"Mom of a Kindergartner "

THE BLOG

To My Fellow Moms, on the First Day of Kindergarten

 Aug 21, 2014 | Updated Oct 21, 2014

Kim Simon Mother, Wife, Blogger, mamabythebay.com

TRACI BIANCHI

Dear New Kindergarten Mom,

This morning, I bundled my boys into the stroller and went out for one last impromptu morning walk. Max will be starting kindergarten next week, and the days spent hanging out in our jammies and meandering to the nearest park or Starbucks are almost over. My best friend texted me a picture of her own 5-year-old a few minutes later, standing in front of his new elementary school. “How did we get here?!” I texted back. It was yesterday that we were pregnant together. Visiting the fire station with toddlers together. Welcoming second babies together. “How did we get here?!”

Well, Mama, I want you to take a break from packing lunches and tucking pencils into binders. Click out of Pinterest for a minute, and stop reading the list about the Top 10 Lessons You Need To Teach Your Kindergartner. Put down the chalkboard frame that you’re making for the perfect first day photo shoot, and listen up. This one is for you.

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Kindergarten might be the beginning for our little ones, but it’s a graduation of sorts for us.

How did we get here?

We waited and we worried, reading the BabyCenter emails each week that compared our rapidly growing babies to kiwis and oranges. We mourned losses and said goodbyes to the babies who grew in our hearts, but not our bellies. We labored and breathed and screamed and prayed as our littles made their way into our arms. We ate celebration dinners in hospital beds, or put on our best outfits and brightest smiles as a judge declared us a forever family, or opened our hearts to new dreams as we embraced our partners’ children.

We cradled impossibly small newborn bottoms in the palms of our hands, cut hospital bracelets from tiny ankles and learned to swaddle little limbs into baby burritos. We winced at each bad latch, and exhaled with each great one. We filled bottles and emptied breasts, measured milliliters into droppers and g-tubes. We pumped and we mixed and we forgot to feed ourselves. We fed our babies with love.

We rocked, we paced, we sang. We woke every three hours, or every three minutes. We shushed and we danced and we dozed. We may have spent more time awake than asleep.

We cut grapes into tiny cubes. We cleaned pasta from the carpet and yogurt from their hair. We made sure that the green veggies weren’t touching the orange ones.

We were Batman and Thomas and a dinosaur and a policeman and a princess. We stepped on 47 Legos and built 72 towers and 298 spaceships. We hid in blanket forts and behind closet doors. Sometimes we hid in the bathroom, because it was the only quiet place we could find.

We drove to preschool and playdates. We practiced our goodbyes and perfected our hellos. We caught slippery bodies at swim lessons, and twisted perfect topknots for ballet. We played the tambourine at music class and sang the “Hello, friend” song at Mommy and Me 341 times.

We held chubby little arms and legs tight as the doctor gave each shot. We counted ounces and inches and celebrated each step. We met with speech therapists and occupational therapists and oncologists and radiologists. We elbowed our way down paths that we never thought would rise up to greet us. We fought fear and doubt and guilt. We woke up each day, and put one foot in front of the other.

We yelled at our partners and cried to our mothers and fell into the arms of the friends who became our family. We learned to let other grown-ups love our kids, and struggled to accept a night out or a lasagna or a hug. Or a mimosa.

We worried about TV time and Vitamin D and developmental stages and hearing tests. We celebrated birthdays and did the potty dance and doled out stickers and ultimatums.

We kept going. We got better at it. We surprised ourselves.

We’ve been exhausted, and fed up, and overwhelmed, and overjoyed. We’ve cheered for first words and first steps and first date nights in months. We’ve fallen asleep during Dumbo and memorized Goodnight Moon and Horton Hears A Who.

We’ve bargained with God over stitches and lab tests and “routine” operations. We’ve soothed bad dreams and inspired bigger ones.

We’ve stepped on 4,724 Goldfish crackers and 3,193 Cheerios.

We’ve kissed scrapes and cheeks and noses. We’ve bathed squirmy bodies and cut tiny bangs. We’ve whispered I love yous against giggling bodies. We’ve hugged and we’ve helped and we’ve explained. We’ve answered 17,000 whys and why nots.

We’ve made it.

They’ve made it.

