It's a Dog's life...

...and not a bad one if you're a member of the Happy Acres animal-family.

Today we brushed and bathed the dogs. Milo, the Jack-Russell terrier is simple. In the tub, quick and easy. Jake, the 100+ pound Golden Retriever, is a bit more of a chore. In colder weather (like today - it snowed again) we bathe him in the enclosed master-shower with the hand-sprayer. Since he's so big and furry, it takes some doing and quite a few towels to get him dried down to damp.

Well, the big-baby decided to lay in front of the back door after his bath. So when we started Family Home Evening, Jake was cold and shivering. We had just turned off the fireplace, so it was pretty warm over there by the TV. Jake knows who to play-up to, because he sat by Mandy and looked pathetic... That was all it took. Manda ran and got some more towels and wrapped Big-Jake up in them... This is how they sat the rest of the time for Family Home Evening, tonight.

Spoil our pets???? NAH!!! Not us!

What floats in water besides wood....???

...a DUCK!!! Supposedly! I'm not too sure about ours.

A few days ago, we found our duckling trying to swim in his water dish. So, we decided to give him a bigger "pond" to try out.

This is Steve during the first two seconds he spent in the water...

This is Steve the rest of the time (approximately 15 seconds) he spent in the water.

A VERY indignant Steve-the-duck, spent the next 15 minutes doing this!

If ducks could swear, he would be cussing me-out!

The irony here is that Kevin put him in the water, but the duck is mad at ME! He lets Kevin comfort him after his terrifying water-adventure.

I'm thinking of changing his name to "Fraidy-duck"...or maybe just "Chicken"!!!

We've gone to the birds....

Literally...

Welcome the newest members of the Zoo at Happy Acres...

Did I say we were getting chickens...? Guess I messed up, 'cause one of them looks like a DUCK!

When Amanda and I went to pick up the chicks, the store had a box of ducklings there, too. This little guy kept hopping out of the box and trying to escape. Mandy and I figured he was trying to tell us that he wanted to come home to Happy Acres with us, so here he is.

When we thought of what to name him, we remembered a line from the movie, "Over the Hedge". As the animals in the movie are confronted with the hedge that they've never seen before, they decide to name it "Steve"... That's the name of our duck...from the movie and in honor of our Uncle Steve...

Steve-the-duck decided that Uncle Marc's BIG-warm-hands made a great place for a nap.

...Here he's snuggling down...

...Here he's starting to doze-off...

...and finally succumbed to the exhaustion of the morning...

We're definitely 'Quacked' here at Happy Acres...
Welcome to life at the Zoo!!!

Thinking...

I've been thinking a lot lately... "About what?", you ask... Well, I'll tell you. I've been thinking about... Church callings... AND Chickens!!! You know, "Cluck-Cluck" Chickens!

Here, I'll show you a picture!

You ask: "Annette, why on earth are you thinking about chickens?" Ok, I'll tell you that, too.

We're taking a gardening class through our stake. It's been very informative and so far, everything we've tried that we've been taught; has worked like perfection. It is SO cool to actually feel more confident about growing things. (Normally I have such a black-thumb that plants see me and cower in fear!). So, in thinking about growing our backyard garden (literally the entire back yard will be our garden), we've been thinking about canning, preserving and storing all the potential produce from our garden. It's part of our effort to be obedient to the counsel of the Prophet and our Church leaders. Well... We have thought about it, talked to people we know who have them (chickens, that is), and researched the internet about backyard chicken raising. After much consideration, we decided to give it a try. We have the room, we need the eggs, and away we go. The chicks come in on Friday, and we'll be a "chicken-raising-family". I can almost hear my Dad making jokes about us being dumb-clucks....or the yolk's on YOU!! So, wish us luck...I'm sure we'll need it!

Ok, now why am I thinking about Church callings? Well, 'cause Kevin just got a new one. When he was called to serve on the High Counsel of the Orem Singles' Stake, Kevin was told that it was potentially a three-year calling. He was also told that he probably wouldn't get to serve the entire three years because the High Counsel seemed to be used as a training-ground for Bishoprics for the Singles' Wards. Sure enough, last Tuesday, we were called into an interview with the Stake President. Short version is that Kevin is now serving as the Second Counselor in the Bishopric of the Orem, UT University 15th Ward. They call it the "Friendly 15th Ward". Kevin was sustained and set apart this past Sunday. It was a wonderful, spiritual day. Since Kevin is also taking the GMAT (test for admission into BYU's MBA program), this Friday; we know we're in for some really busy times.

With the garden, chickens, college classes, Kevin's calling in the Bishopric, me serving in the Relief Society presidency, Amanda and Jackie being typical busy teenagers, Mom being here, Marc and Debra's schedule, and life in general; I think our plate is getting pretty full. Still, that's eggzactly what keeps us thriving, right? We'll just take things as they come and keep pecking at life one step at a time...