Holy S*@T!!!

So yes, here I am. Many, many moons later. Nearly two years into my full time work venture and I decide to post now to say it's almost over. We have made the decision to keep Owen, Avery and Ethan at home next year.
Lots of tears and prayers and sweating and conversations went into making what we believe is the best choice. The kids are pumped, my letter of resignation sent, and the countdown begins!
We have about 7 weeks left in this school year, and we intend to finish strong. Lots of good grades, preparation for transitioning and planning. We are hopeful that Owen will be able to take one class at GCA next year, which will allow him to participate in sports.

Moving on...
We have six baby chickens, in the form of hatching eggs, in our front room right now. They should be hatching sometime around April 12. Three of them will make their home with us, and three with some friends.
Our current six chickens are going strong! Many days we get 6 or more eggs from them. They (and we) eagerly anticipate the installation of a fence around the yard this summer, which will afford them more freedom and happiness.
Tiger, Ethan's chicken, has been chosen as our surrogate mother for the chicks when they hatch, since she daily sits on and is determined to hatch the {very unfertilized and never going to hatch} eggs that she and her sisters lay in the coop. She will be so pleased to mother those babies, carefully gathering them under her bare wings (from the incessant feather plucking to "feather her nest"). I can't wait to see her lead them around the yard and teach them to do their thing.
Things are doing very, very good around here, and we wait with expectant hearts to see what good things will happen in 2012.
Big Hugs to you!