Water Fun

Most of the kids playing in the sprinkler and baby hippo pool.

On Monday we visited a nearby pool with Nana and Aunt Olivia. They had some really nice sprinklers, tall slides, and a big baby pool. Everyone had a great time, despite getting a little sun burnt.

Father's Day

Dear hubby did some of his favorite things on Father's Day. We shot guns and ate at Tumbleweed with the kids. The kids also gave him a couple of work shirts and a hand-made card. Does it get any better than that?

Willy Wonka Play

This year the children's theatre workshop performed Willy Wonka Kids. T landed the role of Charlie Bucket, M was Violet Beauregarde, and C was Grandma Georgina and an Oompa Loompa. They had a great time, sang their little hearts out, and delivered their lines loud and clear. I couldn't be prouder. I am so glad that they were able to be apart of such a wonderful experience to practice their public speaking skills. Whoever says homeschool kids are shy, quiet and unsocialized, haven't met my kids.

Dear Hubby's Birthday

Dear Hubby celebrated his birthday this month and the kids and I made him a very simple chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream icing. (It was much more delicious than it looks.) They had fun putting the sprinkles on top. Oops! I guess those pictures reveal his true age. Oh well, he has aged like a fine wine and not a lump of cheese, so I guess he won't mind that the whole world knows he is now 37. I love you, honey! Happy Birthday.

Old Fashion Candy Store Field Trip

After attending the children's musical version of Snow White, we visited a candy store in the neighboring town. Another very true cliche comes to mind..."Like a kid in a candy store." However, multiply that by 11! We visited the shop along with another family we know who has been blessed with 5 girls (thus far) making a grand total of 11 kids. The shop had a really neat museum where there were all sorts of candy memorabilia. Of course, the kids' favorite part was the candy and not the museum.

Update on Our Chickens

ROOSTERS!?! What!!!!??? We have nine roosters and not nine hens? What!?!

Long story short, when we agreed to try our hand at raising chickens, we decide on getting 10 hens and 2 roosters. We tried our best to ensure that we purchase good healthy hens and only two roosters. We even went to the store that everyone suggested was the most reputable in town. We took the kids and had the clerk get them out of the pen labeled pullets. We proceeded to pay for them and feed them ever since March. To ensure we also had a good rooster, we bought two "pan fryers" that same day, in case one died. After a few months growth and some boisterous crowing, we've discovered that the pullets are really roosters and the pan fryers are the only hens we now own.

So, we had a slight problem that we dealt with this past week. First we purchased some more chicks, this time really making sure the clerk got us pullets.

Then, we started butchering roosters before they kill each other or our two lone hens.

In true homestead fashion, we made the kids watch and participate in processing the chickens. First Dear Hubby walked them through each step. Then he gave them each a job. The rule was that everyone had to help in some way.

Mostly the kids helped pulling feathers, holding the chicken, or taking turns watching their little brother.

Dear Hubby had helped to butcher turkeys before, but this was my first time killing anything. I got the job of holding the rope that bound the legs together. After the head was cut off, I was supposed to tie them to the close line to bleed out. This ended up being the messiest job. I am sure everyone has heard the phrase "like a chicken with its head cut off". There is truth behind that saying.

We just enjoyed rooster #1 tonight in the form of BBQ chicken sandwiches. Yummy. Even though it has been a disappointing discovery that our hens were roosters and our roosters were hens, we've learned something in the process...namely how to butcher chickens.

Aunt Susan's Bridal Shower

The happy couple posing before the shower begins and Ajesh is shooed away to another location.

Aunt Susan and her cake at the Bridal Shower.

The older girls and I with Aunt Susan. M, C, and B are going to be the flower girls.

Ironically, Aunt Meg and I wore the same color and so did our boys. LOL. Of course, Mikey and Elias were the only boys at the shower. I don't think they minded being surrounded by a room full of women. If you didn't know any better, you'd think they were twins.