Baby chicks settled in new home

I drove out to the butcher and picked up the turkey and two chickens this morning. It was kind of freaky looking in a box with poultry ready to cook and realize that they were living in my yard yesturday. The turkey was only 10 lbs, but that is probably perfect for us for Thanksgiving, we always have way too many leftovers. When I got home, I re-arranged the freezer, put the turkey on the bottom (since I will not need until November) and arranged everything else. My in-laws brought us 1/4 of a cow last month and this was the first time I saw all the beef and how much we really have. We also have all the Tuna we bought at the coast earlier this month. We are set for meat.
I also stopped by a roadside stand and bought a bunch of corn that I am going to blanch and freeze. I had a bunch of tomatos, so I cut some up and they are almost dried on the dyhydrator and I made tomato sauce with fresh elephant garlic and herbs from my garden.

Another layout & Off to the butcher

I did a layout today using Study Hall and some doodles from Laura Mcgee designs

We took the turkey and the chickens to the butcher today. We got a big box from a local appliance store and cut it to the right size to transport them and then we took the box out to the hen house and covered the door with the box and David went in to grab them. We went after Allie B the rooster who has a thing for the chicken first since he is the fastest. David then grabbed the turkey since he was easy then we got henny penny. On the drive out there, I thought the car had a problem, then I realized it was just chicken sounds. I dropped the cooler off with the poultry and I will drive back out to take them home and put them in the freezer for some good meals.

Last day for Turkey and Chickens

Today is the last day for our Turkey and chickens. Our rooster (Allie B) made the moves on the Turkey yesturday afternoon on our patio. The sounds of rebuff the turkey made were a riot. Allie B also crows when he gets stressed. It will be a loud day tommorow since they have to stay in the pen and cannot be fed 24 hours before harvesting. I made a little slide show in honor of their time with us. Chickens and Turkey. We have talked to the kids and explained what we are going to do and we have a fresh batch ready to go outside on Wednesday when we get home from picking the others up at the butcher. I hope the transition goes well and most important I hope I have eggs in spring.

I did not love swimming today

We went to the pool again today to meet friends for open session, then we had lessons. To start this story out, I must first say that Liam ate several carrots and a ton of fruit yesturday. When we arrived at the pool and I went to take Liam's diaper off, he was mid-bowel movement, not a fun place to be. I tried to get his diaper off and run it to the garbage. Some of the deposit dropped on the floor. I went to run to the bathroom to get toilet paper and this lady was standing in my way watching the whole thing and I still had to say excuse me, she did not even think to move or forbid even help me. We got that disaster cleaned up. We went swimming and had fun and then when the break came between open swim and lessons, I smelled a foul smell and I checked Liam's diaper and we had deposit #2. If one had not had an experience of a soiled swim diaper...it is SCARY and picture this with carrot chunks. I forgot to bring wipes in with me, so I had to take Liam out to our bag, naked with chunks of poop stuck to him. I was almost in tears and Liam was crying. I also had to tell the pool officials that they should inspect the pool before starting class. Thank goodness it was clean.
After swimming my friend Meagan and I took our kids to the Spagetti Factory for dinner. They screwed up putting our order in so we waited forever and Meagan finally asked what was up and they found that the order was not in, so we asked for the food in to go boxes, they gave us our dinner for free and gave us gift certificates for a future meal and they accidently gave us meal we did not even order, so David has a snack for later. The kids were making a huge scene, since we were waiting so long, we were ready just the to let them loose in the restaurant.
Tommorow is my 20 year class reunion. I have to open at work and grab a nap, but the rest of the day will be Michelle's day of beauty.

more swimming and fresh fruit

We went to open swim and swimming lessons again today. The are five days a week for two weeks. The pool is close to a Wednesday Farmer's Market. So we stopped there on the way home, ate dinner and got some produce. My boys think the farmer's market is a buffet and they go from stand to stand eating fruit. I am glad that they get to taste and appreciate farm fresh fruit, but it is difficult to balance their desires to eat with the farmer's desire to make money.

There are a couple of cheese vendors there and my new favorite is Rogue Creamery. I bought this Morimoto Soba Ale cheese last week that was wonderful and this week I bought a Chipotle cheddar I know David and I will enjoy. The peaches are quite wonderful right now as well.

I did a layout today using Bianca by Baers Garten Designs with a couple of elements from Andrea

I love swimming lessons

The boys have swimming lessons last two weeks of summer and I have to say that I just love it. I scheduled the lessons so that they were right after and open swim session and the boys have their classes at the same time. Today, I took the boys to the open swim, then they had their lessons. Liam was so tired after class. I just love that it exhausts him.

I did a layout using doodles and paper from Laura McGee Designs. Click on the image to see her store. I am writing on her blog tommorow, so stop by and check it out.

the best toys

We have found two great toys for the boys

1. An empty, large box from Ikea

2. A Whoopie Cushion

These two toys have given the boys hours of endless amusement. I found the whoopie cushion while cleaning the garage yesturday and tonight, just before I began dinner, I showed it to them and taught them how to use it. Liam was real grumpy before and after they had it...he was laughing away. It was the best dinner preperation time I think I have ever had.

Christian took the empty box and moved a bunch of pillows and blankets in it and is using it as a house.

They just noticed that their kitchen was gone today. When Christian asked about it, I told him that I gave it away, but there is a toy kitchen in his Sunday school classroom, so if he wants to play in the kitchen he can play there or at the Children's Museum.

I did two layouts today using Lavender Bloom by Pyralis design and My Sister's Circus by Digital Designs by Jannylyn.