Bugs

This little guy is way into bugs these days.   He loves bugs.   It kind of started with the show Monster Bug Wars.   To bad there was only 6 episodes and we've seen all of them about a hundred times.   

He loves  finding bugs, watching shows about bugs, books about bugs and playing with his bug toys.   

He identifies all the bugs he finds too.... this is a bulldog rescue cricket, a cellar spider, a black-widow spider....we've found all kinds of species : )

We found a bug cage at a sale - perfect for him right now!   He couldn't wait to go on a bug hunt and fill it up.  

It was also perfect for fireflies.  Something he couldn't wait for was the fireflies to come back.  We finally had our 1st firefly night a few nights ago.

Boys and bugs, what can you do.

Before and After

I've been in the mood to change a few things up and do some painting.    This project wasn't on my list but I couldn't resist doing it first.   I found this chair by a dumpster and couldn't pass it up for a new flower chair.   It is really sturdy and made of maybe Oak?

Obviously just needed some paint.   I had a round wire basket in mind to place in it with flowers.   I had a seatless chair that I had used for years and it finally just fell apart to the point of just tossing out so this one was the perfect and free replacement!

I decided on a nice bright white paint.

And the round basket I was going to use (and didn't bother to see if it fit first) didn't fit.   I looked thru my things and found this square wire basket and liked how it looked.

I used the round coconut liner in the square basket and filled it with pansies.   My first and only flowers of this spring.  

I was happy with how it turned out and it looks bright and cheery on my front porch.   I have several more painting projects I'd like to do as soon as the weather warms up a bit more so I can work on them outside!

Spring Walk

The kids are loving being able to get outside.   They are having fun by the creek.   They've been piling up rocks making a "waterfall."

They also have been spending lots of time "fishing."    It involves a stick long enough to touch the water.   Hunter will say things like "I could do this all day" or "what a great day to fish."   And really they could do it all day.   It's pretty funny.

Max cat - the cat who thinks he's a dog - follows us on walks.   He was really annoyed that he couldn't figure out how we all got on one side and he was on the other.

He's still trying to figure it out.

And he finally figured it out by crossing the tree as far as he could and jumping.

Hunter thought this was so funny.

The cat seriously is part dog.  In the summer he follows us and lays down and pants when he gets too hot.  

Something Stinky

This little critter decided to visit our yard a few weeks ago.  The kids were getting a kick out of watching it wander around the yard.   It was out there for a long time, keeping us inside and then decided to get really close to the house and disappear under the deck.   We didn't see it again that night but we did smell it!    

And oh did we smell it!!   About the time it got dark out the smell filled the whole house.   It smelled like it had decided to spray right under our deck where we last spotted it.   It was really so strong and smelled all night and into the next day.    For some reason too it lingered in our entry way/ laundry room for about a week.   I think it had sprayed right in that corner of the house because you could smell it outside there for awhile.   Ugh, I'm not sure what we did to offend it that night but it sure got us! 

The next afternoon after it had stunk up our whole house the little critter had the nerve to make it's way back into our yard and root around again!    But after the incident the night before and the fact I was a little nervous to let the kids out when a skunk could be lurking under our deck I decided this little visitor was not welcome in our yard!

Thankfully Adam was home and the skunk lacked the common sense to run from the sound of bullets.   Let's just say this little stinker will not be stinking up any other houses!  The end.

Spring Things

Although it does not feel like spring around here this week there are some signs of spring outside.   

Here's about everything that is trying to say spring in my backyard.

Pussy-willow, I brought some of these inside to enjoy.

A newer flower bed I did last year.  Day-lilies planted along the back starting to come up.

My 5 new herb/flower boxes.  I'm really glad we got these built and filled last fall.  I planted a few things in them last fall but mostly they are empty and I plan on planting all my herbs in them this spring.   Hunter was trying to jump in all my pics.

I got ambitious last week and made some cold frames.   I was going to try and cover them in plastic and start lettuce and a few other things in them extra early.    I would have planted last week but with the weather this week SO cold, I think I'll wait at least another week and then try it. 

Bachelor's Buttons.   These must have gotten started from seed a few years ago on the edge of my garden and are taking over!   I think I'll let them go for the most part this year.   I might try to move a few so they don't take up so much garden space.   Last year they did bloom really pretty in June.

