Hello Old Friend

My robin friend came back. This time she is building a nest in the opposite corner of our front porch. She must have liked our happy home. I guess I can't be sure it's the same one but I think it is.

The morning after I posted the Empty Nest post, I heard some loud chattering at the back door. I went and looked out and saw two adult robins and two chicks with spotted breasts. I am going to assume this is our robin family because I spot them almost daily now. The mom had been going back and forth from chicks to her new nest. It's exhausting to watch her care for her family.

New nest after one morning of building

A picture from today

One of the robin chicks

How does your garden grow?

Planting seeds (may be a repeat)

Getting the soil ready - really really ready

worm

I am not allowed to caption this "Like father like son"

Anara working on her basketball skills
Dr. Kaefer did say exstrophy kids make good b-ball players

Dirty

Clean diapers

Empty Nest Syndrome

The robins left on Anara's birthday. The first baby took off and accidentally dive-bombed our heads. It ended up waiting out the rest of the day in a bush in front of our porch. The second baby disappeared after I heard it leave the nest (I did hear a lot of barking from the dogs next door). The third baby ended up on the sandbox lid and sat there all night (as evidenced by the stream of poop down the lid and siding). I spent a lot of time watching those little things so it's disappointing not to have something to peek at every once in a while. We put up a hummingbird feeder on the porch more than a week ago and I have yet to catch a glimpse of one. I hope they find it soon. Wonder if they don't like the inner city?

Come on - you guys don't fit in there anymore

Last one out is a rotten egg

Chicken! One bird in the bush
Last chick to leave

I'm thinkin' what this situation needs is some imagination.

Here are some pictures from the girls' birthday party. We had an Imagination Movers theme as you can see from the cake and costumes. My mom made the Mover suits. The girls have worn them several times. She made T-shirts for Mover Daddy, Mover Mommy, and Mover Andrew. Violet said it was her best party ever.

Mover Family

Movers and cake

Violet giving her seal of approval Anara maimed Mover Smitty with her finger "Can I have a piece of Scott?"Carefully eating around the image
Dewey and Vi
Jacob and Joy Mover Eddie


Youngest cousins

Sink bath

Happy Birthday Naraboo

Anara's "3" pancake

Last Friday was Anara's 3rd birthday. She didn't quite get it and kept saying, "When it's my birthday..." We had to keep reminding her that it was her birthday. She was pretty excited when she opened a pretend doctor kit but her sister isn't being a very compliant patient. Guess I should let her do surgery on me for a while.

Anara quotes:

"I am free (3) now."

"I am reading this book to you. Now.....where is the part I read? She set in Papa Bear's chair and it was too much hard. She set in Mama's Bear's chair and it was too much soft. She sat in Baby Bear's chair until the seat broke."

One night I heard Anara pass gas rather loudly over the monitor. I then heard her whisper "Excuse me."

Violet, "Anara that stinks! Did you toot?" Anara, "No, it was just gas."

I know there are more but I can't think of them right now. Here are some more birthday day pictures. Party pictures tomorrow.

Trying to show 3 fingers - gonna have to practice