Random's..I know I've used it before!!

Hi Lo....if ya know me you'll get it!!! So let me fill you in on some going's on at the humble abode. Decided to surprise Dave with a little different choice for dinner this night...crab legs!! For those of you that don't really know Dave...he HATES food that he has to mess with, so I was happy to see that he was willing to work for his meal...YUM!!

On the owl front Hootie is being a good mommy and, in this cold weather we are having, she is keeping the owlets warm! She kept an eye on me as I headed down the driveway.

Happened to notice that she was sunning herself and got this pic through the kitchen window....I think I need to wash these windows!!

Fred and Ginger are growing everyday.

SHHHH....g-ma left the room so I have to be quick about this!!!


When g-pa first put the gate up he taught me this really cool game!! I didn't appreciate it at the time but, now I am finding it rather enjoyable!!



As you can see, someone isn't as firm as she should be about the discipline around here. Obviously the parental units are doing their part!!

I am a real nature nut! I LOVE it outside where I can explore. G-pa taught me early that you can touch all kinds of cool things!! Here I am checking out some of the ferns along the driveway...they are already taller than me!!



G-pa got home from work....I get so excited to see him....I point and stomp my feet and holler for him!! Today he took me out to see the owl box.....Hmmm I didn't see anything!!


I did locate some really awesome pine cones to show g-ma though!!


Wait a minute what was that......ooohhhh I thought we were going to see the owls, but NO!!

Up on the deck g-pa and I can do a lot of birdie watching. They were flying all over the place. I like to keep an eye on them just like he does!!

One other thing I really like, as I have said before are flags. G-pa let me help him put their flag up in the front yard. It was really fun to watch. Look how well I sit on the big rock.
Once again I had fun at GandG's house. Can't wait to do it again! I hear they are coming down to my house this weekend to put in a swing set for me!! Whoo Hoo I can't wait, it will be lots of fun!! Now if I quickly push post maybe g-ma won't know I stole her blog again!!!
See ya!!

4/26/10..Inventive blog title!!!

So first things first....Sarah wanted to show her grandma her new car so we headed over to visit. Grandma liked it very much! While we were there we took the winter blanket off the trailer, she was in good shape and getting ready to go play!!!

Here at home and on the owl front.....Dave was outside working on a gate for the deck (got to keep Lukas safe) and he heard Hootie and Blowfish. It is not very often over the years that we have seen them at the same time in the same tree. In fact I think it was only one other time.

They took a little time to have a chat about the young ones!!

I didn't have much time to grab the camera and I should have grabbed the tripod too. But, I didn't want to miss them. Of course when you are not prepared they decide to stay in the area long enough that you wish you had. So this video is not the best as I was a little wobbly but I try!!! No, they do not normally sit sideways in the tree, I just could not figure out how to turn the video......so you will just have to turn your necks!!

A little look over to the nest to make sure all it well, and they headed to another tree along the driveway.

A little more conversation, a kiss goodbye and he was off to hunt. She spent a few more minutes outside before heading back to the nestbox. Fred and Ginger are moving around a lot in the box and they are getting little pinfeathers already.

I was looking at pictures on the card ( I need to condense as I have filled 2/8gb.cards) I have issues, what can I say!!

Anyways......I found this picture from last year when Lukas and I were doing some owl watching together!!!

Well, just a little update from the weekend and beyond. Stay in touch!!

Fred and Ginger!!!

Just a quick update on the new additions to the Ward Family Owls...Fred and Ginger. Sorry for the picture quality as I am just taking pics off the TV screen when I see something I think will interest you. The first picture shows you a small cache of food.

This video was taken when Hootie was out doing a little hunting on April 21st. If you listen REALLY carefully you can hear them chirping..........is that an owl term???

And this one was taken today April 23rd.

As you can see they have been doing quite a bit of growing in just 2 days!!

While I was filming Fred and Ginger, Hootie returned to the nest. Again not the best quality but thought you would like to see it anyways. She will leave the nest a little more often now but, always stays close. If I head out to check the box she is usually only a few trees away watching.

Although this is neither Fred nor Ginger I thought you might like to see one of the other visitor to the yard the other day. He was almost directly under the nest box when I first saw him and had hoped to get a picture of that but it took a few minutes for me to grab a camera so this is the best I could do!!!

That is my update for the week....they should be growing quickly now and it only gets more fun from here!!!

Hangin with g-ma!!

Shhhhhhhh.......... don't tell g-ma but I hijacked her blog!! I know she wouldn't mind but I just decided to tell you about my time with her and g-pa and kinda wanted it to be a secret!!

