{p,h,f,r} Birthday, ducks, bunnies, kids, 38 weeks!

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter again today.

{pretty}

The ducks are in the garden full-time now!  They go into their duck house at night.  For the first week or so, they had to be hand-carried, one by one, into their duck house.  We kept hoping they’d figure out (as people said they would) that they should go in there as it got dark.

Mostly our bunnies are not fond of being picked up.

But the kids brought them outside (into a run, for the most part) the other day, and the bunnies seemed a bit overwhelmed by the stimulus of being outside.

They therefore didn’t complain or try to get away when the kids held them, which was a rare and much appreciated treat.

Tess was content to pet Hildy and Gypsy without holding them.

 

{happy}

Michael’s birthday was last Saturday.  Happy Birthday!

He requested carrot cake cupcakes for his birthday cake.

They weren’t too beautiful, but they were a big hit.  Tess ate the frosting first.  (She’s getting some freckles on her nose!)

 

{funny}

Signs of late spring.

Enthusiasm!

This is the usual smile-for-the-camera face.

{real}

38 weeks pregnant.  We will be having a baby here soon!  Hannah figured out this pregnancy that 38 weeks is the start of the window of usually expected birth, so every day the kids are hoping the baby comes out TODAY!

Also {real}:  Did I mention that the ducks had to be hand carried to their house each night the first week of their time outside?  Yes?  Well, mostly this involved both Michael and I gently herding them (they herd very well because they naturally stick together and are terrified of me) towards the house, then Michael collecting them one by one and putting them in, with me standing guard at the door to make sure nobody came out.

The day Michael went to karate was much more interesting, though.  He’s not usually back until after dark, and I do not want my ducks eaten by raccoons, so I took on the task myself. Did I mention that the ducks are terrified of me?  Did I mention that I’m 38 weeks pregnant?

What that particular evening involved was me gently herding them, the ducks panicking in every way and running as if I were after them with a hatchet, several attempts on my part to get them into the house, several escapes from the house by one or more ducks, and finally them trapping themselves by tumbling into one of the window wells, from which they can’t yet get out.  Then I transported them one at a time into the house, closing the door after each addition to make sure they didn’t escape.  Keep in mind that I am very pregnant, and this as all accompanied by panicked beeping and quacking.  I don’t think anyone was watching, but if they were, it would definitely fit in the {funny} part of their blog post today!

The next night when we went out, they’d all gone into their house by themselves.  And the night after that, too.  Michael says I taught them a lesson.  :)