During the first week after moving to our current home, we met a new neighbor.   The kids were upstairs, looking out of their new bedroom windows, and the next thing we heard was “There’s a chicken in the driveway!”.  Unfortunately, I missed out on seeing it, so I didn’t get a picture.  Then several weeks later, after our cats had moved to the new house, and were acclimated to the new surroundings and allowed to go outside, the chicken paid us a visit again.  This time, she was followed by her owners who live on the next street over, and told us that she tends to like to wander.

Two days ago, she was back.

Heather discovered rather quickly that a chicken will peck at you if you get too close, even for a picture.

Aslan noticed the chicken, but wasn’t curious enough to stop sunbathing.

Oscar also noticed, but didn’t really care.

Once again, she roams through cat territory, unscathed.

Don’t let your guard down Henny Penny!

The cats will figure out the natural pecking order of life eventually!

Ec

One of the few decorations that I have for Valentine’s Day is a set of blocks with letters that spell out “HUGS”, “KISS”, “XOXO” and “LOVE”. Over the course of the past two weeks, the kids and my husband have had some fun, forming some new, non-Valentine words. I would switch it back to something more holiday appropriate, and they would switch it to something else.

Ec

For several years, for this particular day, I do to like have little treats for my family, waiting on the dining room table in the morning. When my kids were little, they looked at this day as they would Christmas. They were up before the sun, anxious to dig into their gift bags and see, and sample, the chocolate representations of our love. They didn’t mind having their pictures taken in their pjs. In no time at all, the chocolate was gone, and they were sugered up for the morning.

Fast forward to now.

My husband and I were the first ones awake. The kids still love chocolate, but they do love their sleep even more. The chocolate is still sampled, but the rest is set aside and nibbled on during the rest of the week.

They still hope that I’ll deem it a holiday so they won’t have to do school. Sorry kids 🙂

This year, we gave them each their own set of Sharpies (so Mom could have hers back) and one other little gift that we thought they would like.

I gave Kevin a couple of chocolate truffles, to go along with the regular candy, as well as some novelty di-cast cars to display in his cubicle at work. He gave me a dozen roses, a card, and the promise of dinner and a movie tonight.

I think that he may have outdone me in the gift department!

Ec

Finally, it seems, that we’re just about through with this bug. I hope so! When I’m not feeling well is also the time I am thinking about everthing that isn’t being done, and thinking of reorganizing something, like a closet in the bonus room (or the “catch all” room).
Kevin was the last one in the family to catch the nasty bug, so he’s still feeling all of it’s attributes. He did go to work today. As to whether or not he’ll come home early, is too soon to tell.
The kids, however, are well enough to do their schoolwork, go to youth group, and mingle in public with others. So that is how our week is starting

Happy Monday Everyone 🙂

Ec

We’re taking a “sick day” today. At least my son and I are. It’s a day to kick back, fill up on juice, cough syrup, and throat lozenges and watch our favorite movies.

For me, it’s a day to sit and think of all of the things that need to be done around the house that hinders resting. Thankfully, my husband is home to lend a hand with the chores, and be an extra pair of listening ears for our son (who is so sure that this bug will land us in the hospital everytime we sneeze).

I’m off to make another cup of tea!

Ec