New Arrivals

We had a busy day on Monday, with a trip to Lincoln to Miss A's orthodontic check up.  First, though, we went to the mall so I could get my ring checked and we could trade in a DS game.  The kids and I also ate there and window shopped for a little bit.  We had fun just hanging out for a short while!

After Miss A's appointment, we headed to York to get some groceries at Wal-Mart before heading home.  The girls were heading to my mom's for an overnight and IC was getting ready for basketball practice and then an overnight with my in-laws, but we took a few moments to go see our new arrivals!

Aren't they pretty?  And HUGE!  I didn't know they'd be this big!  We have 3 hens and 2 roosters, they are a buff color and the breed is Orpington.  Even though they had a big journey and have just started laying eggs, we had an egg already!  JJ will be getting things set up to try our hand at having a clutch of eggs to incubate shortly.  Should be an interesting adventure!

Special Music

Sunday, the 28th, I was supposed to have the special music, but earlier, Miss A had asked when she could play the piano in church.  I took this as a perfect opportunity for her to do so.  I also asked IC if he wanted to play and he agreed, so Sunday, Miss A played "We Three Kings" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the piano and IC played "The First Noel" on his guitar.  Both did a great job-I was very proud of them!

In the afternoon, we headed to York to a matinee showing of "Walking With Dinosaurs" in 3D.  The kids seemed to enjoy it and even E bunny didn't get scared and come sit on my lap!

That evening, JJ went to the neighbors' to get our new chickens that he'd picked up for us in Oklahoma, while delivering some sheep (these chickens are from Arkansas, cool, huh?)

Home Time

We have been home pretty much the whole week, except for the Christmas' and church services and it was pretty great!  The first couple of days, the kids were getting bored, so I had to break out some crafts that I'd gotten just for Christmas vacation.

IC likes the Rainbow Loom and made several bracelets for himself and a couple for each of the girls.  Miss A had a harder time getting the hang of it, but did do a simple bracelet on her own (with only a little help from IC).

Saturday, the kids were starting to fight more, so I pulled out some stamp pads and books and encouraged the kids to make thumbprint pictures, which kept them busy for awhile.  The girls also pulled out their paints and worked with them awhile.

While the girls were painting, IC was playing his new ipod, which he likes very much!

Besides playing and fighting, the kids have also worked on cleaning and picking up their rooms.  We've managed to get both rooms 3/4 done.  I was hoping to have them ALL done, but it's been so nice in the afternoons in the days after Christmas, that we've just HAD to be out for hours!  Miss A has had lots of time to ride her new bike (which was part of Christmas), IC has been shooting his BB gun and E bunny has been hanging some with Daddy (when she could manage to get him to say yes!)  E also convinced Grandpa on Saturday to take her on a tractor AND 4 wheeler ride!  We had to take advantage of 50-60 degree weather while we had it and we enjoyed it!

Also busy on the farm, is the heifers, as they started calving that last week of school before Christmas.  We're up to six babies, and have lost 1 heifer and it's calf.  That was unfortunate, but she'd had an injury and  there wasn't a lot we could do.

We also sold our 11 Rhode Island Red chickens to a nearby farmer and are waiting the arrival of a NEW set of chickens-4 hens and 1 rooster, set to arrive today, the 29th!  I've spent a couple of days in a row cleaning out the chicken house and JJ helped yesterday by disinfecting it, so that we are ready for them to arrive.  We hope to show these chickens at the fair this year and also hatch a clutch of chicks!  Should be an interesting winter-never a dull moment!

Christmas Day, Part 2

At 11:30, it was time to head to my parents' for Christmas dinner and opening gifts afterwards. Then, we enjoyed watching IC's new movie "Despicable Me 2" plus a little of The Roy Rogers Show and an episode of The Lone Ranger (the good old fashioned black and white shows, by the way) before heading home.

Christmas Day, Part 1

Christmas morning, IC was up at 6:15 and at least, he asked if it was ok to wake the girls!  Turns out that Miss A had come down sometime during the night and was asleep on the chair, but it didn't take much for either of the girls to wake up!

 

After JJ was done with chores, he helped Miss A with her large lego set and I helped E bunny set up her medium-sized lego set.  IC tried a couple of simple experiments with his new chemistry set and we were all busy all morning with all the kids' new toys!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a busy day for us, as we baked cookies, made cornbread (without the cornmeal, we somehow FORGOT to add it-but it was still really good!), and got ready early for church services.

After church, we had supper before starting a new tradition of our own: letting the kids open 1 gift early.  IC got a couple of books, a Christmas music CD and a movie.  The girls each got a church dress with a matching dress for their American dolls, a Christmas music cd and bedding for their American girl bunk bed.
After that, IC read, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and Miss A read "The Christmas Baby" before bedtime.

It took FOREVER for the kids to finally go to sleep that night!

Christmas With the In-laws

Sunday, the  23rd, we headed to my in-laws after church to have Christmas dinner and open gifts.  The girls got potholder looms (I remember doing that as a child), which Miss A really took to.  E bunny got a couple of messenger bags to color and Miss A received a drawing kit.  IC received a plastic engine kit from grandpa that they started to put together some there and the rest we did at home.

2nd Grade Christmas Party

I helped with Miss A's Christmas party at school on Friday, the 20th.  The kids had fun making an ornament, passing the present, and blowing the cottonball across the table into the bucket, after a sugary snack, of course.



 

Girl Scout Meeting

Our Girl Scout troop had a craft day for their December meeting. The girls had a good time making ornaments for themselves and for residents at the nursing home.

More Bike Fun

December 16.

Early Christmas Present

So, I gave Miss A part of her Christmas present early-it's really hard to hide a bike that big until Christmas!  She previously picked it out at Wal-Mart.  She's already gotten to ride it since the snow we had melted quickly.

The Nutcracker

On Saturday, the 14th, our Girl Scout troop leader and I took my girls and her daughter to the Nutcracker.  The girls got to get autographs, get a little background and dance instruction and then see the performance.  They had a pretty good time!