The Farm Additions

 Our new farm additions are a huarizo and a llama. If you don't know what a huarizo is, don't feel badly as we didn't either - it is half llama and half alpaca. It appears more as a llama, but makes it a smaller, more manageable size. We made the trip two hours away, into the mountains to a petting zoo. They actually were taken from another zoo and bought by this zoo, just to resell. Anyway, I only intended on coming home with the white huarizo, that I named Glacier. While there, however, JD became concerned that she wouldn't do well without one of her friends, so he impulse purchased a full size two year old llama that was the friendliest of the llama bunch. 

  
The group text we always have going with our big kids announced JD choosing a llama, followed by several big kids responding with things like, "right, don't believe that". It took some convincing for them to not "blame" me for the extra llama.

I told JD he could name his llama as long as he stuck with a mountain theme. He decided on Butte. A butte for those that don't know is an isolated mountain with steep sides and a flat top; there is a mountain in Montana named Square Butte. Butte is pronounced like Beauty without the Y. JD is finding it humorous due to the spelling. She doesn't mind and may wish to go by "Brown Butte."
 

They have both been housed with a white male llama for some time, so either or neither may be bred. Hopefully it won't be in the dead of next winter as they have a 11 month gestation. The male llama seemed nice enough until we loaded two of his three ladies in our horse trailer, and then he proceeded to spit at us through the trailer slats. He had pretty good aim and hit JD once from ten feet away.
 

The llama is much more outgoing that the "lapaca" at this point, but I did have Glacier eating out of my hand tonight. They just need some stability and love, and a hair-dresser, but that will have to wait.

I'm pretty excited about the addition of them. For now I just have them with each other to settle before they go out in the field with the goats. 

Jenny

 

Guess Who is Three Weeks?

 The puppies are three weeks old today.

Alei managed to hold all eight at once.

We celebrated the occasion by giving them their first puppy food soaked in milk today.

                                                  Jenny

A Few More Disney Pics

Here's a few more pictures from our trip. Check out this crowd at Cinderella's castle!

Gabriel and I waited in line to meet "the real Mickey at his home". Nathan was concerned that Mickey did not actually live there then, because "he didn't have a kitchen."

A quick stroller nap - 

Nathan and James and the bargain Disney balloon -

The boys got in some pull-ups on the monorail.

Italy at Epcot -

Here's a few more picture of Africa at Animal Kingdom. They let the kids play instruments with them.

Heading home - 

Back in Virginia - it's always good to be home!

 Jenny

The Babies

The babies were two weeks old on Saturday night; most of their eyes are opening and they are starting to put their weight on their little legs. They attack Montana for milk anytime she comes near them, so she tends to sleep across the room and just show up when she feels it is time to feed them. 

We have two little girls that are still under 2.5 pounds, but the others are over 3 pounds. The little girls are marked pink so I can make sure they are gaining weight and everyone has blue on their paw that got de-wormed and nails trimmed. 

It seems like every week is going to be bringing large changes!

Jenny

Disney

 We left last Sunday morning at 4 a.m. (after my all night puppy delivery) and drove 13 hours to Orlando. We met Gabriel, Alayna and Nathan at Cracker Barrel before checking into our three condos.

Monday morning we went Disney Hollywood Studios. It was a bit crowded since it was MLK day, but still fun.

 

  
Tuesday we got a late start because JD and Gabriel had to pick up Alyssa at the airport while Alei and Alayna booked our fast passes for the rest of the week. 

Magic Kingdom was pretty packed on Tuesday -
 

Wednesday we hit Epcot and I didn't haul the nice camera, so need some pictures from my phone and others phones. It was my favorite park though, so many awesome things to see and ride and the crowd was probably the lowest of the week. 

Thursday we did Animal Kingdom; we also loved it and had a great experience. This was our only attempt at a complete family picture - not our best ever!

Alyssa and I took the younger crowd back to "Africa" in the evening while JD, Alei and James waited on a long line ride and Gabriel and Alayna left with Nathan. We really enjoyed all the entertainers from different parts of Africa!

 
We were a bit cold and hungry by the end, but it was super fun. 

On Friday, we went back to Magic Kingdom after another airport run to return Alyssa. The crowd was much less and we got to see a lot more. We didn't stay too late as we had to pack for our drive home the next day.

The big kids stayed for an extra day and kept Tori with her for her birthday. I didn't even see Tori on her actual birthday but they treated her well. They took her to Ihop for breakfast and then out to birthday dinner and birthday dessert. They also each bought her an Orlando gift. She's an official teenager now! 

Next blog may contain some missing pictures...

Jenny