So, today my daddy brought me up from V-burg, left me with g-ma and headed off to work.
As you can see he isn't the only one who had work to do. I have seen this thing in the kitchen before but this is the first time I noticed it had buttons on it......and I do like to push buttons!!

While I was at it I decided to try and clean off the kitchen counters for her. I would have sealed the grout for her but she wouldn't get me a paintbrush so, she will have to do it herself, I guess!

Then while I was at it I found this drawer of these cute little bowls....Now g-ma did try and put a video on the other week of how much fun I had with them last time, but I guess it didn't work so I put this one on instead....they are still fun!!

It was a beautiful sunny day and after all the work we did, we wanted to head out to enjoy my new toys! I do love my new swing set and have a lot of fun on it, but there is something about a good broom, that just can't be replaced!! Oh, and I really LOVE flags, especially on a windy day!

G-pa got home later in the afternoon and we had decided to do a little exploring in the woods and the yard. I have to be careful not to step on any of g-pas ferns so I stuck close to him!!

G-ma wasn't feeling very good for most of the day. She says it is lucky I am such and easy kid to take care of or, else she would have been in trouble. I try really hard to just have fun and keep myself occupied. In the afternoon gg-ma Stark stopped in for a little visit and so it was nice to hang out with her too!! While g-pa and I were out walking I found this awesome flower and wanted to give it to her.

So I trudged through the yard and up the hill to bring it too her!!

Near the edge of the yard I may have needed a little nudge from g-pa to make it over the edge. Oh, and don't remind her but once I got to her, I changed my mind and kept the flower for myself!!! Sorry!!

After work Daddy and aunt Ya-Ya came over for dinner. I got a chance to have some more of this yummy stuff g-ma called watermelon for dessert.

OK, so it was really cold....

Who am I kidding I was just having some fun and making goofy faces for every ones entertainment!!

Just a few things before I go. After a long wait I am finally getting more teeth. That is going to make this eating things so much easier. Aunt Ya-Ya noticed one more up front and when she flipped me upside down she noticed I had at least 2 molars in back.....there maybe more but that is all I would show her. You may have noticed in a few pictures that I have a couple of scrapes.....I have been told " that comes with the territory"....whatever that means!! I had a great time and look forward to spending more time hanging with g-ma and g-pa this summer.

Hope she doesn't mind me taking over the blog......She can have it back now!!

Introductions

I haven't been too good at blogging lately....sorry. Just got a new puter and am still trying to figure this all out. That and I have been a little discouraged with the way things have been loading on here.

Hootie and Blowfish have been staying close to the nest. We ccould hear owlets chirping but had not see them. Sorry, if the sight of dead animals offends you but it is natural. Here you can see yesterday morning there was a leftover!!!

Last night must have been a little better night for hunting as you can see!!

Then when Dave got home from work tonight he asked me to check the box!!! Whooooo Hooooo look what we saw!!! So after lots of discussion we decided on names for our 2 owlets............

So introducing FRED and GINGER!!!

We are excited to watch them grow!! Keep checking in!!!

New Beginnings!!

To begin this blog I need to make an apology to my dear son Jesse.......Sorry, Jess!!

If you remember a few weeks ago I told you he had applied for a new job. Well, after a couple more tests and interviews he GOT THE JOB!!! Can I get a big whoot whoot!!

Since Lukas was born I have gone down to V-burg every other week to watch him for 2 days. Now that Jesse is working just down the street, Luks gets to come here!!! I am looking forward to some new adventures in the big city!!

Yesterday was my day with him and after we spent A LOT of time outside we came in for a break from the sun!!! Yep, you heard me right!! He is into exploring everything now. He is an absolute joy to watch as he tries new things. One of those new things may just get him into trouble with his g-pa!

You see his g-pa is VERY particular about his furniture.

And once up there he wanted to stand up!!! That is where I drew the line and we found something else to do!!!

And the following is the video that I worked so diligently to upload, of him playing in the dining room...and loving it!!! What you can't see it....... yep, that's because once again it would NOT load....do I seem upset? Anyways he was taking these little stainless dishes out and throwing them on the tile floor. He would laugh and laugh when they hit the floor and he would go for another

one.....hope you enjoyed it!!??

Earlier he was playing outside and of course he had his broom in hand!! Yes, he is my patriotic boy!!

When Dave got home guess who was tired!
Here is a nice picture of Hootie looking into the camera!!

Last night when she left the nest box we got this picture of the 2 eggs.

