Memorial Weekend: Seabrook

Memorial weekend we could be found enjoying the raining Washington coast.  In true Washington spirit the beaches were packed despite the weather (you can't wait for a sunny day in this state or you'd never go outside).  We actually had a purpose to our visit, to help AH's brother and SIL finish putting things together in their new beach/rental house.  It's a cozy home that packs more space than what can be seen from the front yard - 3 stories, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.

 

The first order of business was putting blinds up on all the windows - even those hard to reach areas.

 

 BTW this was also the only place in the house to get internet reception.  Apparently the internet service was installed before we arrived, but we found out afterward that you had to call in to "activate" the account. . . only they don't work weekends.  Doh!

Taking a quick break - oh, who's that cutie?  Mr. T loved all the time with his cousins.

 

 And attention from all the adults too.

Pool time was a must. . . at least 2 - 3 times each day.

Happy Kids = Happy Parents

Mr. R loved showing me all his many ways of entering the pool.

Beeb and Ms. C also joined in on the demos. 

 My beautiful Mr. B.  He was MIA for the most part playing Xbox, Kinect, iPad and any other device he could get his hands on with his cousin Mr. G. 

 Monopoly . . . I hate it almost as much as I hate playing Clue.

 

The cute accent wall in the eating area.

The white kitchen.  I *heart* white cabinetry.

 The main floor bathroom.

 

 The cute bunk room!

 

The light fixture intended for the bunk room was similar to this fixture, only antique (from Chris' childhood bedroom) and cuter.  Unfortunately it was broken during installation (so sad) and this is the replacement the builders found.  It's cute, but not at unique as the original.

This is the bedroom AH and I stayed in over the weekend.  I love the color scheme!

 

The living room is just darling.  Nat worked really had to bring it all together and I love how light and bright it is with fun beach colors.

 

I love all the details.

 

 

 

Mr. R lounging while we packed up to head out at the end of our stay.  We were all sad to go.

Ms. B claiming her spot!

 

On a trail next to the house people have built all these cute troll/fairy houses.  Beeb, Ms. C and Chris added to the collection with this fabulous mini space of their own.

Apparently Smurf's are popular with the Trolls.



So long to the as-yet-to-be-named beach house.  We had fun within your walls.  Looking forward to seeing what color you are painted this summer. 

Spirit Day

This week at school is "Spirit Week" with a new theme each day.  To kick off the festivities on this beautiful sunny Monday the theme is CrAzY hAiR.  Here are my crazy pair:

I came up with the idea for Beeb to have cupcakes on her head.  I used real cupcake liners and a red puff ball (cherry on top) attached to a bobby pin.  She was a very patient participant this morning while I figured out how to pull this off.  (Oh the nightmares tonight in trying to get all the hair spray out and detangle the rats nest that is her hair)

 

Mr. B was a bit simpler; he simply rolled out of bed. 

His hair has enough body for two or three people and it is a daily chore to tame it down. 

Needless to say he was thrilled to skip the taming process today. 

Hands On

One of the things I love most about AH is how much of a "hands on" father he is to our children.  He spends lots of time each day actively playing with the kids and they just eat. it. up! 

A few weeks ago AH decided to change the oil in his car.  This is no small task as the only way to get to the oil filter is from underneath, which requires the removal of two skid plates.  Of course AH included the kids in this process and so their introduction to basic auto maintenance begins.

 

 

I need to think of some really great Father's Day service that will show AH how much we love and appreciate him. 

Scout Hike

One of the joys of having AH being a Scout Master is that we all get to benefit from the fun activities he does with den.  Example:  In May AH took his scouts up Little Si and since it was a nice day the kiddo's and I decided to join him.  Little Si in the shadow of its big brother "Mt. Si".  It is a fun 5 mile hike with a 1200 ft. elevation gain, which is nothing compared to regular ol' Mt. Si's 3500 ft. elevation gain. 

The Sasquatch Patrol (+ a few others for good measure) as we prepared to head out.

Beeb and her BFF hiding in a little cave about midway up the trail.

 

 We made it to the top!  Look at that gorgeous valley below. 

Taking a well earned break back at the trailhead.  These boys were amazing!

 

I love the scouting program and I love that AH is a great leader to these boys and to his own son (and daughter).  We really enjoy being included on these fun adventures.

