Silent P

"Did you know the word pneumonia starts with a P?" Drake asked as we sat at the table eating supper.
"It is a silent P," I explained.
"P's aren't silent," Drake argued. "Pneumonia can't start with a P. It has to be an N."
"It does start with a P," Josiah answered.
"A P?" Drake asked, incredulous.
"Yes," Josiah confirmed.
"A P? As in pop?"
"No," Josiah explained. "A P as in pterodactyl."

It's A Thing

"Guess what Emery wants to do for her birthday," Mike told me.
"Go to a movie?" I guessed.
"She wants to go to a chicken auction and buy some chickens."
"Chicken auction? That's a thing?"

Apparently that's a thing.

And now we have 27 fancy chickens.

As the chickens were making themselves at home, I tried to figure out just when I had lost all control. I decided it was 17 years ago when the doctor said, "You're now a mom."

Worth it.

Thirteen

My sweet daughter is about to turn thirteen. She is my baby and has no right becoming a teenager. I am quite upset by this.

In spite of my anger, I asked her to write down a few things she might want as presents. Here is her list:  macaroni, 2% milk, socks, fix the broken window in my room, lotion, crackers, Mt. Dew, fruit roll ups, candy, beef jerky.

If your daughter's birthday list looks like a normal grocery list, I believe you can rest assured that she is not spoiled.

And you begin to question past birthdays. 

Kitty Eyes

I am not cut out for country life. It becomes very clear about this time of year. I love the fresh air, bright stars, silent evenings, and vast, empty fields of the greenest grass to ever grow. I do not like the mice who believe my house is ideal for them.

Country mice are bold. They will enter by any means possible. One even ran in through the front door along with my son as he returned home from school. In the bright daylight! In front of my eyes!

So it has been decided that we need a cat. Not one of those spoiled indoor cats who shed on you and demand their way, but an outdoor cat who never smells up the house and spends all of her time catching country mice.

Some very helpful friends told us that their cat just had kittens and we could have one as our mouse bouncer. So we innocently drove to their house and asked politely to see the mice catchers. We had no idea the tiny creatures were overwhelmingly adorable. Their cuteness overpowered me, and I grew giddy. I considered how hard it would be to leave such a delightful creature outside. I wondered if we would be able to stand strong against it's charm. I just couldn't bear to bring one home. I brought two home.

But they are definitely living outside. We did create a small bed and play area for them in our garage until they get big enough to defend themselves. But we will not bring them inside under any circumstance. Well, unless they need a bath. Which they did. Seven times. But then it was straight back out to the garage with them. They will definitely not be inside again. Unless they look at me with their irresistible kitty eyes. Then maybe they can come in for a bit just to feel safe. And maybe to snuggle a little. And play with string because how is it possible to be so cute while playing with string?

I guess I'm just cut out for country life.