This might take awhile...

I finally can breathe easy about my internet usage.  I was NOT paying .25 per MB or whatever crazy rate it is.  I am so thrilled that I can share photos again!

I've got lots to catch you up on, so I'll keep my words brief and commence with the pics!

Last weekend was our 4th annual Daddy/Daughter Dance.  Every year Peyton and Dad get all dressed up and go dancing while me and Reece get our own date night.  Peyton looks so forward to it, she talks about it all year.  I mean, what little girl doesn't like dressing up like a princess and dancing the night away with her daddy?

Here she is getting her hair done:

Here's the final product, sugar and spice (can you guess which is which?):

While she and daddy were dancing, Reece and I went to 1984, a 1980's style arcade.  It was fun, but 1980's video games are only fun for so long.  We also had a very nice dinner downtown.  I loved sitting across the table from him and talking to him, just him. 

Our weekend got even more exciting when we discovered this in our garage:

 

 Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen:

I was not a cat person before, but this just makes my heart go all fluttery.

Winter is on it's way out finally, hopefully.  Oh winter, you were fun at times, but I really will be glad to see you go.  A wise man once told me, "Winter is just something to get through."   Now I know what he meant.

Anyway, we've had a few days of sunshine lately.  It actually got warm enough for me to take my camera outside and stay for a while! 

 Hello, little guy.  Yes, I know I've been slacking in the suet department.  I'll try to do better, I promise.

Check out the belly on her.  This was obviously right before the birth of the aforementioned kittens.  I remember those last few days of pregnancy when you just feel like a watermelon about to explode. Darlin, I totally understand why you feel the need to lay down and take a nap in the middle of the sidewalk.

Anyway, back to my bird watching.  Everyone was thrilled that I finally filled up all the bird feeders.  I swear they eat more than the horses.

 

  

  

It was so nice outside, the kids had a fun little game of golf.  

 

  

Although, I don't think Babe was thrilled about the golf balls flying around.

  

In fact, I'm pretty sure they were totally freaked out by it.

They took off in a hurry.  Thank goodness they didn't step on a chicken.

Today, we took the dogs outside rabbit hunting.  It's Buddy's favorite activity, until it's all over and he has to have a bath.  He's too slow to catch anything, but he has a blast trying.

Look at those ears.  Otto must be able to hear every rabbit out there, but he is content to just chase buddy around.

Can you see the smile on his face?

  

Serious boy, listening for rabbits...

This is fun mom!

Sorry Mom, I didn't mean to get THIS dirty.

Cast of Characters-Part 2

We have always been huge animal lovers.  Up until now, we've only had dogs in our family, and for 2 years we had pet rats.  I know, sounds gross, but they were actually really sweet and cute in a ratty sort of way. 

Otto is our first family dog.  He is a total moma's boy, spoiled rotten, and the best snuggler ever.

He hates the cold, loves to lay under the wood stove, and steals my shoes to snuggle with when we're not home.  I am constantly searching for shoes because Otto always carried them off.  He isn't the toughest dog in the world, in fact he spends most of his time shivering, but we love him anyway!

 

Buddy is our newest dog.  We found him right before we moved to the farm in November.  We were searching for a "farm dog", a dog who could roam the property with the kids and protect them and our animals.  We answered an ad on craigslist about a wandering stray Australian Shepherd.   We went to meet him, and he was dirty and terrified.  Reece talked us into bringing him home for one night to get to know him.  He looked and acted like he may have run away from an abusive home.  He was so jumpy.  All it took was raising an arm in the air, and he would cower.  We gave him a bath and lots of love.  We fell in love with him and decided to keep him.  He has turned out to be an amazing dog.  He knows his job is to protect the kids and sleeps on the floor between their beds every night.  When we're outside, he follows every step, except occasionally when he gets a whiff of a rabbit and loses his mind!  He loves the snow and playing chase with Otto. 

When we moved here, we inherited 12 hens.  Being "city people" we've never even been around chickens much. I've always bought farm eggs from local farms, so I was super excited about having our own eggs!  They are a blast to have in the yard!  The kids have so much fun with them.  Unfortunately, we lost one of them last week.  All we found were feathers and a foot.  Welcome to farm life.  Now we have 11. 

The girls get lots of hugs!

and they eat very well!  All you have to do is say "Here chick, chick, chick", and they all coming running as fast as their little legs will carry them.

We just added a rooster to the mix.  His name is Fred. We think he's beautiful!

 

It took him a few days to try to show 12 women who the boss was.  I think they let him think he's the boss, but secretly the girls run the show.  We can't wait until Spring so we can hatch some baby chicks. 

Here are some of our girls:

 

 

 

Okay, so now you've met 18 of us.  Only 10 to go!