Our herd

Goats are great! We've only had them a day and we are already attached!

The neatest (and cutest) part is that they want to follow you (especially the kids) ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE!

These are Saanen dairy goats and will grow to about 150 pounds!

This is the littlest of our herd. Raymond named him Domino

We bought different colored collars so we could easily identify them.
Orange = 'Tico' (named by Zachary and I'm told a Dora character?!)
Red = The one I named 'Clyde' - he'll eat ANYTHING!
Blue with stripe = 'Maze'
Blue = 'Blue' - Kevin named these two after his beloved Michigan Wolverines!
and Black = Raymond's goat 'Domino'

And then some goats...

We've been looking for goats that didn't cost a fortune. It's amazing what people are asking for registered goats - any goats for that matter! We finally found several Saanen wethers (neutered males) that were all from the same herd, about 5 months old. We went out to look at them and

Addison fell in love at first sight.

I think we ALL did! We decided to take 5 home with us.

Addison was SO excited to finally get them home.

We have a lot to learn about goats, but I'm sure it'll be fun!

11 years of wedded bliss

We celebrated our 11th anniversary today and had plans to try a new Japanese steak house for dinner, so Grannie took all three kids over night. As the story was relayed to me... Grannie was upstairs with the boys and Addison had wondered downstairs to see what Grandpa Bob was up to. When Grannie came looking for her and inquired of Grandpa where she was, he didn't know. They found her sound asleep in the next room. Don't you wish you could just lay down where ever, when ever and go to sleep?!

Hot day at the Lake

Our heat wave continues! Kevin was nice enough to launch the boat for us at Spanaway Lake, so I took some of my friends from church and our pastor's wife (also a friend! ;o) out on the lake to tube. From left... me and my friends Melanie and Denise, fresh out of the water!; Melanie's daughter Emma (5 years) and Mrs. Minge get ready for a ride; me and Emma and Denise driving the boat (my shoulder is still pretty sore from surgery a few weeks back). We had a great time... no better way to beat the heat than hit the water!

First, Chickens

We've always called this place we live the Funny Farm, in loving memory of my Dad. Recently, we decided to try and make it a real farm...we drove to Orting and each picked a chicken. Addison and Zachary wanted babies, Kevin picked the larger ones. We got them boxed up and were on our way home. It was a really hot day, but we decided it was best to leave the chickens in the box while we prepared the coup. Kevin and Raymond were busy cleaning it out when I, in my infinate wisdom decided I should at least take the box out of the car so as not to overheat the chickens inside. I started to pull the box from the back of my suburban when I realized that the bottom had been folded, not taped. It gave way and all the chickens came tumbling out! Nothing like chasing chickens in 90 degree heat!! At least it only took 30 minutes ;o)

We started with 6 laying hens

and 2 Ginnie hens & a baby Rhode Island Red

So 9 chickens later, we felt like we had a pretty good start to our farm!

We were rewarded with an egg the very next day! Let's hope they all start laying soon.

Another scorcher

We've had I don't know how many days without rain, but the temperature has been getting up into the 100s this week! We've found several ways to stay cool... starting our days in the front yard (where there is some morning shade for awhile) and running through the sprinkler is high on our list! As the hours pass, we move to the back yard and the kids enjoy the pool. I can hardly believe I'm saying it, but some cooler weather will be a relief!

The underwear bandits

Boys of course will be boy... and my boys have long loved to dress up. Years ago, Grandma Rau sent several costumes to Raymond that she had picked up after Halloween. He LOVED it and we've kept a box of costumes every since. Zachary quickly caught on and now Raymond has a playmate when it's time to dress up. He's even able to help Zach in and out of costumes, but who ever thought this would happen when the two where left alone to play in their room? I laughed long and hard when they "surprised" me in these get-ups.



Zachary, of course, had to reassure me that it was just him!