There will be thousands of firsts that follow this one. Our jobs aren’t even close to being done. But on this first day, for the hours that stretch between squeezing his little hand goodbye and welcoming him back to the arms that he began in, be gentle with yourself.

In your heart of hearts, you know that he’s ready.

But I’m here to tell you that you are, too.

You might think this first day is all about him, friend. But it’s also about you.

How did we get here?

You.

You rocked and you fed and you soothed and you worried and you taught and you cuddled and you counted the nap time minutes and added up the ounces and marked the passage of time with pictures and gasps and tears.

So as that brave, crazy kindergarten teacher ushers you out tomorrow and closes the door behind you, be proud.

You did it. We did it.

That classroom of amazing, brilliant, imaginative, loving, self-sufficient (well, sort of), hilarious, unpredictable, completely capable little people? We made them that way. So before you walk away to worry about all of the first days to come and the homework and the life lessons and the setbacks and the TV time and the reward charts... come find me on the playground.

I’ll be looking for you.

Let me be the first one to tell you “Good job, Mama. You survived. You watched as your heart grew outside of your body, and then you prepared him to greet the world alone. He is ready, because when they placed him in your arms, you were.” For all of the times that we’ve told them “good job,” and “great listening,” and “you’re so brave,” and “I’m so proud of you,” not once did we say those things to ourselves. So on that very first day of school, as you take one last look over your shoulder to make sure that your little one is safely tucked into her classroom, and you wipe away the tears as you climb back into your (suddenly very quiet) car, remember this.

You did it. You are so brave. I am so proud of you.

Just look how much you’ve grown.

Happy graduation, Mama.

Love,

A Kindergarten Mom, bawling her eyes out in the car parked next to yours

3 yo Well Child Check Up

Felicity had her well-child check-up today. She is at 73%~tile for height and 27%-tile for weight. 29.3#. No shots today because they didn't have the flu shot yet. We had a fun mommy-baby day with shopping (grocery, but she still has fun) and moms' bible study group before going to pick up big sister from school. My baby is getting so big! 

"Mama, wook! 3 fowers an I 3! Take my pic-tur!)

It's SO Hard to Wait When Blankie gets a Bath

Snow on the Mountain

While the girls napped I figured I would dig out the long grass and replace with some snow on the mountain that my mom gave us.  My "1-hour" project was easily tripled by snags, but I got it. The previous owners had shoved some lily bulbs in here, but they were overtaken by grass--and not the pretty ornamental grasses. So it looked pretty shabby. 

This spring I dug out most of the bulbs and put into Elizabeth's flower bed.  (I say Elizabeth's bc I would have pulled up the brick boarder and mowed the whole thing over, but she wanted her flowers. ;))

I started to till this, but it got entangled in the blades. So between pulling it 100x's to get it started & stopping to clean it, I stopped to weed wack it first.  That took pulling the weed wacker another 100xs before that started, too!  (Maybe not that many, but my back felt it!)

So I wacked it, and anything else in the backyard since I finally it it started. ;). The I hand-CLAWed it (love that toy!) and then tilled again--much better this time!

Pulled out all the grass by hand and separated the dirt. Pulled weeds from between the foam insulation & the garage and added a little Roundup behind the foam to kill what was there including slugs (ick).  

I then planted the snow on the mountain and Elizabeth watered (had to wake the grumpies up from their naps during this).  Then the babysitter came and helped me dump the weeds into the compost. (Love Karli!!)  Brushed off the dirt, put things away, changed clothes, and went on an anniversary date with hubby. Whew!  My easy-peasy project gone bezerk, but it's don't and it can establish roots before the frost. Hopefully next year this will fill in nicely with some 'snow'.

"I Want it Now"

We are such an immediate-gratification type of society. Plus we are bringing up our next generation this way.  I see how irritated ppl get waiting for a cup of coffee @ caribou, how they squeal their tires at a just-turned-green light, how children use the word "now!" (Mine included).

So what can I do to teach myself patience?  I once prayed for patience. Anyone who does this know that God won't just give it to you, but makes you earn/learn it.  So how do I get it?  "Wisdom + understanding=patience" is what Father Chuck told me to pray for in the confessional.  Whew!  I hoped there was a loophole! ;). 

Father mainly said this when I told him I lose my patience with my family--those I'm suppose to love most & help get to heaven, but this can be applied in many situations.  

Now to pray for self control--might as well pray  for the whole bowl of the fruits of the spirit come to think of it!! 

