Happy 14th to our Daughter

14 years old - today our daughter turns. Reminiscing over years that have flown by, the day of her birth so many years ago...silly moments, cherished memories. My heart so filled with joy and blessings over this young woman. Growing right before my eyes, each and every day into such a beautiful person, inside and out. I admire her creativity, her love for reading, her passion for her animals, her big heart towards her friends, her dedication to 4H and dance. I love hearing her sing, watching her dance and even more so love listening to her when she's planning out loud a story to write or planning her future endeavors. She continuously amazes me with her brilliance and her caring nature. She lights up a room with her smile. We are proud parents to be a part of raising this amazing young woman. So a huge happy birthday to my daughter. I am so blessed to be her mother in every way and so thankful I get to share with my husband in this journey of raising her to an adult.

Life is amazing and she is such a blessing.

A truly big heart in this amazing young woman. Love our daughter.

Just a Tuesday Morning

Everyone was up bright and early...it was the first day of summer session dance for our daughter. We dropped her off at class and our son and I headed to the nearby park...exploring, climbing, checking out bugs and birds, playing, running, laughing. It is nice to get those special alone moments with each child.

The afternoon brought reading, drawing, spending time with daddy and bbq'ing. Oh the lazy days of summer are here...

Lazy summer days.

Life & Death

Death...we candled all the duck eggs one last time...and the kids and I confirmed- no life. None. None of the eggs made it. We discussed the growth- checking each one, noticing that many didn't finish developing..and only three developed all the way. Last years clutch, all the eggs except two developed. This year being the lay was so late in the year we have to wonder if it had any thing to do with it.

But with death this morning, and cleaning out the ducks pen, putting momma and dad back together...we were blessed this afternoon with a tiny miracle- our son's pigeon egg hatched. Pigeons are not the cutest babies...our son says they are ugly-cute, our daughter begs to differ. But miracle of life none the less. Now we await to see if the 2nd egg will hatch.

Pigeon Baby - 1 hour old

 Life.

Saturday - Creative Kids

Love the imagination of children...

They've spent the day, not watching 'Saturday' morning cartoons..but

doodling, drawing,

writing, story making...

being creative, having awesome discussions, conversations,

brainstorming out loud.

I love it.

Love these guys- they inspire me to devote more time to creativity.

{this moment}

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . .

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Linking to Soule Mama

My son, the 'bird' boy, practicing taking photographs of birds...captured a little one in her nest.

Life is amazing.

Summer...Relaxing-Friends-Creativity-Chicken Coops

This week...there has been a lot of reading, drawing, book-making, being creative, swimming in the pool, swimming at the river, 4H meeting, friend get-togethers, duck-egg-watching, shooting in the yard...and relaxing and fun. We also worked yesterday, finally getting the chickens moved to their 'new' semi-permanent, for at least this year-homes...

Chicken Coops

Using old rabbit hutches for these small bantams worked perfectly, they have their little house area with some straw and up on stilts should help protect against any predators.

We also installed a mister system right above hanging from the tree branches to cool them when the weather picks up this summer...

Next project, to get the middle cage a little partial covered for some protection and to get the ducks outdoors- that pen we are in the process of building. The kids also would like to paint and decorate the houses as well! Its coming along getting all these guys situated!

Happy Chickens in their new homes.

Love

Went to go to bed last night and this is what I found......

these two melt my heart...love my kids and my animals.

Love.