Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today is Talk Like A Pirate Day. This is one of those little-known-holidays that my mother has always celebrate, so naturally, I too celebrate it with my family.

Beyond talking and dressing like a pirate, it is great fun to inform others about this little-known-holiday. We call this "Pirating." We dress up like pirates, and deliver a yummy pirate snack ( usually Chips AHOY, or PIRATE-Os) to some unsuspecting neighbors. My boys love it; the neighbors think it is great; this is definitely one of the best little-known-holidays!

I love to see the Temple

On Tuesday, the boys and I had the opportunity to go to the Brigham City Temple Open house with my sister and her family. Wow it was neat. The boys thought it was super neat to be able to go inside the temple, and I loved being able to take them. Unfortunately, Tim had to work, so Grammy came with us instead.

Kids say the darnedest things

I love the way kids brains work. They are great at making sense out of the little pieces of information they get, which will usually bring a guaranteed smile to your face.

For example, today Talmage went to the potty all by himself (which is kinda a big deal around here). When he was finished he calls from the toilet, "Daddy, I am all done. And it's a big one, like you! I did a Daddy sized poop!"

Tom was not quit sure if he should be proud or concerned.

Owen also had his own moment today. The boys were eating oatmeal for breakfast this morning. While the boys were eating, Tom told me that once his Dad had him eat oatmeal with ketchup in it. Little Mr. Owen leans over to Tal and says, "Talmage don't ever put ketchup in your oat-milk. Dad's dad did that once, and then he DIED."

Oh my goodness, I could not not stop laughing. I mean, it is true, the sequence of events is accurate. Tom's dad did make him eat ketchup oatmeal, and he did pass away prematurely, but not due to eating discussing oatmeal. It was due to a pulmonary embolism. But I think I am ok with him believing that eating oatmeal with ketchup in it is hazardous for you health. In fact I think it just may be.

Eggs!

Our hens are about 5 months old now. We have the coop almost done, just need to paint one side. And the birds are HUGE! We have known they are close to start laying, it is just a matter of time. Well this morning when I went to check on the ladies, I saw this in the nesting box:

Our first egg ever! (that white one is just a golf ball)

Hurray! One of them has started to lay! I am not sure, but I think it was my Little Buttercup, our Buff Orprington. she was singing last night as she was roaming the yard. Not wanting random eggs around the yard I put her back in the coop. And now we have had our first egg!

Yeah!

This is Pepper, not Buttercup.

Like a Fire is Burning

Well, our turn has come. There have been so many wild fires in Utah this year, we were starting to feel left out. Actually, we were feeling blessed that no fires had broken out in Cache Valley. In fact, my parents visited us yesterday, and I mentioned how lucky we have been to not have to deal with fires, like what seems like every other county has this year.

I guess I spoke to soon. Today, the mouth of Millville Canyon caught fire. It has been quite the spectical to watch. I heard a ton of sirens this afternoon, and they just would not stop. Then our next door neighbor came over to tell us to look out the window, because the mountain was on fire.
What is crazy is that we were just up that canyon not two hours before the fire broke out. We went for a drive up to Leatham's Hollow today after church. It was the first time we had ever been up Millville Canyon, and I feel in love. I honestly think it us the prettiest canyon I have ever been in. I remember seeing these vibrant orange flowers up on the side of the mountain, and thinking that they were the color of fire. Now I am wondering if they were flowers or flames.

As the fire progressed, we realized that we saw some people camping fairly far ip the canyon. Tom got concerned about them, so we drove over towards the command center to tell them about Hornsby people we would guess were still in the canyon. Luckily, the fire is only on the north face of the canyon, so people coming down can still get out.

After talking to the police, we desided to stay and watch a bit. I think all 2000 Millvillians had the same idea. I honestly don't think I have ever seen the streets of Millville so crowded. My boys thought it was so cool to watch the helicopter fill up it's bucket at the local fish hatchery, and go dump it on the fire (any body want some broiled fish?).

It has been about four hours since the fire department responded, and the fire is still burning strong. Hopefully, they get it under controlled soon.

Redneck swimming pool!

Last Saturday, Tom's brother moved. While Tom helped his brother, I watched my cute nephews at my house. One of them had a brilliant idea:

"Aunt Rosie," he says, "can we put the sprinklers down the slide and turn it into a water slide?"

Awesome idea! The kids spent the entire afternoon playing on the water slide.

Sadly, Tom missed out on all the fun. But don't worry, not only did he recreate the water slide, he improved it.

Apparently all you need is a tarp and a few spare pieces of lumber, strategically placed at the bottom of your slide, and PRESTO! you have the coolest REDNECK SWIMMING POOL ever!

Mr. Smartie Pants

Yesterday, my boys were drawing with crayons.  It is fun to watch Owen's skills with a writing utensil increase and improve.  He drew all sorts of pictures, including a picture of our chicken coop, with a smiling sun.  Then he brought me a paper with "OMM" scrawled across it.

"Look Mom!  I drew your name!"

I have got to say, I was impressed.  We have been working on his letters, mostly trying to learn their sounds.  We have not done much with writing the letters, and I have not even gone near teaching him how to sound words out.  So I asked him if he could draw all the letters.  He sat down with his crayon, and went to work.  He would occasionally ask me what letter came next, but within a few minutes later this is what he had produced:

What a smart kid I have!