Our neck of the woods...

Spring has sprung on the farm. I looked out the window last week and saw a faint green haze covering parts of the ground and realized that it was grass popping up! The birds are beginning to sing, the noises from the river are louder in the evenings, and the animals are feeling frisky again after their winter slumber.

John's birthday was February 18th and man, oh man, did he have fun with mommy, daddy and both sets of grandparents! Gaga brought Thomas the Train noise makers, napkins and plates and mommy made a yummy cake with Thomas' smile on top.

After the big birthday bash, Gaga, Papa, mommy and John headed down to Nashville, TN to visit John's cousin Steve for the first time! We practiced saying "Steve" on the way and John was a pro by the time he shyly said his name for him! He took to him immediately (...a boy's boy all the way) and wanted to hold his hand while Steve showed us around the Vandy campus. He had fun in our hotel room trying on Papa's shoes and eating yummy breakfasts every morning. He woke one night for two hours and Gaga and mommy consoled him b/c he missed "Daddy!!!!" so badly. Poor little guy. He finally exhausted us and himself!

Mom and Dad Neal came down to help us upstairs as we prepare to finish the closet over the stairs, the walls around the bedroom and bathroom and more. We had all come down with a stomach flu (Gaga, Papa, mommy, John, Grandma Neal and daddy) and didn't get as much done as we would have liked. But, we had a friend come over and work on our rocks (read: boulders!) around the house. We put them in place and need to till the dirt (mud for now!) for spring grass and beds! I am beyond excited to have some color in the yard, some order in the chaos that is my life outside these four walls!

We are pleased with how our Ameracaunas have feathered out and are still not sure if we have two rooster and two hens or 1 rooster and 3 hens. Time will tell! (Or, lungs and a comb will tell.) We moved them outside about 1 week ago and they are quite content with their new digs. The other two mature hens like to hang out under their coop and talk about laying an egg. They get around the laying at about 11am. So far they alternate every other day. So, we have 1 egg a day. I say that's a good example of quality communicators...
And, in addition to those 6 chickens, we have 30 coming from Ohio in the mail on March 31st! We are excited, as those are laying hens as well as roosters that will be dinner one day! We hope to be able to sell the eggs and need to come up with a farm logo!

In other news, some friends are adopting 2 boys from Ethiopia and you can visit them here http://kinnells.blogspot.com/2010/03/1st-anniversary-party.html We are so excited for them! Their twin girls have been home one year and we all celebrated with a party last week! I won't duplicate that post...Amy said it perfectly. Our dear friends who introduced us to THOGL are in process again too! They expect their son, Logan, at the end of March. Though, we are in prayer for them b/c we just heard yesterday that they are having difficulties with paperwork on both the Taiwan end and the U.S. Lift them up if you will!

My cousin, Laura, who was a jr. bridesmaid in our wedding, will be going to Sr. prom this year. She will look stunning in this dress...http://www.eddress4u.com/long-gowns-8697.htm#! She is busy with her senior year, working at NHA and picking out a college.

So, as you have read, we have had a busy March already and we're only halfway through the month. I, of course, tried uploading images, but after 1+ entire hour of failed attempts I had to give up. Hopefully they'll come later!

Irish blessings this March,
the Neals