Hamster Maze

The girls build Sugar a Candy Land Hamster Maze. She did very well! 

Buddy the Fish

I forgot to document another addition to the family.  Buddy the blue Betta joined us because the girls thought we had too many ‘girls’ in the house. So Dad got his ‘Buddy’ who likes to watch Buddy the Elf and flair his fins in the mirror. 

 

Learning About Life

The chicks moved outside and loved it. Mother's Day after mass I went to check on the babies. The chicken door to the run was open, it was a beautiful day, but the chicks were scared and huddled in the corner of the coop. After multiple head counts I realized why; we were short one. "Candy" one of my 2 Americana Easter egg layers was missing. Best guess is a hawk took her from the run. The run now has a tarp over the top, but too late. I bawled & searched the woods incase she flew over the 6' fence. The kids took it better than me, but I also didn't let them see me cry over a chicken. She was such a pretty & sweet bird, one of Fizzy's favorites who would cuddle up in F's lap. Poor Candy. RIP. 

Seen here Candy was always one of our highest perchers. Prob why she got nabbed from the perch in the run. ;(

Baby Chicks!

Introducing...Sam our Black Sex-Link

"I'm ready for my close-up" Fizzy named Sam. 

Anna...our ISA Brown

Elsa--our Salmon Favorelle- fuzzy legs & 5 toes 

Koney- Americana (Easter egg layer)

Candy- Americana (Easter egg layer)

Buffy the Buff Orpington

Princess Lay-a (get it)- Black Australorp

Rocky-our Barred Rock

Cali- California White

Queen Rose - Rhode Island Red

These girlies have stolen our hearts. 5 of them came to school today to see the pre-k class. They are 6 days old and already have some of their wing feathers and the buns of their tailfeathers.  Makes a mama sad to see her babies growing so fast. The girls are already quite the little chicken whisperers.

Napping in warm little hands.

Counting Our Eggs Before They Lay

Hahahaha. I'm not counting my chickens before thy hatch. I'm saving for eggs before they lay!!  The way my family goes through eggs I have no problem saving up of egg cartons!

Baby Finally Weighs more than Alpo

Lexie: now 22#. Elizabeth: now 23#

This past week it was 90+ degrees everyday.  We did a lot of pool time and indoor time.

Chillin' in the pool with Dad

Brooks Wii Family

90+ degrees is too hot to play outside.



"So Happy!"
Lexie was on Science Diet Active Longevity.  It had 12% crude fat so I changed her to Beneful Healthy Weight which has 6% crude fat.  She had put on too much weight since we adopted her 2 years ago - about 5#.  She has way more energy (she actually pulls me on our nightly walks) & loves the food.  Let's hope it shows on her waistline, too.

Lexie's Hair Cut

Miss Lexie got her first haircut the other day. Now she looks less like a pomeranian and more like a terrier/chihuahua, hahaha. But she likes it! Here's a few before and after pix.

Happy Birthday, Lexie

We adopted Lexie a year ago today. We celebrated by giving her a bath, clipping her nails and eating a pigs ear (her not us). Actually she's 7 years old today. We loves you Lexie and are glad to have you in our family! Here's her latest trick. She can now sit, lay down, shake, dance, and roll.

Lexie Visits the Vet...Again

My poor puppy, for some reason 1/2 of her face & neck were severely swollen last week. The dr put her on antibiotics in case it was an infection r/t to a possible cut in her mouth, but he was pretty sure it was an allergy to something. $70 of meds later, she back to normal, but NO more people food for this little girl.

Lexie the Guard Dog

Lexie has been quite the little protector of Elizabeth since she came along. She is always nearby when the baby cries and sticks close by whenever someone else is holding Elizabeth. Lexie has done very well with all the new changes and is very gentle with Elizabeth. Here's a picture of our girls.

Lexie's Surgery

Our poor little girl. 4 months ago she had a foot infection. 2 weeks ago we treated it for a 3rd time with antibiotics and steroids. It came back so finally the vet recommended exploratory surgery last Thursday 10/28. Which means he cut her foot open between the toes and took out whatever was continuously infecting her. She has stitches and another antibiotic (while she was out we also had her teeth cleaned & nails clipped). She can't play or run on her foot for 10 days. But she is acting SO much better, back to normal. Last week she was hopping on 3 legs, now she's walking normally -- with her shaved toes and stitches. It's red, but the swelling and infection looks like its gone down significantly. I think we have a harder time with it than she does. We have the hardest time putting on her ugly little cone hat. As you can see, she's enjoying the time off her walks, but she is starting to get a little antsy and wanting to play outside more. Before & after pics.

My Little Cone Head

My poor little Lexicon. She had a sore on her foot we tried treating w/ one round of antibiodics & antinflammatories, putting a sock on her foot to keep her from licking it-reopening the wound. Unfortunately, it didn't heal and we had to do another round of abx and steroids this time. She then kept licking the Neosporin off of her foot and we finally resulted in putting a cone on her day and night, with breaks during walks and family time. She is finally healing and we have discontinued the cone, but not before we got a picture of our favorite little cone head.

Lexie's Sore Foot

Lexie had been licking her foot for a few days. When it started getting sore looking, we called the vet. He shaved the hair from between her toes (as I had to hold her and coo to her) and discovered an infection between her toes. He said it looked as though she got stabbed w/ something and it got infected. We got a Rx for an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic and also have to put Neosporin on the wound daily. After the Neosporin, she has to wear a sock for 15 min so as not to lick the medicine. She's still doing her 2 mi/day walk without limping or wining. Here's a pic of my little trooper.

How Much is That Puppy in the Window?

Lexie has turned out to be such a good companion, even a traveling companion. Her favorite spot when we're in the car is the rear window. She is the funniest little thing and has brought so much joy into our lives.

My Little Lexie Girl

Lexie has been such special addition to our family. Here I'm assuming that she a delicate, little lady whom I have to protect. But when her and David go for walks around the yard, and she spots a deer, she takes off in a flash, chasing it down the trail. She comes back when called, but she's not my dainty flower at that point, she's a 15# of pure hunter. David taught her to play ball with us. She must have never played before because she did not know what to do with it. DB actually had to get her revved up & excited for it in order for her to play. She's such a good companion and always at my side. Be it in the kitchen, garden, or napping on the couch, she's always by my side. I never knew I could have so much love for my little critter.

Siesta

Rescuing pup from pound: $200+ dollars
Going to animal store for the first time and staring from scratch: $100
Buying a doggy kennel she hates: $40
Teeth cleaning and 2nd round of shots: $195
Capturing the two loves of my life taking an afternoon siesta: PRICELESS
Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

Introducing the Newest & Littlest Brooks

I ran out of things to blog about, so I got a dog. JK, that's not why we got her. We adopted her last Saturday. She's 6 years old. Vet thinks she's Pomeranian-chihuahua mix. She had to have her teeth cleaned on Friday and get her 2nd round of shots. Her teeth were SO brown and the vet said this is most likely from years of soft dog food. So, owners beware: hard dog food has its benefits regarding cleaning tartar from your dogs teeth. Her teeth are whiter than mine now! :) In this video, she's crazy, but for the most part she's pretty lazy. She got a bath this morning and is fluffier than ever. I absolutely love her!