8 kids, 6 chickens, 4 dogs, 3 goats, 2 horses (and innumerable cats)

This is the menagerie in which we spent the company of this evening. My twin nephews turned nine last week and so a birthday party was in order. My step-sister and her husband (and their four children) now live in an old farm house on 80+ acres of land. And what better to do with that land than fill it with farm animals? Each time we go out there they have new additions.

It is always crazy when we get together with all the kids, et al, but I think tonight tops it. Two of the dogs there were guests (one of ours and another belonging to my other step-sister) so that added to the ruckus as they got used to the chickens (read: chased them mercilessly) roaming on the open range. Mango tried to chase the cats around but they were like puh-lease, we live with a dog three times your size, you think you scare me? So she was reduced to playing with the puppy, Charlie Brown. Some of the kids joined in with chasing the chickens, and the other half were entertained by riding the horses. But all were loud. Very loud.

An hour and a half into it Zach was itching to go because he couldn't breathe anymore what with his allergies to cats and all. So we only stayed about thirty minutes more and when we got into the car it was like our own little slice of Heaven with all the noise left behind.