Dad's Tree

Long but awesome day with the grands

Blinds.com

I listen to Glen Beck & Dave Ramsey occasionally. Both podcasts advertise blinds.com. We ordered and in less than 10 days received 2 new sets of matching vertical blinds for the dining room & living room. (I severely disliked the teal curtains.)  Now it feels as though the two rooms have been brought together. I paid about $90/window and they guarantee a fit or a replacement is sent. Two thrifty thumbs up to www.blinds.com !

Before 

After

Cheap Acoustic Reflectors

My little upstairs tv is at the top of the stairs. If I'm in the downstairs living room I can hear everything because the tv speakers are on the bottom of the tv. 

So after s little research I found acoustic reflectors can be purchased for $30-some bucks. Pfft.  Thinking like my dad I got out the old cardboard, tape, & spray paint and made my own.  

Knock the dust off your feet

 I year ago today my husband and I sat in our new church in Bemidji. A few months earlier I had quit my job to stay home with the kids and two weeks later he lost his. We didn't know which direction we were going, but strangely enough David had received a phone call 3 days before being released from his position from a job head hunter for Bemidji.   Looking back the Sunday after David had lost his job I sat in mass and the scripture had been about knocking the dust off your feet when you left the town that you were in.  That gave me the strength encourage to know that this was God's will for us to leave our beloved Hibbing home & friends. He took a new position in Bemidji, we found a new house that suited our needs, Elizabeth got excepted into the school when we were told that there were no openings, and we closed on our old house two weeks later after closing on our new home.  God was opening doors and yet I still worried.   I worried we were making the wrong decisions for our children, for our family, & for our careers.
 Friday night on 7/10 friends and family helped us load up the U-Haul. 7/11/15 we unloaded everything into our new house. It was bittersweet. 7/12 we attended our first mass in our new church. The  quoted verse from scripture that Sumday was "knock the dust off your feet of the town that you were leaving". It took all that I had to compose myself and not break down in church.  I don't consider myself anything special. I know that I am a child of God,  and that in itself is something special, but it is an overwhelming feeling when God  singles you out into something beautiful in your life.
It's an amazing feeling when you can see God's will blossom right before your eyes.

Joy Joy Turns 3

I rarely ever see her sleep like this, but I thought it was cute since her newborn pic was similar.

My baby girl turned 3 yo today.  Just when you're pregnant with your #2 and questioning whether or not you have enough love & time to give to another child, God blesses you beyond measure.  Felicity Joy has been such a joy to the 3 of us.  She is so physically lovie and loves to smother us with hugs & kisses.  She is my outdoor girl & is always game to go "do somethin'."  She knows her ABCs, can count to 30, & can spell her name.  While her and Doc can get on each other's nerves, they love one another unceasingly.
Thank you God for this spicy little blessing.

Jump roping 101

David's Personality

ISTJ PERSONALITY (“THE LOGISTICIAN”)

My observation is that whenever one person is found adequate to the discharge of a duty... it is worse executed by two persons, and scarcely done at all if three or more are employed therein.

The ISTJ personality type is thought to be the most abundant, making up around 13% of the population. Their defining characteristics of integrity, practical logic and tireless dedication to duty make ISTJs a vital core to many families, as well as organizations that uphold traditions, rules and standards, such as law offices, regulatory bodies and military. People with the ISTJ personality type enjoy taking responsibility for their actions, and take pride in the work they do – when working towards a goal, ISTJs hold back none of their time and energy completing each relevant task with accuracy and patience.

ISTJs don't make many assumptions, preferring instead to analyze their surroundings, check their facts and arrive at practical courses of action. ISTJ personalities are no-nonsense, and when they've made a decision, they will relay the facts necessary to achieve their goal, expecting others to grasp the situation immediately and take action. ISTJs have little tolerance for indecisiveness, but lose patience even more quickly if their chosen course is challenged with impractical theories, especially if they ignore key details – if challenges becomes time-consuming debates, ISTJs can become noticeably angry as deadlines tick nearer.

Associate With Those of Good Quality if You Esteem Your Reputation...

When ISTJs say they are going to get something done, they do it, meeting their obligations no matter the personal cost, and they are baffled by people who don't hold their own word in the same respect. Combining laziness and dishonesty is the quickest way to get on ISTJs' bad side. Consequently, people with the ISTJ personality type often prefer to work alone, or at least have their authority clearly established by hierarchy, where they can set and achieve their goals without debate or worry over other's reliability.

