We have Chicks!

 Today we bought our chicks!  The first store we went to, in Arlington, was out so we had to drive up to Mt. Vernon to a store called Coastal Farm and Ranch.  As soon as we walked in the store we could hear the chicks peeping.  We were amazed at the chicks and the varieties.  They also had ducklings which were so cute with their big feet.  We let each of the kids pick the type of chick they wanted as long as it was a pullet-which means hen.

 Jacob fell in love with them all.  The first breed he picked was a 50-50 chance that it could be a hen and we did not want to risk him getting a rooster and then having to get rid of it because we are not allowed to have roosters in the city.  Jacob finally decided on a Black Sex Link.  It will lay brown eggs.  Below are the chicks.

 Naomi knew right away which one she wanted.  She picked a Rhode Island Red.  It will lay brown eggs.  Chicks below.

 Micah also knew right away and picked a California Grey.  It will lay white eggs.  Chicks below.

 The store clerk put them in a little box and wrote their prices on the box.  Jacob was so curious.

Meet Buttercup, Lily and Oreo!

Jacob has not stopped smiling!!!

Micah and Oreo

Jacob and Lily

Naomi and Buttercup

Since they are babies we have to keep them under a heat lamp for a few weeks

This is going to be an adventure!!!

Goodbye

This afternoon we drove Papa and Nana to the airport so they could fly back to Cali.  We had such an awesome time and we hated to see them go.  I cried like a baby and didn't want to let go of my mom.  I love so much when my parents are in my daily life and interacting with our kids.  I love how my mom smells and how she hugs, I can't stand that we live so far apart.  But hopefully they will be back in the summer!

Let's go to Canada

 On Easter afternoon we piled into the party van for our 5 hour road trip to Canada.  Besides visiting Sam and Darcie, we are also towing back Sam's car so we can buy it. We had a great trip and arrived at Sam and Darcie's right on time.  It was so great to see each other!  After lots of hugs and visiting we all went to bed.

In the afternoon the next day, they took us to a goat farm for goat milk ice cream and goat cheese tasting.  Yum!  Then we headed to a beautiful park by the lake and walked around and took some fun pictures!  We had awesome food at every meal and fun playing games.   Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye...

Happy Easter

 We had an awesome day celebrating our risen Savior.  We are so glad that Dad and Mom are here with us!  We always take family pictures Easter morning and we were so happy that Dad was here so we could all be in the pictures.  We have an awesome bridge right outside our front door and with the blossoms out, we knew it would be the perfect spot.

At church I led the Sunday School kids in singing "Alive, Alive".  After church we had a wonderful Easter meal with the DeGroot/Sharkey families.  Then at 3:00 we piled in the car and headed to Canada to visit Sam and Darcie!

Micah 11 years old

Jacob 9 years old

Naomi 5 1/2 years old

Chicken Dreams

 When we got up today it was not raining so we knew we needed to work on our outdoor projects because you never know if it will rain the next day or not.  Darrick is not on leave until Thursday so it was up to Papa and the  boys to build until he got home.

Build what? you may wonder.  Well, we are getting chickens!  I have wanted chickens for a few years but the timing was not right. But now that we own our own home and Darrick is not deployed, everything is falling into place.

We were thinking about building our own chicken coop, but we found the perfect coop on Craigslist for a great price.  It was just made and needed exterior paint so that was my job today.  Darrick thought up the idea of painting it like a barn and I loved it, so that was the paint scheme I followed.

We also need to make a fenced in yard for the chickens to live in.  We were going to build that too but when we figured out the cost, we discovered that we could buy a dog run for the same price.

Micah was in charge of the directions and Papa and Jacob were the workers! 

Before Paint

Digging a trench to make the "chicken run" level

Darrick and Papa leveling it and filling in with bricks and wire

DONE

Micah inspecting the work & Nana checking it out

Now all we need is chickens!!!