"Happy Halloween"

While I have never really been a huge Halloween fan (though I am a huge fan of fall), I do love the opportunity for creativity it provides! (Please note I did not say "the opportunity for artistic prowess."😏)

Our little family has historically partaken in the quintessential pumpkin patch visits and subsequent carvings, as well as costumes and various parties and festivities. This year was no different. That said, some of the aforementioned traditions did change a bit this year, not the least of which was the lack of a family costume theme! This was, of course, a little bittersweet, but also sort of a relief. The kids really took ownership of their costumes, so Bryant and I were free to come up with our own! His was a repeat from pre-marriage, and mine was a "Kensy original" (though I'm certain someone somewhere had come up with this idea before me). Our costumes, as well as Jacob's, may not be super obvious to most, so I will share pictures here, let you speculate through the rest of the post, and reveal what we were at the end. Lydia was, of course, a very happy princess. 

Lest anyone think I am being humble when I say we are not an artistically talented family, I will now share the pumpkins the kids designed and carved...with a not insignificant amount of parental help. Please do not hear (read) me putting the kids down, here.  They come by their level of artistic talent honestly and just have much higher levels in other departments.  😉

Lydia’s creativity shone brightest with her princess pumpkin. She conceptualized it and scoured the house for materials all by herself and was very delighted with the result. She also asked to carve a tiny pumpkin for her baby dolls. We did our best to deliver. 😅 Jacob went for a fairly classic design and drew/carved it as quickly as possible. 

Ok - back to the costumes:

Jacob's costume was a sports card of himself.  You might notice some stats, a signature, and a ball hitting him in the chest, since he is a goalie.  He designed and drew it all on his own and just needed help with the face hole and straps.  I was very proud of and glad for his display of creativity and maybe a little less glad for the lesson in procrastination the project provided.  😬

Bryant was dressed as MacGyver, complete with a bona fide Swiss army knife!  The kids had never seen him in a wig and were tickled by it.  He was curious to know how many would recognize him for what he was, so if you did, and you feel so inclined, feel free to let him know here or via text! 

The title of my costume was "Hobby Lobby in June."  The details were subtle, so I will list them here for your convenience/entertainment:

• residual Valentine's Day glitter 
• 90% off St. Patrick's Day art (courtesy of Lydia) and Easter basket (This - the clearanced item - was Bryant's idea!
• Hawaiian shirt (for general summer)
• Fourth of July headband
• Halloween socks
• Thanksgiving pie earrings (made by our niece last year!)
• Christmas shirt

This year, I noticed that Lydia calls Halloween “Happy Halloween.”  As in, “How many days till Happy Halloween?” or “‘When did you get that candy, Lydia?’ ‘Happy Halloween.’”  It’s so endearing to me!  So, to all of you, hope you had a happy Happy Halloween! 

Happily,

Kensy

P.S. Here's a requisite chicken update from their field trip to the front yard a couple days ago.

Favorites of the day:

the parking lot at the newest Trader Joe's in the KC metro #iykyk

fun fall fellowship

evidence of the kids’ plan to share Jesus with other neighborhood kiddos

Our little flock

Wowie wow, do chickens grow quickly...and require lots of time and attention!  I may not be up to the task of giving you play-by-plays of this adventure in anywhere close to real time, after all.  I will endeavor, however, to keep you as posted as possible on the scoop from the new coop.

About five weeks ago, 13/18 of our eggs hatched!  They were unbelievably cute, as you might imagine, and I was immediately more invested than I ever expected (surprising no one else😏).  While we were giving everyone ample time to emerge (i.e. not opening the incubator), the chicks were read to, cooed at, and fawned over.  Once they came out, and after watching a few videos about how to raise tame chickens, we did what we could to gain their affection and imprintation (pretty sure this is not a word).  This included, but was not limited to, making eye contact, holding them often, and according to Lydia, blowing hot air in their face.

preparing the brooder box
(very thankful for friends who have gone before us and let us borrow all the gear!)

All the chicks are still alive and well...and have grown into awkward teenagers!  We have such a variety of colors, though since a few are similar, it has been difficult to keep them straight.  I have considered painting their toes, not only for fun and aesthetic purposes (ha - you're not surprised), but also to help differentiate between those who are similar.  Due to the aforementioned uncertainty, as well as the additional uncertainty about which are hens (staying) and which are roosters (not allowed to stay), we are still waiting to officially bestow names.

Do not fear, though - I took newborn and subsequent milestone pictures for you, all the same.💗  There is little guarantee that any are actually the same chick in each sequence, but in order for me to sleep at night, I am telling myself they are. 😉 Of course, the most recent pictures are already dated, and they have continued to grow and change.

This one (I think...) is named "Dolly," because of her sweet demeanor.
(We sure hope she's a she...)

This one was called "Houdini" early on, because it escaped to part of the brooder box that was partitioned off and screamed loudly till it was rescued.  If she is a she, we may call her "Houdina" or perhaps do some research into Houdini's wife's name.

Lydia named this one "Robin," because of the reddish (brown) tint to her head.
(Again, we're sure hoping *she* gets to stay...)

While the growing pains of acquiring and learning new responsibilities has not always been pleasant for everyone over here, being able to love on these babies and share the miracle and joy of them with others certainly has been.  We are trying to hold them loosely (literally and figuratively) and not get too, too attached, while still enjoying the "pet" void they have seemed to fill and make sure they live their best lives here.  So, they have been on several "field trips" to the yard and garden before making their official move to the coop (soon).  

I hope that sufficiently covers it all.  Please let me know if you have any lingering questions.  We are certainly learning as we go, here, so would also welcome any advice and/or input you might have from your own chicken encounters.  It takes a village!  😁😉

Favorites of the day:

open windows

Caterpillar Chronicles: Part 2!
This one spent a few short days devouring parsley (that's where we found it in the garden) before making itself at home in our butterfly habitat. 
We'll see if this one stays in there for as many months as the previous resident!

♥