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...

Remembering...

Six years ago, today, my beloved Dad passed away. Before he died, he had me promise that I would transcribe the life-history that he had written. I started doing that earlier this month. It's been a great way to reconnect with the man who has been one of the most vital influences in my life.



Growing up, it seemed like there was nothing Dad couldn't do. From his life history, I discovered that is a trait he shared with his own dad. Mostly, I remember Dad as an Air Force Officer. He was all about duty, honor, integrity, and serving God & his country. He also LOVED to fly. One of his favorite poems was "High Flight". We had that printed on his funeral program, and added one line to the end..."Fly Away, Be Free!!" (family joke)

Recently my sister, Caline, posted a poem called "I Flew". We both agreed that Dad would have loved it. So, in memory of my awesome Daddy, who is now flying closer to God than he ever did in this life, here it is...

I Flew
When the last checklist is run
And the bag drag is over,
I will remise of the days I once knew.
I will not remember the 3 a.m. alerts,
But only that I flew.

I will not remember the crew rest in the tents,
Nor recall how cold the arctic winds blew,
And I’ll not try to remember the times I got sick,
But only that I flew.

I will never forget when nature became angry
And challenged my intrepid crew,
And I’ll always remember the fear that I felt
And the pride in knowing that I flew!

I will remember the sights my mortal eyes have seen
Colored by multitudes of hues.
Those beautiful lights on cold winter nights
Seen only by those who flew!

God was extremely good to me
And let me near His face.
He saw my crew through war and peace
And blessed us with His grace.

So when I stand at St. Peter’s gate
And tell him that I’m new,
I know he’ll smile and welcome me
Because he knows
I FLEW!

Fly Away...Be Free...

(I love you, Dad!)

SSOOOO...... We had a Visiting Teaching Conference...

...and this was the theme...

This was tied to a little bag of mixed nuts...very cute and funny.

My Relief Society President, and fellow Counselor in the Presidency decorated their tables with inspirational pictures and books, along with the mixed nuts of our theme.

THIS is what I felt inspired to do with the nuts I was given for decorating...

The note says: "Sister Nutilda Hazel Almondine says: 'I'm a little nutty about Visiting Teaching'." The doll is made of shelled nuts.

I thought the whole presentation was effective...sort of...maybe...

Maybe I've just proven that I'm the nuttiest nut in the whole bunch...

Thank goodness Heavenly Father has a sense of humor...
I hope

4-Day Weekend...

No, it's not really a HUGE Holiday weekend, just unique timing. Monday was Martin Luther King Day...He had a dream bigger than spending four whole days off of school. (Thank goodness for those bigger dreams and the blessings we reap from them.) Tuesday is Teacher Preparation day, so no school today. Actually I think of it as "we-survived-the-second-semester-and-have-to-get- ready-for-number-three-Day".

Second-Semester REPORT CARDS came out and the girls are doing great! All B's for Jackie!!! Way to go! A's, B's and 2 C's for Manda...every grade was improved on this semester!!! Great JOB!!!

Actually it's been a fun weekend...I really do love spending time like this with my kids.

The Nie-Nie dialogs are back up and running...so YEAH!!! Welcome back, Nie! You're all still in our prayers!

Saturday was a little insane. BIG weekend breakfast that took 'til noon to make and eat. Bacon, eggs, and Netty's famous cinnamon french toast...YUM! Helping Amanda finish her science fair project...Grocery shopping with Mom...Thanks for all the help, Mom! Jackie had her FIRST babysitting job this evening. That's another milestone for me as the Mom...letting my baby go babysitting! YIKES!!!

Then FINALLY helping Kevin work on getting Christmas stored away 'til next year. The rate we're going...? It will be time to get it all back out before it's put away. haha


We left the family room heaped with storage containers and a single path through the room as we dashed to get cleaned up for Ward Temple Night. *Whew* A moment's quiet on the way there, and the peace of being in the Temple with my Sweetie made the chaos of the day all worth it.

The post-Temple dinner with friends was a big plus to our "date-night" for the week. Nice to refresh the relationship with some spousal-time.

Sunday was Sunday! Kevin went his way to take care of the Young Adults while the girls and I took care of our stuff in the home-Ward. It was nice to see each other at the end of the day. Other than not seeing Kevin, Sunday really IS my favorite day of the week.

Monday was chore-day for me and the girls. They were great helping out around the house. We hit Costco with Grandma in the afternoon, and McDonald's for dinner before Family Home Evening. It was time for our annual goal-FHE! Even Grandma made some goals for the year. We had fun listening to what everyone wanted to accomplish this year. I am constantly amazed at how often these girls of ours "get-it". They are wonderful and make me grateful for the gift they are in my life.

This morning Amanda and I trekked through the fog to the orthodontist. Not as bad as she thought but it will get worse before it gets better. They gave her a picture of the "Herbst-Appliance" they will be installing next time. (I was going to show the picture but was afraid of the "gross-out factor") OUCH! It corrects her overbite, but OUCH!!!

Errand running all afternoon, hanging out with Jackie to see what improvements she's made to her "Disney Fairies" online game...what a creative kid...

she LOVES the whole shopping part of that game. Yep, she is definitely a "Webster-woman"!

Babysitting for Amanda tonight while Kevin works on getting ready to take the GMAT in preparation for starting BYU for his MBA in the Fall. I'm off to Relief Society presidency meetings and visits...then it's school and life-as-normal tomorrow....

Somewhere in all the hustle-bustle of the day, we (as a nation) managed a peaceful transition of Government. Amanda has been glued to the Inauguration Ceremonies all afternoon. My politically-aware kid.

Yes, a 4-day weekend...why does it feel like we crammed 5 or 6 days in there?