Chives are bravely coming in despite the cold.  I love that these come in so early and do well in the cold temps.

I was surprised this bunch of daffodils popped up so quickly.   They weren't there a few days ago and have come up despite us having nights in the 20's.

Crocuses always the first color of the year.

This looks springy.  That bunch in the back is always a little deceiving every year coming up so thick and full.   You want to think it will really be something but all that green leaves die out and you have to wait until about mid-summer for the real show, Surprise Lilies.  For now I'll enjoy the green.

Hyacinth's... my fave.

And Lilacs, another favorite.  Just starting to bud.

That's my spring showcase.   Hopefully these cold nights won't hurt anything and we'll start to get some real spring weather soon!   What do you have blooming?

Sneak Peak

So here is a sneak peak of our next little one.   It's a 4-D shot (and then I took a pic of a pic) so it's not great quality.. but you can see a close up of the face and the arm/hand next to the face.   About 23 weeks along right now with another 16 or so to go!

Happy Birthday

Baby boy celebrated his 2nd birthday this week.   

He wanted to make sure to make the most of his day by waking in the pre-sun hours to open presents and party with balloons. 

Happy Birthday, we love you!!

A Rare Sighting

We (my parent's) spotted this unusual bird this week in their crab apple tree.  It was before the big blizzard (but snowing when I took these pictures.)   It took us awhile to identify it.   The pictures don't really do it justice.   It was pretty big and very bright and beautiful for this time of year.   Bright orange chest and very distinct markings.   We finally figured out it is a Varied Thrush.   Even though if you check out this bird's bio here he is supposed to live along the very western coast of the U.S.

He hasn't been spotted since the blizzard and hopefully headed out or fared okay through it.   But it was a fun sighting to see this pretty bird so far from his home and by ours for a little while.

Blizzard Pics

As everyone knows by now we got about 15 inches of snow on Wednesday night.   I guess they said the 4th  biggest snow ever for us.   All I know is it was a silly amount of snow and a big snow.

This is looking out one of our windows.   I thought it was funny how all the windows on all four sides of our house were covered in snow.  It was just blowing from all directions all night long!

We were literally snowed in.   There was no getting out.  Adam tried in his Jeep and only got about half way down our drive-way before he hit the 3-4 foot drifts.   The drifts on the roads were worse.   They didn't plow the roads by us until about 4 p.m. and that was just to make it one lane.

He had to go check it out and here he is getting swallowed by a snow drift (or something?)    That's one of Hunter's swing ropes with the swing buried under the snow.

Hunter went out just for a little bit to play in the snow.   It was really too cold and windy.  I snapped a picture as he flew off his snow tube and face planted in the snow.   He was fine : )

Digging in the drifts that were bigger than Hunter.

What all the roads look like out here.   Kind of like tunnels thru the snow.

Hmnnn... anyone else really ready for spring??

Poor Baby

Poor baby boy was so sick right  before Christmas.    Here he is getting worse by the minute and feeling his lowest.    He was really feverish and you can see how rosy his face was in this picture.    Little guy got worse and worse as the day went on and it landed us in the ER by evening.  

I didn't have my camera (because who brings that to the ER) so I don't  have any pictures from his first night in the ICU or on all the breathing treatments.   He was diagnosed with pneumonia and chest infection and had to get a lot of care to get back to breathing good on his own.  

We had to spend 2 nights in the hospital and the 2nd night was in a regular pediatric room.   He's feeling much better in this picture but still sporting his IV.   They don't take that out until right before you leave and he still had to get some medication thru it over the 2nd night.   He spent his entire stay in just his diaper and didn't seem to mind one bit. 

 

He was so shaky from being so sick and from the medication.   This is the about the first time on his feet and he couldn't go anywhere because of the IV.

 

I was a little bummed we had to wake up in the hospital on Christmas Eve morning but so glad we were going home and not staying over Christmas.   Santa came right before we left and had presents for all the kids in the hospital.    He was a little excited to look down the hall and see Santa coming but was not going to look at Santa when he got close!    Santa did not disappoint and  he got some really nice gifts out of it.    Big brother was also very impressed that he had got some presents personally delivered by Santa!

He opened his presents and we headed home!

He was pretty out of it for a few days (including Christmas) but recovered great since and bounced right back to  his little feisty ole self... for which we are thankful!!