Vacation Week Journal

Hurray - I am on vacation! All work and no Play has made me a very dull (and grumpy) boy so this week has been long awaited by me and the entire family. I will do my best to journal our daily events here on the Blog and at the end of the week hopefully post pictures of all our fun adventures. So here is to a week of fun, family and relaxation.

Are you ready for some Football

The past 2 weeks have been very busy at work and as the hours, days, weeks and months blend together I had officially lost track of what day it was. I started out my day @ 05:00 after a refreshing 5 hours of sleep and managed to get back home around 18:00. After a wonderful dinner prepared by Rebecca I finished my daily reports and time entry and decided to watch a little television. Much to my surprise as I was scrolling through the listings I saw it - it was there, right before my eyes - NFL Preseason Football! Needless to say I was as excited as a spoiled child at their birthday party! I love watching the NFL as much as I love watching NASCAR - I am sure my family as well as my employer will ensure I don't waste too much of my life in front of the TV but just be warned if I don't answer your call it's because we have recently been gifted with a Caller ID banner on the TV via our cable provider so I won't even have to get up to see who it is - but fear not I will call you back. Of course I am joking about not answering the phone, Ariel is practicing for her teenage years and has become best friends with modern technology so if she is home the phone will be answered (unless of course she is already on it, LOL!) So sit back with an ice cold beverage the snack of your choice - Peanut M&M's if your my brother (inside joke - sorry to everyone else) and enjoy the game that is - American Football!

Thank's to the Keeper of the Stars

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank the Lord for the woman I married what seems like years ago but at the same time is as fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday.

Rebecca,

Thank you for being the best wife any man could ask for. There are so many cheesy love songs that I can think of from the 80's and 90's but rather than play them here I will continue to entertain you by singing them randomly as we go through life together! You have spoiled me and although you might not think twice about the things you do on a daily basis I notice them and even though I might not say "Thank You" everyday - I want you to know how much I appreciate you and everything you do to keep our family functioning day in and day out. I love you and through the good times and bad I have enjoyed our journey through life together and look forward to many, many more years and the excitement each day brings. I love that you love me for who I am and that even after 14 years of marriage I can still make you laugh with my silly songs and that we wake every morning next to each other with a smile and an I love you kiss (bad breath and all.) I love that when we talk on the phone we end every conversation with "I love You" and truly mean it! I am truly blessed to have you as my wife - Happy Anniversary Rebecca - I love you. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Love,

C.

Tracy Byrd - The Keeper Of The Stars
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Camp town kiddies sing this song - Do-da, Do-da!

Alex - Feeling at home in the top bunk

Ariel - Happy to be with her friends and Awesome counselors

I realize that I am a week behind with posting this (as the kids are now back home and Bored!) but better late than never! The kids went away for summer camp again this year and their cousin Noah joined them for what has turned into the greatest week of summer vacation. The kids were very excited to be going back to the same camp this year and were looking forward to meeting old friends and make new ones. Alex and Noah were in the same cabin together and Ariel had several of her close friends (Taylor, Samantha and Becky) in the same cabin with her. I wish I could take the summer off from work to spend working at one of these camps. I am always humbled when I meet the young men and women who volunteer as counselors and remember the great experiences I had as a young man going to summer camp!

Rebecca and I were looking forward to some quiet R&R while the kids were gone but unfortunately Uncle Eaton, (that's what I call my job) had other plans for me and it turned out to be a very busy week.

Rebecca and I were both amused at the fact we received 2 letters from Ariel but never heard anything from Alex (despite sending him with paper and a self addressed - postage paid envelope! What can I say - Boys will be boys!

After working an overnight shift we took the leisurely drive to pick the kids up and enjoyed listening to their memories and stories from the week. I am amazed at how soft a child's heart is for God after a week at camp - and hope to be able to nurture that so it is a life long experience not just a feel good moment. I love knowing that my children are not ashamed to show their emotions and I was touched by their stories of laughter throughout the week and moments of tears and sadness as they realized the week was coming to an end and they would be saying -goodbye to several of their new friends.


