Max

Max, Kaye's cockatiel. He has been living at our house for the last 6 months. These are the first decent photos I've gotten of him, he's not particularly fond of the crazy lady with the camera.

With the advent of Spring and all the new birds outside Max has been picking up some odd vocalizations, he plays mix and match with the wild bird songs.

Cleans up nice

Ian had First Communion the 3rd of May. While I didn't really get a good shot of him receiving the Eucharist, as we where almost at the back of the church, I did get a shot of Father Bill blessing Ian's new blue rosary, made especially for him by Nana.

And this past Sunday I turned around and sneaked a peek of him receiving his second Eucharist. He was almost as excited this past week as he was the week before. We should all be so excited to encounter Christ in our lives.

Meet Jack and Rig

...as in Jack O' Lantern, and Rigsby. Dolly's kittens. Found in the hay shed on Monday morning.

This is Rigsby, she is a calico, see the tan smudges about her eyes? Ian wanted to give her a name with the wordg "rig" in it.
This is Jack O Lantern, Jamie liked that suggestion because Jack is Orange.
This is the best Kitty Mama ever, Everyone's favorite Kitten from last year, Dolly.

Chickens..

Caught dustbathing, its the only time they hold relatively still in the daylight.

The Gypsy

We are assuming someone dumped her out near our house. Last Sunday we found her hanging out in our pasture before church. When we came home this little houdini hound was inside on the couch. No door or windows were open. After a brief stint hiding under our bed and growling we got her back outside, but she did not leave. By Sunday night Scott and boys had befriended the hound and On Monday morning I informed Scott, he had to give her a bath if she was staying.And Gypsy she is.

Country Mice in the Wicked Windy City

On the coldest day of the year, we went to the city to see Wicked.


Approaching the greater Chicago area, we start to see more cars on the road.

And soon we start to see the city itself. The tall buildings and the haze of the lights and the noise of the cars. There is something special about a big city at night. Something so foreign to us country mice. I've always found it to be a terribly exciting feeling.



In the heart of downtown we pass the Oriental Theater, Our ultimate destination.




We parked in a parking deck; the boys and I looked out at the passing cars and the city lights.


We could see the "L" platform; Ian and Jamie were terribly excited to see the Elevated train.


We passed the theater in search of a quick dinner.
It was hard to think about food!! We returned to the theater. Dazzled by the lights outside, but so very cold.
Inside we were dazzled by the decor of the theater. It was almost as much a treat to see the theater as to see the show.






Once it was ended we headed back into the frozen tundra to the car, I snapped a few photos on the way to the car.




Once in the car with heat full blast we drove around to see the lights, It didn't take long for the boys to crash. Scott and I enjoyed the different-ness of the city.

We drove past the Water Tower.





And we waited at the corner to catch a photo of the fire truck.

Drove around a little bit longer before we headed out of the city.


We did manage to get ourselves a special snack on our way out of Chicago.

A few of them even made it home.