Baby birds and little toes

My mom decided she wanted to have all four of her kids, and families, over for dinner Monday night. After a long day on the river, it was great to have dinner figured out. Before dinner, my dad asked me to walk out to the cow pasture with him to take a picture of a particularly pretty (and flustered) Killdeer. Once we got close enough, we saw the reason for her agitation – she was no longer just trying to keep strangers away from her eggs, but two little chicks as well.

You can see a tiny body and one tiny egg on the left.

To the right are her babies. What a good mother, even if a little intimidating!

As long as I'm on the topic of babies, our niece Lindsey was at my parents Monday night with her 7-week old daughter, Brooke. I don't think I've ever seen a cuter pedicure...

Travelling the Pere Marquette

Monday morning, Kyle and I decided to put together a last-minute canoe/kayak excursion. It was by far the nicest day of the weekend – both in weather and time spent with family. My brother Ben and his family, as well as my brother Phil, joined us on the Pere Marquette River. Thanks Uncle Stewart and Aunt Judi for the kayaks and the ride back to the car!

Our niece, Dana, doing her great job at kayaking for the first time!

Ellie, making mud pies at our lunch stop

My brother Phillip

Josie collection mud pie "batter"

That us,  in our canoe!

Our nephew, Simon..."Cannonball!"

 

Josie, frog in hand

Enchanted evening

Eleanor Kathryn – she's looking so grown up!

We didn't have any pressing  plans this Memorial weekend. The weather was quiet rainy both Saturday and Sunday mornings, but were were able to sneak in a backyard bonfire Saturday after dinner. Our friends Eric and Shelly stopped by for 'Smores. The girls played in the backyard while we all visited around the fire.

Eric and Kyle (I like the can of gasoline next to the open flame!)

Josie found her own 'Smores stick (or small branch). We thought she was pretty darned clever. The thing was so long she could sit comfortably on the deck while her marshmallow slowly roasted over the coals. We did find a few flaws in the idea... 1) it's difficult to see how done your marshmallow is when it's 10 feet away and 2) getting the sucker onto the graham cracker is a challenge as well!

Each summer I enjoy the first night that fireflies find their way to our backyard. To me it always feels like an official sign that summer is here. Four years ago I posted about how excited I was to someday introduce Ellie and Josie to the sparkling little night bugs. Friday night I got my chance. When I called the girls over to the edge of the yard and told them to keep their eyes on the field, they weren't quite sure what to expect. When they finally saw the fireflies for themselves, the look on their faces was worth the wait.

Josie, so excited to have a couple of fireflies of her very own.

Ellie and Josie – using the bugs as a "nightlight"

Saturday night was the first time that our girls have stayed awake long enough to experience a true summer bonfire – the peaceful sound of crackling logs, a sky full of stars, and especially the mason jar of fireflies. I think they loved it as much as we do.

Chicken love

Sunday photo

Ellie telling my mom and dad something at Josie's graduation.

It must have been pretty interesting!

Josie's Preschool Graduation

Last week we had another graduation ceremony. This time, it was little Josie's Preschool Graduation. Seriously, where is the time going?

Performing the Zoo Phonics song.

She made this silly face when the wrong song was played.

When she grows up...she wants to be a Cook.

My turn to go on stage for the "A Toody Ta" song!

My brother Mike's family – Natalie and Josie
were in class together this year.

Natalie, Josie and a very pregnant Mrs. Rabe.

Of course, when I tried to get a few pictures of the cousins together, Josie decided to pull out her typical photo tricks...

Frugal-Lisa Friday

I do love pasta and asparagus together (see here, and here, and here). Sometimes, though, it has to come in the form of steamed spears and boxed Mac & Cheese. Still delicious (and pretty darned cheap)!

Hens and chicks

A couple of weeks ago we transitioned our chicks from the tub in the garage to a small "hen house" next to the chicken coop. Our babies were getting way too big for the tub – one even flew out and found its way onto Kyle's lawn tractor one morning – but were not ready to be introduced into the main coop. My brother Ben had an old rabbit cage that he was throwing out. A few modifications and it became the perfect place for our littlest girls. Plus, since its right next to the hens, I'm hoping they can become a little aquainted with each other before we put them in the larger coop. (Not with all six hens, however. We're keeping two and giving four to a friend. I think having 10 hens would be pushing the limits as far as Kyle is concerned!)

Large coop on the left...small coop on the right.

L to R: Wyandotte, Araucanas, Barred Rock

Our little girls – getting so big!

