Meet Tido!

We got to bring Tido home early!  Last night we went and got him.  He came home, let each of the kids hold him then went into his cage.  He ate and drank right away so that was great.  He also wanted to be out with us!   He came back out with Daddy and I once the kids were in bed and snuggled right in.  He met Hank who was actually afraid of Tido, though very curious (Mingo used to get mad if Hank got close).  I think those two are going to get along just fine! He acts like he's been with us for a long time!  This morning Kayda woke up early, came down, and uncovered him.  When I came down 30 minutes later she was still hanging out next to the cage and he was bobbing on his perch desperately wanting to be with her.  So out he came to have breakfast with us.  He sat on the table while the kids ate.  The kids were having such a great time with us that I tucked him in the stroller with Carson under the weather-shield (to keep them both warm and dry) and off to the bus stop we went.  Hank came too of course!

When we got home he spent some more time in his cage to get used to it, ate some more...but Carson was so excited that I brought him back out.  We took out the small handheld toys which Carson loved exchanging for Tido, even if Tido didn't want to switch.  Then off to the shower. 

 Tido wasn't so sure about the shower, he liked to put his head in and drink the water but wasn't so fond of the rest of his body getting wet... he'll get used to it!  Here he is soaking wet.  He enjoyed the hairdryer afterward, on low, just long enough to get his downy feathers dry but he practically fell asleep!  Mingo always loved that part too.

 He wasn't interested in the fresh fruits or veggies but loved the herbs we're growing, here's Carson feeding him some oregano.

 Carson held Tido more than I did today!  Every time I had the bird Carson would come over and say "up" and Tido would do exactly that.  Carson got a kick out of it when Tido would climb up to his shoulder.  He got some more downtime on top of his cage then it was time to get kids from the bus.  Carson insisted that we bring Tido but Tido didn't seem to enjoy the stroller arrangement so I put on my scarf and Tido snuggled in it under my chin to and from the bus stop.  He actually seemed to enjoy it!

 Kayda and Dillon had to hold Tido right away of course.  These kids are in love with this bird!  Fortunately he seems to be pretty fond of them too.  It's been a busy transition but that's what our life is and Tido seems to be loving it.

For future notice.  There will probably be a lot more pictures of Hank and Tido.  Normally I focus on the kids but I can only seem to find a handful of pictures of Mingo and it's a HUGE regret that I don't have more so even if you just read this for the kids.... too bad.  Maybe I'm becoming one of the crazy people who treat their animals like kids.

Coming Soon to a Family Near You!!!

We're getting a new bird!  We have spent a while mourning the loss of Mingo, Kayda in particular struggled with it.  A few weeks after he died we realized that we wanted another bird.  That we loved having Mingo and that we wanted to be parrot owners again.  So I set about researching.  I decided that a Meyer's parrot was the best option.  They are smaller than Mingo was, tend to be more even tempered and love LOTS of people (provided you socialize them just like any other animal).  Now, I don't believe in coincidences any longer.  That has been beaten out of me many a time.  So when I started searching for a breeder (pet stores wouldn't sell these birds, they're pretty hard to get) and there was only one with an online presence, which happened to be about 20 minutes from our house, and they had two baby Meyer's coming (one of which was already purchased).  I knew I had to go.  We waited until after the babies got there and headed off to visit on the 11th of this month.  

 Here are the two babies, the bigger one is two days older than the other.  We took our whole family to go see the birds, we held many different birds but none of them sparked even the tiniest of interest.  The only one that got a reaction was a male eclectus (Mingo's breed).  She gave one to me to hold and I nearly broke down.  Anyway, we went into another room where the Meyer's were, they had arrived the day before so they isolate the babies until they know they are healthy.  We were able to hold both Meyer's.  The reason they had them was because someone specifically requested a Meyer's, there were two so the breeder went ahead and got both.  We were to get second choice... I loved one of them, the older of the two, it let Carson hold it and didn't freak out when all of the kids gathered around it.  The younger one was more skittish, trying to fly off even when it was a calm, quiet adult holding it.  We decided that if we could have the older one we wanted it in our family.  The other one we would have to visit more to decide.  We didn't think we had much hope, thinking that the older one was so much more appealing.  Somehow the other couple chose the younger one!  Again, I don't believe in coincidences.

 Here's our new bird.  We just found out today that it's a boy (they have to dna test most parrots, Mingo was one of the few breeds that you don't).  We've been able to visit him several times but he is still being weaned.  He will be coming home on February 1st.  His name is Tido.  His hatch date is 11/7/13.  Kayda is very excited that his "birthday" is in her month.

Uncle Justin's Wedding!

On January 4th Uncle Justin married Ayana!  I was going to type Aunt Ayana since that what she is right now but somehow saying "Uncle Justin married Aunt Ayana"  doesn't sound right!   Anyways, for January they really lucked out it was a beautiful sunny day, a little cold but beautiful none the less!  We started the day up at the temple, took pictures, ran to eat lunch and get the kids ready, then ran to Tumwater for the reception.  It was a busy day but I think they're both happy!  Now, those of you who know me and check this blog know that I have a terrible time narrowing down pictures.  Now is no exception.  

Before going any further let me just say that Ayana was a beautiful bride and Justin was handsome as ever.... but in my very biased opinion there were three people there I liked to look at more!  My kiddos were certainly at their best!

Congrats Justin and Ayana!

Dillon's 6th Birthday

Last Wednesday was Dillon's 6th birthday!  (I know I'm slow getting this posted).  We had a busy day planned on Wednesday so we did some of his birthday stuff Tuesday night!  We wanted to get Dillon a bigger bike, on our family bike rides that little man would be pedaling ten times harder than everyone else and going slower, plus his bike is trashed!  We didn't want to just show up with a bike, we wanted him to pick on out so off we went to walmart.  We blind folded him as soon as we got inside and Kayda was his guide.  

 It took him a minute to realize he was actually getting to choose a new bike!  He was so excited and rode his new bike through the store and out to the car!

 After the store we went home and made his favorite meal, beans and weenies and cornbread.  That use to be my birthday meal!  I love that we get to carry on that tradition!  All the kids helped.

On his actual birthday we got the two big kids out of school.  Since he got a bike we didn't get to wrap him anything, fortunately Aunt Kirsten and her family had sent him something so he had something to open!  We went with Grandma H, Grandma G and Papa G and saw "Walking with Dinosaurs"  (NOT what we expected and definitely not worth the theater price).  Then we headed over to the mall so the kids could ride the carousel and he could pick out something from Grandma and Papa G (Snorkel and fins).  We were killing time so Papa H could join us for dinner.

 Side note: This is the first carousel ride Carson can understand what's happening and he could NOT get enough of it!

And then.... my camera died.  But we went to red robin with all the grandparents and he got to open a gift from Grandma and Papa H.  I think he loved getting to choose things AND opening things.

 Then last Saturday was his birthday party.  Due to a snow closure the last day before break we didn't get his invitations out until the Monday before.  One of his classmates was able to come (his sister that is Kayda's age and brother that is Carson's age came too).  His cousins Mikey, Chase, Ella and Aileena came too.  Then of course his buddy Trenton.  So left to right.  Kyle, Dillon, Trenton, Jerry, Chase, Mikey and Carson is off somewhere else.  The girls were playing in Kayda's room.

 Pin the headlight on Mater!

 Kayda, Katie and Ella.

Carson, Chase, Mikey, Jerry, Trenton, Kyle and Dillon.  Say hello to Aunt Anna in the background!

We think that Dillon had a great birthday!  We love this guy!