Healthy eating sure isn't rubbing off...

I'm laying here in the wee hours of the morning again after being woke up by the sound of the gate across the stairs crashing onto the floor.  It seems that our dog Sammie knows that when the dog water bowl is empty he can get a drink from the upstairs toilet...so he takes down the gate!  After stumbling through the dark house at 4am to fill their water, I now can't get back to sleep.   I'm lying here and can't quit thinking about the text I got from Kyle yesterday.  He had called me a couple of times wanting to know if I would stop at the grocery store because there were some things he needed...or wanted.  I finally told him to text me a list because I wouldn't remember everything...here's his list:

Real Rain!

Oh my goodness, I am getting to go to bed to the sound of rain hitting the windows, thunder in the distance and flashes of lightening. I couldn't ask for a better sleep aid!

The heat continues...

Sometimes I wish I could just go back to bed and start the day over.  Everything went normally until I went to open the barns and let the chickens out.  It seems that the temperatures in the barn overnight were hot enough to kill one chicken and bring three others to the brink of death.  Of course, just as usual....I panic.  I had Kyle help get the top off the barn had had him run to get his dad.  I grabbed the 3 half dead chickens, turned the hose on and dunked them in the water tub.  Two were aware enough to try and get out, the third just hung limp.  After a few minutes, we had decided there wasn't much more we could do.  Troy buried the hen that didn't make it.  The first 2 staggered to the shade by themselves.  The third, a rooster, wasn't able to stand or lift his head.  I layed him soaking wet in the shade hoping the light breeze would cool him more.  I expected none of them to make it through another day of temperatures in the 100's.  I realized I had forgotten to take care of my sisters dogs...and panicked even more.  I had to leave the chickens, take care of her dogs and get on to work.  Troy called me as he left for work.  He said he didn't see the chickens laying anymore and that the looked to be doing fine.  To my surprise, when I got home at 6:30, I couldn't even tell which chickens had been down this morning.  It looks like I'll be making some changes to the pen tonight and leaving them out of the barn.  I can only pray that by saving them from the heat, I don't set them up to be a raccoon's meal.

Rain!

It is so nice to wake up to rain...granted, it's not a downpour, but my tomatoes are going to love it anyway!  We've had temperatures ranging from 99-106 the last few days.  The grass in our yard crunches when you walk on it.  We sweat just trying to walk from the house to the truck and our home air conditioner has only been able to cool the house to 79°.  It's been miserable. 

A Brand New Caitlyn

Caitlyn has always been the one in the family who will change her looks so often she looks like a different kid each time she comes out of her bedroom.  Within the last year, she's had short hair, long hair (with extensions), curly hair, blonde hair, black hair and her natural brown hair.  Yesterday morning she had shoulder length permed brown hair dyed to give it a reddish tint.  She's been asking for a haircut again and I've been putting her off since she had just gotten one within the month.  Last night I gave in...she sat down in the chair...and I didn't even look. When they were done, she had very short hair...actually pretty cute.  She had picked up another box of hair dye, so I knew we were in for a completely new look.  She also had ordered hair color over the internet...it had came in the mail earlier in the day.

She spent all evening in and out of her bedroom and the bathroom.  Finally I heard the blow dryer running.  In a few minutes I got a phone call...from the bathroom, asking if I wanted to see her hair.  Of course, I said yes...then she says...it isn't really the color I thought it would be.  She said it's kind of....hot pink!  Troy was sitting close enough that he heard her and asked if she really said hot pink.  We all waited patiently for her to make her entrance...all staring quietly up over the staircase for her to come out of the bathroom....then...sure enough...she came out...with hot pink hair!

Surprise!

I was greeted this morning by a newly hatched turkey poult.  They aren't due to hatch until Friday.  I suspect that my thermometers...all 4 of them...are a bit off on temperature and it averaged a little high causing the early hatch.  Nine more to go...several are pipped and working on it.

Mother's Day

What a great day! Actually a great weekend.  Saturday started off with Caitlyn going with mom and dad to look at a truck for her.  They bought it.  A 1983 GMC S-15.  It's a cute little thing...needs some cosmetic work and a little TLC.  It's a 5 speed, so I'm out on teaching her much...I never learned.  I have a fear of rolling backwards on a hill at a stoplight and hitting the car behind me...something I've never gotten over.  Sad, I know, you would think I would have outgrown that by now.  Caitlyn doesn't seem to be phased by fear of anything...I'm glad.  She'll get further in life than her mother who fears everything.

Troy, Kyle and I went and ate at Cafe Del Rio.  I had the realization that it won't be too long, with Zack and Caitlyn nearing 18 and 17, that it would be just us 3 alot.  Reality has a way of slapping you in the face sometimes...I don't think I'm ready for them to grow up. They aren't so old that they wouldn't fit in a round of miniature golf when they got home from Springfield...and...there's no way they would pass up frozen custard from Shakes!

We missed church this morning.  It wasn't the plan..somehow time got away from us.  Stacy called to figure out Mother's Day plans...we always plan ahead...at least a few hours ahead anyway.  We ended up at Cheddar's for dinner.  With 13 of us, we had a very long wait.  It was a bit stressful and way too expensive...but it was Mother's Day...and it was pretty good food too!

I finished off the day by doing the grocery shopping for the week...fun fun!

My Boys