Ducks and Chicks!

We got four new chicks and 2 ducks a few weeks ago! They are just so much fun. Aidan is their primary caregiver, under Chad's supervision, but we all get daily cuddles in. Unlike our last chickens, these will not be free-range enjoying the bugs and worms on our 2/3 acre as well as two ajoining neighbors! Because of some not-so-nice (okay maybe just hungry) racoons, they'll have to stay in their pen. We did already have a baby chick die from being smothered, we think, so we bought one new chick and one duck. We couldn't just buy one new baby because it won't be ready to join the bigger ones until it can stick up for itself. So Chad built a little pen within the big pen. I was hoping for a pen in the garage so we could hold them more often but he reminded me just how messy ducks are. They spray their water all over! I cannot find the many pictures we've taken, but are a few pictures of our sweet new duck Popcorn!

Missing the sun...

That 80 degree day on Saturday was SO nice! But the rain is gorgeous too~you can't really loose living in WA. I was in a training on Seattle for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. It was a great training and confirmed my thoughts on the girls. They are not showing any of major symptoms of the disorder but may be low on the spectrum someday. I'll be going to part II down in Kent. There is so much to learn about FASD; this first training was 6hrs and just a start. It is the leading known cause of mental retardation and yet it is 100% preventable. Whenever a mother is using drugs she is usually drinking as well, so Hope and Halle were most likely exposed, but it depends on the timing and frequency.

About the sun, Chad got some sun while mowing; he got all the back and front yards done! Hope and the boys were with Daddy and Halle, T~Bella and Angel spent the day with Grandma Sharon and Nana. They made cinnamon rolls and went to the park. No pictures from that day but here are a couple of Hope watching the rain fall on our deck this morning. She also spotted a woodpecker and a pair of squirrels! She's our music girl, but also our nature girl, I think. :o) Ethan found this bonnet and put it on Hope. She didn't even try to take it off! Halle would've likely ripped it off and crawled over to the trash can.

When you say "Hi!" Hope waves.

Check back tomorrow for an 11 month update and pics of the girls. And later today I am going to post about our new chicks and ducks!