Tonight when she left the nest there the eggs were in the same spot ,but there is a little change...can you see it!!??? Something is starting to make it's way out of the egg. They say it takes 1 to 3 days ...I don't believe it.

Although. I am really glad that we have the camera in the box I am SO DISAPPOINTED that the night video is unusable. We can't see anything with the night vision. Last time the camera had a fairly good picture at night. We can also hear the owlet in the egg, making little chipping and chirping noises.....which you could hear if this camera also didn't have so much feedback you can't hear it on video!! Don't worry Dave is already researching new cameras for next year.

We are excited here at the Ward's for many reasons tonight. Jesse's job, visits from Lukas, and new additions to the Ward Owl family!!! Hmmmm what names did we pick??

Question???

Do you think there is any family resemblance???

Sarah came across this picture of Dave the other day and I was just wondering if anyone else sees anything similar in the 2 faces???

Just asking??!!

A week with the Wards

I will try and not make this the longest post in the history of the blog world........no really I will!! The week started out rather nasty. After a week that saw the temps in the 80's it got cold and rainy. Early in the week we got a heck of a storm with a mix of snow and hail. This is at about noon and you would think it was nighttime.

And, then it really started to hail....and hail hard. This was after it stopped pelting the deck, and I had a few minutes to run and get a penny!! It then rained like 3 inches and the creek in the back was REALLY flowing. Dave was so glad that we spent $50. and put down some fertilizer!!!!

We did not get the worst of it though. Jesse and Amy's neighborhood was a totally different story!!! The night before the storm went through with a fury. Most of the neighbors lost either shingles, or siding. There were broken windows in both houses and vehicles. The house next to them had the play set torn apart, there were grills and lawn furniture everywhere. Across the street trees were uprooted and one house had a 6 foot fence section sticking out of the second story. Silos were knocked over and trailers at a RV shop near there were torn apart and turned upside down. Other than a few lifted shingles they came through it unscathed!!

What's this you ask??? This is the result of keeping your granola bars in the garage and forgetting to shut the door. I told Dave that they needed to go in his truck for easy access....but...!!!

The raccoons had a little treat and left us with the mess in the yard and driveway!!

Great news!!! For a VERY long time now Sarah has been wanting a new car. She has wanted THIS car and finally this weekend it happened!! She and Dave have been obsessively cruising the Internet to find the right deal and they found this one in Kalamazoo. Thank goodness because Dave wanted me to go to Pittsburg and get one they had found!!

Her grandpa and grandma Ward have a mini and today we went to get pictures of the 2 of them together!!! Now they can go play together!!! She is so VERY happy and in love with her car. Congrats Sarah you deserve it!!!

While we were in K-zoo guess who went to see.......Yep, surprise ...we saw Lukas........oh, and Amy and Jesse too!! Now in order to be true to my word about the longest blog I will keep the commentary to a minimum here!!! We had a little fun at the park and a little photo session!!

The water was VERY COLD, but Lukas wanted to stick his toes in!!

Somebodies mommy really loves him!!!

Here aunt ya ya see my pretty flower!!!

It is awesome because he is really finding his words and he says Hi Ya Ya as plain as day...I think I may be ga!!!

He loved being dipped in the water!!! He had some cold tootsies but he LOVED it!!

While Sarah and I were dealing on a new car Dave went to Fort Custer for a bike ride. Afterwards he met us back at Jesse and Amy's house. I am a little surprised at myself as we walked and drove around looking at all the damage.........go ahead ask me.....did you take any pictures???? UMMM NO!!

I was not thinking very well was I? Instead I took pics of Lukas and grandpa playing. Dave is thrilled because he is also saying hi Grandpa plain as day....again I say I think I am ga!!!

After Jess got out of work we met him at Olive Garden for dinner. I think someone was really tired from all the outdoor playing!!! Someone else was more than happy to act as a pillow!!

I will try and relay this story as quickly as possible...... Jesse was holding him and he was enjoying a yummy breadstick. He was at the head of the table with Dave and I on opposite sides of him and Sarah next to me. We were asking him where things were....where's your cup, where's mommy......where's g-pa..........he perked up and with a HUGE smile he pointed at Dave and made a cute little laughing sound.....

Where's g-ma???...without even looking away from Dave and VERY nonchalantly he half flipped his hand and pointed at me....it was like he was saying OH her ....whatever she is right there...:( :( Like I said I think I am ga!!

OK, so I did the best I could to keep it under control and not to long!!

Had to include this picture because I love those toes!!

One last bit of information...we should be having owlets sometime this week....we are watching the nest box and will keep you updated on their arrival!!!