Eight

The Chachi-Band is turning 8.  EIGHT.  So old.

So what do you do with 15 girls in February?  Swim.

And you let them put on their own sprinkles because the mess is not at your house.

Happy birthday, Eva girl.  I remember when you were born and I held you and told you that I was in love with you and would always always always be your mama and be on your side. We took you home and you screamed all night until your super-granny came to save the day.  Now you're 8 and you still scream and I am still forever on your side.  You are beautiful and you are in the world to change it!

We are so extremely lucky that you're part of this family!!

chicken puberty

I apologize if you're not a chicken person.  I'm sure you're sick of the pictures.  But these little ladies are our life right now.  Our promise of spring.  

When I started puberty, I wore the same yellow sweatshirt with iron-on bears on the front every.single.day.  I went to camp and didn't shower for a whole week (hey - I went to the pool every day!).  I had a crush on a boy named Tim.  And there were zits.

The girls are there.

Sasha, Courtney, and Lake Michigan have seen cuter days.

But there's something about their gawky-ness that is just so....you know.....likeable.

They make me miss my junior high students.  I mean it.

Sage McCage doesn't seem to notice their awkwardness.  This week, she is their most tender fan.

Bonus of turning Chicken-13?........They flap their wings and fall gracefully when dropped!

We counted them when we put them back in their garage coop, and there are now 21 instead of 19.  I think they age AND multiply in their sleep?!

mustaches and monster bars

I can't help myself.  I become "that mom" and hijack the valentines every year.  Here's this year's...  We taped those fake stick-on furry mustaches over them - that will be the "favor" they give with their card.

And thank you Melissa and Becky for this LIFE CHANGING recipe!  Oh my word delish delish delish DELISH delish.  Monster cookies in bar form.  But a bit gooier and softer and tastier and way way easier.  All of the ---ers that make you gain 12 lbs just by looking at them.

They are gluten-free.  The kids at school are getting sugar cookies with icing and their names on top for their Vday party treat.  So I'll put icing on these and Eva's name.  For once, her treat will as tasty as what is passed out!

Monster Bars

1/2 c. margarine

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 c. peanut butter

4 1/2 c. oatmeal

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c. m&ms

I do this all with the kitchen-aid mixer....Combine the margarine, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda.  Stir in the peanut butter.  Mix in the oatmeal.  Add and mix in the chocolate chips and m&ms.  Spread into a greased 11x15 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15ish minutes.  Careful not to overbake - you'll be taking them out before they look done, but that's how they are best when they cool.  Speaking of, let them cool completely before you cut them.  If you can make yourself....good luck!

chick village

River proudly showed me the picture he drew of me, daddy, and him....

Can you guess which one is me?!

I can't quite believe how well he captured my constant state of being.  

Hair standing on end.  Yep, that's me.  Hey, at least I got arms.

And more family photos....

The girls are big enough to feel the grass under their toes and to meet the village that will eat their eggs!

Names so far:
Cozy
Sasha
Malia
Lake Michigan
Courtney Love
Lulu #1
Lulu #2
Spot
Hillary
Patch

One is feisty and just refuses to be caught and cuddled.  We're hoping her name won't be Rooster.

Such therapy they are.....for the littles and the bigs and the souls in between!

cheep

When I was in high school in the olden days before there were cell phones, my Dad often answered the phone with:

"Keim Hatchery, which chick would you like?" just to mortify my sister and me.

Funny how now its true.

More family photos of our 34 (yay!  still 34!!) babies...

 

 

This is Lake Michigan.  She has been looking a bit peak-ed, 

but with a good pep-talk and some TLC, she's rallying.

 

This is Lulu #1.  Lulu #2 is her twin.

 

You can't see it in this picture, but she fell asleep in my hand!  

I could pay hundreds of dollars for great therapy, or I could just let a baby bird fall asleep in my hand.  It was one of those moments where you forget to breathe and you hang in that delicate space that is not of this world.  

Her name is Cozy.

Several of you local-ish readers have asked about coming to meet the girls...come on in anytime you wish, pick them up, and love on them!  Just be sure to close the garage door.  Tybalt (our cat) has not been allowed to meet them yet!!

34 ways to make my uterus ache

I totally called it - the Big Do We Have More Kids Question is something women want to discuss.  Much much thanks to those that have emailed, called, and texted.  We are united in the conviction that this mama thread of deep desire for children runs through our core, and are really truly at very different places in our ifs and whys and whens.  It has done my soul good to hear you!

Speaking of babies.......

34 (well, 35 now 34) little precious 3-day old chicks arrived at our door at 7 am today.

They are so chirpy and soft and delicate and quick and alive!

We are deeply in love and will now be living most of our hours in the garage with them.

By the time they are hens, they will have become so accustomed to us that they are pets.

The naming will begin soon.  We get to name 20.  The rest go to another home.  

20 names.....

This one looks like she splurged on some great liquid eyeliner.  I'll call her my little courtney love.