New Birds

IBoy got a call this afternoon from a friend who said that he had 3 orphan birds - was IBoy interested in coming to get them?

Are you kidding??????  

We think that they are starlings and they are very friendly!

They don't mind Chick-a-Dee petting them even!

IBoy is building a quick outdoor aviary.

They are still fledglings - some downy feathers on them and they don't fly very well yet!

We have gotten worms down them, so they are happy!

A New Skill - Nearly Mastered

Chick-a-Dee is learning to help out.  One of her jobs is to help set and clear the dinner table.  All of the sibs were busy, so I handed her plates and forks, and asked her to go set the table.  When I went into the dining room, this is what I saw!  Not too bad for a 3 year old!

Yup - this looks pretty good.

Oops - this one might get a little messy with no plate.

This person might be eating with their fingers!

Sunshine and Slime

Woooo Hoooo!  Of course I shouldn't get too excited, because it isn't supposed to last, but I SURE have enjoyed the past few days of sunshine!

Chick-a-Dee and Auntie catchin' some rays.

This is the beginnings of a walkway to connect the front deck with the side deck with some plantings close to the house.  I already have my Bleeding Heart planted - now to work around it!

Chick-A-Dee really enjoyed her "friend" snail!  She doesn't like worms, but she loved petting the snail's slimy neck!

Nothing Much

Chick-a-Dee's 3rd eye surgery went well.  We go back next week for the follow-up appointment.  They were able to measure her vision and we will find out if she has glasses in her future.  Obviously, these photos were taken pre-invasion!  She was such a trooper and drank her goofy juice down like a big girl!

MissE in costume as "Belle".

Busy, busy, busy.

Set Back

We received a notice yesterday from USCIS (immigration) - NOT what I wanted to hear, though.  We went on the 5th to have our fingerprints taken for the adoption.  This is the last piece of paperwork that we need in order for our dossier to be sent to Ch*na.  We were told that we should hear back from them in 7 - 10 days.

Unfortunately, the notice said that my fingerprints were not good.  I drove to Portland today in the hopes that they would let me do a walk in appointment instead of waiting till next week (the appointment that they set up) for them to be redone.  We only had to wait about 1 1/2 hours until I was taken to redo them!  The tech said that if they are rejected a 2nd time, they will just go ahead and process them as best as they can.

Let us hope that by this time next week, we will be opening our approval letter!

Hiking on Mother's Day

Each Mother's Day, we end up going fishing or hiking - this year it was a hike in the back 40.  The weather was PERFECT for it!

Some of the flora along the way.

Up to Salamander Pond for exploring.

Peek!

Chick-a-Dee kept picking up the flat rocks and a twig to journal our adventure.  She narrated the story as she wrote!

Happy Mother's Day!

I woke up to a few surprises waiting for me this morning!  MissE and IBoy were up late creating some special treats for me.  

There was a sweet note written to me from the kiddos in this origami style pouch.

A new DVD to watch awaited me inside this package!

A close up of the "evil tomato"!

A cornucopia of wonderful delights greets me when I open the refrigerator.

This mum LUVS her sweeties!