Big Foot and Boots

This morning I decided to tackle my biggest fear-as of late. Big Foot our very large rooster has figured out how to get out of his pen. Today I had the brilliant idea that my -used to be- hiking boots would be excellent protection against him. Tyler and the boys don't seem to share my fear by the way- but oh how my adrenaline starts pumping when Big Foot starts to run toward me.

This morning I had had it with not being able to even feed the chickens with out fear of this red and golden beast so I donned my boots and held a large stick in my hand. I tried to lure Big Foot to the front of the yard with food and then sneak around the garage to get to his harem at the back.But alas, protecting his hens seemed more important even than food. He started to run toward me, you really can't believe how fast a chicken can run. I kept repeating my "put him on the defense"mantra that Tyler preaches and I launched my stick at him. He kept coming so I picked up a brick and threw it too. He stopped momentarily so I quickly dumped the food in the hen pen and picked up the rake for the journey back to the entrance of my safe haven.

I didn't even get a chance to use my would be rooster boots but maybe tomorrow. What am I going to do when Tyler decides he wants a bull? We have definately got to get a dog!

Baptism and Confirmation

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Yesterday Marshal was baptized and today confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are so happy for him and so proud of the choice he made. His Baptismal service was lovely. He was well supported by his Branch Family and we were thrilled that his teachers from school came too. In his journal he wrote " I was baptized today, the water was cold. I have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. All my sins have been washed away. I am eight. " Marshal we love you ! What a wonderful blessing you are in our family !

Gathering Turtles for Marshal's Birthday party turtle race.
Its kind of Redneck but we do have the liberty to do this since we live in the South.

Spring

I just loved all these pictures. What cute kids we have! No, Marshal and Porter don't live with the chickens, but they might if we would let them. The picture of Hannah is a classic. She idolizes her brothers and this particular day she needed to wear Marshals soccer shirt and baseball hat. I thought she looked so cute I snapped a picture.

As for the chickens, Tyler and the boys finished the chicken run and I am so glad. I can be in the yard without the fear that Big Foot-our very large rooster, will attack me or the girls. Lastly the picture of us on the bench was really more for the beautiful tulips behind us than for a shot of us. We have all loved these yellow and red tulips this spring. Cheers to warm spring days, bare feet and a sweet southern breeze that reminds you rain is never to far away.

Emily

We just wanted you all to see this sweet smile.

Conference bliss amidst the Baseball Craze

Where has the week gone? Here it is Thursday and I haven't blogged once. My mind is always churning but what to write? I have had conference quotes rattling my brain. I loved conference despite the absolute meltdown that our children had in the afternoon session both days. Thanks to Carmen for the conference packets. We had at least 2 sessions of relative ease-or at least mild attentiveness from our children. i love when they actually look up at the screen. Usually at the metion of some farm animal or lesson learned on a farm or in one instance a story of a mission served in Argentina cause that's where Uncle Scott is going.

My personal favorites were Sister Lant about traditions, Elder Ballard for young mothers, President Ukdorf(I'm sure I spelled that wrong-its late and I don't feel like checking it) faith of our father, and President Monson, not to metion Elder Zwick and Elder Nelson. I admit it I am a conference junkie.

What else? Baseball season is upon us and it has come with a vengence. 3 practices a week for Porter and 2 for Marshal. Games start tuesday. 3 a week for each until June 6th at which point I swear I will never do this again- Unless the kids really really want too.

Porters coach is Great and it is good for him despite that he doesn't like baseball because he has to run in a circle and not a square. Marshal is entering the more competitive(at age seven?)league and I have had mixed feelings.

It seems to me that there should be more focus on the kids learning the sport, being good sports and enjoying themselves at this age. Instead it turns into a coaches competition, and only a few coaches seem able to remember what the real objectives of sports at age 7 Should be when their egos are on the line.

However, the silver lining is that Marshal is learning something about perserverence and yesterday at practice, he played at pitchers mound and he caught 4 pop flys 2 more that hurtled straight at him and stopped all but 2 that came his way-not to mention beautiful throws to first base. He literally shocked his coach(who has had him outfield all year)- but not us- and he was beaming.

And so I wonder what if my kids really really want to play baseball again next year? I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

New Piano

We want to thank Aunt Nancy for the piano. When she learned that little Emily had problems with her eyes she encouraged us to start exposing her to music. She even went so far as to send her some music of Andrea Bocelli (who is blind) and also generously bought Emily a piano.

Here she is playing it for the first time.

Boots, Cement mixer, and Harry Potter

Hannah put on Marshals boots and was dancing to XUXA(shoosha) yesterday. I had to take pictures because she looked so darn cute. We've been trying to get the kids going on portuguese again and XUXA is a kids singalong in portuguese. The little girls in the show wear boots-thus Hannah had to have a pair of her own-or a pair of her brothers.

One of our favorite after school spots is the trampoline. The kids always need to get outside for a little "outside time". However, Marshal is hooked on Harry Potter # 4 so he needed to read even though Porter kept him bouncing.

AND Porter is showing off his cement mixer that he and his daddy made for their Daddy Porter Date. Notice the Easter Egg Mixer -this was very important and Porter had been wanting to turn it into a cement mixer for days-Thanks to Tylers ingenuity, a saw, drill bit and a screw( for a turning action) Porter was VERY Happy.

THANK YOU

We just wanted to say THANK YOU to everybody who has helped with the tear down haul away barn project. First to JOHN who gave us the barn. Thanks to ROYCE for loaning us the trailer to haul the wood. Big thanks to CHRIS, BEN and BRANDON who all gave a day to help deconstruct or load wood. Lastly to the MISSIONARIES for using their allotted Service Hours to help with Loading and Unloading. Missionaries have 4 hours per week alloted to service. If you have a need for service or know somebody who does, it is a great opportunity to work with and learn from the Missionaries. Our Boys have definately benefited by the association. We hope more in our area will take the opportunity and blessing to work and serve with the Elders.