Collecting Eggs

Our chickies are starting to lay more and more eggs. This is causing the boys to take their egg collecting duties seriously. Of course, sometimes you just need to collect the alphabet blocks.

Warp Speed

I suppose I knew that as soon as I held a newborn again, reality would set in. My babies are growing up too quickly. Sigh.

It's a Boy!

Oh the deliciousness. Baby Boy Crawford. Born at 11:20 am. Weighing in at "a small, but wiry", 7 lb 13 oz. Name yet to be determined... Robb was on the scene within a few hours. He sure loves holding the babies. And showing off that he gets to before me. But, I did get to go for some cuddles. And let me tell you, I'm smitten.

Waiting for Baby!

This morning we got a little surprise. Apparently, baby Crawford was ready a bit earlier than we had all expected. So we got to have Oliver and Ellis with us for most of the day. The kids all had way too much fun. Among other things, they played in the double-decker bed, ran around with the chickens and piled up all of the stuffed animals for a little reading time.

Of the five littles, Lincoln definitely brought the most challenges. At one point, he actually dropped a deuce in the front yard. I have a picture. I'm not posting it.

These Two

Uncle Everett (see what I just did there?) has been on the night shift lately, so Robb doesn't often see him at work. But every so often I'll get a text with one of these pics. I think to make me jealous. It works.

Something New at St. Mary's

There's been a new development at Robb's work. Over the last few months, he's been in training as they amp up their interventional cardiology program. As of this week, his hospital is providing emergency angioplasty and stents for heart attacks 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Which, incidentally, means that he is currently on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whew.

These are a few shots of the team from a recent training drill.

Progress

I am happy to report that we are actually getting eggs! There have consistently been two little blue eggs every day. And today I have discovered two brown eggs as well. Go ladies!

ARRRR-t

Zeke gets to do pretty cool crafts in Sabbath School. Often there are masks to color and he gets a little creative. It took me a second to see it, but I guess he is pirate tiger or something? He informs me that it is a skull and crossbones in the middle of the mask. Not sure what he is learning in Sabbath School...

Favorite Things

Miss G came over for a visit today. She brought her own toys. Apparently one of them was just too much fun. And although it looks like they are sharing. They are not. Rusty is rude.

This child. He has two teeth. But he insists on trying anything that the boys are having. So it is that he has developed a taste for Ramen. I think he even out-eats his brothers. I think he is trying to inhale the food.

This sweet child, that will actually take a nap in my arms. It is lovely beyond words.

A Lego Victory

These two boys are Lego devotees. For Christmas, Robb picked out a rather complex airplane set for himself Zeke. Very shortly, they set to work putting it together. Missing pieces sent from the Arctic, other missing pieces re-ordered from Lego, and several weeks later, they were finally able to complete the airplane. There was so much joy. Nerds.

Epic Hair

Lincoln woke up with a fun little rooster tail of sorts. I kind of assumed it would calm down at some point, but by nap time, he was still rocking it. (And yes, he is sitting on the toilet. He is so rarely still that I have to take advantage of certain circumstances.)

At Last!

When we got our chicks last summer, it was a little later in the season, so we didn't expect them to start laying right away. However, it started to seem that they never would deliver and were just free-loading. So, a couple of weeks ago we put in a light on a timer to give them a little more "daylight" and sure enough—an egg! I hope this bodes well for the season.

My Superb Assistant

Pretty much the ENTIRE time I do the dishes or clean the kitchen, this little one is trying to unload the dishwasher or empty the cabinets. When that gets old, he decides to hug my legs. Then cleanup time is over and it is snuggle time. I don't mind in the least.

Zeke Portraits

Zeke. At it again. My favorite is how he captures the expressions on Lincoln's face.

Brother Buddies

That moment when it is suspiciously quiet? Sometimes they are actually all playing together nicely. Weird, huh?

Out and About

Sometimes the effort of getting kids ready and out the door means you don't get out enough. And once you do finally get out, there is a reticence to return home. And so, we ended up going to the toy store to watch the trains, we checked out the 70% off sale at The Clothing Company and ended up at the Taqueria.

Sunday Morning Craft Time

Once a month, we descend upon The Home Depot for a free craft event. Any by "free," I mean that we do a craft and then go buy a bunch of home improvement supplies, so you do the math. At any rate, there is always lots of practice with hammers and painting. This month, I guess in honor of Valentine's Day, they made planters and were given a cup of dirt and Viola seeds. We'll see how that goes...

And we wouldn't want to miss out on running through the door and window display, or test driving the riding mowers either.

Unbearable Cuteness

I love it when they sleep. And I know that is when I'm supposed to be accomplishing things, but goodness. He is just so cute to watch.

Sticker Love

I don't know what it is about stickers, but Zeke has always been obsessed with them. Auntie Nel sent over a packet today and it just made his evening. I rarely get such an angelic smile out of him these days, he usually is trying to be "pirate-y" or something. But stickers bring out his sweeter side.