

Jare eating the Bear...the beginning...
The end.

Here's a rundown of our little J-dub at 12 months.
He can walk
He says mama, dada, and ball
He flirts
He points
He climbs
He has four teeth
He throws tantrums
He hits

but, he still loves mama best