Angry Birds and animals gone wild

I thought I better write this down before I forget...

Last week we had an "angry bird" in our front yard. I was in the process of taking groceries in the house when a bird ran up the driveway and started squawking at me. It would make lots of noise and then charge at me and Timothy. I finally got it to go away but it was one angry bird.

Yesterday the angry bird returned. My mom was visiting and went to the back yard for a moment. The angry bird came right up to her and started pecking at her shoes. When she came into the house it followed to the back window. It continued to make a fuss at the sliding glass doors and the kids were having fun watching it.

Not five minutes later a cat came slowly prowling on the patio. The angry bird had no fear of the cat either. It walked strait up to the cat... and the cat pounced. The kids were just watching the whole thing take place right outside the door. I pulled the curtains closed, but I think they figured out what the end result was.... lots of feathers. I'm not sure if the bird got away or survived... but the cat has been hanging around, continuing to look for another victim.

Nothing beats a good visual lesson on the circle of life.

Finally to round out the day we went on a walk to the pond and to get mail. As we were almost home we saw what appeared to be a cat walking in a yard across the street. As the "cat" entered the street we realized it was no cat at all. It was a skunk! We hurried our walk and tried to keep track of the skunk so we didn't cross its path. I could already see that disaster and wanted nothing to do with it. What a crazy day with wildlife. Who knew our neighborhood could be so exciting.

Busted!

As women, we expect any tiny physical change to be noticed by our loved ones. For example... if I trim just an inch off my hair, I expect that David would notice right away, and if he didn't I would feel that he never paid attention and was insensitive. I guess I better be more careful, cause yesterday I was busted!

David has been growing this crazy mountain man beard for almost 3 months now. I don't understand it in the first place. I'd think that during the hottest months of the year, the last thing you'd want is facial hair... I know I want to shave my head in the summer because it is so darn hot... so it just doesn't make sense. Finally I got used to the mountain man look and just assumed David was going to pick up another shift at Christmas time as Santa. There is no use in fighting it, so I just had to embrace it. It was past the scratchy phase and entering the fluffy stage, so kissing him wasn't like kissing a cactus anymore.

I digress... So last night David showered after mowing the lawn. Which I appreciate, because he stank... anywho... It took me 2 HOURS to realize he had shaved ALL his face! It wasn't like he shaved and left for work and I only saw him momentarily. He sat next to me on the couch, and we were together for a full 2 hours before I noticed! He even hinted and made an extra effort for me to notice. Needless to say, I am busted. Now when I get a dramatic haircut or make a drastic change, I can't give him a hard time for not noticing. I still can't believe I didn't notice for so long. My husband literally looks completely different clean shaven. But he did assure me he donated his hair to "beards of love". :) I've gotta' love him... especially since he has such a sense of humor about me not noticing. And did I mention I prefer him sans beard. :)

Mommy... I love you...

My little Mr. Timothy is learning lots about communication. One of his most recent discoveries is the "bait and switch" approach. This evening he came super close to my face and whispered, "Mommy, I love you.... can I have a cookie?" Where did he learn that? It was super cute though. He did eventually get a cookie, but not until after his dinner.

He has also discovered the idea of just saying "mom" for the heck of it. Not that he really needs anything or is trying to get my attention... he just says it, all the time, repeatedly. When I answer him he just stares at me blankly trying to figure out why I am responding. I think he truly does it to make me insane, and it is working.

And then there is Alexis. She is so excited that tomorrow she doesn't have to go to school because it is "leper day". I keep trying to correct her that it is Labor day. That becomes a futile conversation. She wants to know what "labor" means... and then why we would have a holiday for "work". Then she asks what "leper" means. I try to explain it is a disease and that we don't celebrate leper day. She then asks when we celebrate leprechauns, and I tell her St. Patty's Day, and the whole conversation starts over... when she says, "Oh... so we celebrate leprechauns on leper day."

So if anyone wonders why I am going crazy... here is my official documentation... for today at least.