ISTJs have sharp, fact-based minds, and prefer autonomy and self-sufficiency to reliance on someone or something. Dependency on others is often seen by ISTJs as a weakness, and their passion for duty, dependability and impeccable personal integrity forbid falling into such a trap.

This sense of personal integrity is core to ISTJs, and goes beyond their own minds – ISTJ personalities adhere to established rules and guidelines regardless of cost, reporting their own mistakes and telling the truth even when the consequences for doing so could be disastrous. To ISTJs, honesty is far more important than emotional considerations, and their blunt approach leaves others with the false impression that ISTJs are cold, or even robotic. People with this type may struggle to express emotion or affection outwardly, but the suggestion that they don't feel, or worse have no personality at all, is deeply hurtful.

...For It Is Better to Be Alone Than in Bad Company

ISTJs' dedication is an excellent quality, allowing them to accomplish much, but it is also a core weakness that less scrupulous individuals take advantage of. ISTJs seek stability and security, considering it their duty to maintain a smooth operation, and they may find that their coworkers and significant others shift their responsibilities onto them, knowing that they will always take up the slack. ISTJs tend to keep their opinions to themselves and let the facts do the talking, but it can be a long time before observable evidence tells the whole story.

ISTJs need to remember to take care of themselves – their stubborn dedication to stability and efficiency can compromise those goals in the long term as others lean ever-harder on them, creating an emotional strain that can go unexpressed for years, only finally coming out after it's too late to fix. If they can find coworkers and spouses who genuinely appreciate and complement their qualities, who enjoy the brightness, clarity and dependability that they offer, ISTJs will find that their stabilizing role is a tremendously satisfying one, knowing that they are part of a system that works.

My Personality Type:

ISFJ PERSONALITY (“THE DEFENDER”)

Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.

Brian Tracy

The ISFJ personality type is quite unique, as many of their qualities defy the definition of their individual traits. Though possessing the Feeling (F) trait, ISFJs have excellent analytical abilities; though Introverted (I), they have well-developed people skills and robust social relationships; and though they are a Judging (J) type, ISFJs are often receptive to change and new ideas. As with so many things, people with the ISFJ personality type are more than the sum of their parts, and it is the way they use these strengths that defines who they are.

ISFJs are true altruists, meeting kindness with kindness-in-excess and engaging the work and people they believe in with enthusiasm and generosity.

There's hardly a better type to make up such a large proportion of the population, nearly 13%. Combining the best of tradition and the desire to do good, ISFJs are found in lines of work with a sense of history behind them, such as medicine, academics and charitable social work.

ISFJ personalities (especially Turbulent ones) are often meticulous to the point of perfectionism, and though they procrastinate, they can always be relied on to get the job done on time. ISFJs take their responsibilities personally, consistently going above and beyond, doing everything they can to exceed expectations and delight others, at work and at home.

We Must Be Seen to Be Believed

The challenge for ISFJs is ensuring that what they do is noticed. They have a tendency to underplay their accomplishments, and while their kindness is often respected, more cynical and selfish people are likely to take advantage of ISFJs' dedication and humbleness by pushing work onto them and then taking the credit. ISFJs need to know when to say no and stand up for themselves if they are to maintain their confidence and enthusiasm.

Naturally social, an odd quality for Introverts, ISFJs utilize excellent memories not to retain data and trivia, but to remember people, and details about their lives. When it comes to gift-giving, ISFJs have no equal, using their imagination and natural sensitivity to express their generosity in ways that touch the hearts of their recipients. While this is certainly true of their coworkers, whom people with the ISFJ personality type often consider their personal friends, it is in family that their expressions of affection fully bloom.

If I Can Protect You, I Will

ISFJ personalities are a wonderful group, rarely sitting idle while a worthy cause remains unfinished. ISFJs' ability to connect with others on an intimate level is unrivaled among Introverts, and the joy they experience in using those connections to maintain a supportive, happy family is a gift for everyone involved. They may never be truly comfortable in the spotlight, and may feel guilty taking due credit for team efforts, but if they can ensure that their efforts are recognized, ISFJs are likely to feel a level of satisfaction in what they do that many other personality types can only dream of.

