Save the Bunnies

Somehow a rabbit made her way into our yard and built a nest. Yesterday morning Natalie very excited was telling me the story how Parker found baby rabbits in the backyard.
I am thinking "hmm Parker found baby rabbits, not good". Natalie unaware about Parker's intentions was thrilled. I asked Aaron the outcome of the rabbits trying not to give away any information that may upset Natalie. Aaron told me that indeed Parker found a nest and they saw 2 bunnies running away. Parker did not get to them, Aaron was able to get a hold of him before he could really take off and chase them.

So all day yesterday I did not put the dogs in the backyard. I knew that once outside Parker was going to go and find them. I was trying to wait until Aaron got home from work so that someone could supervise them.

Well of course Aaron had a late meeting and was coming home late so I put the dogs out. The girls were happy playing in the laundry room (they were happy I don't ask too many questions). So I went outside with them. Parker immediately goes where the nest was and where Aaron had told me the bunnies were. Sure enough he found one. The poor bunny is yelping, so I started screaming at Parker and I went after him and he dropped the bunny. I was not sure if he had killed him or not but at least he did not eat him (yes they eat them, in NC they found a nest of chipmunks and ate them all).
Anyway I drag Parker inside and they were done outside. A little bit later I went to check on the bunny and he was gone so I figured he was ok.

After the girls went to bed I told Aaron we had to move the bunnies to the front. If they stayed in the backyard the dogs were going to kill them.
So off we go to rescue the bunnies. We found 2 of them and Aaron was able to get them inside a basket and we moved them to the bushes in front of the house. One of them (the one Parker had "played" with) ran to the driveway, I guess he was scared but he looked ok.
The other one just hid in the bushes.

So now we are feeling pretty good that we rescued the bunnies. Aaron puts Parker on a leash and walks him around the yard in case there are more. Parker is sniffing but shows no interest. So we take him off the leash and sure enough he finds another one by the fence. Ahh we were so mad, I only wonder what our neighbors where thinking. The two of us at 8:30pm yelling and running after the dog in our own backyard! Anyway this poor bunny was not so lucky and died.
I felt really bad but at least 2 survived.

This morning we saw the mommy rabbit we believe she is looking for them. I went to see where the one from last night was, if he was still there but he was gone. Hopefully he is somewhere safe.
The one that Parker "played" with that I last saw in the driveway I found dead in the driveway. I have no idea what happened because he looked ok when I last saw him, he was hopping around. At least he is out of the girls view so they have not seen him. I am not removing the body so he will have to stay there until Aaron gets home from work.
Natalie & Izzie saw the mommy rabbit this morning and Natalie is all concerned that she can't find the babies.
I hope she does not try to get into the backyard. I don't trust this dogs. Hopefully she won't put another nest in the back.

I was able to get some pictures last night.

this is the nest in the grass. the hair on top is from the mommy rabbit.



the little bunny hiding in the grass. this is the one that we believe is still alive



they are so cute. i thought about keeping him!





this is the one Parker "played" with.

Izzie goes to school

Today is Izzie's first day at school. Aaron and I were going to wait until she turned 2 to start her but she is so ready to go we decided to start her now.
When I told Natalie that Izzie was going today, Natalie was very excited and started jumping up and down. This morning we got all her stuff together and packed her lunch.
Poor Izzie really did not understand what was going on but she loves going with Natalie so I was sure she was going to be fine.
We went into her classroom and she started playing with all the toys. I had Natalie with me to keep her company. I stayed in the room with her for about 15 min but they were both playing with the other kids and the toys happily so I got up to leave. I figured this would be time that she would come running and hold on to my legs. Nope, that never happened. She never cried, not one tear. She and Natalie just kept on playing. I stood outside the door trying to see if she would cry but nope she was fine.
Now Natalie is not staying with her all day, not sure how it went when Natalie had to go to her classroom. Also I am curious to know how she does for nap. Naptime is in a mat on the floor and she is still in a crib at home.
I have a feeling that this afternoon she will either be exhausted or extra clingy.

Today Izzie turns 20 months!

So now what to do with a whole day all by myself. Well as it turns out it has not rained in a month and today it is raining. Actually it is thundering so I am not alone, I have Parker laying on my feet shaking and panting. So it will not be that relaxing of a day. At least it's just Parker at my feet and not two little monkeys also on my lap.

Here are some pictures I took this morning.

