Sometimes things are just.... things

Have you ever considered the vast amount of STUFF we accumulate as human beings? Or should I say... as Americans. Be honest with yourself, you have one, the junk drawer... the miscellaneous closet... the "keep the door shut room."

Why? Why do we do it? Why do we feel we need it? It's just stuff. We think that this or that will make us happier, more fulfilled. But it doesn't, it is just on more thing to clutter our mental inventory list. We worry about our things.

So here's to cutting back, to consuming less, to simplifying by ridding my life of the things that just take time away from my family.

Did you notice in conference, over and over, they mentioned how happy and carefree the African people were, despite their poverty? I hope one day I can be humble enough to let go of my earthly possessions and care more about what matters most!

Finally!

So as most of you know, my phenomenal husband built me a goat pen for Christmas.  And after much searching... and some weird encounters, we are pleased to announce:  We finally got 2 doelings! They are babies, so they won't be weaned and ready to come home until the end of March, maybe begining of April. Aren't they cuties?!

Unnamed baby #1

 Unnamed baby #2

 HOORAY!  I can't wait till they come home with us!

Swings and Things

Spenc-man had a birthday not to long ago.... So I made the kids an indoor swing to celebrate it. They really love it! The only problem, they fight over who is on it, even though its big enough for both of them! Little stinkers.

In other news, Ashley is getting huge, and really wants to start eating real foods (even her dark leafy greens : ) just kidding, but the kid would not leave my radishes alone... And she really loves to suck on avocados.

Favorite Quote this month (coming from spencer) "ice cream is nice and comfortable to eat". You bet little man! I think so too.

Lyla is being wooed by a new little guy in our ward at church. He brings her flowers, and holds her hand. She is in HEAVEN! Needless to say marriage is all she talks about these days. If its this bad now, I don't even want to think about the teenage years!

Ashley has learned to giggle! It's so infectious it's ridiculous! When I am changing her diaper, I lean over her and say boo! And tickle her chubby neck, and she just laughs. So cute.

Spencer is potty training, with excellency might I add. This kid is motivated by m&ms like no kid I know! He started of his own interest, and with a little chocolate prompting, and lots of running around naked, he successfully goes pee and poo on the toilet, by himself, when he needs to. And it is only day 3! But put underwear on the kid and accidents are nonstop, what is it about nakedness that helps with bladder and bowel control? Lyla was the same way.

Oh and Jesse built me a goat pen. Is that true love or what? I can't believe that wonderful man puts up with me! So here is to new year, may it be abundant with fresh raw milk, and less diaper washing (now that it's only Ashley buns in cloth!)

The Age Old Question: "Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?"

Nana and Papa Tucker have been incubating 24 eggs for a few weeks now.  So we dropped everything and ran over last week when we got the call that the eggs were peeping.  We showed up in time to watch what my kids coined "hatch day".  It was adorable.  So we thought we would share a picture story:

Sorry the quality is a bit fuzzy, but it's hard to take pictures through foggy glass!  Now Nana and Papa have 19 fuzzy, yellow peepers to care for.  And Lyla and Spencer have a new game:

I am glad my children got to experience this, and hopefully next spring 

we can have a "hatch day" of our own. But I think I prefer to do it the old fashioned way.  We will let the mama hens do all the work.  It was way too complicated to keep the temp and humidity just right through the entire hatching process.  I was so stressed they were all going to die because my kids kept lifting the lid!