Not My Daughter!

Thought I'd put out a bit of an update, since it's been a while:) So here's what's been going on over here in the last little while:

We are in full time summer mode over here. School has been done for almost two weeks and just in time - b/c I can't imagine getting the boys to concentrate too well in this heat! Kena is done too except for our track and field meet which is coming up on Monday.

We put the pool up on Monday and they have been living in their bathing suits ever since.

The gardens are planted. The flowers are not. But they will be soon.

We got chickens about two weeks ago and are enjoying them so far. The boys love waking up early to go feed them and they love collecting the eggs. We started out with five - and after about 8 days are down to three. Kevin rudely woke me up early one morning with "MOM ONE OF THE CHICKENS GOT KILLED BY A COYOTE!!!!" Turns out it was actually two. (and not necessarily by a coyote, but definitely by something that didn't leave a whole lot behind - Jonathan thinks a weasel) Nevertheless, they get closed up in a smaller space at nighttime now so they are protected from whatever wild thing is roaming our property.

Not sure if I will end up putting flowers in this pot - though I want to and had planned to! The chickens tend to come out of our fencing just as often as they stay in. So far they always come back. (except for the dead ones, but I think they were in the pen and got dragged out, by the looks of things)

We picked up our tent trailer from out of storage the other day. We locked the door too - to keep Kylie out primarily. But Kylie being Kylie it didn't seem to stop her. The next morning, Kevin remarked to me that he hadn't seen the black and white kittens all morning. It took my brain approximately .5 seconds to process what that may mean. And I was exactly right. I marched out to the trailer hoping to find them in a cupboard possibly (this would have been the better option!), but NO! They were in the fridge!!! I let out a loud scream. YUCK!!! Though the fridge was not on, there is definitely no oxygen in there either. It was a sad day. Kevin cried. And cried. And could hardly talk about it lest he cry again. Kade was mad and thought we should perhaps tie Kylie's hands up and tie her to a tree. Kylie just goes on like nothing happened. And she LOVED those kitties. When prompted to tell daddy what she did to the kitties, she calmly states, "I killed them." What a child!!!! So its been a rough week at Old McDonalds Farm over here.

Baseball season has started. Soccer starts next week. Swimming lessons is going full swing (indoor). Piano lessons ends next week and Kevin gets to do his first recital the week after. NHL hockey playoffs are winding down and its probably a good thing, b/c paperwork takes a whole lot longer during a hockey game:)

Our van encountered its first mishap about two weeks ago. I was on my way home from baseball when about 5-6 deer ran out in front of me. I braked hard and was able to stop. But the last deer was not and he ran into my side door. Blah!!! But its all fixed now and looking as good as ever.

And so life is not boring. Actually its kind of fun, though not every moment is as enjoyable as the last. We live and we learn. And we wait for the next adventure. And hope it's just going to be a little one:)

Cracker, Smoky, and more . . .

The kitties are growing fast and are at the super cute and fun stage. They are constantly wrestling, chasing bumblebees or butterflies (now that the sun is shining again) and being loved on by the kids. Kylie especially almost always has one in her arms or in her kitchen or hidden in some other hiding place. I found one in the van this morning!!! (not a very good idea - I noticed the mama meowing around the van and right away thought that one of the kitties must be missing . . . sure enough! I'm glad I found it sooner rather than later!)

Here is Kylie with her two favorite playmates (though the kitties are fast winning out over the dolls right now - they give a bit more of a reaction:))

Here they are locked away in the cupboard . . . or sometimes the fridge. She has figured out that the microwave is just too small. YELP!!
I don't know how much they love all the attention they get. In fact I can't imagine that they like it very much at all . . . but they are not scared of the kids and rarely scratch.

Peek - a - boo! The boys have them all named though I don't ever know who is who. In my mind there are two sets of twins, but they seem to have it all figured out. The two black ones are Smoky and Black Knight, and the two white and black ones are Cracker and Sport. Anyhow, they are all awfully cute (right now:))

And then she was THREE!!

Our dear little Kylie May turned three years old yesterday. As I perused my pictures, I saw just what I expected to see . . . two very different kinds of pictures . . . so may I present my two picture collages:

BEAUTY

and the BEAST!!!

(well maybe not quite, but certainly something quite opposite of beautiful:))

Well, I suppose she is still beautiful . . . its just kind of hiding . . . definitely in some pictures more than others . . I find them good for a laugh!)

It was a beautiful day, but we had a bunch of things going that day, so most birthday celebrations didn't begin until after supper - which was fine with Kylie. She figures it's her birthday anytime anyone gives her a gift, so she's enjoyed a few birthdays already.

Our little dude!

Kylie in some dress up clothes she got. She has been wearing the shoes constantly, though i cannot imagine they are comfortable at all. She keeps asking me to put them on so that she can be a princess.

Birthday cake and sparklers (which she was afraid of, but which the boys thoroughly enjoyed).

Opa and Oma came over for coffee and cake and among other things, they gave Kylie a kitchen set. This was her expression . . . I think it says it all!

She loved it and has spent many hours with it already.

Some pictures of our beautiful little princess to end this post . . . so cute . . .

. . . and yet so goofy!

And a few words about this daughter of ours:

Kylie is most often described as crazy, busy, strong-willed or loaded with character – and very rightly so. She is all of these things and more! But does she ever make us laugh in between and amidst all these things. She really does seem to be two different people . . . and they can come and go and come back again very quickly. One minute she is charming, funny, and neat looking. The next moment she is in the middle of a temper tantrum and has pulled her ponytails out, messed her hair up, fallen to the floor, or kicked or threw whatever may be close enough to grab across the room. And then, just moments later, she is ready for a cuddle . . . and although not so beautiful looking anymore, she is still rather endearing once again. This is just another few moments in the life of Kylie. She loves to hang out and do whatever the boys may be doing, but she also loves anything girly – dolls, dishes, and Dora are among her favorites!! She also says the funniest things . . . and we can usually figure out quickly where those “grown up” phrases or expressions come from!! After we opened her presents, she walked upstairs with me to get her pajamas on. She turns and says to me, “That was an awesome day, mom!”
She can be extremely helpful, or extremely helpless – depending which person she has decided to be. If she is in her helpful mood, she will help me rake the lawn and pick up all the grass piles without uttering a complaint. If she is in one of her moods, don’t even bother asking her to bring something to the garbage can . . . a battle may ensue.
I suppose she is like this to her friends too. She loves them dearly, and fights with them nearly as well as she loves them. But friends they will be . . . even if they are "mean" – or "bad"!
I suppose much more could be said, and tales could be written of her endeavors, escapades, and endearments, but enough is enough for this birthday post. We love this little turkey so much. We really wouldn’t have her any other way even though some days and moments we might think different. She is fearfully and wonderfully made, and we think she is quite special. We love you dearly Kylie girl and pray you will grow up to be a daughter of the KING!!