OInk OInk Here, and an Oink Oink there....

Thursday night Brent brought home our adorable, (and I'm not using that word lightly), 4-h pigs. He went to an auction in Rochester and came home around 9:30pm with the cutest little pigs.

The red Duroc is Grace's and she's named it Rockney. The spot is Evan's and he's named it, I bet you can't guess....his favorite cartoon character......SONIC!!! Big surprise!

They are a little smaller than the ones we got last year at this time, but they are just too cute, I can't stop going over and looking at them, talking to them (we do have to get them used to us, after all...), and taking pictures of them.

The red one is a little more shy. The spotted one LOVES his picture taken, and likes his nose to be rubbed.

Our dogs, Rudy and Sadie, also cannot get enough of the newcomers.

I've caught Sadie (the black one) in the pig pen 3 times since we brought them home. She can get in, but can't get out. Dumb dog!

Since our pen is outside, the pigs have sand in the lot because it helps work their muscles. Brent had a dump truck unload a bunch of sand, more than last time, so all day yesterday while Brent and I were working in the garden, this is what was happening in the pig pen....

The pile of sand smack dab in the hog pen had become a beach resort for polly pockets. Both children were covered from head to toe with sand. It kept them, busy, though.

Every once in a while Grace would break away from the sand, and go show the pigs where to eat, or try to touch them.

You just can't resist a happily swinging pig tail!

Brent and I, however, were busy at work all day getting the garden in shape for early planting. We have SEVERELY heavy clay soil here, which in the summer gets like cement in the garden. So, Brent would incorporate some of the extra sand into the garden, and I would work it around with the rake.

I also weeded out space between the strawberry rows. Man, that stuff spreads quick! I wanted to plant my peas, lettuce, onions, and potatoes yesterday since they are cool weather crops, so mid-day, this is how part of the garden looked.

Onions planted...CHECK, potato piles made...CHECK, peas planted in 3 rows...CHECK, and lettuce all in a square...CHECK. It feels good to have this done since it's supposed to rain today. The rest of the garden is still waiting. The mobile chicken coop still resides in part of the garden, so the chickens can leave their "contribution"/fertilizer in the dirt, and since the tiller is broken, we'll have to finish the rest by hand. Ugh.

Oh well, at the end of the day, when I saw this perfect picture...

all the onions in a row (vidalia and red...and I don't even eat onions, only Brent), I had to smile. My work is done, for now.

The Skating Party

Tonight was the night!

The all school skating party at the skating rink in Warsaw.

This is THE BIG DEAL at school! Who's gonna ride the bus? Who is the boy/girl you're gonna sit beside on the bus? (My children DON'T ride the bus!) There was a kissing issue the last time, even with parent chaparones. No way will my kids ride the bus!

I guess when I was in elementary school, this was a big deal. I remember begging my parents to go year after year. We didn't always go, but we did go once in awhile. We went to this same skating rink...that's what I can't believe!

Because this is a PTO sponsored event, I'm required to go as PTO president. Grace likes to go, however, so we go anyway.

Evan opted to go home with his best friend and spend time playing rather than hitting the rink.

Year by year, Grace has gotten better. She's not so clumsy on the floor.

This is the night all the popular songs are played, the lights are low so the disco ball can shine,

relays are run, and everyone is smiling, unless they're hitting the ground!

Thank goodness it's only a 2 hour deal. Thank goodness for the other mothers who go, so I have someone to talk to. Thank goodness it only happens twice a year!

I guess I need to look at it from Grace's point of view, my old point of view as an elementary schooler.

She had a great time, that's all that matters.

Spring is here?

I started out the day with an imaginary to-do list in my head. Because it was going to be a somewhat sunny/warmish day, I wanted to get some outside chores done. This was the first Saturday without an Upwards basketball game, and we could FINALLY get something accomplished.

So, I started out with some clean laundry.

Nothing smells quite as good as some freshly dried, sunshine filled laundry. Even if it does reside on two John Deere green clothesline posts which my hubby thinks are divine. Please!

Next I put on my new boots...

Cute dontcha think?

And decided to get rid of the field stones that have been lining all my flower beds since we moved in in 2006.

This required a little help from the little people living in our house!

I wish I could say this task was done quickly, but I think we took at least 4 loads of rocks/weeds back to the ditch. Evan told me, "Mom, I love helping you when it means I'll get money." I guess his priorities are set, huh?

My wonderful hubby also put out my cold frame that he made me last year. I'm totally ready to get my seedlings growing in the basement out to this frame in the next month.

After he put out the cold frame, Brent rolled the lawn, and then Grace, Brent, and I spread out the chicken manure from the hen house in the garden. This proved to be a highly STINKY job. Seriously. I've never smelled worse. We were in the thick of it. I can't believe how much manure 23 chickens produce!

I had noticed earlier in the week that our neighbors have already planted their lettuce and peas, so I asked if Brent could till up the garden. First he told me to stop looking at what the neighbors are doing, and then he said ok.

I've never loved him more. Just look at that dirt getting moist and fluffy.

Literally about 3 minutes after this picture was taken, the tiller BROKE!!!! UGH! Are you kidding me?

So, we have piles of chicken manure all throughout the garden, ready to be tilled under. I am anxious to plant my peas and lettuce. My hands are itching to get in the dirt.

So, I weeded all the flower beds around the house, and moved some plants around, and noticed how big my irises are getting.

I just can't wait until they bloom. I'm tired of this pasty looking landscape, I'm ready for the flowers. Bring on the flowers!

So, today overall was a good day. We were outside all day, and Brent and I even got some red cheeks from the sun.

All the plants popping through the dirt are making me excited. Is Spring really here?