Our total count was 17 different kinds of birds. I didn’t know the names of all of them. Sometimes I just make up names or guess. I once asked, “What’s the name of that yellow headed blackbird?” Turns out I had correctly identified the bird. So red winged blackbird and yellow headed blackbird are pretty easy to remember.  I’m getting better at knowing other types. I can now identify cormorant, avocet and grebes.  I’m pretty sure I saw more than two types of ducks but I only counted two.

The pelicans are my favorite. They are big and pretty chill. We probably got within 50 feet of some.

Here’s another fun picture. It is fun to realize how much my kids have grown up! I think the best part about parenting is seeing children grow and becoming themselves.

I planted potatoes and onions and I have been cleaning up after my kids all this morning, and generally just being a housewife. It isn’t glamorous, but I have started to value the work I do more.

I finished up the rug in the bedroom, and we went ahead and moved the furniture in. It’s still in need of a few finishing touches like a bit of painting and outlet covers, but it is good enough. We just have one bedroom left.

Whenever I leave the room for a moment, my children start getting into trouble. The older one will start fighting and the toddler will do toddler things. I’m glad the marker he used to color the couch is washable.

When I left for Logan, I had three hours to travel, visit three stores, and hopefully still have time to play with the kids at the park.

We made it, plus a stop to the bread store because I have a weak spot for discount snack cakes. I took these last pictures because I remembered this one.

This is at my gardening class I taught at the library.

I made a sticky wall with contact paper and foam shapes. The foam is restickable from the contact paper, and it translated into lots of fun for this toddler.

I usually hate shopping. It is a necessary but undesired part of life. When my husband came home early from work I convinced him to come along with us to our shopping expedition.

I found new church pants and shoes for Peter, and while I was getting that, Joe browsed and found a new suit. For about $150. Hooray! He’s needed a new suit for a while. We have three small children and suits don’t stay clean or nice very long. Neither of us wanted to spend the money to get a new one, but a discounted one will do nicely.

I do tend to spend more money with my husband around though. I usually ask myself, “Should I buy this?” My answer over half the time is no. With Joe around, I ask him, and he is more liberal with his yeses.

Peter was dying to buy bean boozeled when he found it. I reluctantly agreed. And managed to only get a couple of bad ones out of the eight or so I tried. I was impressed that Peter kept trying new ones, because he usually hates trying new food.

I think how I feel after I do a task is much more important how I feel before. For instance, I often don’t feel like playing with my children. After I do play with them, I feel quite happy and I’m glad I took the extra time to show them how to cut out paper dolls and play war.

It was a rainy day. The lightning kept me awake last night. But luckily, it was sunny during soccer. Peter had all his grandparents there and goofed off all game.

We worked inside a bunch. Henry’s bedroom needs some Flor dots, and then it will be ready for furniture.

Tonight, we finally watched Star Wars. We like to keep up with current movies by waiting six months so we already know everything that happens in them.

Here’s my sister’s recounting of our trip to her house.

Today I: walked by the temple, went to preschool music time,  cleaned, ate lunch, folded laundry, edited photos, had a snack, planted seeds, went to the thrift store for bulletin boards and  time with Curtis. We had pizza for dinner (Joe makes it because he is better at it than I), and played a game with the family. Peter didn’t like it, but I think that had more to do with the not winning part. The game was pretty fun.

I love when children don’t follow the instructions. Art is never about following instructions, but creating new things.

I love to garden. In the morning. I’m lazy about it in the afternoon. Sometimes, timing is everything.

The afternoon is a good time to get projects done on the computer, like this presentation for a class I’m doing next week, and to go places.

We went to pick up some more chicken feed and came home with four very tiny eaters. They were too irresistible at the feed shop. There are two buff orpingtons and two that are some type of sex-link.