Letterboxing

So we started a new hobby. The weather today was beautiful (in the 70s) and we went with our friends the Kendalls for our first attempt at letterboxing. This consists of looking up directions on the internet for a hidden box that has a stamp in it. After you find the box you stamp your book with it and document your existence in their journal. Then you have to hide it again. Scott has been whining and complaining about going ever since I mentioned it, but I think we will be doing more. It was nice to be outside and best of all it's FREE.

The kids were so excited to be hiking they all packed backpacks with water, snacks, toys, paper, just about everything we would need for a week long trip. Luckily, it only lasted 3 hours. We went to the courthouse first and had a fun time walking around the plaza and learning about some of the history. The kids had a great time finding the box and hiding it again. Then we went up to Thumb Butte and walked up a trail and Alyssa found the box under a rock. We hiked a little more, the kids (Scott) had a snowball fight and then a picnic.

Anyway, we're off to Mesa tomorrow for a baby blessing (it's supposed to be 90 degrees--hot!) and then Amber's birthday party a few days later. I can't believe my little girl will be 5! The girls in my ward are way too generous and are throwing a group shower for me and some of the other 50 pregnant women next weekend. That's the way we like it. Party, party, party!

Winter Wonderland

So we finally decided to have winter and it came with a bang. We got about 6 inches of snow in one night with lots of wind and ice. The kids got a snow day from school and they used it! They spent most of the day outside and I spent most of the day picking up wet socks, shoes, coats, pants, etc. And of course we had hot chocolate and donuts.

Scott decided to make a snow Sara and the girls wanted a Cinderella dress so this is what they wound up with. Alivia had a great time outside. When she came in she kept showing me her hands, though. I don't think she could quite figure out what was wrong with them.

As fun as it was, I am sure excited for warmer weather.

My Farmer Man

As many of you know, the chickens we got last year have been the bane of my existence for quite some time. They eat too much, they poop WAY too much and they haven't laid eggs since November. Plus, they escape a lot which results in me running all over the neighborhood trying to chase them back. So, my dear husband decided they had outlived their usefulness and today he went crazy.

Youtube is amazing with all the information you can find. He researched different ways to kill them and decided to just break it's neck. He decided not to do it that way again. It felt too weird. When he came in and grabbed a knife I decided to check the progress. But when he grabbed it's body it started flapping all over and I was done watching. After letting the blood drain he stuck it in a pot of boiling water and then plucked it. And then he brought it in, cleaned it all up, boiled it and made chicken and dumplings. They were quickly devoured by the kids who, despite knowing it was Sparkle, loved every bite. I couldn't bring myself to try it, though. I have to be a little more removed from my meat.

Anyway, it was quite an ordeal and I am very impressed with Scott who did it all by himself with only a little help from Youtube. One down, two more to go.