Holiday Weekends

Cyprian and Franz the chicken butcher's

Christmas Eve the whole day was one of preparation. Franz spent his time outside building hen houses and butchering three chickens. I cleaned house, made pies, plucked chickens and put two in a brine and one in the freezer. The boys had baths and Franz and I went to confession taking turns driving to church before we went to midnight mass. Clement slept through mass and Cyprian was awake and thankfully very good. Last year we had mentioned that we probably wouldn't be able to go to midnight mass with little ones, but it was a pleasant experience this year. After mass Franz and Cyprian had a snack of pumpkin pie. Then really late I St. Nickolas helper put out presents and stockings. I went to bed around 2:30 a.m.

Cyprian so excited and happy that it is Christmas morning!

Clement loving the opening of presents!

Don't you just love the wrapping paper?

Christmas day was early, the boys were ready to open presents. I made belgian waffles that we had organic maple syrup from wisconsin to top them. We played and sang and got ready for a late afternoon feast that we shared with a dear friend. Afterwards we checked on the chickens and had fun catching the rooster that Franz had let out because all the other rooster were attacking it. Apparently when Franz killed the three roosters he really upset the pecking order, and the chickens decided to pick on one poor rhode island red rooster. Then to help digestion and get some more fresh air we all went for a walk. Near the park were two houses that together had an elaborate light display that was motioned sensored and hooked up to playlist of songs that syncronize the lights to the music. Pretty cool, though Cyprian really didn't like the light of santa singing the grinch song. After a family rosary we adults played Scrabble which I of course won:')

Franz with a wine shelf I found in a thrift store.

Me with my new GPS watch!

The beautiful china set from Grandpa Klein that is really old.
I love how there are cloth diapers draped in the back round on the couch.

New Years Eve we headed out early to a fossil bed an hour and a half west of us. We went in search of dinosaurs. Franz and I had built up the anticipation of dinosaur hunting for Cyprian. It turned out to be a beautiful day and Franz and Cyprian had lots of fun digging in the dirt. We have a whole bucketful of fossils, some nice size ones too! I had fun for a little while but Clement was really interested in eating anything within his reach, so after awhile I locked him in the jogging stroller for his safety and my sanity. I had fun to, I just wasn't keen on spending more than the two hours we spent out in a dirt bowl. The scenery on our drive to the fossil bed was a nice change, it reminded me a bit of home, WI. On our way back we were ravenous. We had devoured all the snacks I had packed and wanted to eat something more filling. So we went to McDonalds. Yes, I know so healthy but hey when you are out and about it is cheap and easy. They actually had a really nice kids play place outside and picnic tables. Afterwards we went to Tractor supply to see if they had any live chicks, but they didn't. So, instead Cyprian got a really cool wood and metal gun that was super clearance and Clement got a clearance puppy stuff animal, that I think is actually suppose to be for a dog, but hey kids are a lot like dogs, right:'). They get hyper, chew on everything, throw up, fight, whine, and give big wet slobbery kisses, and look and act adorable sometimes!

A bucket of fossils

Clement trying to eat rocks and orange peals.

Cyprian digging in the dirt.

Family outing playing in a big dirt bowl:')

New Years Day was spent mostly at home

The following weekend Franz and I ran a 5k, and Cyprian ran a kids fun run. I have not been consistent with my running so I wasn't sure if I could run the whole thing. I actually ran the fastest I have since having kids. Franz planned a fun little side trip to a museum that had automated dinosaurs on display.

These two look so innocent...... 

Okay, so I meant to keep up with this blog. These paragraphs above are from over a month ago, but better late than never. Maybe I can post something more up to date in the next couple of days.