Big Fields, Back Yards

What happens in the Huberty home when you take 3 awesome children and let the loose in their own yard? Ha. LOTS. One of the best things about our new place is the 'free range parenting' that is so essential to my home. I've often wondered if those 'other' people - ya know who they are, the ones that 'have it all together' and understand things like "schedules", "routines" and "commitments" - Well, sometimes, I wonder if they understand something I don't.

I've come to realize I'm not good with scheduled tasks. Maybe it's the gypsy in me that beckons to move, change, stir the pot too much to be confined to 'normal' life. Maybe someday my children will all wake up and need hours of therapy to process their childhood with an unconventional mother like ME (and according to some very close to me -everyone needs a therapist, so I guess we're covered then right?). Recently I read a blog that hit so close to home it nearly bowled me over.. Was there something to this meeting deadlines, being on time, and uh.. living on the worlds clock?

I have prayed, cried, laughed and been fuming mad about this interesting little blog that came my way recently... It's just one woman's position on a topic close to home. And maybe, someday, I'll come to love routine, scheduled tasks that take me on a new journey of discovery... but today, I am just thankful. I'm so very thankful for freedom. This free range home of ours is amazing. While everyone else was on someone elses clock - I got to run, play, laugh, and enjoy the wonder that are my children. I am so very thankful for this. Someday I will teach my children routines, deadlines and having their shit together - that world will absolutely hit them, and they will have the rest of their lives to understand it and live in it, so for now... I'll enjoy playing with them, for all too soon - they will out grow this small wonderful life with me and move on to tackle the great big world ahead of them. For now... I will play with them!

So what DOES happen when you let our kids loose in their own yard with a happy mama chasing them?

First there are the karate-like kicks....

We find balls to throw for Zoey...

There is enormous amounts of laughter.

It was windy.... there was a LOT of chasing balls 

We really fell in love with our huge yard!!

Whatever can be said about our choices in life, this I know is true - We are one amazing happy family.. 

We've moved in, mostly.

Moving is exciting. There is something so thrilling about a new space. Moving is also a giant pain in the keester!

Nearly 2 months later, we're "mostly" moved in. With the exception of my office stuff, a few little things here and there, we really have moved in. This new place just suits us! I love it so much, my heart longs for it to be "mine". Never before have I wanted to own a place so much. I want to stay forever. But... for now, today is enough. I did realize something though - I am done holding back. Of not having the things that I want for our children and our marriage because "its not ours". Screw that. We're having animals. We're having a damn good time and really loving the space completely.

This new house stands out - you can't miss it. We're the bright white house with the BLUE tin roof!

This lovely home was built in 1944. When I simply take the time to sit in the sun and think of what 60+ years has brought this land, I stand in awe of the wonder that is life. I long to know who built the home. A family? A farmer and his new wife in hopes of a family? Were they rich and fancy? Or humble and hard working? Did they live a happy life? Yes - of that I'm sure. If these walls could talk, they would say many things, I will leave them with happy tales of our times here too!

Some new things we're learning about.... septic tanks, above-ground jet-pump wells, and well... this beast is fuel oil. That's how we heat this place!..... and yes, that's a chimney, but some idiot took out whatever it was attached to before us. Loser, I could really use a wood burnin' stove!!

I have a love-hate relationship with my kitchen....

And here's what I've realized.... My pictures tell  a story - its VERY clear what we've been doing since we moved:

I let our children run with hammers... er, use hammers.

We lit stuff on fire.. and relaxed together after the kids went to bed :)

There was TREE CLIMBING!

Bike Riding........

HOURS spent enjoying the new (to us) trampoline!!

And of course, it wouldn't be home if Declan wasn't outside without pants or underwear exploring right?!

Yes... we're moving in quite nicely, outside. :)

Another month gone by!

Amazing that Kalani is 4 months old already. She is full of life, giggles and spunk. She is never left behind, she's too loud to forget :)

Here's a peak into the last month of her life.. Kalani Ember is so fun!

She is SO full of giggles!

