I am Going to Explode!

We are in Montana.

We are in the house.

Randy has a good job.

We have been able to spend precious time with the In-Loves.

And I am getting CHICKENS!

I am so excited, I can barely contain myself.

During the process of moving, I had to double check the ordinances in the area. Fortunately for me, we are outside the city limits!

So, now that we are in the house and Randy is gainfully employed, I have been working on getting a shed converted into a coop. I am almost finished, and I am hoping to get 4-6 pullets (young hens) within a week. My goal is to have 12 hens.

Randy wants nothing to do with them, but he has been very helpful with some of the conversion work. (Don't tell anyone I said that.)

The goal for these hens is for me to "oversee" the operations, and the boys will be business owners. I will buy my eggs from them, and they have to pay for the expenses, and pay off any start-up costs. Of course, I will do most of the work, but I really want them to know what it is like to earn money, run a business (guided by us), and learn all that while having fun with these ladies. They will be involved with the chores, and will be given more responsibility when they show they are capable, and they are both excited.

Tonight they were playing chicken and grasshopper, since they were pumped to find out that CHICKENS love hunting GRASSHOPPERS just as much as they do. :) They just sat on the floor, pretending their hand was a chicken beak and the other one would hold out their finger as a grasshopper...too adorable!

Moving on up...

...to Montana.

The decision was made this week, and we are hoping to be up there by this time next month.

Now, I try not to be a "Debbie-Downer", so here are a few things I am looking forward to:

~A kitchen table. We have been without one for 5 years. Oh, the conversations we have missed.

~My Father and Mother in-love. They will only be an hour away, and it will be nice for the boys (ok, and us too!)to spend some time with them.

~Getting to re-connect with old friends. I miss their laughter.

~Having room for a garden. After having a small garden last year, and no ability to have one this year, I am really wanting to get my garden prepped for next spring!

~Going through the upcoming trials and tribulations with my husband. Now, most people would think... WHAT? Why are you looking forward to that? Well, last year was one of the best years in our marriage, but probably the worst year of our lives together. We grew together because of the trials. I know that the rest of this year will have its own bumps in the road, but I know that we have been preparing for this our whole marriage-especially this past year.

What I am not looking forward to:

~Moving away from my family, friends, and the area. South Dakota has been my home for most of my adult life. It will be hard to say goodbye to them. (But, I will hold back the tears as long as possible!)

~My inability to relax easily in new situations. I have always been a little (ok, A LOT!) uptight. This can me grumpy. Fortunately, Montana also has this to help me relax: It isn't as close as it is here in South Dakota, but it isn't far away: :)



The mountains...They call me. (Usually they call me goofy names, but I won't repeat them here.)

Heebie-Jeebies

I don't think I could handle a bug crawling on my nose.



These two boys are just fascinated by bugs! About 5 or 6 times a day, they come to the door to let me "see" what they caught! (I don't let them bring anything into the house!) Today's catches were a slug, a dragonfly, worms, and potato bugs. And they were only outside in the yard for about 2 hours, since it has been warm out.

Maynard

At this point in his life, if I had to list Maynard's Top Five list of things he loves, they would be (in no particular order):

Food. Actually, this is probably always going to be #1.

Sticks.

Rocks.

His wiener. (Is it this way for all boys?)

Anything in the Animal Kingdom, especially BUGS.

Today, he found this:



He was fascinated for quite some time, until he announced that he wanted to feed it to our turtle, John Denver.

Boys!