Pet Drama

This is a hedgehog. Cute, isn't he (or she, as the case may be...)? We are thinking about getting one. No, I have not had a mental health check-up recently. Perhaps I should. Actually, this is my husband's idea, believe it or not.

It began last summer when we gave away our doggie (a win-win situation, I assure you). Everyone started asking about our next pet. After we moved, I promised, we would address the issue.

So, in February, when most of the boxes were unpacked, we acquired Sean, our betta fish. He is a sweet little guy who requires very little of my time and attention. I thought we were all satisfied, but, alas, a fish cannot be held, does not make any noise, isn't very cuddly... Hence, the requests began again, this time for a guinea pig.

We've done some research, talked to many friends, and it seemed this little animal could be a good fit for us. Our eldest daughter began saving her money and doing extra chores to earn cash. The necessary amount to purchase a rodent (I always promised we would never own either a rodent or a reptile. One should never say never...) is within reach.


And then my husband came home from work the other day and announced that he'd been talking with co-workers about pets. He received a few negative reviews about guinea pigs, but a rave review about.... hedgehogs. I thought he was kidding. But the next thing I knew, everyone was huddled around the computer looking at websites on these little critters.

They are cute. Apparently, they neither smell nor make noise. They might be a little prickly, but I guess you get used to that.

To add to the urgency, Sean doesn't seem to be doing very well. He's not eating much and appears rather lifeless most of the time. I never thought I could be so sad about a fish! I guess that's the beauty of pets - learning to care for something that truly depends on you, an exercise is selflessness...

I have such fond memories of all my childhood pets, and I really do want my kids to have the same. So, it seems we're headed down another road to pet ownership. Where this journey will take us remains to be seen.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

In typical fashion, I'm procrastinating a bit in order to participate in my new favorite exercise...





We have guests arriving today, if the weather cooperates, so I look forward to a morning of baking, cleaning, and answering a million times the question, "how many more minutes 'til they get here?"

{real}

In spite of a lack of grass and patio, the kids are very willing to make do with the spread of gravel left in the wake of construction. Vic is happy about his digging project, but is unsure about his sister's love of snuggling...

{funny}

Our nephew played the role of the Magic Carpet in his school's production of Al*ddin. After the show, a certain 3-yo wanted a picture with the leading man (the expression on her face = priceless), her cousin, and brother.


{happy}

My first loaf of bread made with freshly milled wheat. Happy = Me!!



{pretty}

We visited our local botanical gardens a couple weeks ago for the annual butterfly exhibit. This is one of our favorite things to do, especially because they sell caterpillars in the gift shop which we bring home to observe. This year, all 4 successfully completed their metamorphases into chrysalis and then butterfly!! They have all been released outside, to everyone's delight. Last year, I placed them in a window and I think they got baked because the butterflies never emerged. Lesson learned....

Visit the ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter for more fun!!

Transitioning

I overslept this morning, just a little. It was a delicious sleep that lasted until 8:00am and ended with my 6-yo asking, "Mom, why are you still in bed?"

I told the kids that last week could be their last of the 'school year' (we actually keep doing small amounts of academic stuff all summer, but they don't seem to realize that), but, miraculously, they seem to have forgotten.

Both yesterday and today, they asked, "after we do school, can we do _____________?" I just went with it...

And now, in my laziness (just because they're keeping up with the regular routine doesn't mean I have to!! still working on maturity here...), I'm goofing around at the computer in my pajamas at 9:41 and my eldest child is in the basement teaching the other kids!! I can hear them starting out with prayer (yay!!), and now working on math facts. I love my kids. Mind you, I had to muscle through 52 requests to watch W*ld Kr*atts before they moved on to this activity...

Anyway, we're off to our first horseback-riding lesson right after lunch. The stables to which we're going offer both therapeutic riding and riding lessons for able-bodies kids, so we're making the trek every Tuesday for the next 6 weeks.

Maybe if I just buy more popsicles they'll get the idea that summer in this house really has begun... If I keep wearing pajamas until noon that may clue them in as well.

Today's Purchases

After a day spent at our local homeschooling conference, I returned home with a couple new phonics books, math texts, and....

...a new grain mill!!!!

I have been intrigued by these since a friend of mine had one several years ago. Then I learned that another good friend had been using one. The bread she bakes is incredibly good, so the second she mentioned her mill, I was convinced of its benefits! I considered a while longer, discussed it with my husband and parents (who milled their own wheat long ago) and with a little peer pressure (haha - I don't really mean that, coleen, if you're reading!), I made the leap today!!

Tomorrow we'll give the mill and my new mixer (a Mother's Day gift from my sweet hubbie) a whirl and see if we can get a decent loaf of bread. I'm sure it will take us some practice, but it sounds like fun, don't you think?

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

Real... Friends for 20 years. We have certainly seen every side of each other. What a blessing to have a friend who knows you so well and still loves you!
Funny... At the zoo, feeding the ducks (actually, mostly the nasty catfish that swarm), I rarely have quarters for food, so my kids know how to scavenge the cracks in the deck for pieces of duck feed dropped by others.
Happy... All of our dear friends' and our children after church during their weekend visit at the end of April.
Pretty... My girls and their Godmother.

Visit Leila for more of {pretty, happy, funny, real}...

Pada's Famous Pitch

 

 

May

In honor of warm weather, which is surely right around the corner, we are...

...wearing a sundress (the youngest of us), which will be accompanied by pants and a coat the second she goes outside.

...plotting our garden with the seeds we picked up yesterday. Trying to figure out where to put this garden since we need to figure out how much of our yard to seed first. Should I park it where I want it for the long haul or just put it where it's convenient for this summer?

...slowing down on schoolwork. This may or may not be a good idea.

...going to a basegall game tonight!! (to see Pada throw out the first pitch)

...thinking about summer activities. Everybody wants to do everything, and I really want to slow down. I'm sure we can strike a compromise, because, honestly, the kids don't want to be as busy as they think they want to be.

...keeping our eyes out for kids in the neighborhood. Mine can't wait to meet their new neighbors.

...going for walks, opening the windows, and enjoying the signs of Spring...