Carson and Acacia make breakfast! '11

Carson came over for a sleep over and Saturday AM the girls wanted to make breakfast. Acacia made herself a cheese omelet while Carson made herself chocolate chip pancake. They also made bacon, cut up strawberries and blueberries with whip cream. A toast with Sunny D and the meal is complete!

Patio of Learish's - Wild Kingdom '11

A little over two weeks ago Randy asked me if I had noticed the birds nest on our patio.  I had not.  We do get a ton of birds trying to nest all over our property and as soon as we see they are starting to build a nest we take it town as they are usually in not so good locations (on top of speakers or the garage door opener).  This nest was in one of my pots for my plants ... sitting right on a table on the patio. 

By the time we saw the nest, there were already two eggs laid in it.  I called the animal wildlife folks to ask what to do as this nest is right in the middle of our patio table!!  Not hidden in a bush or out of sight on top of something.  The kids are going to be into this and we have all Randy's family coming for Memorial week end.  There is no way we can keep all the kids from wanting to see it all the time.  We were told to move it little by little to a better location.  So, we did.  But, it's still in the pot and on the table.  By the time all the egg laying was done we had four eggs.

Yesterday, three of the four hatched and the dad returned to help the mom. Today, the fourth one hatched. They will be in the nest for another two weeks. So, we just have to keep the kids away as best we can. Wish us luck!!

Feeding time.

Who to feed first?

Like, could you move over a little??

Think it might be time to start stretching those wings ...

This guy flew the coop but still wants food brought to him.

The parents spent the day following the babies around making sure they did not get hurt.  If something (golf cart) came near you'd see the adults encouraging the young to move it along!

This guy is still looking for food.

Almost as cool as watching that eagle cam!!

Pioneer Day '11

Acacia's school spends a bit of time teaching the kids about life in the Pioneer Days. After a couple weeks of lessons they have Pioneer Day. The kids are STRONGLY encouraged to dress appropriately. They are supposed to try and do things as close to the way the pioneers did it. So, lunches in a bucket or sack (no Scoobie Doo lunch boxes). They played pioneer games and learned how to churn butter and make ice cream and several other pioneery like things! The Oregon Historical Museum has pioneer clothes and the kids can barrow them for the day. Acacia looks like Holly Hobby or Laura Engels to me! I just can not get over how totally cute she looks! She just really pulls off this look. She loves wearing this dress ... around the house. She says it is really soft!! I think she also likes the bonnet but won't admit to that out loud!

Our little Miss Engels.



Acacia's class normal ....





Acacia's class Pioneer style.

I spent an hour or so at the school in the AM and watched how the teachers handled class. There was no more smiling, happy, helpful teachers. They were all straight faced and serious. The classrooms were split in half (boy / girls). No more smart boards, computers, paper or pencils. They had chalk and slates. When the kids acted out of place they were punished appropriately.

 


See how the kids are separated boys and girls?  And the girls all have their little baskets by their desks?

 

Dunce cap.

  

This dude had to sit on the "girls" side AND wear a BONNET!

 

Max here had to keep his nose to the chalk board!



Doesn't Acacia just look like the model student with her hands all crossed and all?

Having lunch.  Notice all the baskets?



Playing pioneer games.



I am sure she is loving sitting on that concrete in her condition!





Laura Engel's wedding cake.


There are just more taken at home.