san elijo july 2013

i'm not sure if it's growth or we've changed our expectations... but this was a really good trip. they've finally gotten the memo... beaches are for sitting and digging and playing. there were no fears of flies or seaweed or sand {that was especially fun}. watching them plop down and dig made my heart swell with happiness. it was dane in the water with ryan. it was the long walks down the beach exploring. 

we made trips to the park. and practiced self-control at VGs. we saw friends and played with cousins. we had pizza port and bonfires. 

it was simple. and sweet. and happy.

a year ago we made this same trip. and it wasn't all of those things. it was actually so hard i wanted to be done. i'm glad he didn't let me give up. so glad.

blick

this week i pulled ryan's old dresser out to repaint. and then i asked him to go grab spray paint. in that order. that wrong order. 

anyways... i guess coral isle spray paint isn't on the top of the list to order. i guess these people don't do pinterest. most didn't know what color coral was. so after calling nearly 8 places... i knew my brother {the artsy one} would know. 

Blick. problem solved. blick is kinda like spray paint heaven. and what was even better was the worker. she didn't seem irritated helping me compare 15 shades of coral. or hunting down enough cans. i pretty much have a new favorite store. with workers who 'get it' without making me feel like a crazy person. 

the best part of the adventure... i'm lucky enough to have a younger brother who is bribable. i bought him lunch in exchange for baby wrangling assistance. thank goodness for him. 

the girls

chick raising isn't for the faint of heart. sometimes nature takes over. {despite all the right living conditions and all the research on every chicken forum under the sun.} and sometimes you have to be that mom who is secretly crying in the shower. but we are fine now. and everyone is growing and thriving.  

we have six baby girls 

{hopefully! gender isn't revealed for a few more months actually}

watching baby chicks is like therapy. you can spends hours sitting and watching and enjoying. or minutes. my kids act like tiny orphans when i go missing for more than ten minutes.

i can already see distinct personality differences. i report all my observations each night when ryan gets home. i'm pretty sure he doesn't know who i am talking about... but he's kind. and smiles and nods.

gretchen is brave. she's the first to check out new things. bugs, cantaloup, the thermometer.

delilah is mean. she's either a rooster or the top of the pecking order. she randomly pecks the others for no apparent reason. it makes me want to flick her. but i don't.

dotti is the biggest and clumsiest. she just seems sweet.

hadley is for sure a girl. she's auto sexed... bred to have markings specific to female. she's my favorite. the brown chipmunk colored sussex. she's tiny and likes to hide under dotti.

ruby is small and feisty. she has ruffled feathers. she also lays on her side and stretches her neck and legs when she's hot and looks dead. she's funny.

and henreitta is the little lavender/silver one. she is loud.

it's been really fun. i'm looking forward to them roaming the yard with me in the months to come.