I smell a rat

Ok, well not actually smell, but word on the street is that we have one living under our duck house.  The last week or more our ducks have not been providing as many eggs as normal, but we just figured it was due to the weather, or maybe the were taking a break.  But today Evan spotted a black rat running out of the duck house and under the flooring by the ramp.  We purchased a rat-trap while out tonight, and it is amazing how large that thing is compared to the mouse trap.  We are going to set it sometime this week and see what we can catch.  Will keep you posted.

SNOW!!!!!

Well, it snowed here this morning. It started out pretty lightly then got really heavy. The kids were practically drooling out the window so instead of trying to stay on schedule with school time (which is sometimes really hard for me when we get off of tract) I told them to go out and play. Yes, they have colds but how often do they get to play in the snow. Yes, the weather people predicted that we were going to have a hard winter, but we haven't so far. So the kids are just dying to play in the snow. We were surprised about this snow shower so we were all excited. They played out there for a while then came in crying cause they were cold and wet. After some warm hot cocoa at their school desks, they felt much better. The snow did not stay around. The rain started and the snow left us once again. A few hours later it was all gone. It is just so beautiful watching the snow fall. I could just sit there and watch it falling for ever. Here are just a few pictures of our morning. 

 Mia saying that she is ready to go out in the snow. BRRRRRR!!!!!

 That's better.

 Snow ball fights.

 baby girl staying inside watching the action.

Valentine's day!

Well, this year our Valentines Day was not as busy as last years. We were all down with a bad cold that has taken a toll on us for quite a while. Lack of sleep, sore throats, taking stocks in Kleenex and Tylenol was what our day looked like. The kids and I did give Dave a surprise when he got home though with a beautifully set table, steak and garlic mashed potatoes and a cake made by the kids. The day ended with us all talking about things that we love about each other. Note: Lily was sitting in her high chair next to Dave, but she was screaming so I decided to keep her out of the picture. It looks so much more calm with out that doesn't it? The boys loved the steak. Actually we all did. Each of the boys put away a while t-bone steak (from our share of the Doran's cow, and Mia and I split one. Oh it was sooooo good.) I missed the pictures of the kids eating it. Ev was just enjoying every bite.

Emotions!

I have to tell you a story about my girl. I have two of them and I love them to pieces. They are the princesses in our family and precious in the eyes of our Heavenly Father and ours. Of course, with that, comes also a ton of emotions. Yesterday, the kids were having a quiet time and Mia was in her room playing with her legos. She came out crying uncontrollably. She said that one of her lego pieces was stuck so she was trying to get it apart, with her teeth. (a rubber tire piece) Now how many times have I told the kids not to use their teeth for things like this? (Of course I didn't say that right then though.) She then told me that she swallowed it and that it went down her throat and she will never see it again. Through all of her talking she was still crying. So after about 15 minutes of trying to comfort her and talking with her, while she was still crying, Ethan got her the rubber tire piece from their room and gave it to her. He was so sweet about it and said, "I found one for you." That made things better but she was still crying because she lost her own piece. After talking more, she said that we could find it after it comes back out (good science talk with everyone) and just wash it off (which that made me almost throw up) she started crying again because she couldn't find the new piece Ethan gave her. I started looking in her pockets, she was wearing the overalls that she got for Christmas. I felt in the very front pocket up by her chin, and guess what? It was the rubber tire that she THOUGHT she had swallowed. :o) Her face lit up and she gave a little giggle and was so happy after that. My how emotions can change at the switch of a button. I was rolling on the ground laughing. At least I really wanted to, but I held it in. 


I am constantly reminded, especially with my 4.5 year old, that girls are so different then boys are. They need so many more hugs and cuddles. They need to be talked to differently. And played with in a different way. Sometimes the boys just look at me and throw their arms up like saying, "what do I do?" I guess it is good training for them also in knowing how to take care of a girl. They will have to someday. And might as well start figuring things out right now.  It will be by God's grace that I don't break my girl's spirits. I don't know how many times I get mad at them (really just Mia right now. Lily isn't there yet) for being so emotional about the silliest things.