Chicken Coop

Winter Approaches

The Chicken coop is almost ready. I am working on getting the last of the fencing on the outdoor run. We ordered 25, (day old Black Star) chicks we should get in the mail sometime this week. After ordering the chicks last month, we decided we don't quite have enough room for 25 so we will probably be giving 8-10 away to our neighbors. They have had chickens for a few years but egg production has declined to none over the past summer.

Fall in Alaska

 This is out in Talketna Alaska, on a beautiful farm.  The view out their window is Denali, the white peak on the horizon.  We spent a day up there helping to harvest potatoes and plant some flowers.  It was WONDERFUL!

 The kids LOVED the farm. E has already decided that when she gets older she will be a veteranarian. Spending time with lambs, wild kittens, cows, dogs and pigs was heaven for her.  Oh and driving the tractor.  (Way better than picking up potatoes with Mom and Dad)  H and E had to take turns every row, and they were driving like Pros.  You would be proud of them Grandpa. :)

 These two were less than excited about sitting around, they took long naps wrapped in blankets, but did enjoy watching the cows and playing with the BIG dogs.  At one point P was left to himself with three BIG dogs trying to get at his graham cracker.  Not to worry, he wasn't scared, just excited to be sharing it with dogs.  It was a wonderful day with the family and friends, and we have been enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of our labors. 

 This is our walk to and from the bus each morning.  The older two are really loving school, and have adjusted to a new school wonderfully.  E is one of the top readers in her class now, she loves her teacher and has tons of new friends.  Her teacher calls her "Crazy E," in a "good way" she says.  Something about being all over the place and a whirlwind that follows her... I nod my head and say "you should see her room!" 

 

H is reviewing things he learned in PreK but is never bored; loves every minute of it.  We are reading books at home and starting math flash cards together to keep him moving along.  His teacher has a payment system for the children.  If they are attentive and behaving at school they earn money at the end of the day.  Depending on how "awesome" you did, it's 1cent, 5 cents or 10.  If you are misbehaving you owe the teacher money.  On fridays they have "class store."  The money you earn can be spent there on fun toys etc.  Needless to say H is pretty rich every Friday. Now to teach him about saving...

 I will have to post some more pics soon, this is one of the longest fall seasons we have had in AK.

Generally the leaves turn yellow, it rains and then the wind blows and four days later fall is over, leaves are all gone.  This year we are still enjoying beautiful fall colors on our trees and bushes. It's wonderful!!

Our newest adventure, CHICKENS!!! YEAH!!!

Before picture

 In the process of moving... Don't worry Dad, P is watching the corner of the house for you

 Our Neighbor got his big ol loader and moved our play house/chicken coop from our old house to the new one.  It's a play house/chicken coop because the people we bought it from built it as a play house.  J always intended for it to be a chicken coop, but while we were waiting for the right time to get chickens... it was a play house. :) 

 Um, Mom, can I DRIVE the big green thing? Please?!

 

 Our helpers/spectators

"Cheese" & "Enough pictures Mom!!"

 

And the "After"

Soon to be home of 25ish chickens

Don't worry, if you're wondering whether they will fit in there, I am

Ya we like eggs!!

If you're wondering whether they will all fit, I am wondering the same thing, but we will have a large out door chicken run. They may have to draw straws, as to who sleeps inside, but J promises it will work out. So it will work.

 

 

 These goof balls saw us put in the chicken coop and assumed it was for them, they tried to move in

This is Emma the turkey and her three babies, who remain nameless

They aren't our turkeys.  They belong to the neighbor, but for some reason (mom keeps feeding them bird seed.. she can't help it they come knocking at the door every other day) they wont head home for the winter.  She roosts in the trees by our house and then returns home at winter time... we'll see if she goes home. (Better hide the bird seed) Oh and stop tossing food scraps into the compost..

And this is what Mom does....

Constantly juggling

We are trying to work out together every day, some days are easier than others (the easy days are when the kids are still asleep or down for naps)

Yoga, interpreted into baby language must mean, "Mom is the play ground today" or "Lets see if we can make her fall"



Home Again, Home Again ....

Alaska State Fair Parade

 Grandpa Great I wanted you to know, every Monday morning I think of you!

We have been blessed with so much more fun since returning home. 

Although the weather is not as great... and we are desperate for some sunshine.. We are settling back into our routine.

 

 Elizabeth turned 7!!

