And the Rooster Crowed No More

Ever since the pullets started laying last weekend they've all, including and especially the cock, had a lot more attitude. Yesterday, when Peter was out changing their water, he forgot to close the door to the coop all the way so most of them escaped into our backyard. "No biggie," I thought, "the kids have rounded them all up before and maybe they'll catch a few grasshoppers while they're out." Well, they probably would have been fine, but for the twins. The twins have never been mean to the chickens, but they do happen to be just a little larger than the cock and curious. So when the cock didn't want to be rounded up by the kids, he decided to fly at the curious onlookers. Tirzah ended up getting scratched on her cheek and Berea got a scratch on her arm. Of course that scared them quite a bit and made me boiling mad. Thank God the dratted creature hadn't developed longer spurs yet; I've read about toddlers losing an eye due to a rooster attack. If it weren't for the twinsies, we probably would've kept him and just armed the kids with sticks and water guns and made more strict rules about dealing with the chickens, but 2 year olds are just still too young to defend themselves. So this morning (well, afternoon actually) was the last time he crowed. Now, both C. and I are MK's (missionary kids), and while we've (at least I have) SEEN chickens get killed/cleaned neither one of us has ever DONE the deed. So armed with diagrams from our Storey's Raising Chickens book and having watched the butchering chickens section of our Homesteading for Beginners DVD that we got from Bulkherbstore.com (it really is a fun movie- making yogurt, planting gardens, etc.), Christian took off to go set things up. Anne shut herself inside and closed the curtains until Peter came in and said, "Hey, you don't want to miss this! It's going to be just like the movie and you'll get to see its GUTS!" Well, what self-respecting girl could resist that?! Well, I could have, honestly, but C. wanted me out there to consult with (maybe 'cause I'd seen the movie more times?), but I think mostly to keep the twins out of trouble. To get ourselves geared up we first clipped a wing of one particularly obnoxious bird who is constantly escaping and getting into our garden. If that doesn't work, we may need to do the next part all over again... Anyway, I guess you probably don't want all the gory details, but after C had killed it and it was hanging from the tree, it was really amusing listening to the kids' reactions- they were all out there, though they all missed the actual (really fast and not gory) killing. Peter was practically prancing around, giddy with excitement, daring the other kids to touch it. Oh, that was funny- as Peter and Anne starting inching their way towards it to touch it, it suddenly started twitching and flapping- sending them shrieking backwards! Anyway, after it had finally stopped all the "nerve" stuff, Anne started making up a song about chicken hearts and Elijah kept saying how he was really looking forward to seeing its guts. The bird still hanging upside down, Berea said "Whee!" and Tirzah said, "Roooaaarrrrr!" That girl got her revenge tonight. :)

Dress-up Fun

Mystery in Euphrania

"The Mopp Sisters" did it again (FINALLY)! They put on a spectacular mystery dinner last night that was enjoyed by all (c'mon, Andy, you know you had fun...). I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to share the plot, but I can at least share some pictures! I was after all, there to chronicle the banquet for my upcoming edition of the Euphranian Gazette!

Our own Wanda Mopp

Jessica Fletcher, "interior decorator"

 Dr. Hemlock Frodson: "General Practitioner"

 Mintia Rosenthal: daughter of Kermit Rosenthal, girlfriend of Herbert Salch

Mississippi Smith, deputy-sergeant of the International Peace-Keeping force

 Dostoyevsky Karamazov (otherwise known as "Morevodka", owner of the tavern The Schlaussen Buchket and brother of Tolstoy Karamazov

 Tolstoy Karamozov (see above)

 General Hernandez Dissarray, ambassador from Cuba

 Sir Purfluous, ambassador from Florin

 Helga Squasch, gossip columnist

Corrie Creevey, editor-in-chief of the Euphranian Gazette

Esmerelda Disarray Salch, mother of Herbert Salch and cousin of Gen. Disarray

 

Mintia and Judah (an extra)

"Lady Josephina"

 Zelda Mopp

 Frau Bitten, blind palace housekeeper

 Count Rugen, ambassador from Guilder, making an important announcement

Kermit Rosenthal, local scientist

Henre Frodo, "Nat'l. Geographic photographer"

 Lining up for food at the hot dog banquet

 Someone has been murdered!

 Mississippi Smith is on the job!

 Putting the pieces together...

 Mintia is obviously grief-stricken

 :)

 A vial of smoked lemming residue

 Poor Dr. Frodson

 And poor Tolstoy!

 

 The Conclusion!

Family Vacation

This last weekend we ALL (15 adults, 8 kids) went to Zion Nat'l. Park in Utah. Sorry for the repeats for those of you who follow my relatives' blogs (as the pictures are mostly from Katie!)! With taking 5 little kids camping, whenever we weren't chasing them around, we were too wiped out to pull out the camera! Christian seriously only took one picture. Oh well, happy memories none-the-less- my motto for the weekend was "Sleep is for the weak!"

 Sweet little Ka-la-la- such a happy little camper. :)

 If you look closely at this picture, it looks like Christian has a REALLY small head. It's actually Elijah on his back as they jump off the rope swing down at the river.

 Berea enjoyed the water much more than Tirzah, who enjoys the swimming pool much more... I think it's all the noise of the crowd that freaks Berea out at the pool, and Tirzah just couldn't get used to the river water. At least she enjoyed the shallow parts and seeing the little minnows.

 Elijah and the "Crocka", as he calls it.

 Anne was a trooper and enjoyed herself even with a too-big life jacket.

 Elijah was so brave swimming around by himself. :)

 I had to do the rope swing to egg on my dad to do it- what are daughters for? :)

 After both daughters did it, he had to give in. :)

 That was definitely Peter's favorite part of Zion!

 Of course, this was Christian's only picture- Anne's pointing at a tarantula they found on a bike ride. Ick.

When we got home, we discovered this happy find in the chicken coop! And all 9 chickens still home!