Strawberry fields forever...

Last Saturday we visited an organic strawberry patch with some friends down in Virginia Beach- and then we went to the beach! Look how much fun these guys had: 

6!

Holy smokes, where has the time gone? Can you believe that I have a six-year-old now? I've never been responsible for someone so important for such a long period of time before... I  keep waiting for someone to come and take her and tell me "just kidding, she needs to go back to her real family now." I can't believe how lucky I am be be this little girl's mama... I just hope that I'm doing a good enough job for her. We shall see...
BUT look! Here are some photos from her big day... we she actually had three of them. She had a slumber party two nights before her actual birthday, a day of fun and a BBQ on her real birthday and then a cupcake party at school the day following her birthday. I hope that all this celebrating hasn't set the bar too high.
She has learned so much in the past year that I can not wait to see what the next year has in store for us. I know her dad and I are looking forward to seeing this beautiful little girl grow and show us the world in ways we never dreamed of.
Happy Birthday W!

Chicks dig chicks! and little dudes like them too:

This is W's birthday present from me... her name is Soft.

On Tuesday of last week our family became the proud parents of 9 baby chicks... On Thursday, we were still proud, but there were only 8... And now a week later, all 8 girls (we hope) are thriving in their brooder box home. The kids adore the babies, and as for myself, I'm smitten. I  can just sit and watch them for hours. And sometimes, I do.

the chicks love to sit on his neck- maybe because it's warm and sticky?!

it's all fun and games until someone poops on your shoulder...

She is so happy... I love this smile!

"Soft"

the ones that didn't make it...