Squirrels in my pants.

Busy morning today! I got some of the succulents transferred to a log we hollowed out.

Thanks for the help Jason and Jericho!

I think this makes a cute little planter. This may have been something I saw on Pinterest ;)

After I got mine pulled out, a lady came by to take some...have someone else coming this weekend too. I hope I can find good homes for all of it.

Hayden was being very helpful this morning with flower ideas. She thinks we need some tulips like the neighbors. I agree, I always think tulips are boring...until I see them looking gorgeous in someone else's yard LOL.

Our tomato plants showed up today, need to figure out if we are going to plant them or topsy turvy them.

The old man out enjoying the day.

The neighbor kids are all out playing so much more now...spring is in the air!

When my neighbor cut down that huge tree 5 days ago they found out there was a bird nest, and a squirrel's nest in the tree. Sadly the eggs were broken, and the squirrel parents ran and never came back. We have been seeing 3 baby squirrels sticking to the area where the tree was. At first they seemed to be doing OK, they are little but they had their eyes open, fully furred and seemed to be looking for food. Then today we saw one and it was letting people and the neighborhood cats get way too close for comfort, just seemed a little lost. I know nothing about squirrels, so I got the number of a vet tech who also does squirrel rescue with a friend. I explained what happened and told her the baby was calling this loud sad little call, the cats were coming around like crazy and the little thing just seemed a bit too young to be on its own. I thought it was maybe 8-9 weeks old. She asked me to try and catch it and got in her car to come help.

The baby ran a little, but wasn't all that hard to catch.

When I finally got her...and got a little warning nip for my troubles LOL, I couldn't believe how tiny she was. She started out really sweet and didn't mind being picked up, but when I wouldn't let her go she got pissed Hehehe. The baby was really skinny, I could feel every bone in her little body...poor thing probably hasn't eaten in 5 days. The rescue lady said the baby is only about 5-6 weeks old, still needs lots of milk, and most likely wouldn't have made it on her own another day. They warmed her up, gave her sub q fluids and some formula. They have to go really slow with feeding her, and she isn't out of the woods yet...going so long without food can cause damage, but they are doing all they can. I saw a second baby but couldn't catch that one yet. I am keeping my eyes open for the other baby, but I haven't seen him in a couple days sadly.

One of my kids, and mine too actually, favorite episodes of Phineas and Ferb is the one with the 'Squirrels in my pants' song...so funny. Squirrel in my shirt is a close second :)

We first tried to put her in a box, but she kept almost escaping...and I knew if she got away we wouldn't be able to get her again.

So Jason found my old screen type enclosure, back when we had lizards we would let them out in the sunshine in this, she liked this a bit more....but she was still a pissy thing. No gratitude for saving a life sometimes LOL. Cute little turd though, isn't she?

Haddie was SO upset that we couldn't keep this cute baby, she was literally bawling. After explaining that we can't take care of her, but that the people coming to get her would give us lots of updates and photos she calmed down a little. She didn't love the idea, but she did ask to name her before she left. We had been calling her a him, until the rescue lady came and told us she wasn't a boy, so at first Haddie picked Alvin, of course...chipmunk or squirrel it doesn't matter to her LOL. When we found out that this cutie is a little girl squirrel Haddie decided to name her Brittany instead...her fave of the chipettes.

She would have been put down at an official rescue place, she is considered an invasive species of squirrel, so thankfully she went to a place that will care for her and then release her somewhere safe.

We already got our first update photo of baby Brittany...she looks warm and full...and very cozy.

It was another beautiful 65 degree day full of sunshine! We spent all day outside. Once we came in from playing out front we headed to the back yard. Which was a disaster, the following convo ensued LOL.

Me: Let's clean up the back yard guys, your toys are everywhere...why is this place so messy?

Lily: That's how fun is mom.
You heard it here first...fun is messy. LOL.

Another little tid bit of awesome news I got the entire X-Files series on DVD + the movie for $89! Thank you Amazon. Loved that show!!!

Lots of yard work going on in the culdesac.

It has been beautiful out...makes people start itching to work on their yards. Even us, and that is pretty impressive since usually our yards are really neglected beyond getting mowed LOL. Our friend across the street chopped down that huge tree that blocked over half of his house, it looks so much better!

We got a small start on stage 1 of getting rid of the berm that is a big part of our front yard. When Jason started removing plastic and dirt he ran into a shit ton of ants, that is an official term LMAO! The kids thought they were cool...I was scared that they would make a B line for my house.

Gangster got to join us out front today. He would rather not be tethered to the tree but it was better than being stuck inside while everyone else is outside having fun. He is still such a handsome boy...almost 9 1/2, and other than losing muscle (which went when his boy bits went) he looks pretty awesome!

Reminds me of his show dog days. He has such beautiful legs and feet...nice and straight. He was one that you didn't have to hand stack, he just look so great all on his own. My beautiful Grand Champion...some days I miss showing, it was a lot of fun, especially with him since he almost always won LOL.

The kids were a big help...as always. Me too, I was a very big help ;)

We have to dig up some baby trees that we will drive out to the woods and replant, we have to move a couple rose bushes and a Hydrangea off the berm. These little guys are probably going to end up getting tossed, I will probably save some back to put in a dessert scene type planter thing though.

Xander earned a new nick name today, worm wrangler. As Jason was pulling up plastic and dirt ants were not the only bugs a plenty, worms were everywhere too.

Xan started just picking them up and showing them to everyone.

