My current mood

We are Enjoying the summer so much I have no time to update blog with the work we are doing. Just a mood picture for your delight. I LOVE this, it caught me off guard in the film.

Happy Birthday Corban, Chickens, & Cuzins

Corban turned Five! So we planned a day at the Zoo, Dan and I took him out of school to let him roam the Zoo with his own travel plans, He loved it! At the last minute we had the grandparents and Aunty Linda w/ her boys $ AVA, come for Cake & Ice cream.

Here you see the birthday boy, Azure and Ethan. Oh and the curtains my parents and G MA Bonnie helped me make for the house, there was 10 panels in all. And my parents where so great to help by bringing the bolt of fabric all the way from Utah. Actually the fabric comes from the LA Temple. Long story there but understand my Dad retired from working as the temple engineer for the LA Temple. Which happened to be redoing or ridding themselves of fabric when he was there. This bolt had been in my parents shed for about five years. (does this make it vintage, no not quite Elaine just outdated) well I tell my self how the colors remind me of the sea and I like then how it muddles in my eyesight. I also fantasize backing them with something contemporary or crazy to ground the sea. Focus Elaine. . Corban's Birthday.

Aw yes the wee little cake, I paid $10 for that. And Look at all that icing. Yucky, I thought a cheep cake would have no icing piled on th edges. Note to self when ordering cake be MORE specific. Oh and they spelled his name in cursive. I told them he was five. What makes them think he can read cursive. Poor kid could not even read his own name on his own cake. "Better Luck next year, my son". All this complaining really is about how I don't like cake. My kids like it, I guess. And Dan thinks it's a must at birthday's. Like his DAD. Me I love Pie and cake just seems like gluten to me why waste my gluten eating on cake. Although if this was cake pops I would be all over it but that has to do with the chocolate shell. See I have a major addiction to candy bars. really cheep chocolate. Oh no I need to change the topic. Birthday, yes Corban's.

These two crack me up. They have been buds, well permanently since that one day they duked it out in their own languages they where two and three. Somehow we watched them come to an agreement to agree. They will be buddy's forever I can see it all now. . . Make good choices boys.

If you look to the top right corner you will not see Penelope and Subastion they are on the top of their cage our parakeets. In the tank we have Larry the one eyed pirate and Lucius our fire belly toads. Our two fiddler crabs and a red clawed crab named Colipso and Davy Jones. Also, one of Corban's Birthday Presents a wonderful worm farm from Aunt Linda. Sitting on my favorite piece I have painted thus far. The buffet Alice Layton Taylor gave us. I can't wait to get back to painting furniture again. Gwendolyn has proved to need her mommy's arms and I miss my sander but I would not miss my precious time with her that I will never get back. but no worries there will be more painting to come soon my Love soon.

After cake & Ice Cream Cones it was out to see the Chickens. Ethan tickling this sea brights fancy.

Jadden greeting the Leghorn. Yes, his name is Foghorn.

The kids are much cuter then the chicken's but they are so cute with them.

Happy Birthday Corban. You are finally five and Wow you still have much more to learn and grow I will do my best to help you become the greatest six year old Corban DD there ever could be. Your Dad will too!

The little chickens

To start this post off you must know I am behind these where taken a couple of weeks ago :0) These little guys grow fast they are nearly twice this size now, these where taken Easter weekend.

We have 42 chickens. Wait...YES, I said 42

If you need the background story as to why we have chickens and "42" at that. First, you just need to know my husband he does everything in bulk. Which is really great most of the time. We can only have 6 in the city we live in, we are keeping 10 just in case a couple gets picked off by bigger birds, raccoons, or possums. So if you want chickens there are plenty unspoken for. Call DAN he'll hook you up.

The kids attend MRHECC which has chickens. They are encouraging 50 Maplewood family's to get chickens, and whoa la Ta DA we got chickens.

The kids are really cute with them. the neighbor kids have been visiting often as well watching them grow. Corban's class even stopped by one day on one of their fast walks they take.

my hair cut

I said there would be pictures of my new haircut well here are a few. It has grown out a bit since and I like it a bit better as it grows out a bit. this is very short for me. I have never had short hair. I have cut my own hair off before but at the neck line never this short. And I mean me when I say I have cut my own hair off. YEs, it felt good. This hair cut is about facing a fear. A fear of short hair. Yes, please do not laugh. I am sure we all have silly fears well this is one I am drawing a line through on my list.

Gwendolyn's Blessing

Gwendolyn was blessed, by her father. We blessed her at home. We have now blessed each of our children at home. I am grateful to have these memories. Each blessing has been special and dear to my heart. Daniel, has given each of them a special blessing from their Heavenly father. Gwendolyn's, however we where unable to record.

Although, I have to admit I do not remember much of Corban's. I know Dan's parents came out, and Bonnie brought his outfit. We had pictures taken by my good friend Annalise Zabriskies. I think she was one of the first to inspire me to start taking pictures. I love doing it and want to continue to learn more and more.
Gwen wore Azure's dress. I bought this dress on a loan from my sister, Emily. I am so glad I bought it then and LOVE that both the girls have been able to where it. Azure, never wore the bonnet. I was sure to put it on Gwen this time. I wished I would have for Azure, it is so sweet on and completes the dress.

Here is it my $100 Dress.

