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. 

Room Redo - Part 1

For month's (truthfully it's been more like a year and a half) I've been planning to redecorate Beeb's room.  It started with the quilt that my awesome neighbor made for her and then stalled after that point.  Last week I decided I needed to get the ball rolling so I moved much of Beeb's stuff out of her room and sorted through all her toys (several bags of stuff got thrown out - doubtful she'll notice) in preparation for painting the walls.  Today I taped off the walls/molding, patched where it needed it and AH did some minor wall repair. 

 

I love before & after photos but rarely remember to take "before" images of my own projects.  This time I caught myself a bit earlier than usualy and at least am showing her room before I actually started painting, though much of the general stuff is missing. (hey, it's better than nothing)

 

 

Tonight I painted about 3/4 of the room with the first coat.  Tomorrow I hope to complete it and have her sleeping back in her room by Sunday night.  I'd also like to get her bed and big dresser painted but I think that may have to wait until later next week, though I hate to lose momentum. 

Chickens Chickens Chickens. . . and a Rooster

We are immersed into life with chickens... oh, and a rooster (possibly two).  Our little babies are growing very quickly and stinking up our garage something fierce (due to all the ammonia that naturally occurs in their poop).  This odor has sparked a fire in AH and he is actively working on getting the chicken coop built and ready for occupancy by the end of this weekend. 

 

Here's one of our sweeties that Beeb loves to love on.  

This is Little Walker (Walker for short).  She has a deformed beak/jaw but so far it is not preventing her from eating and, because we love her so much, we haven't returned her.  She is the most adventurous of all the birds - eager to get out of the cage as soon as the door is open, and in general not at all afraid of people.  Guess who favors Little Walker the most?

Mr. B *loves* Little Walker the most.  They are two buddies.  Mr. B takes extra good care of Walker.

Obviously Walker has an affection for Mr. B too.  That bird will sit on his shoulder all day.  I can just imagine Walker full grown and still sitting on Mr. B's shoulder, like some sort of parrot wanna be.

Beeb is never missing from all the bird action.  She has several favorites amongst them.  I think this may be Lillian, but honestly I can't keep them straight (though to be sure the kids know each bird individually).

 

I told AH today that now that we own all these chickens we are officially hicks (apparently not such a bad thing).



Snow Camping: Ape Caves

This weekend we took our kids snow camping at the Mt. St. Helen's Ape Caves.  I feel cool just saying it. . . snow camping (I'm well aware that I am a dork).  What really happened is that AH was taking his boy scouts snow camping and we just tagged along (still very cool though). 

We arrived after dark so no pictures of setting up camp or preparing dinner.  Here are images from the rest of our trip.

Camp

Feeding the camp robbers.

 

Breakfast consisted of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, hot cocoa and orange juice.   

Cool little shelf cave in our camp.

 

Beeb and I.

 

 Everyone got into trying to get the camp robbers to land on their hand.

We took a short hike over to the Trail of Two Forest and the kids explored the lava made molds of trees and underground L-shaped shafts formed by two fallen trees. "While crawling on your hands and knees, you will notice that the tunnel walls are covered with ribs and cracks matching the bark of the trees that once filled this space. Luckily for your head, much of the ceiling has been glazed by the wood fire that burned in the tube. Thirty feet in, you will make a turn to the left and see the light. A ladder at the end of the crawl will bring you back up to the boardwalk." Website info.

One of the exits (the other was blocked by too much snow).

 

 The actual Ape Cave entrance was a snowy mess.  Thankfully some kind person left a rope to hold on to as you slide your way down.

 

Here's a video of some kids making their way down the entrance (note Beeb at the end):

Mr. B making his way down the entrance:

 

 Bright flashlights or headlamps are a must - it's pitch black in the caves.

 

We found a little shelf that needed exploring.

 

 

  AH took a photo from up top the shelf looking down on those waiting.

The famous "meatball".  We were able to boost Steve up onto it. 

When asking if any of the scouts wanted to join Steve nobody volunteered.  Beeb raised her voice up and said, "I'll do it!"

 

Coming out of the caves was just as tricky as going into them.

Our little family with Mt. St. Helen's peeking out behind us. 

It was a very bright day so Steve made some of the kids duck-tape sunglasses.

 

AH had this conversation with Beeb during our hike.  Here is what occupies the mind of an 8 year old (think Mindcraft) :

To complete the Upper Cave we decided to enter it a the exit.  This is me doing a basic repel down to the ladder (again and icy mess, though this time with no handrails to hold onto).

 

Beeb was the first kid down this shoot.  She was very very nervous and unfortunately the rope was tied around her waist but then there wasn't enough slack to get her all the way to the ladder so AH had to go retrieve her (only a few extra feet).  I am proud of her for not letting her fear prevent her from trying - this really built up her confidence.  Mr. B, being fearless, had no problem and probably would have tried skiing down it if we'd let him (crazy boy!).  

 

 

It was a fun adventure and I am still very sore from it.  The caves are amazing to see any time of the year, just be sure to bring extra batteries.