Happy Hogs make Happy Hams!

The latest happening here on the B family hill is our beautiful new pig pen with 2 little pigs inside. Ken and the boys worked long and hard on the building and fence, and the end result is pretty, and functional. Ken and Jon actually made the fence posts by cutting down some small black locust trees and stripping the bark. They looked like pioneers...Then Ken pounded them in the ground with a borrowed pounder.

The first thing the kids want to do in the morning is go and feed the pigs...which is why we were outside at 8:30 am!

Emma has named one of them Wilbur. I hope that is not a foreshadowing of what's to come. I thought his name should be "Pork". "Pig" and "Pork" are good names, no? They are, after all, destined to be on our dinner table.

It's hard to see the pigs because of the angle of the sun, but they are in there, enjoying some pig feed. They've made a little nest for themselves in the hay on the right.

Sassy thinks we brought her home some "toys". You should hear her whine and bark, desperate to get in there and terrorize the pigs. Thankfully, she can't get in there and roll in the pig poo!

We will be sending them to the butcher when the weather gets cool again. We will keep one, and sell the other. Anyone interested?

Negligent tooth fairy

Jon lost a tooth last night. We decided that he should still put it under his pillow, in spite of the fact that the tooth fairy has not come to leave anything under his pillow for any of his other teeth. I was determined that she would not forget this time. But, alas, this morning, the sad routine was repeated:

Jon enters the room excitedly, holding something in his hand. "Mom, guess what the tooth fairy brought me!"....Pause.... "Nothing!" Big grin.

I forgot again! I am the world's worst tooth fairy. But this morning I decided she was just a little late. "Put the tooth back under your pillow, Jon, she's probably just running late."

The tooth fairy brought him a dollar while he was eating breakfast. I only used to get a quarter--but she's probably trying to make up for all those teeth she never came to collect!

Did I forget to mention?

It occurred to me later on yesterday, that I nonchalantly mentioned I'm pregnant in my last post, but some of you would be hearing that for the first time. And then I read the comments and laughed. Yes, I'm pregnant...with #6! I believe I may be somewhere around 9-11 wks, but will need the help of midwife and technology I think to narrow it down further. First visit to the midwife is on April 7. And I am more nauseous and tired with this one than any other pregancy. The kids are excited...mostly...and Emma has set her heart on a girl. Pray for me! I know many have had even more children than me, and still have their sanity, but.....

Dissection Day

A pregnant woman's dream....the formaldehyde aroma, the mouthwatering look at the internal organs of a crayfish, the sound of scissor through exoskeleton, and did I mention the formaldehyde aroma? Homeschooling at it's best.....and worst? :>)