Reusable Kids' Squeeze Pouches

I believe I spent $10 on these pouches @ Amazon. I scoped out all the different brands and sizes. I am happy with these. They are easy to clean and a good 5 ounce size. Others that I looked into were much smaller. The downside of these is they are difficult to open the zip lock on the bottom, but it also keeps the mess inside. The kids love them. A friend of mine also puts soy yogurt into hers. 

El'Cheap-O is @ it Again

I save $ wherever I can save. For the heck of it I tried the "quick wash" vs the "regular wash" on my dishwasher. It works just as well and runs for 63 minutes less. It heats up the dishes, but doesn't bake them to boiling hot temps like the long cycle, but I'm also not looking at sterilizing necessarily.  An added benefit of that I don't feel like I have to justify a full load to run it. If I run out of bowls, I can run it. I don't have to scrounge around for or wait for enough dirty dishes to justify running an 80% full load. 

Past times with the Fizz-Meister

Sock puppets with her "Doc-y"

Quiet book time

And if you can't find Felicity, she's probably with her baby chicks:

Last Day of Pre-K for E

"Thank you God for our house, food, & friends (& chickens!)."

"I forgive you"

From a young age I've been able to apologize.  I learned this easily from my mom.  She was tough on us and she'd lose her temper and would yell at us at times.  (I'm not blaming--I do this too). But if she were in the wrong, she would always offer up an apology.  It didn't happen a lot because we were wrong and needed correcting.  But here is where I learned to apologize and can do so rather easily--if I am wrong ;).

HOWEVER-- that being said I have a very difficult time forgiving.  It happened more in the past, high school & college years, where I would have to forgive someone, even if they didn't apologize since that is what God teaches and it was SO hard!!!   No!!  They were wrong and I should make them feel wrong in my own head for eternity.  Who does that hurt? Them? Don't think so.  

Now I have a husband who I've learned to both apologize to and to forgive.  I've also required it from my kiddos. Kid A: say you're sorry "I'm sorry". Kid B: say I forgive you "I forgive you".  

Now when my 5 yo got permanent puffy paint in her hair, on her new dress, & on my hutch this wk it was HARD for me to forgive her when she didn't tell me about it until it was dried & impossible to get off. But she said she was sorry, I forgave, & the paint went into the trash. 

What's the saying? Not forgiving someone is like taking the poison pill and willing the other person illness. 

I've got a lot of work to do, but God aint finished with me yet.

This Stage of Life? Its hard.

My awesome "seasoned" mom friend of mine sent this to me. I cried bc it is SO true. Thank you, Susie. I love you!

This Stage of Life? It’s Hard.

by Hayley Hengst on April 20, 2016

This stage of life. It’s hard, you guys.

I’m talking right now to you moms who are in your early to mid 30’s. You have kids. Likely two, three, maybe four of them. They probably range in age from newborns to  7 or 8 year-olds. (Give or take a few, on all of the above mentioned stats).

In this stage of life, you are dealing with exhaustion. Mental, physical, and emotional.

In this stage of life, you are dealing with teething. With ear infections. With stomach viruses. You are juggling nap schedules, and feeding schedules and soccer schedules. A million balls you are juggling, and you probably feel like you are dropping most of them.

In this stage of life, you are dealing with guilt. Guilt over having a career, and not spending enough time with your kids, or guilt over staying home with your kids, and not doing enough to contribute financially. Guilt over being too harsh with your kids. Too lenient. Guilt that your house is clean, but your kids were ignored, or guilt that you enjoyed your children all day, and now your husband is coming home to filth. Guilt.

In this stage of life, you are bombarded daily with a whole host of decisions. Some of them life-changing, some of them not. None of them with clear cut answers. Do I vaccinate my kids? Do I not? Do I send them to public school? Homeschool? Charter school? Do I continue to breastfeed? Do I blow the budget so that I can buy all organic? Do I force my child to apologize, even though the apology will be insincere? You don’t know the answers to ANYTHING, but you feel constant pressure to figure out EVERYTHING.

This stage of life is less and less about watching your friends get married and have babies, and more and more about standing by and witnessing your friends struggle in their marriage, and even get divorced. It’s a stage where you’ve got to put in the time and the effort and the work and the energy to make sure your OWN marriage stays healthy. And that’s good, but it’s hard, too.   At this point, you or someone you know has experienced infertility. Miscarriages. Loss of a child.

