Brig's Photography of the Little Birdies...

Brig found a nest in our pear tree this year and found some sweet little eggs and since I am terrified a little nervous around birds, I asked him to take a picture for me. His pictures were beautiful and he would periodically go check on the nest and take some more pictures. One time when he checked on the birds the kids actually saw a bird jump out of the nest. It was a really neat experience.

Porkchop and Porla...

One of my favorite things to do with our children is to read chapter books to them. We have read quite a few but Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder was definitely one of our favorites. We all loved it...and learned quite a bit. One of those things was that if you buy a pig you can sell it for more money. So Brig was convinced that he needed to buy a pig. And Cory- being the entrepreneur-business-fostering parent that he is...readily agreed (he doesn't remember this fact...but I am the one writing the blog so I get to call the shots here:). He even told him that we would pay for the feed and then buy the pig at the end...a business deal that is hard to resist! So he built a pen and we were ready for the pig. And then the lady who was selling it to us said that she had two pigs...and Ellie agreed to buy one too! So, now we have 2 PIGS!!!! Porkchop and Porla (they are actually both girls...but you can guess who named which pig)  It has been really good because it is the kids responsibility to feed and water them- which wasn't a huge deal at first but as they get bigger...their appetites do too! And Ellie and Brig have done a great job taking care of them. They did get out a couple times...and I vowed that this was the one and only time we would have pigs as I tried to herd them back into their pen...pigs don't "herd." Everyone who hears about our pigs worry that our kids won't be able to sell them for what they were destined for (hint, hint...Porkchop) but rest assured that our kids know all too well  the purpose of these animals. It has been a new and sometimes exciting adventure for us!

Copper...

 

About two months ago we got a cow and were going to grain him out so we could have him butchered. We kept him in a pen right next to our yard and were excited to see him get fat. A little cruel...but true.

Naturally, we named him- we have little kids and they were so excited to have a "pet" of sorts.

Copper.

Well, Copper really had quite the personality for a cow- he became our "watch-cow" and would often moo at visitors when they came to our front door and would always bellow at us when we went through the back door. He was a little bit ornery and a little bit playful and would sometimes casually headbutt the chain link fence when our kids would go and talk to him.

So, when the day came for us to say our goodbyes, we were sadder than we anticipated. Ok, Cory, Brig and I were sad. Ellie asked us if  they killed him with a handgun (I know...a little gory) and I don't really think Jase knows where or what is happening with Copper.

So I thought, he deserved a little spotlight since we all grew pretty attached to this funky horned cow!

 

 

Sheepish...

If you have spent very much time with Brig, you probably know that he LOVES farms. Loves them. Like actually...it is an obsession. He is always talking about what our farm will be like and all the animals that we will have and on and on...

It's pretty cute.

 

But when it comes right down to it...we have a LONG ways to go before these cute kiddos of mine are ready for the farm life...like we have to start by not being absolutely terrified of four legged animals. That would be a really good place to start.

 

 

This was their happy place...safe, on the fence, just watching the animals. But they are such cute wanna-be farm kids!

 

The Bunny Checklist...

A couple of weeks before Easter, I told Cory that I thought it would be fun to get the kids a bunny for Easter.  A Little, miniature, cute, friendly, brown or grey bunny.

About a week later he told me that someone told him they were getting some rabbits and asked if we wanted one too. Cory...being the awesome hubby that he is, said yes.

So, when he told me I think he was a bit surprised when I cautiously asked if he knew what color. Or what kind. Or what size.

Nope. He just knew it was a rabbit.

So, I was quite surprised when he then brought home 2 huge, black and white rabbits.

Let's go over the check list once more (I must have forgotten to tell Cory about "the Bunny Checklist")

-Little...nope, they are full grown.

-Miniature...not even close. When standing on their hind legs...they are half the height of Ellie.

Cute...uh uh. Next to completely white rabbits with red eyes...they are about as ugly as they come. But thankfully- the eyes are not red.

-Friendly...they don't bite...so I suppose we can count that. Sort of.

-Singular...even Cory was surprised when they forced him to take 2.

Two full-grown, huge, ugly, wild/escapey rabbits.

But...we love them...well actually, Cory and I love that Brig has to be responsible and feed them every day and Brig loves that we "almost have a farm now."

So it's a win-win.

As long as they don't escape any more...because I have chased them around the yard WAY too many times.

 

Short Lived...

We were pet owners.

For approximately 48 hours.

We got a kitten. Named him Buzz.  He was lonely...so we got him a friend the next day (Grandma had lots of them!) Woody.  Naturally.

We thought their sad, lonely days were over!

You see, growing up, kittens were a big part of my childhood.  We always had baby kitties that we dressed up, bottle fed with doll bottles and loved and played with.  So I thought- what a great experience for our little family- plus Brig says he loves animals...but gets quite nervous when he is actually around them.  Cats were the perfect first step towards recovery.

However, despite our efforts of making them a nice little home, playing with them, and even giving them some disgusting-super-foul-smelling canned cat food...they dissappeared.

So...we were pet owners for approximately 48 hours.  It was quite the responsibility- and it was pretty fun to have those sweet little kittens greet us anytime we went outside...but pretty sure we are going to wait quite a while before we try the whole animal thing again!