Shoes

Yesterday I left the girls playing upstairs while I showered. They came downstairs with their plastic play shoes. Izzie was so proud to be wearing heels. Natalie demanded to have her picture taken, and was even posing for the pictures.
Aaron was not too thrilled when he saw the pictures. I think he is getting more and more afraid to their teenage years.

My little mess maker

It seems like Izzie's terrible two's are different from Natalie's. Natalie's were more tantrums and whinny meltdowns. Izzie it seems like it is anything that she can make a mess and get in trouble.

Last week after lunch while I was cleaning up the kitchen I sent the girls to play upstairs. I thought they were playing with their toys.... turns out they were in the guest bedroom pulling out all rolls of wrapping paper and making a mess with anything else they could find. I found Izzie running around on top of the wrapping paper listening to it crinkle. Now on that incident it was both of them but it seems like Izzie is the one that starts and Natalie helps her in getting her what she can't reach.

At least once day I find Izzie with the dog's food. Feeding Parker who is very excited about his morning or afternoon snack. She also likes to dump the food in the dog's water dish and then she puts her hands in it to try "wash" her hands.

Also she has figured out the usefulness of a step stool. So she gets the step stools and positions them to wherever she wants to reach. Lately it has been to the desk chair. So she puts the stool in front of the desk chair, then she climbs on the desk chair, from the desk chair she gets on top of the desk where she gets a hold of pens, pencils & markers. Usually if she is quiet it means trouble. I have found her multiple times just sitting on the desk coloring.....

Finally her favorite place, the pantry!
Last week Natalie & Izzie were banned from the pantry after a huge mess they made in there which involved spilling salt all over the floor and then spreading it all over the kitchen and living room. Oh and this was done 15 min after I had just finished cleaning and vacuuming the whole house. Needless to say they have been forbidden from entering the pantry. Until today.....
I was upstairs doing my exercise video. Izzie was playing in the playroom. I guess she decided she wanted to go downstairs. I thought she was playing with her toys downstairs. Apparently I did not shut the pantry door all the way and she made up for not being allowed in there in the past week. The best part is that when I find her she just starts laughing.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment....

Ready for the pool?

Izzie likes to play in the dog's water dish. Normally she just sticks her hands in it.
When I was getting dressed this morning I head splashing. I come out and I find this:








I guess she is ready to go the pool!

Diaper Change

I just witnessed one of the funniest things I have seen the girls do in a while. The girls were outside playing and I was picking up stuff around the house.
Natalie comes in murmuring something about wet, diaper, poop. I figured she was talking to herself so I did not put much attention. She came in went upstairs and then I see her walking back out the door with one of Izzie's diapers in her hand. Izzie is outside too playing in the sand tables.
So Natalie is now outside in the back porch and even with the door closed I hear her yell to Izzie "Izzie come you have a poop". So now I am curious as to what Natalie is doing, since she is holding a diaper in her hand.
Izzie comes over (not sure why when Natalie calls her she comes but when I call her she ignores me). So I am not sure if Natalie is going to bring Izzie to me or what so I watch what they are doing and next thing I know Izzie is on the floor with her legs up in the air and Natalie is sitting with her taking her shoes off.
Natalie pulls off her pants and takes Izzie's diaper off. At this point Izzie gets up and Natalie realizes that there is no poop in the diaper says "ahh no poop just wet". So now Izzie is running around half naked and Natalie is trying to get her to lay down to put the diaper on. Since I don't think Natalie can put a diaper on I went to help.
I was able to get some pictures but they are from the inside through the windows so they are not very clear. If I would have opened the door they would have stopped.

So as I am writing this, Natalie comes back in the house and is again talking to herself something about again. I watch her come down the stairs with another diaper. She tells me that Izzie's diaper is wet. They are playing in the dog's water dish outside. I tell Natalie don't worry that I will change her diaper and she tells me "no no I will change the diaper". If only she really could change them that would be great!

Silly Girls

I had to share this cute picture I just took of the girls. I was on the computer and the girls were with me in the office "reading" books and playing around. Izzie loves books now and wants you to read to her all the time. Her favorite thing to do is to sit on your lap while you read her books. So I was on the computer and Natalie was looking at the address book when I hear Natalie say "ohh Izzie sit on my lap". I look over and sure enough Izzie is sitting on Natalie's lap waiting for Natalie to read her the book. Good thing I had my camera right next to me!