Best Bathtub Toy Ever

What started out as a minor experiment to see if brand new baby geese have a natural ability to swim, quickly turned into both kids stripping and sliding into the not-so-warm tub to swim with their goose– who in fact knew how to swim without having to be 'taught'.

I wasn't at all surprised when they quickly climbed in with her. In fact I wouldn't have expected anything else! We sprinkled goose food in the tub and she instinctually started diving and shifting along the bottom of the tub to get the food. She swam perfectly the first time and seems to really love it (almost as much as Landon.) She purposely bumped into the rubber duckie and climbed onto Landon's foot and legs to take a rest. She can swim with her head submerged for a long time and bubbles come off her beak. She fluffs up her feathers and shakes in the water only to dive under again. Landon loves it most when she dives. "She can dive!" he squeals.

Addison thought it was fun, for a minute. The water was too cold and the slimy sunken goose food was almost too disgusting to handle. But the second time Landon gave the goose a bath she couldn't resist and climbed in again!

I'm not sure I've ever seen a bigger smile on Landon's face. I'm pretty sure he will request every bath time to include Buttercup. Swimming in the tub with his real baby goose who seems to love the wake and waves he makes, is there a better bath toy in the world?! He squeals and giggles and talks about how much his goose loves him and his waves.

Farm Fragments - Spring Babies

We've anxiously been awaiting the day to bring home our new baby chicks. The first day of Spring seemed appropriate, even though it was about 20 degrees outside, frigid and snowing.

They each choose five new baby chickens.

It is still very, very cold outside even in the designated chickie room (AKA the mud room). We set up their brooding box in the basement. Fresh jammies and all, both kids climbed in with the babies and played and cuddled until we peeled them apart at 10:30 pm.  Addi named each one. Well, she renames them everyday. But on this first night they all had flower names (Lilly, Daffodil, Rosey, Violet, Buttercup ect!), except one, her favorite little yellow chick she calls 'Hatchling".

The kids welcomed chickens and Mama got a goose, Buttercup!

Landon –the goose whisperer

We've all become very partial to the goose. She follows us around, calling out to us not to leave her.  She plays on the carpet while the kids build her a house of blocks. Her and the chinchilla have become friends and explore the bathroom together. And yes, I have fallen asleep with her sound asleep on my chest, more than once! 

Chip, our chinchilla thinks Buttercup is very cool. He stands up and puts his little paws and her chest and smells her face! 

In our home, having a chinchilla on your back is normal –just the way we love it.

While we watch our baby chickens and goose grow, we look forward to our new baby goats who should be born late May!