Vacation week!!!

Well it was an exhausting week. It started with the kids and I crashing the first of the week at home while I worked on a scrapbook that I am making for someone. I got very productive and I think that Kara will be thrilled with her daughters book. At least that is my hope. I have worked hard on it and I love it.

Then on Tuesday the kids headed off to Mie-Mie's until Thursday so that I could put in some productive time at work....which I did. Thanks MOM!

Thursday was crazy and getting back to our groove. Taylor arrived Friday!!! After a very long time away. We were all happy to see her and she was happy to be here....that's always a huge plus! She is missed so much when she is gone. Faith became attached to her hip all weekend. She misses her sister so much. Poor Taylor. She essentially takes my place where Faith is concerned when she is here. Only Taylor can brush her hair, only Taylor can help get her ready for bed, only Taylor can sit next to her at dinner and on and on. Taylor is a great sport about doing it all for Faith. Even helping her choose a movie that T has seen a thousand times before and watching with her at bedtime. Mommy's not allowed to lay with Faith when Taylor is here. It gives momma a nice break though ;)

Yesterday we planted. We started our seedlings for the garden this year. We have Jalapeno's, cukes, green beans and carrots started. Plus, we did an array of different flowers too. 216 seedlings in all and we still have seeds. Plus, I want to get some tomato plants and radishes and I have strawberries and a ton of lily bulbs that will be going in the ground soon. The yard should be thriving this summer and I can't wait. I love having a garden. I never thought I would but I get more and more excited every year. It's the #1 hobby. Did you know that? Just some trivia for you. :)

Then today. We got up at 6:30 and packed all our stuff, the kids and a co-workers little boy and headed up to the Alpaca Farm at my cousin's house. Aunt Carol and Uncle Bruce always welcome us and our troops with open arms and today was no exception. The kids love it there. Brycen especially. He was leaping out of his skin all week itching to get there. I swear the kid would live there if I would let him. I have to admit.....I would go back to live them again to be up there all the time! ;) It's a beautiful place. If you are family and you haven't visited them....you should. It's amazing! AMAZING! I get so calm once we pull into those little surrounding towns by them. I actually shed all my stress and think...." I could live up here". I love Maine. It's just so relaxed. The farm is wonderful for kids and the Alpaca's are so cool. So cool! Donna's store is awesome. It's packed with goodies like sweaters, hats, gloves, shirts, stuffed animals etc. All made from Alpaca hair. If you are ever in the Shapleigh area it's a must stop! You have to visit this place.

Molly is our favorite. Maybe it's because she was just a baby when we met her, maybe it's because she was bottle fed and loves people...whatever the reason Molly has all our hearts. Click on her name and you can see her as a baby. Smokey will be next. We met him for the first time today. He was born last week. Isnt' he darling?

Today was shearing day. It was fascinating. I could have watched them shear them for hours. It's a very controlled environment with some uber talented people who are quick and caring....and very, very funny! It was a blast to watch. I didn't even care that I was getting rained on. I loved watching them from the front of the barn. I was too busy watching to snap a picture of the shearing but you can see what they sheared down below and what an Alpaca looks like before it's sheared and then after. It's really cool. They look so big with their hair on and so tiny and thin once it's off. It was a very cool experience for the kids and I want to thank Donna and Bob and Aunt Carol and Uncle Bruce for letting us have this experience with the kids. It was really very interesting and I learned lots of neat things about the process from the lady that sorts the hair once it's been sheared. I only wish I had longer to talk to her but the kids love being in the pen and you can only spend so long outside it before they are begging to go back in.

We also flew an electronic plane that Brycen has. It's becoming a habit every time we go up. They have so much land and so much open space it makes for great airplane flying. I see more coming in our future. Hopefully the Airhogs will go on clearance again and I can get the kids more. Even Faith loves them. Hell, I love them. They are fun and up there we don't spend all day climbing trees to get them down.

Then we went back to Aunt C's and Unc B's house to plant a tree that Brycen got for Arbor Day. It's a beautiful Blue Spruce. He wanted to plant it up there to keep it safe and because we rent we never know what the future holds for us here. It's better to keep it in a place we know it will thrive and we can always visit.

Then we headed home. It was a short week jam packed with stuff. I am sorry it's over and I long for June when the kids are back home for another week! Be warned Aunt Carol....we will probably be back then! :)

I hope you all had a good week. Back to work, back to the Dr.'s the whole vicious cycle begins at 6:00 a.m tomorrow when the alarm goes off. I am off to veg and enjoy what little time I have left.....1 hr. 40 minutes and counting til bedtime!

Cheers! Enjoy the photos and the links!
Michelle