Odds and Ends of the last month. #1

OK, so apparently I am a big lazy blogger. I have decided to try to catch everyone up. School is finally out for the kids. The last week was a kicker though. The school has to invite you to come watch your kids do something everyday. Don't they realize we are trying to rest up? A couple days before school got out, I was driving the kids to the bus stop and Ella informed me that I was supposed to come to their class for an author's tea. I asked her what it was and she said an author was going to come and read their book, then she added that ALL the moms and dads were suppose to be there. Way to put me on the spot. So I told her I would be there, then for the next 3 hours I complained to anyone who talked to me, about having to go to the school and listen to some author read their book to my child. Why did I need to be there, other than to have Ella be the only one without her mom or dad there. I get to the school, find my seat in the front row of the class so Ella will know I am there. Then the teacher gets up to start things out, and as it turns out, the kids are the authors, and they have all written books that they are going to read to us. I felt like such a jerk, and was so glad that I had made it. Ella's was the best. She was also first, and so I was able to leave right after she was done. So I guess I deserve to feel like a jerk.

A couple of weeks ago we decided to give in and get the kids a pet. Dwight, Bailey and I are all allergic to cats, rabbits, and most dogs. But Ella came up with a great idea for a pet and Dwight went along with it. We got the kids 3 baby chicks. They were cute (I'll get back to that in a minute) Dwight and the boys built them a box, then Dwight left. He came back with two more chicks, apparently he thought they were cute too. Our garage quickly turned into the hugest stinkiest mess, that seeped into the house everytime the kids would even open the garage door. Dwight finally decided they were big enough to put outside. I got the garage cleaned out, and was glad to have them in the backyard. They wander around the yard and give a great country feel to our home, as long as you watch your step on the back patio. I have spent the last week hosing off the back patio daily. Then I went out of town for the weekend and while I was gone Dwight built a gate for the side yard to keep the chickens confined to that area and off of my patio. I was glad. Then this morning I heard someone tapping at my back door and when I opened it, there were five chickens hanging out on my back patio. I don't know how they got out. Dwight thinks we are going to save so much money on eggs, but I think we will save even more on whole fryers.....get it?