Life is busy and this is happening!

We have been embracing new routines and still letting the dust settle around us. We got invited to a birthday party....beautiful spot on the river.

Whit is in full swing of kindergarten. He brought a cocnut on the first day. Your child brings a lovey or blanket and mine brings a coconut. It was quite the distraction and I got a call about it later in the evening. It was only supposed to travel in his backpack, but when I tried to leave whit in his classroom he started to resist and get upset. I told him to go and grab his cocnut and it did the trick. I love that kid. So far....he loves going to school. He is happy and resilient and like a sponge.

Oh, and madden started driving. Ha! He could. Madden is still a wild man. He is sensitive and quick to anger and quick to apologize. He will be 2 in two weeks. Crazy.

Ya-ya mooney

I have no idea what he means when he says this but he says it all the time.

This 21 month old is adventurous, a talker and downright nuts.

Sum sum summatime.

Us...

Me and most of my boys.

Bros!

In love with Vermont.

April/May! Pioneer. The boys.

Our first Vermont Spring

EAting lunch outside after school...the boys loved this and thought it was the best idea.

I am beside myself this year to have my very first garden...raised beds...berries...asparagus...and I started tomatoes..peppers...pumpkins...watermelons and sunflowers...the rest we will buy from the garden store. The boys are so into this...especially Whitty...he is our little nature lover.

This year we dyed eggs from spices and veggies that we had...they were sorta boring...but we hope to improve our skills...it's like an experiment so of course Whit is into it...we didn't do much for Easter...no big hunt...no big bunny....but we had a great day outdoors together.

Finding treasures like this.

And working on my raised beds....

Herding.

Peschooler

My little Whitty always wants to bring something to preschool...
A car...a candle....a kitchen item...a plant...a growing dinosaur in a glass of water...
It is so cute...bit as a teacher myself....I am always discouraging his little "can h bring this??...how bout this?" Three days a week....poor guy!!!

Hijack.

Spaghetti at 17 months

Bock....bock...quack!

The Griffin family expanded AGAIN!

 Meet Salt and Pepper (the girl) and Snow-swimmer (the boy) who we hope will begin mating soon! We will have lots of little Muscovy ducks running around!

Look at the loot...wow! That big one ended up being a DOUBLE yolker!!!! Twins!

My little helpers. They are loving the chickens and ducks! It has become part of our daily routine.

Madden....likes the little hens...he loves to pull their tails and empty their food bowl into the coop...makes Momma mad!

I got to spend the day with my boys today - not something I get to do every day. Nothing like it. We played, laughed, ran, ate, and created - all day long. The highlight was making art with Whitty Mckay. We call it dinosaurs and volcanoes.

Help....volcano in Vermont!

Snow days get interesting around here...pinterest is amazing for momma support... I still use it about as much as when I was teaching full time.

Milk

So...we are obsessed with raw milk...and now I pick it up twice a week with my big ole mason jar...the other day we went by and one momma had a calf so whitty got to bottle feed him....he was thrilled. He wanted to stay and work...so we swept....and fed them hay....so fun.

Brother bed bonding

Trying out the same bed....Whitty.... 4.5 years and Madden 16 months.

Daddy Talks!

Hi Boys! We were so lucky yesterday to have a surprise snow day. We had a relaxing morning with a big bacon, egg and grits breakfast, and then Whitty and I dug ourselves out of the driveway to go on a mission for Jamaican style dinner inagredients. Daddy made jerk chicken, coconut rice and beans, and fried plantains. Our awesome new friends - Caleb, Arynne, Lily and Bowman - came over to share it with us. Whitty, you bought two yellow roses for Miss Arynne and Lily at the store. When they arrived, you gave them the roses and told them they were for good friends. You were so sweet! Daddy fell asleep with Whitty, and Mommy stayed up and devoured three Cadbury eggs! Today we are going to Lake Elmore to watch the polar bear swimmers, and tonight we are visiting the Reileys for another dinner with great friends. We sure are a lucky family. I love you boys!

-Daddy

Snow day