A pumpkin for Rowan

So we accidentally grew a few tiny pumpkins in our garden this year. 

Emma decided to color one to take to our niece Rowan.

Our chicken Sarah

photo taken July 2011

While we were gone on our trip to Maine/New York, our sweet pet chicken, Sarah was killed by a raccoon. It happened the early morning the day, (Oct. 2nd) we got home. Our neighbors heard the chaos two mornings in a row, but Sarah and Spot fought their way until Sarah couldn't win anymore. It was terrible. I think the worst part was breaking the news to sweet Emma. It was the first time we have seen her so heart broken over such a loss. She buried her head into Derek's chest and just wept. Derek and I were heart broken for her. Throughout the day she was in better and better spirits especially after Preschool. Something that we find comforting, especially Emma is knowing that Sarah fought and protected Spot from the raccoon. Emma calls Sarah a hero. Later that day we went outside to entertain Spot and Emma started yelling at the top of her lungs at the raccoons,

"Get away raccoon! We don't like you. You didn't win.Raccoon why did you hurt Sarah?...she is the winner! You stay away from Sarah I mean it. Raccoons you don't take chicken eggs they are for people, not YOU!..."

I just let her yell as much as she wanted to get it off her chest. It was sweet.

Our other chicken Spot is pretty depressed. I never really witnessed a depressed animal but it's very apparent in Spot.  Each day, it gets a little better.

photo taken March 2012

 Spot is sitting at our window seal every day since the loss, just looking in and watching us. She just lets Thomas pet her and sit with her. When we told Thomas the news of Sarah, he just kept saying "Sarah, died?" "Spot sad?"

Ok, is this picture hilarious or what?

This is a letter Emma wrote to Sarah. It reads..

"Love, Emma

Dear Sarah 

You are a Hero

Thank you for 

trying to protect Spot

I will miss

you" 

We buried Sarah up in Grove Creek canyon up from our house. Emma read her letter to Sarah and the children watched Derek cover her box up. They helped cover it with rocks. 

Emma comforting Spot.

We will miss you Sarah.

dreamland

It's always so cute to find this little man asleep like this. ALWAYS has a book with him and off into dreamland. This is how I found him tonight. Hilarious.

Preschool year #2

Our little Emma girl started her second year of preschool. This little girl was geared up and all ready for another year. She misses the deadline by a few days and so she wasn't able to start kindergarten this year. She is SO ready for kindergarten. We have been trying to study it out of what our options are. She has been ready to read since last school year. So we tried finding a school that could give her more of a challenge and start her on her reading while she's pumped to do it. Her teacher from "My Smart World" in May after the Preschool program told me that Emma is advanced and will probably be bored with another year of preschool but to supplement her. I try doing that but we felt like she still needs a good school that could give her challenge, especially since baby #3 is on his/her way in December, I knew my hands would be tied.  We chose "Kids Village" and so far she is LOVING it. She brings home a new book every week and is so quick to pass it off. They have fun workshops like cooking, art, science, and music classes along with her core class. She can't get enough of it. We are so happy and proud of her. 

 Here she is with her new teacher Miss Kathleen.

Good luck with another school year sweet Emma.

Thomas Jumping!

By request, here's Thomas jumping down the stairs with Emma.

1, 2, 3 and he's OFF!!!!!!!

Everyday I will hear Thomas' cute voice say to himself, "one, two, threeeee" (sometimes he'll count to ten:) then he'll FLLLLLLY through the air off the stairs. This boy sure loves to jump everywhere he goes.

 Then he adds his somersaults to end with a sly finish! :) Love this little guy!

Emma's decorating skills

 Emma cracks us up with her decorating skills around our household. Above is a candy necklace in one clothes pin and a paper doily and mini word book in another. Just hanging on our stair well.

These beauties were found hanging on her bedroom door. Crayons, her nauvoo necklace, and a plastic bracelet. So pretty :)

 (Having a hard time with blogger today. It's not letting me put the curser where I want. Sorry it's all scattered.)

 

 Emma has also added her doily to the front porch railing to go along with our patriotic banner. 

She has also decked out her room, toys, and furniture with all her hair bows...every. single. one. of her hair bows. She cracks us up!