Chickens

Chickens.  There is just something about Elliott and those chickens.

This morning I had just finished with my quiet time, when I heard Elliott get out of bed, open the door, and run into the living room saying, "LET'S GO LOOK FOR THE CHICKENS!!" And this is how the conversation went,

Me: What are you doing?
Ellie: I saw chickens in our house.
Me: oh, did you dream about chickens?
Ellie: yes, but it wasn't a bad dream.
Me: oh, so it was a good dream.
Ellie: no, it WAS a bad dream, because there were chickens in the house.  LOTS of chickens in the house.  They were going up and down trying to get into the closet, and Toby's room, and mommy and daddy's room.  That's not good.  God doesn't like that.  I was chasing them, but they didn't bite me.  They were running fast, but I was running fast too.  I was telling them to go back into their home.  And they did.  

And speaking of their house.  This is the new coop Nate built, and I painted.  The chickens were mainly free range in our backyard, but they started venturing out to the front yard, and then flying up to the roof of our neighbors garage, so it was time to keep them pinned up.  We were in a rush to finish this coop, which happened to be during our July heat wave.  We melted.  But, didn't Nate do an awesome job?!! The girls think we have a barn in our backyard now. 

Words Make Me Smile

My sister in law has been blogging more.  She blogs often about the funny things my niece and nephews say and do.  I love reading them.   I'm so happy we had children around the same time.  Callie and Flora are six days apart.  Ellie and Scout are about four weeks apart.  Toby and Timber are nine months apart.  I feel like we parent similar, too, so anytime we get to hang out it is always always fun.  We both wish Kansas City wasn't so far from Fort Worth, but I'm glad she's writing on her blog more, so I can keep up with her family silliness.  Stef, here are some silly sayings from your nieces.  

For how little Ellie is, she tends to have long prayers. She talks slow and in a tiny voice, but I love listening to her talk to God. This was one of her lunch prayers awhile back:

Dear Jesus, 

Thank you for this food.  Thank you for Aunt Joy, thank you for Uncle Shane, thank you for God, thank you for apples.  Thank you for big apples, thank you for little apples, thank you for big apples for Callie, thank you for big apples for Ellie, thank you for big apples for mommy.  AMEN. 

And another:

Dear God, thank you for God.  Thank you for Daddy.  Thank you for Daddy fixing the water, because the water won't work, but Daddy fixed it.  Thank you for Daddy work. Keep him safe.  Thank you for Daddy catching bad guys.  Thank you for BSF. Thank you for Ellie. Thank you for mommy.  Thank you for Callie. Thank you for Toby.  Amen.  

(She always thanks God for God.  I love it). 

And this little conversation with Elliott and pronouns made me laugh:

Ellie: Mommy, I want to watch the toy ponies.  

Me: It's called My Little Ponies.

Ellie: oh, I want to watch your Little Ponies. 

More funny sayings from Callie:

Callie: Ellie, you be the maker, and I'll be the eater! 

Callie: (looking at brussel sprouts) These are like little lettuce balls. 

Seven Years

Yesterday marked seven years of marriage for Nate and I.  I took a picture of us yesterday to mark the day....don't we look tired?

Well, it all began seven years ago in The Secret Garden.  For real, the place we got married was called The Secret Garden. 

First year major events:

Bought our first home/fixer upper. 

Bought Trixie the English Mastiff puppy.  

Then bought Caboose the Great Dane. 

Yay!!! Happy to be married for one year, and we celebrated in Eureka Springs. 

Second year major events:

Got pregnant.

Nate quit his job to pursue Law Enforcement. 

We do not have a second anniversary picture. Just envision a very fit Nate and a very fat Mel. 

Third year major events:

Hello baby Callie!

Moved to Texas

Bought our second home that was probably a bad decision.

Grew an Ellie in the belly.

Drove up to Arkansas about every other weekend to spend as much time with Nate's mom. 

Yay!! We've been married three years! We had ice cream to celebrate. 

Fourth Year of Major events:

Nate graduated from Police Academy...and began working weird hours.

Ellie came out of the belly. 

Four day Elliott meets her grandma Angie. 

Two weeks later, we bury a mother, mother in law, Grandma.

Married four years! Hardest year of our lives so far, but happy to have each other. 

Fifth Year Major Events:

We had a very rare large snow fall in Texas!! 

I woke up to green children...

Experienced two on-duty deaths in Nate's police department.

Yay!! Married for five years.  I can't remember anything about our actual anniversary day, and this picture is not of that day, but this was one of my favorite Summers of our married lives! 

Sixth Year Major Events:

Nate made part time SWAT.

Pregnant with the boy!

Nate worked the Super Bowl game.  He basically worked everyday for three weeks.

Re-homed our Caboose. :(  I cried so hard those few days after, but I do not regret it.  

But, then we added this awesome boy named Toby to the family. 

Yay! Celebrating six years by wedging myself inside the wedding dress to make Nate laugh.  Definitely not as glamorous as six years ago.

Seven Year Major Events:

Bought our third home and major fixer upper and were slaves to this for two months.  I know I got wrinkles and grey hairs from this event in our lives. 

Moved into new home and immediately had to deal with an accident involving Trixie cutting herself MAJOR on the backyard fence.  So so gross.

Bought a new couch!  I know this seems silly for a major life event, but I hated our other couches, and I'm major happy to have this new one.  I can remove and machine wash every fabric part of this couch. 

Became a soccer mom and dad. 

Bought chickens!!

Nate ran a couple races.

Nate witnessed one of his fellow SWAT buddies get shot.  The officers there were invited to a Ranger's game, and Nate met George W. Bush and Nolan Ryan.  

 So here we are, seven years of marriage experienced.  I'll be the first to admit, we have not always done marriage well.  Selfishness has an easy way to make something beautiful ugly.  Laughter helps, prayer is essential.  We have a good marriage, but we must always strive for better, because the world is very sneaky.  My goal for this eighth year of marriage is to be more earnest in my prayers for Nate, and letting go of the things in this world that may not be beneficial for us. 

Yes, tired eyes, but grateful hearts.