It’s a stage where you are buying houses, selling houses, remodeling houses, packing up houses. And then you do it all again a few years later.

It’s a stage where your hormones are all of of whack. I mean, you’ve basically been pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding for the last ten years, right?

It’s a stage where you are struggling with identity. Is my entire identity “mommy”? Is there anything even left of me that isn’t about mothering? Is there something more glamorous I could have/should have done with my life? I LOOK like a mom now, don’t I? I totally do.

It’s a stage where you are on a constant quest for balance, and can never find it.

It’s a stage of life where you are overloaded. Constantly. You are overloaded with questions. Your children never stop asking them. You are overloaded with touch. Someone is constantly wanting to be held, holding on to you, hanging on you, touching you. You are overloaded with to-do’s. There is so much to do. It never ends. You are overloaded with worry. You are overloaded with THINGS. Your kids have way too many toys. You are overloaded with activities. You are overloaded with THOUGHTS (thoughts about how to not be so overloaded, perhaps?).

It’s hard.

So….what do you need to do to survive it all?

You need to ask for help.

You need to accept help when it’s given.

You need to not neglect your marriage. You need to put your kids down for bed early. Sit outside on the back porch with your husband, drink a glass of wine, and have a conversation.

You need girlfriends.

You need your mom.

You need older friends, who have been there and done that. Who can reassure you that you AREN’T screwing it all up as badly as you think you are.

You need to not feel bad about using your kids nap time every now and again to just do whatever the heck you want.

You need to lower your expectations….then probably lower them again.

You need to simplify.  Simplify every single part of your life, as much as it can be simplified.

You need to learn how to say “no”.

You need to practice contentment

You need to be ok leaving your kids overnight, and going away somewhere. Anywhere.

You need to do something you enjoy, every day, even if it’s for no more than 15 minutes.

You need to pray. Girl, you need to pray.

You need a coffee you love, a wine you love, and a bubble bath that you love.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, you need to remember that…..

….this stage of life is beautiful, too. Like, really really beautiful. This is the stage of life where every single older person you ever meet tells you, “you’re going to miss this”. And you already know it’s true. It’s the stage where your kids love you more than they are EVER going to love you again, for the whole rest of your life. It’s the stage where they can fit their entire selves into your lap to snuggle…and they want to. It’s the stage where their biggest problems ARE ear infections and teething and stomach viruses, and you’re not having to deal yet with things like broken hearts or addiction or bullying. It’s the stage where you are learning to love your spouse in an entirely different….harder…..better…. way. The stage where you are learning together, being stretched together, shedding your selfishness together, and TRULY being made into “one”. It’s the stage where you get to see Christmas, Halloween and the Fourth of July through your kids eyes, and it’s so much more fun and magical than it would be just through your own eyes. It’s the stage where you get to watch your parents be grandparents…and they’re really good at it. It’s the stage of life filled with field trips, class parties, costumes, swim lessons, bubble baths, dance parties, loose teeth, and first steps. And those things are so fun. It’s the stage where you are young enough to have fun, and old enough to have obtained at least SOME wisdom. It’s SUCH a great stage.

But, man it’s hard

Kitchen Cupboards Needed a Freshening Up

I've painted before, but never done much with wood. So I called my step-dad & FIL for some advice and it turned out not to shabby. I scuffed the wood first with steel wool, applied stain, buffed off the excess after it dried, then the next day applied polyurethane.  I didn't want to take ALL the doors off so I used a rag vs a brush with the poly--less brush strokes & I could control the amount better to avoid drips.  I can tell I still need some touch ups where I missed, but so far it spruced it up nice under the tutelage of my family!!

Before 

After

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. ;(

Pig Rollin'

Once a year Kelly & I make pigs-in-the-blanket (sarmas) and freeze them. This year I moved farther away so the kids and I spent the night & her house and mom met us to share in the fun. I don't know if we doubled the batch or made 1.5 batches, but it turned out to be 92 pigs. Even Ruby helped this year. Uncle Dirt had fun w/the kids Wednesday night and Pap Earl entertained them Thursday morning. It took from 10-12 to make with 3 1/2 people. ;) and then mom and I took ours homes cook. Dave and I ate these for dinner that night and they were delicious!!!!!