Chickens, church history sites, zoos, and fireflies!

We have had some fun the last few weeks.   It all started with a chicken massacre.  Shall I call this a ward activity?  It pretty much was.  We have some awesome ward members that are willing to raise a bunch of chickens for whoever wants them, then they teach them how to kill and clean them.  Even though we didn't "order" any chickens, we decided to join in the fun.  Learning how to kill and clean a chicken could come in great use some day.  :)  Here are 3 not-as-grusome pictures.  They really have a clean way of getting the job done, but I figured you still wouldn't want to see ALL the details. 

This family was so patient to teach everybody the ropes of chicken slaughter.  We tried plucking them and skinning them. In the end, skinning was much quicker.  As a pregnant woman, the smell of the wet feathers about sent me to the toilet, so I stuck with the job of pulling out all the innards, after I recouped from the wet feather smell.  Pregnancy is so weird.  As a whole, 30 chickens fulfilled the measure of their creation that day.


Sunday of memorial day weekend we headed up to Independence MO after church to meet some friends on their way to flight school in Alabama.   First thing Mon morning, we stopped at the visitors center only to find a hoard of mini vans from Utah and MANY children waiting out for the doors to open.  Utah outside Utah.  Mark had to take a picture of some of the vans.

We then went up to Adam-ondi-Ahman and Far West and ended with Liberty Jail.  What a peaceful beautiful area!  There was a LOT less to Adam-ondi-Ahman and Far West than we thought there would be, like no visitors center or people telling you all about it.  Just beautiful hills and valleys out in the seemingly nowhere.... I think there is a reason for that.  :)  We loved it.

This is the new Kansas City MO temple!  It was closed that day but we are excited to make trips to this temple now too!

This last weekend AGCO did a family day at the Wichita zoo.  We were there after zoo hours and many of the animals had started to head in, so we didn't see a lot but it was still a blast, especially the children's petting zoo area. They had baby goats, sheep, peacocks, ducks, geese, pigs, and camel!  It was pretty great.

The camel was only 6 days old and just laying out in the sun.

Also, to our delight, we have been seeing fireflies everywhere lately.  Here is a little video of a couple we saw by our beautiful pile of apartment complex garbage.  Next step is to catch some.  So excited.

In the making....

Dear baby,
           Your father has taken over your bedroom and turned it into a wood shop,  but for a good reason.

Below is the makings of a crib and a little bedside bassinet... just for you.  It's been a long project with little time to him to work on it, but it is coming along.  Almost all the wood is prepped for assembly, which means almost the majority of the "loud" work is done.   The dresser part is partly assembled and I must say it sure looks amazing!  You will be sleeping and diaper changing in style.  Your Dad is so amazingly talented.  We are trying to get all the messy work done this next week so we can start cleaning up your room and get it ready to paint.  We are starting to realize how fast time goes by and how soon you are going to be here!

     

Hello and Goodbye

Say hello to our new car.  We shopped and researched and shopped and researched and finally decided that this little hyundai accent would fit our needs just perfectly.  We can now travel with a car seat, and we won't break the bank when we head home to see family.  We absolutely love it so far.... and resale stays nice and high on this little gas saver so when we need a little more space for a few more little glades, we can still get a lot out of it.  

Its totally a chick car and I love feeling all hip and cute driving it around.... Mark loves it and picked it because its a manual and he is super into (lets say obsessed with) hyper mileage stuff right now.... baby loves it because he can fit his car seat in it... win win win. 

Say goodbye to the Honda Nighthawk.  :(  I just want everyone to know that this was Mark's decision. After looking at our situation, we realized that having three vehicles was a little overboard.  We decided the truck was absolutely a keeper and so we questioned the bike.  Kansas has a way of blowing Mark around when he is on it, which is a little scary, and I realistically will not be on it for a while.  Mark decided he has lots of other interests right now and we could wait til a better time in life (like when we own a house) to own another motorcycle.   

We found the motorcycle a good home after 2 days and will still being seeing it around Newton.  You have been  a good bike and will be missed.  We thank you for so many good memories.  

Look at us, all adult and responsible.  :)  Growing up over here peeps.  I told Mark I wasn't grown up enough to own a van yet.... sorry van lovers.  We know they are nice, but I just can't go there yet.  I am saving that reality check for a much later time.