Connor's Responsibilities and Rewards

Connor has only been 3 for 7 days and each day has had a major meltdown. I'm starting to think that it's not Terrible 2's, it's Terrible 3's.

We are trying a Responsibility Chart and Reward Jar. I made up a chart with his responsibilities - make bed, put clothes in hamper, be nice to mommy, be nice to daddy, eat all meals and pick up toys. He gets a sticker when he does it. I made a Reward Jar that he'll be able to pick a reward from at the end of the week if his chart is good. We just started it and haven't figured out how many he'll have to have for now, but eventually we want to have the whole chart filled for a reward.

His rewards are on slips of paper and include - 1 extra book at bedtime, 2 extra books at bedtime, 3 extra books at bedtime, book from library, ice cream outing, trip to the park, trip to Bellaboo's, trip to train restaurant and Target $1 spot pick. There are multiples of some, only one of others, like Bellaboo's because that will easily be a $15 day. I want to eventually have the jar at least half filled, but don't know what other kind of rewards would be good. We don't want to have too much food or things that cost money. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Happy Birthday Connor!

Connor turned 3 last week! Yay! Cute cake from Costco (yeah, I didn't make one this year)

He was such a ham when we sang Happy Birthday!

We got him a bike for his birthday!

I made this for our little get-together, Garlic Chicken Puffs. They were so quick, easy and tasty. I used Tastefully Simple's Garlic & Pepper seasoning with a dash of paprika. I see so many possibilities for these... bbq chicken, crab, dill chicken... This recipe was found on Pinterest! You can find it here.

And then there was one.

Unfortunately, Lace the chicken did not make it. She passed sometime last night/this morning in the nest box. We buried her not too far from Goldie. I guess that's going to be my pet cemetary/memorial site...

This really sucks because she was doing better yesterday. She was standing up all the way and walking a bit more. Ruby is being quite skittish and vocal today. Poor girl.

In a few weeks, I am going to pick up three chicks. Most likely a Barred Rock and two Easter Eggers. Hopefully Ruby does ok on her own until then...

Sicky Chicky and New Grazing Pen

My Lace Brahma, Lace, is sick. No clue what the problem is. It's been going on for the last 3-4 days. She is still eating and drinking. No sign of mites or lice, I wormed 2 days ago. She lays down most of the time. She isn't flying out of the coop anymore, now she uses the ladder. I've been giving them scrambled eggs and plain yogurt and she's eating that. I started Poly-Vi-Sol today. It's actually an infant liquid vitamin that can be given to chickens. If nothing else, it won't hurt her. Ruby stuck her beak into the mix and got some too.

Completed pen. I only purchased the chicken wire. We used 2x3s that we already had and 2 2x4s. This is NOT a predator proof pen and isn't meant to be. I plan on using it only when they can be supervised. It's 70 inches long, 36 inches wide high and 40 inches wide.

Ruby sticking her beak in.

This is how Lace lays most of the time now. When she does move, it's very slow.

Easter

I didn't get too many Easter pics, but here are a few:

Connor and his basket:

The "basket" I painted for my niece:

Connor colored eggs for the first time:

Easter Eggs

Connor colored eggs for the first time a few days ago. We were supposed to color eggs with Jon's mom and niece, but plans were changed when she got sick. His mom brought over the eggs and a coloring kit. It's a no-spill kit and we won't be getting one again. It did not use vinegar and didn't color too well. Also, with the "no-spill" containers, Connor could only drop them in. We had to get them out and still needed a catch container for the liquid dripping out.

But he had fun and that's all that matters!

Trip to Cantigny

On Sunday, we took a family trip to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL. I had never been there before, but my husband was when he was a kid. It's a 500 acre park with gardens, play areas, a military museum and much more. It was founded by Colonel Robert R McCormick, who was an editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper for 44 years (and a polo player).

The best part? The kids can play on tanks! Yes, tanks!
(click on any picture to enlarge it)

Two pics from inside the military museum (goes from WWI to Desert Storm):

The flag was captured in Germany and signed by Illinois servicemen.

This is the Exedra - the burial place of the Colonel and his first wife, Amy. She sounds like she led quite a life too. She served as a Red Cross nurse in WWI, raised Guernsey cattle, co-founded the DuPage County Hunt Club (foxhunting) and a no-kill animal shelter (in 1928 no less).

The exterior of their beautiful home: