OUR LITTLE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

Cora had TWO sleepovers this weekend! She went home with the Madisons from Girl Scouts on Friday and stayed overnight with Anna Paiten (and her little sister Sadie). I didn't pick her up until almost noon (after my long run) and the only reason I could convince her to come quietly was knowing her friend Cara Beth was coming over in a few hours for a sleepover at our house.

Cora and Cara, the dynamic duo... They were underfoot, and yet I barely saw them all night. They did makeovers (twice), played with dolls and Barbies, practiced the song Cara Beth wrote for their "band" (then performed it for us Sunday morning), and ran around outside. I took them on a night walk to collect insects and frogs (remember, they're one half of the Ant Squad). They finally got in bed around 10:30pm, but when I checked on them at 11:30pm thinking they'd surely be passed out, nope, they were still giggling and talking. At least they didn't get up too early (they almost made it to our requested 7:30am wake-up).

We had French Toast instead of pancakes (because Cora had them at Anna Paiten's house and James prefers French Toast when he can get it) and I tried to make it a little fancy for them since we never got around to our tea party the night before (I was finishing up two papers that were due by Saturday night - the week had gotten away from me with other obligations during the work day).

Here they are, singing The Burning Fire:

After CB left, Cora spent another hour outside enjoying the heat and humidity, and perfecting her NinjaLine skills:

 (That's the tiny baby stick bug the girls caught last night - she set it free today)

NEW CHICKS

Cora and I stopped by Tractor Supply for some chicken feed after we finished up at the cookie booth and they had BABIES already! Her coos and "Aw, they're SO CUUUTE" and the fact that they had bantams sold me that we should just go ahead and start our spring chick season early (don't worry, I checked with Jay before purchasing).

When we got to the car she asked if she could hold them on the way home and when I said yes she literally started crying tears of joy she was so happy. Her love of animals (especially baby animals) is so strong!

Cora is the BEST little chicken mama... she feeds them, keeps their water dish filled, checks their bottoms (days old chicks often have a condition called "pasty butt" that they need assistance clearing out), helps clean their bin, and gives them plenty of attention so that they grow up to be friendly hens!

James likes the chicks (and hens) too, but his interest is not nearly as strong as Cora's. She IS going to be a farmer someday, after all, so she's starting her training now (her words, not mine).

We got 2 bantams (that we later discovered are Silkies!), 2 Rhode Island Reds (guaranteed to be females), and 2 orpingtons (color variety unknown, but probably buffs).

(The tiny bantams and their feathered feet are Cora's favorites)

A week later we added a pair of white leghorns (known to lay daily and be really friendly, and also guaranteed female) and Cora got to have tiny babies all over again - she was in heaven!

CHRISTMAS POO...

I let her dance with the poo. Jay was amused.

And Jay then extended the dancing poo insanity to the house...

ACRO TEAM

James moved up to Acro 2 this fall, so he and Cora are in the same class (she needs to gain some strength and confidence before she can move up to Acro 3). They have quite a few friends in there with them and seemed to really enjoy their first session!

CUBAREE 2017

Jay and Jean took the kids to the Cub Scout Cubaree this weekend (I'm in California for a training course - I left for the airport after James' play and a couple hours back at work). The weather was perfect Friday night and Saturday, the camp out had a Farm theme (no, Jay did not bring home a baby goat), and the kids loved getting to run and play and camp out, and to participate in Scout activities such as archery, shooting, climbing, and hiking.

 Friday night card games

 Jay must have woken up first on Saturday...

Yes, Cora likes to wear Cub Scout shirts/sweatshirts when she's out with the boys (though she did have a couple of buddies to hang with, including Ainsley from dance class).

Gathering wood for the evening's bonfires. Jay says that James was the drill sergeant marching them in and that all the kids loved his chants. I was also told that Cora was a huge hit with all the little boys and that Jean overheard them telling each other that they wished they had a cool sister like her that would play with them. (She had joined in games of tag and whatnot with the boys because the two girls from our Den that she'd been playing with had gone off on their bikes.) The kids joined the dance party when they arrived at the closing ceremony, as they awaited the arrival of all 1000 people!

 What's a camp out without a bonfire to end the night?!

They had packed up their tent and other items earlier in the day so they could head home after the closing ceremonies. Bad weather is expected tomorrow, so it made sense to get home well in advance of the storm. I hear the kids slept the whole way home, and James walked over 22,000 steps (with Cora in a close second at 17,000!)

SOUTHPARK SKATE NIGHT

Jay took the kids out to their school's Skate Night fundraiser this evening while I hung out with Lee (who brought gumbo!) and continued to rest as instructed (following my knee surgery yesterday morning).

Pictures (and glowsticks) courtesy of Cora's teacher:

Videos courtesy of Jay:

I was informed that Cora sang along (loudly) to most of the songs (I love that she's gliding now, by the way!) and that James' "skate dancing" was a big hit (with the teachers, and also his friend Lauren, whom he is skating with in his video).

JAMES' 8TH BIRTHDAY

Today was a great day for our birthday boy! One present (from Sissy) before school, cupcakes and a class card at school (with his family there for the birthday song), High Heaven (they had the place to themselves), then family presents while camping and roasting marshmallows for s'mores. We had a lot of fun with our happy boy and are so grateful for the light he shines on us all!

That's a beat boxin' fox y'all...