6 Souls in my home.

Well - we are settling down in to our new duplex in West Valley. It's turning out to be a really nice place! I've got (what feels like) a miles of more space. I haven't located my camera cord yet but found out that ben's computer has a card reader! I've got a million things to show 'you' - but we'll start with the LOUDEST thing.

We got chickens! Everyone asks why - and I just tell them that Ben is a farmer at heart. He's been talking about chickens (not as pets but employees) for ages! He did all his research and these little blackie chicks will grow to give us about one egg a day. It's been fun to watch them grow up! They were cute little fluffy chicks when we got them --- but now they are turning into some ugly adolescents. (I think they're still pretty cute now - but I'm sure it'll get worse...)
Dogs are surprisingly okay with them. I'm sure that if I left Reg to his own devices he'd chomp on them - but he's too old to do anything about it. So he just gives glares like ..."....if I were a younger dog....."


Tally on the other hand is totally freaked out by them. This picture is the closest I've see her get to them. Every time she makes an effort to sniff them she gets pecked or they pull on her fur --- then she turns and runs for her life. Still very curious though....
Because we have been talking about getting chickens forever - a long time ago we decided to name them after world leaders. ... below is Winston - call her Winny - after Winston Churchill. She is the smart one (if you can call chickens smart). She's the one that figures out how to jump over things and seems to think more then the other (usually in an effort to escape).
And this is Benito - for Benito Mussolini - who is the brave one. She is the one that pecks tally on the nose or runs at her when she's getting to close. Benito is the reason Tally is scared of chickens.
Still so many things to show you - but I'm going to try and spread it out a bit. Don't want to overwhelm ya....

packed.

Well! I think it is a sin to make a post with out adding pictures. However, I just moved and I'm still packed. I consider it lucky that I know where my shoes even are right now.
I was talking with Ben the other day about how the last six months has just POUNDED US. And nothing terribly bad just so much going on - one thing right after another.

Most currently about 3 - 4 weeks ago some guy ran a red light and smashed up my saturn. Sweet. Thankfully the whole car replacement process was so smooth. The guys insurance paid for my BMW green bug rental and it giving me more then the high blue book value for my "totaled" car. We quickly replaced it with a 2001 corrolla. Very nice. Ben loves it.

We also had the opportunity to move to a duplex Ben's parents own in West Valley. It's like triple the space and so lovely. It was hard work getting to be 'so lovely' - but is now so lovely. I'm still mostly packed and I'm convinced it will take 4 months to UNpack. Once I locate my camera a cord I will repent of my pictureless-post.
And! You can see the beaver tail that is nailed above my front porch - placed there by the previous tenant. Yes. A beaver tail.

Last couple pix from DC

I've got just a couple last fun pictures to send out to the universe from our DC trip...

National American History Museum - Julia Child's kitchen! If you haven't see Julie and Julia - get on it. Meryl Streep should have won that award!
C3PO! The original!
One of my favorite places we saw... the National Cathedral. I really like the Gothic style castles.
Ben wants me to get him this poster.
Ninja Turtles!
This picture is great. We had some serious rental car problems. Like breaking down on the freeway and then in Old Alexandria. Broke down. This picture accurately shows our confusion. Took 3 ish hours to get a tow truck to come down with a new car. Kinda ridiculous. Don't rent a jeep.
Finally Gettysburg. Very impressive and solemn monuments.
I already expressed that I felt like I didn't have enough understanding and appreciation for such a place. Would be nice to go back after I've taken some time to study some more about it first.

Monuments of Washington DC

There are a lot of monuments. Lots. I would suggest pick out a few that you really want to see, get a tour bus pass (NOT from the "Tourmobile" Company) and focus on those few. Just too many to see.
We chose to see the capital of course. Didn't go inside - the outside really is impressive enough. Can anyone tell me why there is a 19 foot statue of an Indian on our capital? Not that I have a problem with it - just want to know why?
(Ben is so good at one handed pictures...)


Another angle of the capital - Ben and Phyllis.



Above is the ceiling of the Library of Congress. A place that was not high on my list - but was on Ben's IF he could see the Gutenberg Bible. Which he did- and I found a display of hand written letters written between Washington, Jefferson and other founding fathers. That really was so neat. It's hard for me to picture these historic figures as real people some time - but when you are looking at their hand writing... it makes them kinda real!

Below is the WWII memorial. I thought it was really awesome and conveyed from the artist VICTORY!

Kim and Ben and FDR's Dog. Lincoln Memorial. Huge. Majestic. And a surprisingly reverent place for how many people were there.

FDR Memorial: "Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Worship. Freedom from Want. Freedom from Fear."
Very good.

Cherry Blossoms 2010

One of the major reasons Rick and Phyllis wanted to come to Washington D.C. during the first week of April was for the cherry blossoms! I wasn't sure how excited I was about it - because I've seen cherry blossoms before, but you add the blossoms, in large amounts, plus the beautiful buildings - really is a sight to see!

Lake, Jefferson, Cherry Blossoms, and phyllis pointing to something...


Here is the other thing about the Cherry Blossoms. For every little flower - there was a person there to see it. It was VERY VERY crowded. We asked around to the local tour people and they said this saturday was the busiest day of the year. It's defiantly a sight to see, but come prepared for the crowds.

For more about it - check out the National Cherry Blossom website.

Washington and Weddings

Pictures from Washington

Hail to the chief! This last weekend Ben's parents took us to Washington D.C. as a planned christmas present. It was such an experience! There is so much to see and do it's kind of overwhelming. I can appreciate the emotion and passion that has to go into building such structures, monuments, etc. There are many pictures to show and share for the next couple of days :)

Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

This is great. Ben has always wanted to be a part of or start up a riot. So we walked the reflecting pool where many other protests have occurred. Here Ben and Phyllis protesting the 1/2 hour wait at the tour bus stop. NO MORE WAIT! NO MORE WAIT! NO MORE WAIT!

We went out there the busiest saturday of the entire year! Saturday, Spring Break, and opening Cherry blossoms... SO many people. Which I really didn't mind (with the exception of the metro). This view is from the Lincoln monument. Pretty nice huh.
(Like a where's waldo... can you find ben?)

Just before we left was Shelby's wedding! Yeah! Sadie Sadie Married Ladie! I'm excited for Shelby and Steve to jump into married life after many years of courtship. :) Not the best pictures but a beautiful wedding, beautiful bride, beautiful food, :) Yeah!!

Very cute couple.

Long time no bloggy

Wow. I can't believe it's been a month has gone by with no posts. I can tell you that my life feels so full and scheduled but I can't seem to come up with what it is it's scheduled with. You know those days that you climb back into bed and think "what the heck did I do today??" Ya know?

....the things that are going on are not unmanageable but certainly makes you feel small in comparison to what needs to be accomplished.
Not just things on your to do list - but trying to help others with their assignments.


And it's hardest when your totally feeling unmotivated but still know there are a million things to do!
Work gets busier and busier every day and you wonder if you are cut out for an 8 hour desk job...
And there are parties to attend and social events to plan..


*Sigh* But at the end of the day - even if it's busy, your glad you have so many good things and good people in your life. Big Smiles all around. :)
Ya know?