Do Ducks add Value to a Home?

A few weeks ago we saw a nice Mallard duck couple shopping for real estate. Usually they could be found hanging out in the back yard behind the shed. But one day when I was emptying the flower boxes out front to prepare them for new spring flowers, I noticed a hole to the left of the front door. I didn't think much of it at the time. In fact, I thought that I somehow created the hole by dumping some dead flowers there just before winter hit last year.

Apparently I was innocent of the dumping because last week we realized that the hole was in fact a nest for the female's eggs. Most days you can spot the female Mallard sitting on her nest. But when she is away, you can clearly see six large eggs in the nest just outside our front door.

We were just wondering if it is a good sign that this family decided to choose our home to care for their unhatched babies? I do hope it adds some value to our property as we are trying to sell it.

Happy Drummers

Anyone looking for a talented drumming duo? We are ready for a record deal.

Cousin Fun

Oh it is so nice to have family around. My older sister came to visit with her two kids while her husband attended a conference out here in Chicago. We had so much fun together. Some of the things we got to do were, visit the Shedd Aquarium, eat at Gino's East Pizzeria, go to the zoo, hike in the forest preserve and simply talk, walk, and share our lives with each other.


Sunday we were all together, husbands, wives, and kids. We drove into the city and hung out at the aquarium for the day because it was rainy and cold. It was a great activity to do under those circumstances.
The next day we took the kids to the zoo for the morning. Luke saw a rhino "shoot water out of its butt." That was the main highlight for him. Everything else seemed pale in comparison.

[Everybody jump boat!]


[Oh, you can't get out...let me help you.]


[So how do I get in here again?]



After the zoo we had some quality time together at home. Here are the girls reading books together in the rocking chair.


The next day we had a few hiccups getting out of the house (a Luke story for Laurel to tell). So we decided to go to the woods after naps. The kids had a blast. E absolutely adores her cousins, especially Luke. He is so interesting and everything he does is funny. It was great to hear her laughing so much after a week of being sick and not really playing at all.


How fun. Thanks guys for making our week so special. See you in a month in PA!