I’m sitting on my couch with Grace next to me. Caleb and Seth are watching Max and Ruby and Sarah is toddling around with a little ball…she is a chatterbox and I love hearing her baby-talk.
It’s just after 7. I’ve been up since 6. Rich left for work at 6:30. He had all last week off and I never thought I would say this but I’m sort of glad he’s going to work today. He’s exhausting! Constantly on the go with things to do……he wore me out. LOL In a good way, but honestly I am tired and looking forward to a normal (please?) day home with the children.
The weather has been gorgeous here. The sun is shining now and it promises to be another beautiful summer day.
We had a (comparatively small) heartbreak on Friday. We were gone all day, in Boston. While we were gone, the neighbor’s dog nosed up the the chicken’s little door and our poor girls had to face the monster. Molly the dog killed two in the coop; Jacob found them. (One of our roosters, Romeo, and one of our little hens, Pepper.) The dog also ate (!!!) four of our other hens. We have 10 hens left and two roosters. After all that work on the fence, we wonder if we are creating a food bin for dogs and fox. Rich nailed the chicken door shut and they now walk a plank up to their open window to lay eggs and roost at night.
Ethan had accidently let some chickens out that morning, before we left. We were so relieved on Saturday morning, when three hens came back home, drenched (it had rained a lot). Then, later on, Ethan thought he heard a chicken and found Margaret on the other side of the stream, sitting and making forlorn sounds. The poor hen must have been terrified out of her mind to go across the stream. They never go over there.
Feathers were everywhere. When I come across a clump, I pick them up and throw them into the bushes out of sight. As I told Rich, “They are only chickens and I know this is just part of the experience but IT STILL HURTS.” Especially because the children have loved and enjoyed them so much. Jacob’s favorite, Red, the one who hatched out chicks last fall and was such a good mother, was one of the hens consumed by the dog and it hurt Jacob so much. He refused to believe it was true and truly believed she would show up, until one last attempt was made to find her at the end of the day, Saturday. He came back to the house in tears, “I didn’t find any.” Rich talked to him for a while and promised we would order more chicks as soon as we could.
The neighbors were gone this whole time (all weekend). When they came home last night Rich went to talk to the man of the house, and it went really well. He promised to keep the dog in the fence and he said if it ever happens again (please, no!) he will get rid of the dog. It was amazing to know that he would choose keeping the peace with neighbors over his pet. I am so touched by that.
So anyway. Caleb’s birthday was Saturday. It was a very happy day, with my sister and her family here, and also my brother Isaac. Happy, that is, unless we let our minds wander to the sad destruction of six of our hens. So I tried very hard to block out those bad thoughts! Thanks, to those who saw my “pulse” here on xanga, and prayed for me. It truly helped, as always. So glad we can go to the Lord, with everything!
This is Sarah, the way I saw her, when I was mixing together Caleb’s birthday cake Saturday morning. She was at/under my feet as I stood at the mixer. She had a little cracker and was putting it in and out of the muffin tin (in the open cupboard). She had a scraper and was stirring. She was cooking, too! I didn’t even know it, until I said OOPS as I accidently flung a handful of flour out of the bowl and ON HER HEAD! LOL
Flour in the hair = just one of the many hazards of hanging around Mama, as she bakes.
I doubled the yellow cake recipe and wondered if I needed a bigger mixing bowl.
There was activity everywhere around me, and Caleb was enjoying some of his new toys.
As the sheet cake and 24 cupcakes baked, we watched Caleb open his gifts. (Although, they were actually in gift bags, as I have temporarily sworn off wrapping. It’s just too much of a hassle in this stage of life.)
The rest of the family got at our house at 10-10:30.
Sweet Naomi (she’s 5) adores baby Sarah. She brought a little book to show her.
This is my brother, Isaac.
There was a total of 15.
I’m holding Seth, and Amanda is holding her son Weston. They are a year apart in age.
We spent lots of time outside in the sun. The boys played frisbee and football.
After playing around outside, we had lunch together; make your own sandwiches, potato salad, chips, fresh strawberries, pickles.
Then, it was time for cake!
Caleb’s cake is a homemade yellow cake. As it cooled, Isaac and I thinly sliced 2 pounds of strawberries, which I sprinkled sugar on and let sit on the counter. When the cake was cool, I poked holes in it and dumped the strawberries and juice on top, and arranged them evenly. Then, (this is the fun part), I beat a pint of heavy cream (sweetened with a touch of sugar) until it was nice and thick, which I spread over the cake like frosting. I decorated the top with leftover strawberry slices. Basically, a strawberry shortcake. Yum! It’s the perfect cake for a July 9th birthday.
After serving cake and ice cream to 15 people (with help from Rich), it was finally time for me to sit down with a big piece of cake. As I ate, I started to laugh. It was such a typical Mama-moment……..
The Mama, sitting alone, with the dirty table and a nursing baby, while eating her cake and ice cream.
Rich and Jason were cleaning the kitchen and Rich took the picture.
Happy Monday!
) had her own apartment. It’s pretty much a blur to me now, really…except little bits and pieces, it was mainly a nice time for Rich and Matt. I do have old photos. Of Matt on his birthday with the little ones standing around him at the table, with his cake. Of us outside all together. I remember the last time, before he moved away. It hurt, as it always does, to see a friend moving on. 
Good to be Home 