on birds

We added ANOTHER new addition to our family this last weekend. After a week of deliberation, Jackson decided he wanted a parakeet, too, and since he had the money for one (and, like his brother, promises to buy its food and so on), we figured it was a worthwhile investment in childhood responsibility and fun.



That was, until we got TO the pet store and were told we would need a MUCH bigger cage for 2 birds.



After THAT it became our investment, too...a Club Med for keets. sigh.

However, the birds are HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY and I have to say, it's the new family entertainment to sit in our "orange room" upstairs and watch them.

And so, for your viewing pleasure, Orilus' parakeet Flash (the yellow one) and Jackson's parakeet (what else?) Thunder, in blue. Both boys are doing a bang-up job at getting the birds tame (by sticking their hands in there quite incessantly, petting them, and trying to get them to sit on their finger). It's actually rather satisfying to watch them work so hard at something (although I keep wondering if our birds are going to be traumatized by the amount of "training" they are getting). "Feelings doctors" for birds, anyone? :)

Happy birthday

to Jason today! I told him this birthday marks a year of change in our lives...the ending of two years of anticipation, and the start of many dreams. "Rebuilding cities devastated for generations"...one of my favorite quotes from the biblical book of Isaiah, and a vision for what Jason's life has been thus far, and what it will be. In less dramatic terms, Jackson said after Jason opened a present tonight (Jackson has been memorizing his times tables lately), "Dad, you know what 6 times 6 is?! THIRTY-SIX!!!" Well, then.