Wonderful/stressful day

Cupcakes for Elizabeth's class

Henry's first day of school: a bit rough to start with but he enjoyed it thoroughly

They are both starting at a new school this year, and both are on the bus every morning and afternoon.  It makes for a very long day, but so far it's working out. Although we miss Swanson terribly!

Cake and dinner with family and friends

 Henry was able to negotiate a large amount of money from his father one afternoon for cleaning up after Daddy's Dog... and we saved it for the fair!

It was a great day for the kids, reptiles, rides, cotton candy, face paint, pig races, petting zoo... etc. etc

 

 Our yard grew amazingly while we were gone!  And we are trying still to convince our children that green grass is more fun to play on than the rocky drive way... still working on it... sort of  :)

 The Sunday we came home I was stung by a bee or wasp

it hurt a bit, but two days later my foot and ankle were swollen double size..

A trip to the doctor for antibiotics and steroids for a week... oh ya and elevation and ice = the first nap mommy has had in a long time with her two babies. :)  Great week.. thanks bee!

(A friend asked me one day, which one is older? haha P is catching up quickly!!)

Henry

This kid!

We went to visit the Doctor after returning home

The month and a half we were in ID we weren't required to do any sort of blood work, it was a wonderful break.

His counts were only 50 points higher than when we left.. which means

Blood draw every SIX weeks to check levels and Doctor visits every 3 MONTHS!

IDAHO was GOOD to us!

This kid is amazing!  What a blessing!

I miss having him around all day. He's growing too quickly! 

We are sliding back into school schedules (kicking and screaming)

Missing our family!  Hate not having everyone around. Hoping to see you ALL again very soon, somehow.

Already planning another reunion



Where in the world....

 I guess it has been a while (5 months) Since I updated the blog... Who's really counting though?!

We have been in Idaho since July 2nd and LOVING every minute!! 

(Although we do miss Daddy very much!)

I may have shattered my phone again... and lost the ability to download all the pictures... again...(it happened a year and a half ago) 

Here is what I do have, 

Porter is starting to walk A LOT! Still unsteady but really tries.  He followed me all morning as I vacuumed.

Lydia is getting so big!  And so sassy!!

  

 There is construction between McCammon and Grace, so on our way to Pocatello, (equivalent to an Anchorage trip) we end up waiting in long lines.  But this is our scenery.  It's beautiful. A different kind of beautiful than Alaska, but still beautiful.  

 Crazy girls waiting for the construction

We went to Pocatello with Uncle Eric and Aunt Michelle and the cousins, Ethan and Lauren to watch Despicable Me 2.  It was really fun, and lunch at Cafe Rio.  Delicious!

 Our first purchase here was a kiddie Pool!  SO HOT and WONDERFUL!

The kids were in it every day the first week we were here.  It's tapered a little but not much. Such a relief...as you can see even Mommy has been enjoying it's cool relief. 

 And there has been lots of cousin time.  We are trying to redo Mom's downstairs bathroom and oh man is it a mess doing remodels.  Don't think that's something I will every enjoy.. haha But we are doing it together and that's really fun.

 And we were finally able to make a trip to see Grandpa and Grandma Parkinson! 

We will be back soon hopefully!

The kids were really excited and it was a wonderful visit!!

Love you two so much!!

 There are two parks in Grace, well a park and the school play ground.  We have been to both a few times, so today we went with Annie to Soda Springs to play at their park. Lots of fun new things! Best Rocking toys ever!

 Lydia is turning into quite the climber!

 And so is this little guy!!!!

Of course with all the new play ground equipment E was mostly interested in the trees to climb. :)

Henry made it below 1000 on his iron counts, to 800 actually!!! YEAH!!

So this whole trip he gets to take a break, no pokes for a while month and a half.  Hopefully it stays down so we don't have to worry about weekly appointments while he's doing school too.

The kids are starting at a new school this year, we get home the day before school starts, good one Mommy. 

It will be so weird having two kids in school all day! And I won't be driving them every day... we're trying the bus out. A bit scary for this Momma Bear.  But then I imagine all the things I will be able to do during the day.  WOW! Time to spend with my babies. Weird! ahhahah

Life is passing so quickly, but we are soooo abundantly blessed.

We are so grateful to be in Idaho with Annie and Grandpa, and soooo excited for the upcoming family reunion. I haven't seen all the brothers and sister in forever!! What a great time it will be. 

Love to all our family and friends