Cousins and Chickens

The kids love when Auntie Kuni face paints!

Everyone should have a cousin like my cousin, Kuni.  She and her hubby and children live close by.

We are related on my dad’s side, so we have the Hawaiian gene in common (which comes into play daily in regards to all our children’s eating habits.)

Koa and cousins

The littlest ones

My cousin’s family operates on our wavelength...and at our speed.  

It’s easy...its do-able...its casual...and there will be food.  It is always such a blessing to spend time with them.

My cousin will actually say, ‘I can take the kids – all of them.’  And she means my kids – all of them.  She has said this – and taken them – many times.  She is a crazy lady : ) ...and we are so grateful! 

It was Kuni who arrived at our house very late one December night.....with chickens.  The story was, her brother was moving and had to give up his chickens.  We said we’d take his two hens.


(Okay, to be honest, when Kuni asked us, I nodded and said ‘yes’ .....at the same time that Keith shook his head and said ‘no.’ )


There was a rooster too, but we couldn’t take him.  We are not allowed to have roosters in this neighborhood.

So, because of many circumstances, Kuni offered to bring the hens to me one evening.

The kids and I were scrambling to get our former Christmas Shed ready to be the new coop.


Kuni finally arrived – at midnight – with a box – and said, ‘You’re going to kill me.’  I couldn’t imagine why.


She smiled....’There is a rooster in there...’

Fun morning surprise for the little ones!

And so, they arrived ahead of our planned time to have chickens, and ahead of even getting the pen built (our immediate next project!)

That’s the short version of how we got Honey and Ginger............and Frank.