Scalp

I love my chickens.  They are work.  Poop cleaning and coop maintenance.  This past spring we added 5 more baby chicks to our flock.   One died :(.   Made me soooo sad.  Beto buried her for me.  Beto has learned a lot of life and death since we got animals.  Unfortunately he is the one who helped his dad kill Gale when we decided to "harvest" him.  He is also the one that helps with the capturing and killing of possums and rats.   So he didn't blink when I asked him to "take care" of the baby chick.   With no direction other than "take care of it Beto". He put the baby chick in a box on a bed of hay and buried and made her a marker.   My Betito, how I love him.  On my first day home alone after having Tatianna.  I woke up before day light and went to check on the chicks and what do I find.  My beautiful araucana chick injured.   Freaked me out and my heart ached for her.  So I had to run around trying to catch her.  Made me happy and gave me high hopes, she had so much energy. 

This is what she looked like.  I didn't know how this happen because the coop was on lock down and I didn't see any place where a predator tried to get in.  It was too early to call a vet so I brought her inside. I started to look stuff on the Internet and came to the conclusion that the hens pecked her badly.  We just recently put the pullets (younger chickens) and the hens together. Not you didn't know the pecking order of chickens is brutal.  They fight for their spot.  Oprah and Katniss are the top hens and I'm sure they are the ones who started the bullying. So I fed Tati and pumped some milk just in case and woke up Bre.  Headed to tractor supply for some wound care items.   

I kept "Scalp" (yea that's her name) inside for two weeks.  Nursed her wounds.    I really didn't have high hopes.  But she pulled through.  But now I couldn't just throw her outside with the chicken gangsters.  So I did some research and ordered chicken blinders that help with chicken pecking.  I kept Scalp outside in the brooder locked up 3 days so the gangsters could see her but couldn't get to her.  Then I put her in the chicken run and blocked it off so the gangsters couldn't get to her.   By the time we received the blinders, her wounds were well healed.  YAY!!!!  We integrated her with the other hens little by little.  Lots of observation and time outside for me and my newborn. I'm happy to report Scalp is now doing awesome.   Jason had doubts telling me that most likely we would have to "take care" of her.   Ha!!!!   I "took care" of her and she is doing just fine.  Jason did make a new roosting bar so they there can be plenty of room for all the chickens.  And they still all pile up in the same section.  

  

Tatianna Linda King

I can already tell Tatianna is gonna be spoiled.   All her sisters and brother can't get enough of her.   Not to mention her momma and daddy ;). I can't believe she is finally here.   You would think I was a pro however I forgot how little newborns are.   She is now almost two weeks old and we are starting to get into our daily groove.   Especially now that the doctors appointments have stopped.  When I have a little more time I'll write Tatianna's birth story.   But for now now here are some pics and videos.   If you follow me on snapchat you have already seen most of these videos.

Us

Jules is an connoisseur of everything mud related.  This girl loves mud. I guess she is channeling Michael Jackson (the one glove). Jules loves purple.  Can you tell?  

My sweet Vivister.  Your laugh is so pure and contagious.  I hope you never lose that.  

My Betito. Oh my only son. My love for you is so precious and special.  Not any better than the love I have for your sisters but different.  You are my man child.  

And that leaves with Breanna Marie.  You are a definitely teenager.  Your hair isn't coraportaitng it's moms fault.  You can't find your shoes, it's moms fault.  Hell at this point if u don't poop just the way you want to, it's moms fault.   But I'll gladly go through this journey and any journey you take me on.  I love you and always will.  Even when you are a punk.  Because I love being witness to those rare occasions were your true helpful, unselfish giving, awesome big sister (even to Beto)and sweetness comes out.  

"Momma, can I take off my shoes so I can feel the grass on my toes". 

Love this 

Last of summer, 1D & 5SOS, School starts

Who wouldn't want to hang on to summer for alittle bit longer?   No schedules, late nights, long morning snuggles, sprinkler play, summer garden, light bugs, and endless fun.

Vivianna talks, talks, talks, and talks.  Always talking things out.  Here she is explaining that the doctor is not going to check anybody but Breanna.  "It's only Breanns appt" 

Jules just hides

Concert Time.  Bre and I went to the 1D and 5SOS concert.  We had a blast.  I remember taking Bre to the Cheetah Girls concert.  Now we are here too see boys.  "Young Tenders" is what I call them :)  bre is boy boy boy crazy.  Like anytime she sees a cute boy her face lights up and smile gets bigger and brighter.  It's funny too see.  We had a blast and didn't get home till 1am.  I am getting OLD.

I'm practicing.  

I love this moody and impossible girl!!!   She hates to take pictures and hates hates hates to smile in pictures.  My own little teenager.  Ughhhhhhhh Im proud that she never conforms to what people want her to be.  I love this crazy girl more than she will ever know!!!

:( school, school :) 

This griddle is my lifesaver for back to school.  Makes morning less crazy.  Bre my high schooler has to be at school by 7:15, Jules (kindergarten) has to be at school by 8:00am.  Then Beto (jr high 7th grade) has to be at school by 8:45.  Last but not least my Vivianna (pre-k) has to be at school by 11:45)    So my mornings are insanely busy. Add on attitudes of I don't want that for breakfast, "Mom I don't wanna wear this you know this you know this is NOT my favorite color,"oh mom I forgot to show you this", "Mom I need 15 dollars for a choir shirt and $15 for athletics shirt", "Mom I need $60 for culinary arts class, here's your checkbook", "mom don't forget to cut my lunch sandwich into a heart", "MOM, MOM, MOM, MOM!!!!" I swear most mornings I hear "MOM" 100 times.  But I'll let you in on a little secret..........I love it.  Shhhhh don't tell the kids. 

Jules didn't want to hold hands with daddy.  Broke daddy's heart :(

When saying bye I said I'm gonna miss you and Jules said "I'm gonna miss The Vivster". It was soooooo sweet.  

School bus.  Jules was sooooo excited to ride the bus. The plan WAS to be car riders for a week then on week two try the bus.  But Jules wanted to rides the bus ASAP and on the third day we let her.  This girl is too independent and fearless.  :(

Love how this picture turned out.  Confession time.  I had been looking for a frame to paint and chalkboard the inside for first day of school but with all the school shopping and preparations it was put on the back burner.  So the first morning of school came and I was like oh crap what am I gonna do.  Asked J to get down the long chalkboard sign on the porch and it worked.  It came out so cute.  We'll I think so.......because they are my awesome kids :)

With school starting it's when the hummingbirds show up and when my love affair with fall.  Here we go again.  Life is precious and I'm hanging on to all the little things.