Gwendolyn wore it well. I had to wait to bless her till it fit her. We blessed Azure when she was around 3 months. I think it was a little bigger on Azure. Gwendolyn was around 4 months. Her sweet bracelet was a gift from her Aunty Linda Duree. She owns a company called UDesign where I get to make my own design. I had fun making it before she was born. I thought and wished she would have green eyes, she has hazel green. I LOVE that she gets to where a bit of color with her white. A good friend of mine once told me she dreamed about seeing her mother and many other's busily engaged in the work in heaven. she described to me the clothing was in beautiful colors and detailed beautifully. I now can rest assured that heaven will be clean and crisp as white and colorful as the skies.

She is so beautiful, she looks just like a doll. What a blessing my Heavenly Father has blessed us with. I had felt I would want to be able to give my next baby everything my heart desired. As this is not the situation currently I feel he gave me other gifts in her, her beauty and her health. Little or Big things like this continually tells me my Father in Heaven is aware of me and wants to bless me, and my family.

My three munch-kins

Our dear friends Vicky and Chon were present for her blessing. We are happy we where able to share the spirit thet was present that day with them. We hope we have many more special times we share together. Our children LOVE them dearly.

All of Dan's girls are Daddy's girls.

This is the photo where I made the final decision to

CUT MY HAIR> that pic will be posted soon.

I am Honored to be this little girls mother.

I look forward to all that she has to teach me.

Gwendolyn was named after my Great Aunt Alene Gwendolyn Miller. I want to mention here this is a dress my Aunt Fern gave to me when Azure was born. Although it could have belonged to anyone. I love it and would like to think of it as "Kept in the family". It is so adorable. I put Gwen in it following the blessing.

I LOVE this shot!

And for the END. The kids LOVE her and are so glad to have a BABY. P.S. This photo is the photo I decided to cut Corban's hair again. I was sad I could not see his eyes.

Here are a few of the growing things in our Yard. We still have much work to be done. But that is what Spring Time is all about right... or all the time.

Pumpkin Sprouts...YEAH Looking forward to getting one or so this year. We did not reap a harvest of any, not one at all, last year.

This is a new addition this year romaine lettuce. We have these great crates this year. When the chickens are ready to go into the coop we will get the two that they are living in for now. So odd how gardening and animals and compost go together huh. Really everything is connected not sure why I am just noticing that now, being 31 and all. You would think I would have noticed it by now. That's part of my spaced out childhood journey. Glad I woke up, still have so much to learn. :)

Here are those 100+ strawberry plants Dan keeps fenced up, away from the birds. We still need to tighten up the netting this year. The birds around my house are so fat. they eat all our crop and the bird feed we buy for them. Oh well, toppins right. No no we will tighten down the netting. Maybe I should make some sweet scare crows hmmm any ideas?

The raspberry bushes survived the winter well. The green leaves are so gorgeous.

Oh the sweet grape vines are so pretty coming up with the tiny sprouted leaves. I love grape vines. Hmmm my childhood, memories flood back. I first learned to dare to make shee shee outside just down the grape vine row. Just me and my grapevine for cover I remember the first time so well I was in a dress and tights. I shee sheed all over my tights. Poor little girl, Mom took them off and I was free. never been afraid since. Whats a little tinkle shee shee drops once in a while. Thats just the way for the girls.

Here are my gorgeous posts. Dan made from the trees we cut down around our property. I love them! The do make me feel we have a little bit of Heaven on our lot.

Oh and I got my tree stumps delivered via DAN's muscles. He's the best to do whatever I ask. Now to prepare the places for them. YEAH tree stumps!

This pile is the mulch and compost we got from Maplewood Richmond Heights city Christmas tree give away, the stumps came from there to. Oh glorious compost and mulch wont you help our garden grow and look oh so nice. We have our own compost we have been composting all winter Dan build it last year. I will post pic soon, and a chipper to make mulch but one big o' pine tree was just not enough this year, (thank you Elin and Dale Ficken for allowing us to cut down your tree) Ok get to work Dan and Elaine. Really just bits get done till schools out, Six more weeks!

We have chickens

YES WE HAVE CHICKENS for EASTER!

These Cuties will be our children's pets. That is adding to our already 3 fish tanks full of cheep fishies, two fire belly toads ( these where my idea), two crabs, and two parakeets. In these photo's we have 52 chicks. @ have died since then. That's not to be talked about though, because, it makes Dan sad. So 49 minus 6 that went to Craig and Stacey Johnson. Yes, we still have 43 chickens in our basement. we found we have more female then males we think. Sexing chickens Dan says is not an easy thing to do. In the end we will only be able to keep six. Dan is not in too big of a hurry to rid our selves of them all to quick I think he's worried about animals picking them off once they are outside.

The different breads are; Bearded Golden Laced Polish, Bearded Silver Laced Polish, Golden Sebright, Golden Sebright, White Silkie, White Sulten, White Leghorn, Black Tailed White Japanese.

Although this is great for the kids to become educated and own pets, great for Dan in a thereputic way to own pets. having animals is not something I imaged myself ever doing. I am trying to be open minded and learn from the experience.

I do LOVE the cute chicken coop Dan build:0) I will post a picture of it soon.

Every so often something comes out only Dan and I understand

I love you, Love me too.