The life of the R4 Chicks

OK, as some know, I love chicks and I guess as I was reminded I have been getting chicks from Murdochs for the last 6 years. Well this year, I got the bright idea to raise our own eggs. I got a book, bought the incubator from Murdochs and started reading. We collected 12 eggs and put them in the incubator in the beginning of March. It takes 21 days and sure enough with lots of tender loving care, turning three times a day, we had success. Much to Roy's amazement, he thinks I crazy most of the time, and thought we were just cooking eggs. We actually had 9 out of 12 eggs hatch the last 3 were not fertile and when we opened them up, Roy was right, we were cooking those three. We now have a total of 16 chickens: 9 chicks, 7 hens, 2 turkeys and 1 mean nasty rooster, whom we need to thank for chicks but will now be down the road because Rory is deathly scared of it, it has attacked him many times and once jumped on the trampoline to get at him. Yes, he will be one of those kids who only remembers the bad rooster when he is older.

Here is the process start to end:

Here is the incubator, the eggs and of course the best guard bird dog! She stayed and looked after the eggs for a few days.

Here is one of the eggs hatching open and the little wet chick

Here are a couple more chicks

Here are the boys with their favorite chicks!

We've got chicks

Yes, exciting!!! We've got chicks!!! We are having fun! Pictures to follow.

Happy Birthday Boy

Rudy had his 8th Birthday party last weekend and got a bike from Nana, Papa, Auntie Carla and Uncle Norman. Here is the pics of his new bike! He is so excited, it is a trick BMX and the front tire can rotate all the way around, I don't think I can wait till he can really do the stunts on the bike, and my mom is worried about horse riding! He had a blast at his party, thank goodness only 5 friends could make it since he wanted it at home, we made ice cream sundaes and his cake was a playmobile hunting scene. He helped decorate it. Happy Birthday Rudy!

Here is a sleepover with the boys,and Lupine and for my Mom, notice Penny Weather at the end enjoying the "bed".



Rudy took this picture "of something that would make Mommy happy", Robbie.

The same friends at the dog sled races, stayed for the weekend. The kids all tired me out! Lupine, who is crazy for horses, wanted to ride and do chores all weekend just to be near the horses. We had to ride, ride, ride, and of course pick up poop, feed, water, and brush the horses. I wish my boys had the enthusiasm that Lupine had. I guess when it is literally in your backyard, it is not so exciting and when you have to do the chores all the time, horses are not so exciting. The boys have been doing great lately though. We ride every Thursday nite and if I don't want them to come and have a mothers nite out with the riding group, I definitely hear about it!!! Here is a pic of Lupine and Rory on Yeller, he does not seem so happy, however he loves the kids. As you can see it is dark and I had to make Lupine come in.

Race to the Sky dog sled race

We had friends visit us a couple of weeks ago and we went to Lincoln to see the sled dog races for Race to the sky. It was fun, there are about 13 teams and one team is a friend of Roys from Deerlodge. It was her second race and she did good, she was happy to finish even if it was last. It did win her the Red lantern award.