Ellie Graduates (for real this time)

Last year at Eleanor's Kindergarten graduation I knew she was going to be in K again the following year, so the realization that she's going to be a First Grader didn't have to set in. This year it did. When she's done with school on June 8th, she'll be a First Grader. I tried to talk her into another year with Mrs. Hoekstra, but she won't have it. Darn.

Yesterday was her graduation ceremony. Again this year she was Ellie Elephant (how can you not choose that Zoo Phonics character when it has your name in it?) She recited the poem that we practiced perfectly...

Last night when Kyle went in to kiss her goodnight she was reading Junie B. Jones, First Grader at Last. "See Daddy," she said "just like me! Eleanor Kathryn Kirker, first grader at last!"

Yes, Peanut... first grader at last!

Weekend highlights

What a great (hot) weekend! I'm thankful for all the fun we had with friends and as a family the past few days, not so sure I'm ready for 85˚ days (and icky nights).

Friday night the girls spent the night at my Uncle Denny and Aunt Luann's while Kyle and I celebrated at a friend's 50th birthday party. Kind of crazy that one of Kyle's closest friends is 50!

Saturday our friends Rich and Gina came over for the evening with their two kids. We had planned on taking the kids to the petting farm, but with temps in the high 80's, the kids were just as happy to play in the backyard and swim in our little pool. Kyle smoked a pork shoulder and we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches for dinner, followed by 'Smores, of course!

Sunday was spent at home as a family. No yard work, no laundry, just the four of us, in the backyard listening to music. Welcome, summer!

Kyle and me at the 50th birthday party.

Jack, Josie and Ellie

Rich and Kyle. Kyle must be telling a story that
involves speed - it looks like his arm is going "fast".

Our little peanut.

Yes...chicken boots. This might be her official summer outfit.

Happy Saturday!

The weather is spring perfection in Michigan today.

We have good friends coming over this afternoon.

We're ready to have a wild and crazy Saturday!

Forgetful

Last night, as I was tucking her in to bed, I told Eleanor a little secret about our weekend. (Saturday afternoon, our friends the Houtemann's are coming over. While the dads grill and try to brew a batch of beer, the moms and kids are going to Lewis' petting farm to see the animals.) She was so excited to learn the news. Lewis' is about 2 miles from our house. It reopened for the season at the beginning on the month. For two weeks we've been listening to two little girls ask when we'll be going.

Once she stopped yelling "Ya!Ya!Ya" she looked at me and said "Mommy, I am so good at keeping secrets because I always forget them! If you tell me something it always goes right in my brain and right out my ear!"

This explains a lot.

Happiness

This is one of the daily quotes from my Happiness Project journal.

My favorite so far.

Slicks

Josie's been "helping" Kyle in the shop a lot lately. Friday she helped in bring in a set of slicks for a car he's working on. She's a great little helper! (The super-dirty laundry? Not so helpful.)

Recipe: Garlic Asparagus Pasta

It's asparagus season. I love pasta and asparagus, you'll read that here and here. Last week I had asparagus, pasta, and not much else, and I wanted something delicious. This totally fit the bill – fresh, simple and delicious!

Recipe: Garlic Asparagus Pasta

Ingredients
1/2 lb. pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup olive oil
6 cloves of chopped garlic
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
1 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces
fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions
Cook the pasta according to package directions. While draining, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Set both aside.

In a skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté for one minute, or until the garlic is golden. Add the asparagus and salt and pepper. Sauté until the asparagus is tender (about 8 minutes). Dump in the pasta, and about 1/2 of the pasta water. (Add the rest if it seems too dry.) Serve with grated, fresh Parmesan cheese.

Grandparents' Day production.

Friday was Grandparents' Day at school. Eleanor had two small parts in the K–4th Grade production of God's Word: The Bible in Ten Minutes. I couldn't get a clear picture of her part as one of Noah's elephants (she crawled both up and down the stage on all fours - so funny!), but my Israelite photos turned out...

Kyle's Mom and step-dad came for the Grandparents' lunch at school and watched both the younger classes stage production as well as the older classes version of Cinderella. Afterwards they headed over to our house to visit for a few hours. After dinner, Grandma and Grandpa left while Kyle, Josie and I went to watch the evening shows. So cute. Why is it, that as a parent, just watching your child crawl on stage in an elephant costume fills you with pride (and tears)? We're proud of our little peanut, and the rest of the school. Great job!

Happy Mother's Day!

Whispers from downstairs. Little voice yelling up the stairwell "Don't come down here, Mommy!" Two little girls with their thoughtful Daddy surprising me with breakfast in bed. Perfect!