WARNING!
The following post contains graphic photos of cute, cuddly, fluffy, baby chicks.
Viewer discretion is advised.

I think we are already in love with a few.

Fresh from the incubator.

Several have markings that remind me of chipmunks.

Cute, little, peeps sure do make big, ugly, messes.

Really hoping this one is a hen.
Emma was wanting a black hen named Jackie and this is the only black one in the batch. It sure is easy to spot in the crowd.

My Girls

How did she get to 7 so fast?

And how did she get to 9?

Emma's Birthday

We made "Mexican flowers" for party decorations.

This was our first attempt at cake pops.

They were such a big hit we might have to try out some more recipes.The party crowd.

The make your own fruit kabobs were also a hit with the party crowd.

The pinata.

Emma has wanted one for several years now.
Guess it was a good year to do one, since the weather was beautiful.
I think in the last 9 years, this was the first year we could have done an outdoor party.
In fact, last year the weather was so lousy, at least one of the girls stayed over night and we had unexpected guests. A truck slid and flipped over on the road in front of our property. The young man and his fiance spent part of the evening with us waiting for the state troopers and then a ride from relatives.
I was thankful for the improvement in the weather and for no unexpected guests.

I admit we get a little crazy around here when it come to Christmas cookies.

This year we did something good with the results of our obsession.

Emma I and delivered MANY cookies to a local assisted living residents.

We had a really good time and she wants to go back to visit some of the residents regularly.

Our "Thankful Chain"

Every supper we had together between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we would each write something we were thankful for on a tiny slip of paper, then tape them together forming our "Thankful Chain".

The chain became an added decoration to our tree this year.

This ritual along with lighting Advent candles each evening has been a highlight for our children.

Christmas Eve and happy about their new Christmas jammies.

Christmas morning ready for church.

Enjoying some stocking stuffers.

So glad they can still be thrilled with something as simple as bubble gum!

Hope YOUR Christmas is merry and bright!

Pleased with her first pair of glasses.

"A boy and his dog"?

More like "a girl and her chicken" at our house...

A new hairstyle calls for a new portrait.

Doesn't look like she just spent the day outside jumping on a trampoline, running through a sprinkler, playing in the grass, and sweating in the hot sun does she?

Locks of Love

Birthdays Past, Present, and Future

We recently celebrated Pa's birthday with a dinner and cake at our house.

Thanks to my sister Lois for picking up the delicious cake.

We are still enjoying

the last

few

crumbs... Cowgirl Emma turned 8 in March. I flubbed up a section of the horse's neck but none of the cowgirls seemed to notice. Princess Rachel turned 6 in January.

The sparkly pink cake was just what the princess ordered.

Thank goodness for Family Fun magazine.

They have saved me more than once with simple to make cakes!

And Evan the Builder became a 2 year old last October.

Thanks to my sister Julia for creating this cake.

We were invited to a party for Ken's Grandpap last August.

And we're looking forward to celebrating his big 100th birthday with him summer.

Sunshine and Lollipops

Soccer Season Ended

Soccer is over for the year.

Next sport up... swimming, lessons start again soon.

Kendra your right, those refs really are hot! The junior refs are pretty cute too.

Emma is seven years old today

and just doesn't seem quite right.

Feels as though my oldest shouldn't go past the age of five

and my baby should, well, just stay a baby.