Ariel & Becky

Alex & Noah all settled in!

Ariel & Samantha wondering why I haven't left!

The girls screaming at the site of Boy Cooties!

That's Electric - without the boogie woogie!

Alex spent the afternoon hanging out with his Grampy the other day and he brought along a book that has science experiments in it that deal with Electricity! Alex has been becoming more and more interested in electricity now that he realizes it is the main resource I deal with at work. Grampy made him read the instructions and the explanation of what caused the materials to do what they did. The experiment that they completed was making an Electric Motor.

Here is a quick video of it in motion.

Thanks Dad!

Faster than construction in Rome!

It's amazing how a few hours here and there can provide one with a "work of art" like this! Chuck and I have worked on the coop on days that my work schedule have allowed and in just a couple of work sessions this is what we have accomplished.

Hopefully it will receive its certificate of occupancy this Monday as the "little girls" have begun laying!

And then there were EGGS!

I can't believe it my 15 week old little girls are laying eggs already! I knew from my research that Red Sex Links were early layers and once they start - get ready for LOTS of eggs. I know from my older flock the normal age of egg laying is between 22-24 weeks and most RSL chickens start between 18-20 weeks. Much to my surprise the other night while everyone was happily free ranging around our property one of the "little" girls decided to check out the "big" girls coop. She was soon joined by Momo (our Golden Comet rooster.) After a little while I went in to encourage her to find somewhere else to play and much to my surprise I found a warm, little brown egg! Today when I went to put them away for the night I was presented with another one. I am so glad the new coop is almost done - hopefully if all goes well they will be able to move into their new home on Monday night. Below are a couple of pictures of them "In the act" and of the yummy - although still small - eggs I have recieved from my little red darlin's.

29 FOREVER - or so I'm Told!

The 8th was Rebecca's 29th birthday (again-he-he) Thankfully we had a break in all the rain and enjoyed a wonderful Salmon lunch with fig relish outside in the warm sunshine.

A vintage style bicycle

One of many Cards for the woman we Love

One hot couple

Festive and beautiful

Every woman's dream - Chocolate Cake

New and Improved Egg Palace

Rebecca's father has been helping me fabricate the parts of the new chicken coop that we are building. It sure is nice to have something built the proper way! We finally had a few days without rain and even a little sunshine. This past weekend we took advantage of a clear morning and placed the floor on its foundation blocks and attached the front and back walls. There is still a lot of work to be done and we will be working on it when my schedule permits. Here are some pictures of what was accomplished today. I look forward to posting more pictures as we progress with the construction.

Saddles for riding or Aprons for cooking?

In the words of Hanna Montana - "Say What, Say What?"

My working girls (by working I mean "egg producing" of course!) are starting to look pretty shabby, partially due to molting but mostly due to playing "leap frog" with Sokka - our rooster. Their lower back feathers take the brunt of the damage and on two of the girls they are all but gone. I found on my favorite web site - Back Yard Chickens, that you can purchase Saddles to help protect the chickens during heavy breeding seasons. Some people call them aprons, hen dresses but the correct term from what I can tell is "saddles". I have found them in all shapes, sizes, colors, and of course - Price.

I decided to do a little searching and found a rough pattern on the web and after showing it to Rebecca we (and by we I mean Rebecca - of course!) decided to try to make our own and save some money as well as obtain the satisfaction of using something that is homemade.

So I guess they aren't for the chickens to use while they are cooking and even though four of our chickens are Jersey Giants they are still way to small for any of us to ride around the yard!

Rebecca has done a great job and we have found a few things we are going to change on the remaining saddles. Here are a few pictures of the first ones we made both on and off of the chickens. Hopefully this will relieve any discomfort making them into happy little chickens - and we all know happy chickens lay more eggs! Our first two lucky recipients are Penny and Guinevere.