Spring Chicken

Nate finagled me into getting another kind of animal. We went and picked out 6 baby chicks. He used it as it will be so good for food storage. Ugh that gets me everytime. Those chickens have to lay a ton of eggs to make it worth the money we spent on it. Approximately 80 dozen eggs that is 960 eggs. Does that seem worth it. Not to me either. But he always gets his way. Oh well. So that makes me a pet owner of 1 cat, 1 dog, 4 fish, 2 squirrels, and 6 chickens that is 14 animals. Nate and his coop. If you look careful you can see ella's head poking out of the box
This is where they will lay their eggs
the 6 chickens... Named Hillary, Nancy, Jane Fonda, Churro, and Doughnut and I can't remember the last one
The kids with all of the chickens.

Ella's new hair cut

Ella got her hair cut off today and it was such a big improvement from what it normally looks like. They took off over 6 inches. That little girls hair grows so fast.

BEFORE

AFTER
plus I think that this is such a great picture of her anyway!!!

Ella first time playing soccer

I can't believe I did this but Ella had her last soccer game this year and right after I took this picture I ran out of batteries on my camera. My friends husband took some pictures for me on his camera I just haven't received them yet and to which I feel very bad, apparently he took more pictures of Ella then he did his own daughter. So this is it. Ella played soccer for the first time this year and it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. She tried really hard and would manage to kick the ball (wether it was the right way or not) every game which made her very happy. Everytime the ball would come toward her we would have to remind her to chase the ball which she would eventually. She had a hard time playing instead of talking to her friends. But she loved it and was very sad now that soccer is all over. We are proud of you Lou for doing the best you could.

Just when I thought that she was getting better

It never fails everytime I think that Ella is getting better and starting to act older she does something like this. Yep those were her pants one of the few that fit her these days and she cut them all into shreds. Why? you ask. Because she was hot. That was her explanation which seems logical if say she was wearing something that she couldn't just take off. Plus it has been freezing cold around here. That girl. What am I ever going to do with her?

If you look right above her knee you will see that she even cut herself trying to cool down.

Tylers School Concert

Tyler had his 1st grades school concert on Thursday and oh boy was he just sooo nervous. He was one of the few with a speaking part and he stressed out about it for a whole week. He played the part of Alien Mouse #6. He had 1 whole line in it and you would think that he had to recite the Gettysburg Address with how much he was stressing. The play was about these space mice that crash into earth. They meet earth mice that aren't sure if they should like them or not because they are differant. But in the end they decide that it doesn't matter if you are differant or not everyone can get along and be friends. He did a great job and was very relieved when it was all over.He even got to drive the space shuttle. Man I don't know if I want him to drive when he is 16 if he already crashing into things.
Tyler delievering his line.
Tyler singing the last song. And he had to hold a girls hand to ewww yuck!

Wagons Ho Field Trip YEE HAW!!!!

For the 4th grade field trip the kids went to the part for Wagons Ho. They have some people that go around from school to school and teach the kids about Idaho history and Pioneers. The kids had a ton of fun. They got to churn butter, make lunch for all of the parents that came, light a candle, rope a cow, make buttons out of wood (mountain man buttons), Make a old fashioned toy, saw wood and many, many other things. The kids in the 4th grade have been earning money all year for thier field trip and I think that it was worth every penny that was spent on this field trip. The girls really enjoyed themselves and I had a good time although it was very, very cold outside.Natalie and me on the way to Wagons Ho. The girls liked to take pictures of me with my camera. They did alot of picture taking.
This is a picture of the wagon that is over 100 years old that they brought to show the kids.

Both of my girlios dressed up
Nichole dressed up in an old apron. Which makes me jealous because I collect them. I thought about snatching it up but they frown on thievery at Wagons Ho
Is that a bank robber, no don't worry its just Natalie
Choley branding her piece of cardboard
Natalie attempting to make some butter

Nattie, Choley and Mitchelle sawing though the log
Natalie and her friend, Autumn
Nichole with her friend Alyssa
In case you were ever wondering yes 10 year olds can do laundry. Here is proof. The girls washing the clothes.

mmmmmm Wheat bread

I have this amazing wheat bread recipe that I thought that I would share with you. It is the lightest wheat bread you will ever taste. I have shared with several people and it seems much more complicated then it really is but I thought that I would do pictures step by step for you.

I use wheat that I grind myself from my food storage. You are going to need a total of 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 cups of wheat flour. I also like to use the white wheat but you can use the red wheat too. First you mix together 3 3/4 c. water

2 eggs 71/2 c flour

then in a 2 c measuring cup put in 1 c. honey and right over the top 1 c. oil (I use canola oil)

dump that into the mixer omitting about 1/8 c. honey to be used at a later time. mix and let sit for atleast 1 hour.

After the hour is up use the cup with the honey in it and all to it 1 c. warm water and 4 Tbsp. of yeast. Mix the honey with the yeast really well. Wait until it bubbles up to the 2 c. mark.This is my favorite kind of yeast it seems to work really well. Add to your flour mixture

3 1/2c - 4 1/2c flour as well as the yeast mixture. Pouring in a little flour then a little yeast mixing it. DO that until the flour and the yeast are both gone. It will still look alittle liquidy that is okay. Add in 1 Tb. of salt. Knead for 8 min. If by the end of about 6 minutes it is still sticking to the sides add a little more flour until it pulls away from the side and knead for an additional 2 min.

Dump into a bowl and cover with a towel for 40 min.
or until double in size
Punch it down to make it fall and let rise again for 40 min. or double in size.
Divide into 5 equal pieces
Roll out dough

Then roll it up kinda like you would with cinnamon rolls. Pinch the end down. Then press the sides and tuck under
The size of loaf pan is about 8 1/4 x 4 in. Let rise about 20 min. or until it is about 1 inch above pan but the sides do not quite make it up to the top
cook on 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until nice and brown on top
immediately after pulling out of oven butter the top
Let cool, Eat, and Enjoy

twilight

For those of you I called to let know about Twilight on ET and we were all so miserable dissapointed I feel I owe you this. Check out Stephenie's website, it has a clip of it much more worthy of your time and it has a new list of almost all of the who plays who and pictures to go along with it. Check it out.

Tylers soccer game

Tyler had his second soccer game of the season today. He played great!!! He is a huge sports fan any sport he plays he plays whole heartedly. He is a very competative person and gets very mad when he isn't doing very good. His team doesnt have to win, he just has to play a good game. His favorite position is soccer is defender which happens to be everyone elses least favorite. Tyler playing goalieTyler playing defender

The team at the end of the game.

helpful child rearing advice.

For those of you who need some reminding on lessons of raising your child I recommend this link to you. Anyone who wants a good laugh should read it too. I have read it like 10 times and I still find it very helpful and very funny.
http://www.makememinimal.com/2008/instrucciones-para-cuidar-un-bebe/

hope you find it as helpful as I did.