A worm and a huge smile...LOVE.

He started rehoming them over in the flower bed that we created last week. Since this berm will be dozed in a few weeks he felt this spot was no longer safe for his little friends.

His excitement got the attention of the other kids...soon we had 4 worm wranglers hard at work.

Whoa Lily Bug, that is a big sucker you got there.

I am so happy my girls like holding worms, is it silly that this feels like a parenting success?! LOL.

Ending the day with a ladybug friend. I am loving these teaser days...but I really can't wait for summer to get here full time!

Are we here already?

I made some new cookies today, they are a little brownie-ish, a bit less "Skinny" but still not horrible. They don't really have a name, I just winged the recipe for the most part. I guess they are a chocolate coconut pecan peanut buttery brownie cookie, say that 10 times fast LOL

You need:
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 TBS, heaping, peanut butter (opt)
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs (next time I will try 1 egg and 1 egg white)
1 TBS. pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3 TBS cocoa powder
1 cup shredded coconut (opt)
Handful of chopped pecans (opt)


Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a cookie sheet, or line with a silpat.  

2.  In a mixing bowl, use a mixer to beat the the coconut oil and brown sugar.  Add in the eggs and beat until fluffy.  Add in the vanilla extract. Add the mashed banana, and peanut butter.

3.  In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cocoa and baking powder with whisk.  Mix the flour mixture into the coconut oil mixture a little bit at a time with a wooden spoon until all the flour is incorporated.  Add the pecans and coconut and mix well.  

4.  Drop by small rounded spoons onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 8 - 9 minutes. They will be really soft and chewy, with a slightly crispy edge..perfect! Let them rest on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before removing to rack to cool completely. 

So yummy!

Oh my goodness...are we here, are we at DIY PB&J's??? I think I hear Angel's singing off in the distance :) Xander has now made himself 2 sammies, I think this may be the start to a beautiful thing. Now to get the girls on board.

I got this Hahaha.

Way to go dude!

A little funny from today. We were watching Frozen for the 100th time since getting it a week ago...OK maybe the 10th time. The kids are very bothered by the ship going down. Hayden says "They should have been wearing their life jackets, just sayin'." LMAO...yes, I suppose that may have helped, thanks for "just sayin'" so.

5 years of motherhood.

Since One True Media is about to close up shop I needed to finish up my video. I have been working on it since I made Jason his Father's Day video gift...but since I am usually the one behind the camera it took me longer to compile what I could find. I can't believe I have been a Mom for 5+ years, on one hand it feels like it has been a whole lot longer than that...on the other it feels like they were all just born yesterday. It is a funny thing. The video is a longer one...but all the montages will be leaving the blog at the end of May, so it you want to see them do it sooner rather than later.

Sadly One True Media closed up shop...so our montages are no longer available to view.
Thankfully I was able to buy them all on DVD though.
Now I just have to find a new way to make them, I really loved One True Media so bummed they closed :(

The youngins had shots today, Xander was back on the brave team...with Lily and Jericho. Hayden still freaked out, but it was not DEFCON 1 this time LOL. Crying already Haddie...the nurse isn't even in the room yet.

Cool as cucumbers.

We have been seeing this Pedi since the triplets got out of the NICU, but I think this is our first time in this room. The bigs loved the sign language room!

The kiddos helped me make some cow pie cookies today. The last time I made these the trio were around 18 months old...seems like a lifetime ago. I reworked the recipe a touch to lighten it up a little, they were still super yummy. The recipe is on the page that I linked above, I cut the sugar in half, also cut the butter in half and added 2 Tbsp of coconut oil.

The trio's pirate Bday invites are coming along, I have half of them done now LOL.

No fools here.

No April Fools jokes here today. This morning was the last day of court...things ended up in my brother and sister in laws favor, well really in my niece Hailee's favor. It looks like she will be staying with them permanently! This has been a long 18 months and I know everyone is glad to just know one way or the other what their tomorrow, next year, next 13 years is going to look like. I am so happy for you guys...love you!

This morning during breakfast Haddie cracked us up. She wanted a 3rd bowl of cereal, when Jason told her no she said..."You sir, are not a good neighbor" LOL.

We found this cute guy in the front yard today.

I had to look him up...introducing the Isabella Tiger Moth...well before he is actually a moth. Pretty interesting little guy, some can live 14 winters before finally becoming the moth.

The kids thought he was very cool. They really wanted to hold him, but I read the hairs can cause irritation so we just made do with looking. Reeeaaalllly close inspections went on for quite a while LOL.

Next we hit up Costco...and actually had lunch there for the first time.
My poor deprived kids, no they did not get their first soda's...they got watered down lemonade LOL.

We made up for it with some frozen yogurt...yummy, I had no idea this stuff was so good. Must go shopping at Costco more often LOL.

Back home Jason and Xander tried out some new walkie talkies...the kiddos got a big kick out of these.

A relaxing ending to a pretty busy day...Frozen for the 50th time. We love this movie around here, the girls are already acting it out and singing the songs. I even had Jericho open my resting eyelid and say "you wanna build a snowman?" Hehehe.

One major bit of suckage I found out about today. One True Media is closing up shop...which means I am going to have to stop doing the kids yearly montages, or I am going to have to find another place to do them. Another bummer to this is all the montages I have already done, listed on the right hand side in the montage area, will not be viewable after the end of May. Thankfully I bought them all on DVD, but they will be leaving the blog soon, so if you haven't watched them...or want to see them again, do it now.