Our New Boarders ...(but they don't pay rent)

Last week we noticed a bird's nest nestled in the crook of our aspen tree. We watched it for days to see if anyone was living in it, and never saw any evidence that it was spoken for. The kids wanted to take it down so they could take it to school and show it off, and it seemed abandoned so we set a date and said if there was no occupant by Monday we would allow the educational use of the nest.
So, Monday, I picked Parker up from school and he rushed to the nest to help me take it down, only to find a Momma robin staring at him, nestled contentedly inside.

(You can see her annoyed look as she glares at us from her vantage point...after all who wants to be pestered when they are expecting).

He was disappointed, a little, but we called out the other kids and admired her from a distance. The kids named her "Ruby" (because of her red chest...it was a big discussion whether to name her Ruby or Jennifer...I shot "Robin" down as dull from the start and also said no to "Melissa"...I do not need birds wandering around with my name). Our children are in love with her. We used the camera to peek inside her nest when she was out one time and found she has two shiny turquoise eggs. We are loving our new neighbor.

We also have a sparrow family that is nesting in our rain gutter. That can't be pleasant with all the rain that has gone on, but they seem happy so oh well. Oh, the magic of spring.

Our garden is growing, our flowers are poking their little heads out and getting ready to blossom, and our kids are enjoying the wonders of outside.

I love this time of year.