Birds, plants and making a bird feeder

Birds
We have been monitoring a Mommy bird in her nest right outside our breakfast table window for several weeks now.

There were 3 blue eggs to start with, and then we got to see one hatch!

 here's an amazing little video clip of one of the hatched/hatching birds, you can even see it flap up a wing at one point.

Then, a few days later, the other two were hatched as well. Here's an updated video clip:

We look every morning to see if the Momma bird is in her nest, one time we saw her come back to her nest with a worm. (the picture was taken through the window, so its a bit blurry).

It's been so fun to watch these little birds and the momma. We are pretty sure she is a robin.
The birds are getting bigger!
Here are the baby birds waiting for Momma birds return,

Here's the most recent video clip of them with feathers and all...
(oops, will add later when I can get it off AJ's phone).
and it takes Momma bird a few more worms to feed her babies. I have never seen a bird carry this many worms! We did just have a nice rain too, so I'm sure that helped out Momma bird.

Plants
While out in the yard, we checked on our little pumpkins, and they seem to be growing nicely, Hailey was excited that there was a "sunflower" already growing.

The girls even put in some garden signs up,

Making a Bird Feeder
Daddy got a special tool set for Hailey, that was just her size, and a special project to work on together.

 It was a bird feeder. Hailey was pretty excited. She looked at the directions,

 did a little measuring,

 then some hammering and glue.

 Tegan waited so patiently and was just glad to be hanging out with them.

Hailey started on painting hers,

while Daddy and Tegan worked on Tegan's flower box.

They all three did a great job!

After they dried, the next morning, Andy helped the girls put some bird seed in the feeder

and then they hung it for the birds. We chose a different tree than what the nest was in as to not disturb the mommy or baby birds.

We watched and waited and finally caught some birds enjoying the food one day.
 The bamboo leaves are kinda in the way, but there is a red bird on the corner there, and if you look closely at the round 'window', you can see how much bird seed is already gone from the above picture from when we first hung it.

As long as they aren't the annoying doves that would wake me up at 6am every morning, the birds are welcome and fun to watch.

School Carnival Time!

We love the carnival at Hailey's preschool.

Daddy even got to join us,

Tegan's attire consisted of fuzzy snow boots that were too small and that she insisted on wearing for the 80 degree day,

They had lots of fun little games to play for prizes. Tegan liked getting the Snow White Tattoo and Hailey said that the fishing game with Ms. Tam was her favorite,

 she also said she liked seeing one of her teachers, Mrs. Kathy,

 They went on some fun rides. Hailey had been talking about the strawberry ride that her and Vivi were going to go in for about a week.

Tegan wanted me to go in it with her and Hailey. Uhhh, big mistake. It was like the teacup rides, oh man, I felt woozie after.
Both the girls wanted to go on the upside down ride.

I am surprised that Tegan not only went on it, but she liked it, too. But she could only tolerate it for a little while.

Then Hailey went on it, a second time, this time with Vivi,

 The girls went on the horses,

 (Tegan was on the biggest one, cute little minch!) ... and finally took off her hot boots,

They jumped in a blow up thing, and had cotton candy,

played some more games, then ate a little lunch.

Daddy left after lunch to go back to work, and the rest of the time Hailey ran throughout a blowup airplane thing and Tegan stayed by the games by me, while I waited in a line for the balloon man. Yes. I waited in the line, for about 35 minutes, crazy, I know. However, the balloons were super cool and the girls loved them.

 Here's a closer up shot of the monkey Tegan wanted and the flower Hailey asked for,

What a fun day!

Strawberry Pickin'

We went to a local fruit and vegetable farm to go pick some strawberries.

We brought Hailey's friend, Vivi, with us while her mommy went to a doctor appointment for her sister. I think the girls had a fun time.

They each got their own buckets.

 I showed them the type of berries to get, and to make sure they were nice and red with no white on them.

Their favorite ones to pick were the "cute little ones."
Hailey had a little moody moment, but for the most part, they were really good and really respectful of not stepping on the plants.
Vivi picked some for her family, Hailey picked some for Gamma and Papa,

and Tegan and I were together picking some for us.

They were very good berries!

The girls loved having them in their lunch, I had them on my morning cereal a few times, and then I also tried my hand at a strawberry pie. Oh my! It was super yummy!!

I'm thinking Blueberry or maybe Blackberry picking is up next!