Happy May

I realize it has been a while...I'm sorry. And the pictures are sparse because I haven't really taken any. But here's a little peak into what I did capture.

The boys LOVE playing with the tent that Grandma made for them. They have recently discovered a new way to "play." They've learned how to climb up the tent. Dad caught them at it. Silly boys.

My dear friend had her baby just after Thanksgiving (at 25 weeks) and after many prayers and miracles, he was able to go home after 100 days in the hospital. I wanted to make him a special quilt and I thought I'd post some pictures. 

This is the whole quilt. I didn't have an adult around to hold it up for me, so I improvised...please forgive the lighting and crookedness. I am so happy with how it turned out!! I love it so much, I want to make another one...but I can't get the fabrics anymore. I will definitely make this pattern again! I did learn that when you quilt with clear thread, don't mess up. It's REALLY hard to see it to unpick the stitches!

And when my friend said they would be blessing him at church I just had to make him some little loafers. They turned out cute! If we have another boy, I'll be making more of these...in different colors. :)

I got a picture of the little Phoebes that have been nesting and growing under our deck. These are the three chicks the day they left the nest. I went out to show Brian when he got home from work and they had left. This is the second year we have had Eastern Phoebes nest under our deck. We also had three robins hatch and grow in one of our holly bushes and I believe a cardinal nesting in another bush. The cardinals kept stealthily going into the same bush, but I could never see the nest. I did hear the chicks though. 

And if we weren't crazy enough...we, um, bought 4 chicks. We tried buying some fertilized eggs to place under our 3 broody hens, but as soon as we did they started laying. So we left the eggs in the nest and bought some chicks (2 buff orpingtons and 2 black sex-link). Funny enough, two of our big hens laid for a week and then started nesting. They brood when I want them to lay, and lay when I want them to brood. We'll see if anything hatches in the next week. I'm amazed how fast these chicks are growing! We still haven't named them, though. And sorry for the poor picture. I was too tired and awkward to open the cage and get a good picture.  

As a last note (sorry this is a wordy post...) we find out in 10 days the gender of the baby. I can't wait! Brian kind of laughs at me, but I keep having dreams that we find out what the gender of the baby is and then I wake up and realize we don't really know and I get anxious and count down (again) how many days left. I'm not sure why I'm so anxious to find out this time, but I'm glad we are finding out! I'm grateful for technology that allows us to know and plan accordingly. 

We have all been spending more time outside playing and working. Going to the park has been wonderful, except when we're being attacked by enormous cicadas. That is not our favorite. Building a new chicken fence was good...I don't rip my clothes or hit my head on the way in any more. I'm grateful for good weather so we can play outside. Also, the boys went camping with Dad for Father's and Sons last weekend and LOVED it! We're planning on going camping this weekend. We wish we had some of you to join in the fun!