The baby ducks following mom and dad! The eggs started hatching Friday night to Sunday. We ended up with nine ducklings!

Pica the cat with Lilly the kitten

Spring is in full swing at Hoggart Farm!

Kaitlin and Dawson with the first baby sheep of the spring!

Our duck that finally decided to sit and stay with her eggs. She is a domesticated type of mallard. I've been waiting for her to have babies for a while!
Dawson with the new baby black sheep.
Kortney and Travis with our new baby kitten.

Tonight at midnight

Today after school Travis had 6 friends come here off the bus for his birthday party. Well it's midnight and so far the night has gone really good.....except now I've got to try to get these boys to go to sleep. Guess what they are doing right now. Watching a movie, playing Nintendo......no they are playing Webkinz soccer. Yes, these 10 year old boys are busy playing with Webkinz. (stuffed animals that are the craze right now) Most of them brought some of their own here tonight. Remember when kids were afraid of their friends knowing that they sleep with a stuffed animal?? Well these days boys and girls are collecting them by the dozen! I was surprised when Travis started bringing his first frog Webkinz to school. I just figured the girls would be into them, but not really the boys. Well I was wrong. Someone is making some serious coin selling these critters. I actually feel bad for the one boy here tonight who doesn't have one!

I'm going to have to put a stop with the soccer playing since Dan and the other kids are sleeping right now!

So wish me luck that I too will be able to go to bed soon too!

Michelle

Travis' birthday present

Travis' new goat!

Dan, Dawson, Kaitlin and Travis

Kaitlin and Dawson with the other "family" goat Ok, so here's the story....Travis' birthday is tomorrow. We have been trying to come up with a gift for him which he hasn't really been able to help with. There's not much he wants this year. A couple of small things that friends can get him but other then that he doesn't have any ideas.
I'll back track a little. Ever since Travis was little he has wanted a goat. God know why??? They are smelly things and I always thought he'd change his mind. When we got sheep he was mad that we couldn't get goats instead. So Dan brought up the idea about getting one for his birthday. I have to laugh a little, since it seems silly for a 10 year olds present to be a goat, but tonight when we took him to pick out his "present" he was thrilled! It was like Christmas morning for him. He got to pick one he liked then Dan picked another one so it would have company. Travis was so happy. Who would have thought!
So our shed, which really is a barn now has two more critters added to it tonight. The kids have told me we're just missing a pig, rooster, and a donkey. Yes it's turned into a petting zoo out there!

Tomorrow Travis turns 10, which I can't believe. How scary it is to think how fast time is going by. He has invited 6 friends over for a sleepover/party. I'm really hoping my house stays in one piece when it's all over. Surely 10 year old boys will be good and entertain each other.....Between outside, the gamecube, and movies I'm hoping the night will go smoothly.
Wish me luck!

An exciting day at the farm Part 2

An exciting day on the farm Part 1

Today started off with Dan finding a turtle in the shed. (not sure why a turtle was in there??) Dawson and Kortney were the only ones home so they got to play with it for quite a while. This kept them busy while Dan was busy setting up to have the sheep sheared. Kortney is so cute. I guess since she's so used to having critters around it's made her fearless. She didn't flinch once with the turtle. They followed it, held it, and played with it until finally it bite Dawson! By then the sheep were ready so we decided to let the turtle rest in the box they set up for it.

So next into the shed to watch the sheep get sheared. Since this is our first time having sheep, this is a new experience for all of us. Dan had a guy come who competes in New Zealand and England in sheep shearing contests. I went to get Travis and Kaitlin from school cause they didn't want to miss out either.

The kids watched and helped with gates for 2hrs before they finally headed off back to the turtle.

Just another day at the Hoggart Farm!

My Ballerina

Saturday was a big day for Kaitlin. Her dance company put on their yearly dance recital. This is always a big deal especially with it being held at the Blyth theater.

Kaitlin is always very excited about the day. This year she loved her dress, and couldn't wait to wear it. Of course she looked beautiful and did a super job. This is her third year in ballet, and wants to do it again next year. I keep thinking she would like jazz or hip hop better, but she wants to keep up with ballet.

Kortney is practising her "ballet" now too, so I think next year I'll end up with 2 little ballerinas!