Empy Nest Syndrome

Well... they are gone. Just like that our birds are gone!
Rylan was peeking at the last one just this morning before we left for school!! I'm not really sure if he was peeking or "helping" the last two leave the nest prematurely. All I know is that they were getting too big for the nest... and I went out to see the last two birds that Rylan was telling me about and there was nothing but an empty nest. That was quick.

I am reading a book, yes... me... reading. Not a common thing for me to want to go buy a book and sit and read. I would rather be playing a game of Blocked or Mine Sweeper or heck, I'd rather jog ten miles in a desert than sit and read. :) For now... I am reading the book The Birth Order: Why You Are the Way You Are. LOL It just makes me laugh to think about because some of the things covered in the book are right on. Brian and I both are the "babies" of our families... so, the book even covers the topic of "when both parents are the last born"... or "when both parents are the first born"... so it's great. It helps me understand some things about my children... and helps me understand my siblings and my parents also (who, by the way, are two first borns). My much older sister has always said that I was such a "bratty little sister." Now why would she say that?


What is she talking about? Me... bratty???





After all... according to the author, Dr. Kevin Leman, the last born in the family is usually:

...."charming, an attention seeker (this is where the pics above come in), tenacious, blames others (who me?), affectionate, loves surprises, people person, precocious"...

Here's to all you "last born babies" out there!!

Egg-static!

I admit... I have always loved (and have been a bit obsessed) with nature since I was little. Just ask my sister - she'll tell you about my road trip "lists". My childhood BFF, Leigh Toney, could tell you about all of our attempts to dig up our dead hampsters to see the bones, and even the time that we duct-taped a dead mole (that her cat drug up) to her fort on her swingset... sick. All of these kind of events led me to believe that I was going to be a vet when I grew up... until about my senior year... and I realized that you had to put animals to sleep.

Anyway... today... two things happened.

First, I had Rylan to myself (which is always a treat) b/c Lex stayed with her cousin Emma for the night. Rylan and I decided to take a bike ride / nature walk this morning. It started with seeing a dead squirrel in front of our neighbor's house. It was fresh b/c Rylan had to go inspect and check it out. (I know, I know... I have imposed my obsessions on my children) We moved on to a nice morning time adventure that included picking/eating some honey-suckle by a creek, major hills to ride down, and rain on our heads at the end.

We got back to where the squirrel was and it was G-O-N-E! I told Ry "it must have been a hawk"... b/c we have hawks all around. He went on to inform me that hawks don't eat dead animals. After looking for a minute this is the sight that we saw in the neighbor's yard - I guess this hawk wanted breakfast...


The closer I got the more nervous he got... so off he went. Gross, I know, but nature at its finest. :)


Second... Speaking of nature... remember our little egg? Well... 1 + 5 = 6. That is the total of eggs that momma bird laid in her nest.


I have been taking down my hanging fern everyday to look so the momma would be used to me moving her nest. Today I took it down and sort of "freaked out" b/c these little furry things were in there and I realized that two of the eggs had hatched!! We have babies!!

On top of babies, we also have two dogs that are on the ground underneath them. Enough said. Let's just hope that the babies stay in the nest for now.

Spring Has Sprung!!

Spring has DEFINITELY sprung around here! Here are a few of my favorite things so far...

*MY JAPANESE MAPLE... that is just so delightful to look at!


*I love getting FERNS! The only reason I get them is for possibility that a bird might decide to nest in one and we'll get to see the whole nest to baby process in front of our eyes (like in times past)! Plus, they add a touch of green... I put two on the back porch and one in the front. We brought them in Monday night b/c of the freeze that was due that morning after. When I went to put the ferns back outside I saw what looked like a little nest! It was! I thought "oh no... the bird won't come back... and which side of the porch was the fern on, etc..." Anyway, today... Rylan tells me that he saw a bird in the fern. So, since I got a new camera and have been feeling like blogging again... I went outside to take a pic and TA-DA... here is what we saw! What a pleasant surprise! Now if I can just convince my kids not to mess with it!


*Flowers are also my favorite things of Spring. Everything is so green and colorful and just comes to life! Here are my roses getting ready to bust!

My Petunias....


*My all-time favorite thing... just being outdoors with my kiddos!! :)

Laying in the hammock and playing with the dogs is a favorite past-time....

Happy Spring!! :)

Dancing Queen

For those of you who haven't given up on me... it's been hard to "post" without pics... and it's been hard to have pics without a CAMERA!! My camera just went out on me a little over a month ago!

Anyway, we did get some hiLARious videos of Lexie the other day (while we had her to ourselves b/c Ry was at a party) that I could not resist sharing! This is our child that is so sweet, giving, funny and OHH so fun! This post is for you Jane... and I don't know where she gets her moves. :)

It's here... a new year, a new President, and a new post! :)



Not to mention... a new little addition to our family. No, we're not having a baby... but we did give this little girl a home for Christmas this year. Her name is Lilly. I think it was just building up... the fact that EVERY year our kids would put "REAL dog" on their Christmas lists, we knew Maggie needed a "friend" with fur and let's face it... BT and I really just wanted to use our Dog Whisperer knowledge on a new dog! HA!



We rescued her from the pound (as we did Maggie) and she's a little scrappy (or "from the hood"... as we say) but just a little snuggler! Those who know us know that although we are dog lovers we have some commitment issues with the dogs we get! If they don't work for our family... they are OUT! HA! Not her... I think she's a keeper. Besides, I'm a believer that rescue dogs are "grateful". Then, when you're able to capture moments like these... it's all worth it!




Even Maggie has been happy about our new addition. She's taken on a "mother role" to Lilly. Lilly was "fixed" and had to wear the lamp shade thing... it was sad... and I guess she only got comfortable by laying on Maggie this way...

We love our furry friends!

Christmas Baby

Happy Birthday to you.... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday Dear Lexie... Happy Birthday to you!

I'm still not really sure how a child goes from this....


To this.... so quickly... right before our eyes!!



We love you!

Momma's Boy

A couple of weeks ago I received this from Rylan. Although he did not present it as a "birthday gift" to me... I have considered it an early one... actually the best gift anyone has ever given me!!



Inside the box were 10 squares that he had cut and this is what they read.












What more could a mommy ask for!!! I love you Rylan!!