Makayla's Birthday Video

Here is a video of Makayla's Birthday day and birthday party that we had last weekend. On her birthday during the day we hung out and played. I wanted to take her somewhere special after her nap, but she decided not to take one...... so towards the after noon she was getting a little crabby. But then Daddy came home and she got her second wind. We took her to Red Robin, her favorite place to eat and had a birthday dinner. She loves their grilled cheese. Not sure what it is about their grilled cheeses but she eats the whole thing, which these days she is a very picky eater. On the way home she fell a sleep with her balloon from Red Robin in her hand, but when we drove into the garage she was up and ready to go again, We went in and opened presents from us, grandma and papa and the Cheyenne group. Afterward, we had two little pumpkin cakes to celebrate her being "2". After looking at pictures, they kinda look like something else.... I'm sure every one will get what I mean when you see the pictures :) Oh well I thought they were cute.

We decided to have a birthday party for her on Saturday at this place called "The Little Gym" We signed her up for classes there every Saturday morning and she really seems to love going. The class runs through January and I figured this would give us a little something to do over the winter since it is sooooo long here. Everyone had fun playing, singing, jumping, and dancing around the gym. Then after our fun in the gym we had cake, juice and opened presents. I hope everyone had a fun time, we enjoyed having everyone there and want to thank you all for making her day special!!!

I can't believe she is two and another year has passed. Anyone that has ever told me that time flies so enjoy her while she's young is so right!!! Believe me, I'm making sure to enjoy every little second I can with her.


I love you Makayla,

Love Mommy

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Nancie

Have a piece a cake on me! I miss you. But glad you live some what close to me so I least get to see you some times, probably more then I would if I was living in Colorado. We need to get down to see you guys at some point though. I hope you have a wonderful Birthday Nancie!!!

Makayla is "2" Today

Happy Birthday To Our "baby girl"

OK so your not so little any more but you are still our baby girl. We can't believe we are celebrating your 2nd Birthday already. You have grown so much and you seem to learn something new everyday. We are glad to be with you for every second off it!


One day after you were born.



Your First Birthday.


You this morning eating your breakfast.


Playing on your new "Horsey" this morning
an early birthday present you got last night.


Happy "2nd" Birthday
We Love You Makayla
Mommy and Daddy

Pool Time time with Friends

Kids

Baby Eastern Blue Birds

This spring we had a second round of blue birds return to our backyard birdhouse to nest for the season . I call them my "Denver Bronco Birds" They are a brilliant blue color with a bright orange belly (breast) but if you read up on them they say there breast color is a rich brown. You can't tell that when they are flying around. They look like a bright Denver Bronco orange. They had 3 blue and white eggs that hatched about two weeks ago. I tried to snap a picture of the eggs but it was too dark and I was afraid to use a flash as I didn't want to freak out the mama. I have attached a few videos, we thought we would try and leave a few worms on their house so mama could pick them up and feed them to the babies. Not sure what we were thinking but it sounded good at the time. We went to take another peek the other day and they have flown the coop. I hope we have some return again next season as it has been fun watching them.

"The bluebird is well named, for he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; no North American bird better deserves the name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes so much brilliant blue. It has been said that he carries on his back the blue of heaven and the rich brown of the freshly turned earth on his breast; but who has ever seen the bluest sky as blue as the bluebird's back?" (Quote describing the eastern bluebird from the Arthur Cleveland Bent series on the Birds of North America.)

The eastern bluebird is the only one of the 3 bluebird species regularly found in Minnesota. Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other open areas, including suburban locations with open spaces and scattered tress. The eastern bluebird has a musical flight call that often reveals its presence.

Male eastern bluebird

Red = summer range, Green = year-around, Blue = winter range

In The Backyard:
Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to soften them are well received. The bluebird's special favorite is mealworms.

Nesting:
The eastern bluebird is a summer resident of Minnesota. One or two broods may be produced. Watch for house sparrows trying to use the next box and immediately remove any house sparrow nesting material.

Here's a colorful quote on bluebird courtship, also from the Bent series:
The love-making of the bluebird is as beautiful as the bird itself, and normally as gentle, unless interrupted by some jealous rival who would steal his bride; then gentleness gives place to active combat. The male usually arrives a few days ahead of the female, selects what he considers to be a suitable summer home, and carols his sweetest, most seductive notes day after day until she appears in answer to his call. Then he flutters before her, displaying the charms of his widespread tail and half-opened wings, warbling in delicious, soft undertones, to win her favor. At first she seems indifferent to the gorgeous blue of his overcoat or the warm reddish brown of his ardent breast. He perches beside her, caresses her in the tenderest and most loving fashion, and sings to her in most endearing terms. Perhaps he may bring to her some delicious morsel and place it gently in her mouth, as an offering. Probably he has already chosen the cavity or box that he thinks will suit her; lie leads her to it, looks in, and tries to persuade her to accept it, but much persistent wooing is needed before the nuptial pact is sealed. In the meantime a rival male may appear upon the scene and a rough and tumble fight ensue, the males clinching in the air and falling to the ground together, a confusing mass of blue and brown feathers struggling in the grass; but no very serious harm seems to have been done, as they separate and use their most persuasive charms to attract the object of their rivalry. At times, a second female may join in the contest and start a lively fight with her rival for the mate she wants. John Burroughs (1894) gives an interesting account of such a four-cornered contest, too long to be quoted here, in which the female of an apparently mated pair seemed to waver in her affections between her supposed mate and the new rival; and the latter seemed to have left the female of his first choice to win the bride of the other. However, after a much prolonged contest, the matter seemed to be satisfactorily settled, for two pairs of bluebirds finally flew off in different directions and started up housekeeping without further trouble.

Happy Birthday Phil!!!


We hope you have a good day, wish we could be there for the BBQ
this weekend to celebrate both of your birthdays. Have fun for us.