How To Get Fertilized Eggs

So a chick costs a dollar or two, a 16-18 week old pullet (already starting to lay) costs $5, and a dozen fertilized chicken eggs costs about $30 !!!!!!!!????? Much of the cost is in the shipping, but good grief!!

Why am I looking for eggs to hatch? Because I have a hen who WILL NOT get off the nest. I've been taking her eggs, moving her off the nest, and I even put ice in the nest, but nothing will get her to budge. I figure I might as well put her to work. Since I couldn't find any fertilized eggs locally, I asked some farmer friends if I could buy a rooster from them. So they sent a few boys out in the field to chase one down. Picture two tall Menonite boys in their black pants and suspenders, cheerfully running down a rooster for me. Mr. and Mrs. and two or three girls were all standing with me watching for a while before Mr. Farmer decided to go down and get a dog to help because roosters are really fast. So, on Tues. we brought a rooster home. William said, "I wanted a rooster so much, and now I have one!" He's not too loud in the morning as long as the windows are closed. He's not any worse than the crazy birds that sing right outside our window starting at 5am. The boys love to hear him crow.

So, now our hen is sitting on eight eggs and I'm hoping a good number are fertilized. The golden colored hen in the pic is the one brooding. I feel like brooding too. I could make a nice nest in my room and only come out to eat and drink for the next few months at least. Yep, that sounds nice.

Photos and stories below

Did you ever get sent to the corner as a kid? Well, that's where we send William when he gets crying for no good reason (mini temper tantrum?). The idea is that it's no fun to cry in the corner while the rest of the world keeps going. It works and he calms rather quickly (he's not allowed out until he can show me a pleasant look on his face). Well, Brian has been fascinated by this and would like to stand in the corner with William. Of course I can't let him and he was rather upset this afternoon that I made him move, so when William came out of the corner, I sent Brian there - not as a punishment or anything, but because I knew he would LIKE it. He was happy to comply and went and PRETENDED TO CRY in the corner!!!! I just about fell over laughing. Such a little actor! I'm sure he won't be so happy the first time he gets sent to the corner for real.
William is really into building with his legos. He builds incredible little things! They make all kinds of moving parts on legos now, so he can build a working excavator. The pieces are teeny tiny and get lost pretty easily, but he just substitutes other pieces and keeps building. His instructions have been missing too, but that hasn't slowed him down a bit. He can still build all the same little machines in almost the same way.
The boys had a nice treat this Thursday morning. I had to go into town to get some chicken feed. Just as I got to Carlisle, my dad called and said he was just driving through in his truck. We met at a truck stop and the boys got to see Grandpa for a few minutes. They also got to go in his truck and see the load in the back. Brian cried when Grandpa drove away without him. I think he really wanted to ride in the truck. William was being a little reserved - and also busy enjoying his new sunglasses.
William's question yesterday, "Is our baby coming soon?" - I wish.
William's question today, "Is your tummy bigger now?" - My pants are getting tighter!

Winking and Kissing

Tonight at dinner Brian was trying to wink at me. I wish I could have captured that moment on film. His face was so contorted and his eyes were rolling back. Try as he might, he couldn't manage to close only one eye.
The best cure for any small injury with Brian is a kiss. Today he was playing with William and I heard a wimper but by the time I got to him he was smiling and pushing his hand into William's face, asking for a kiss! William didn't know what was going on, but was happy to oblige Brian and all was well. This evening I caught Brian kissing his own hand after he bumped it! I guess there's nothing magic about Mommy's kisses.
Maybe Curt will shave this weekend and then I'll want to kiss him again.

More photos

This is just last sunday. Check out my lilacs!

Brian likes to do "school" too!

Brian also comes up with some unique outfits. (aka Sarah)

Boys in a basket.

Lots of mud.

Photos for Grandparents!

This photo is fairly recent. I think they were watching Daddy outside.

This was this winter - probably Feb. Love his smile.

This is Brian goofing off with Daddy's hat and pencil (over ear).

I took this photo tonight. They wanted to sleep together. See how innocent they look? Of course they started to wrestle right after I took the picture. I did put Brian back in his bed, but it won't be long before I'll be needing that crib for someone else. I guess that means that William's moving to the top bunk.
We think New Baby will come mid December. Of course I saw the cuttest Pack n' Play for dolls in Walmart tonight and immediately wanted a girl VERY BADLY. Curt said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I think almost everyone wants a girl, but of course William says, "We need more boys."

We went out with the Beckers tonight. I had baked a cheesecake for Tsiph's birthday, so we took it to the Chinese Buffet and had a little party for her there. Somehow Brian and Luke ended up at the ends of the table. Probably because those were easy spots to put highchairs. They waved to each other and said hi across the table. Very cute. I can see those two becoming good buddies and possibly partners in crime. They both have that mischevious twinkle in the eye and a bit of temper to go with it, but they are such affable, endearing kids too.
Chickens and ducks are doing well. I'm getting 6 eggs/day now, but I've had to pen the hens up so they can't ruin all the gardens in the neighborhood. The ducks are free since they don't dig and they really don't go far at all. The prefer to be close to the house. They have loved the rain this week and got really muddy playing in a puddle out back. I think they are both she ducks, so we should start getting eggs from them before too long. It will be fun to try them.