Chicken Coop: Revealed

The new house for the chickens is finally done.  AH had fun designing and building the coop after we looked at buying a pre-made one.  The pre-made coops are really expensive, used cheap material, and lacked a layout that we felt would work for easy cleaning and access to other areas; so AH took the matter into his own hands. 



Here's the coop.  It's sits on stilts and AH has framed in a run to the left that is essentially attached to the main coop and enclosed in chicken wire.  The run also has it's own door, separate from the coop itself.  The first day the chickens were put out in their new home they all immediately congregated to the area under the coop and rolled around in the dust.  They love to sit on the perch that's located under the coop as well.

 

Here is the right side of the interior.  On the floor of the interior AH put down linoleum 12x12 tiles to make cleaning the coop easier. The nesting boxes are on the upper and lower area and total 6.  Amazingly enough all 7 birds will huddle together in one nesting box and sleep at night. 

 

This is the left side of the interior, which shows the clever trap door AH built in so we don't have to get our feet wet each morning when it's time to let the chickens out.  The trap door leads to a ramp that takes the chicken out into the enclosed run area.

 

Here is our rooster (Midnight) as he exits the chicken run for the main yard.

 

This is the far right side of the coop.  AH designed it so that the side door folds down for easy access to future eggs!  There is also a string that works the trap door (so I don't have to leave the patio).

Here's the right side with the door down and Little Walker anxiously trying to get my attention.

 

 A view of the trap door as viewed from the right side nesting boxes though the coop.

I was very nervous about getting chickens due to a coyote that has been our backyard resident for over a year now.  From what I've seen he has been keeping to the far side of the yard while the chickens are up against the main house/garage.  Thankfully AH has made a very sturdy coop that will keep the chickens safe from all predators, while giving them room to roam during the day.  We let them out into the yard when we are outside during daylight hours (they are great at eating bugs), and find that they make their way back into their coop in the late afternoon all on their own, which is around the earliest time that Mr. Coyote usually shows up. 

It's kind of fun being chicken wranglers!

It's a Sunshiny Day

Yesterday it was snowing, today it was 65 and absolutely stunning outside.  I love freaky spring weather in the PNW!  Of course this gorgeous sunshine takes priority and so the kiddo's and I had to go for a bike ride after dinner tonight (instead of doing dishes).  We snagged one of our neighbor friends to join us and rode down to the school, played there for a bit and then rode back home (which has a serious hill involved). 

Beeb showing me her incredible balancing skills.

 

 The trio of troublemakers.

 

Chugging up the big hill homeward. 

Chicken Love

Here are Lillian and Sunny (Sunny is the white chicken and our "largest" of the ladies).  Mr. B and Beeb brought them out to play in the sun this afternoon.  During a short break the kids gently coaxed the chickens down and then walked away to have a snack.  Surprisingly, to me, they stayed down and didn't ruffle a feather when the kids came running back to them.  They are really quite tame, which happens when they are handled regularly from birth, and handle all the manhandling my two kids inflict upon them each day.

 

 

 

The chickens will stay in just about any position the kids gently put them in (by stroking their feathers and talking softly to them) - even on their back! 

 

AH and I have been greatly surprised at what nice pets these birds have been for our kids.  We are looking forward to their laying eggs, hopefully by the end of summer.

 

Pirate Walker

As previously posted Mr. B has a favorite amongst our chickens, Little Walker.  She has a deformed beak which has resulted in her being about half the size of our other chickens, but she is truly the sweetest little thing and we just can't stand the idea of putting her down even though she probably won't be an egg layer for us.  We keep her for entertainment value. 

AH is not such a big fan of Little Walker (here is where the entertainment value come in) for the sheer fact that Mr. B has trained Little Walker to be very friendly and potentially giving her an identity crisis.  See every time AH lets the chickens out of their coop Little Walker immediately runs to him, flaps her wings and flies up into his face as she tries to land on his shoulder.  She does eventually make it onto his shoulder and proceeds to perch herself up there like a parrot.  Mr. B thinks this is hilarious and loves to parade around the yard with Little Walker on his shoulder; AH doesn't think this is so funny and is tired of being attacked by our overly friendly parrot wanna-be every time he lets them out to roam the yard.  I'm on Mr. B's side with this one - it provides a good laugh several times a week.