Dear Chickens...Happy Birthday To You!
As we cruised down the highway toward home, a voice from the backseat broke through my train of thought.
"Mom, when were our chickens born?" asked Brandon.
"Ummm...well, we got them toward the end of last March, so probably around the middle of March. I don't know exactly," I replied.
"Well, what is the date today?" he asked.
"April fourteenth," I said.
"Ok. From now on their birthday is April fourteenth. And I'm going to make them a cake," he said.
"For the chickens?" I asked.
"Yeah. They need a party," he replied.
The moment we got home, Idea Man made a beeline for the pantry, grabbed a canning jar and ran outside.
Not too much later, I heard him in the kitchen and decided to go take a look. (It's good to check up on your kids every now and then. It's also good to practice all the advice you dish out. And it's good to admit that it's much easier said than done.)
I found him balancing "the cake" in one hand and a jar in the other. The jar was teeming with life. Creepy and crawling life. Things like crickets, earwigs, ants and the like.
So, we all headed down to the chicken pen for a party. In went the cake, out came the bugs. Feathers were flying, beaks were tap-tapping. It was a sensation.
It was happy. Like a birthday sort of happy.
Kids were clapping. Adults were laughing. Kids were cheering. Adults were coaching. "A cricket's getting away! Get him quick, Cornelia!" (That's Cornelia in the upper left corner. She likes me. I'm not sure why, but she does.)
It's the little things in life that bring us so much joy, isn't it?
Ahh, the simplicity and spontaneity of a child.
"Mom, when were our chickens born?" asked Brandon.
"Ummm...well, we got them toward the end of last March, so probably around the middle of March. I don't know exactly," I replied.
"Well, what is the date today?" he asked.
"April fourteenth," I said.
"Ok. From now on their birthday is April fourteenth. And I'm going to make them a cake," he said.
"For the chickens?" I asked.
"Yeah. They need a party," he replied.
The moment we got home, Idea Man made a beeline for the pantry, grabbed a canning jar and ran outside.
Not too much later, I heard him in the kitchen and decided to go take a look. (It's good to check up on your kids every now and then. It's also good to practice all the advice you dish out. And it's good to admit that it's much easier said than done.)
I found him balancing "the cake" in one hand and a jar in the other. The jar was teeming with life. Creepy and crawling life. Things like crickets, earwigs, ants and the like.
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| The Cake - I don't know what the plastic wrap was about (I removed it). |
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| The Icing, so to speak...they look more dead than "teeming" here. |
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| Corrine, trying to smile and eat with her mouth closed all at the same time... |
So, we all headed down to the chicken pen for a party. In went the cake, out came the bugs. Feathers were flying, beaks were tap-tapping. It was a sensation.
Kids were clapping. Adults were laughing. Kids were cheering. Adults were coaching. "A cricket's getting away! Get him quick, Cornelia!" (That's Cornelia in the upper left corner. She likes me. I'm not sure why, but she does.)
It's the little things in life that bring us so much joy, isn't it?
Ahh, the simplicity and spontaneity of a child.
Love, love this! Great idea, Brandon! ( And, you too, Mom, for being so supportive!)
ReplyDeletepretty sure we had more than one birthday party/cake for minnie when we were kids. =) good times.
ReplyDeleteI love to smile and laugh and this post accomplished both! You are a good Mom. Love reading what all your kids think and do.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Best cake ever for chickens!
ReplyDeleteGreat fun times! Yep,once,and only once... I decided to make our dear little doggie his own 'dog bones' for his B-Day. Yes, made with boiled liver! Think of the smell...think of the smell taking over your kitchen.. think of the of the smell taking over your whole house!
ReplyDelete