And really, she's well loved! Daunika loves to read to her

Occasionally, she gets grumpy with me :)

She does however have the cutest 'finger toes' I've ever seen... so much like me!

She's 4 months old - and its FABULOUS!

Chicken Coop part 2.

Whoops.. meant to post this last week, but well, ya know. LIFE happen instead :)

Easter was the first day of our 'girls' in their new home. It's still in need of nesting boxes, but while they are young, they don't need them quite yet.

My lovely husband and awesome brother made us this:

Lately, I've been searching all sorts of coop designs, and prebuilt ones to buy - and one thing was clear, they were made for the humans and were expensive. People spent so much money on the outside, yet would ignore things like roosting sticks for the birds! Well, our little house was neither built for us nor expensive. That nifty brown box in the back of the barn cost me a whole 10.34 :)

 Hinges for the top for quick and easy ventilation.

 Door to open easily for the kids - its Daunika's job to feed them every morning.

11 happy ladies :)

Now...... Our girly daughters were thrilled when I told them they could paint the coop. Any color they wanted, any designs. They got to work instantly.

They painted the blue siding first. It stayed bare for several days and Daunika was insistant that the coop needed chickens painted on the side! I showed them the marvel of spray paint then...

I did do two of the clouds, and the tree outline... but otherwise, our AWESOME KIDS DID THIS!!!!!

According to Daunika, the black house is a chicken coop - and it needed a blue door and a blue roof. The tree has "a roosting swing". And 4 little chicks all painted by our amazing girls. I'm so proud of them!

And worry not - they are proud of themselves too.

Our chicks have moved out! Part 1

It's been over a month since we got our 11 chickens! In the beginning they took up home in the corner in our dining room. They kids have taken great care of them! But... as they have been growing like weeds, they were jumping out constantly and we were about ready to die of DUST.

But, let's face it.... We are hardly rolling in the dough. We do however believe firmly in using the resources available to us, and that means looking at our stuff! On this property there is an old barn, not exactly the safest building but it does indeed serve a purpose! But our chickens didn't need a whole barn to themselves, and we're filling it up to the brim. However, instead of building a whole coop - we retrofitted a corner of the barn to house them. It literally cost us 10 dollars and change - the cost of 4 hinges.

A month ago - our chicks looked like this... Such tiny little fluff balls still.

Seriously fun little fluff balls! This one is Georgia.

Very quickly they grew!

 Getting to the awkward teenage stage. Silly looking birds.

Here comes the transformation of the barn! This is the back corner that wasn't really being used, it's the perfect size.

My awesome brother cutting scrap wood!

I love this picture... GIANT air nail gun. This is fabulous... but I can tell you, I didn't know we owned this even!

Woo hoo... I'ts coming together.

And our little man was SO thrilled to run around with a hammer... and a mini sledge hammer he kindly dropped on my foot!

But alas - Easter morning dawned and the chickies had spent their first full night outside and were happy :)

Declan - a view from his world

We've moved recently and the blog roll has slowed as we find our new schedules & routines. Well, with a new home, new routines, that also means that we need to find new places to keep things out of reach - like my camera! Luckily, it's totally unharmed, but he did have some fun... Here's a peep into our little mans world. Totally adorable.

"Look... Here I am, sitting sneaky and quiet all by myself next to daddy's desk!"

"Huh... Look at this camera that I'm never allowed to have!"

"And well, here is what is above my head!"

Life through his eyes is so fabulous. I find it nerve wracking and fantastic to find he had the camera and took pictures even. It's great to see him explore, and well - he's smart!

It's fun to be a Girl!

Oh how fast time flys... As my children are growing, we are constantly evolving our routines, seeking new projects together, and well - just surviving some days!

A couple weeks ago, she was interested in why some children have curly hair, and some dont! We talked about genetics and that was funny, but in essence she understood she mostly looks like her family and liked that idea a lot!

But... she still wanted curly hair, so we had some fun :)

It only lasted until she took a shower that evening and washed her hair - but it was worth it. She LOVED it..

Ahhhhh.... Joy.