Watermelon Patch Kids

Just like the killdeer return in the spring and the robins come back to build their nests, the nicer weather gets these kids dreaming of juicy watermelon.  They've learned the law of the harvest and understand you can't eat what you don't plant.  Over the years, they have taken on more ownership.  

 They were their to compost the holes and transplant the seedlings.  And when the seedling froze or died, they went back and direct-sowed seeds.  I quickly found that it was better for me not to be out with them.  Otherwise I would find myself doing all the work while they argued and fought.  If I were around, they had to work things out and put their noses to the grindstone.

Once our patch was planted, we decided to expand over to the Madsen place that Dylan wasn't doing anything with.  They weren't super excited to think they still had more to plant, but it went it a lot faster than our's at home.

End of the Year

And so it is, another school year in the books.  I got to go on the third grade field trip up to BYU-I to the planetarium and to tour the campus.

We also stopped at Hells Half Acre.  It was my first time there.

G.W., Aileen, Clara, Porter

Kindergarten with Ms. Crofts in the afternoon.  I loved afternoon because she played with Delsie while I got things done and then she could ride the bus home with the other kids.

 Ruby enjoyed kindergarten with all of her church friends who also happened to be in our carpool

The fifth graders participated in DARE, so they get to play at DARE day and the EISF.

I volunteered and was in charge of the water relay game.  The kids loved any chance to get wet because it was such a hot day.

Hudson got to have Mrs. Tanner for her last year.  He memorized the preamble to the the constitution and all verses of the Star Spangled Banner.  She also had several poems that they memorized.

Dalanie enjoyed Mrs. Johnson where she worked hard on her writing skills and math. 

Last Day photo-op.

Madelyn, Erica, Camilla, Emma, Andrea

George Thompson's Grandpa brought his horses and wagon down to give the kids rides.

Magic Tree House

Killpacks had started a tree house in the pasture that separates our houses.  The kids and I got looking at it and decided that we could make some improvements.  (I was probably as excited or more than they were.)  We trimmed branches with the chain saw and put up a few more pallet platforms.  We hung a swing and put up a pulled system with a bucket.  Clubs were formed and bylaws written.  Picnic lunches were packed over and eaten in the leafy tree tops.  It became a place that the kids and friends would go.  Really though, it was just a fun place to go and get away.  I don't think a tree house will ever lose it's magic to transport one back to the years of childhood.

Spring Work

There's always so much to be done in the spring.  Ground work, fertilize, spray weeds, and clean up.  It's great now that my crew can do a lot of the jobs.

 The promise of a fire seemed to do the trick.  It was a win-win since we were able to burn the stumps of what was left of an odd-positioned lilac bush in the backyard.

 Nothing compares in smell to a smoky campfire or sticky kids from perfectly golden marshmallows.

My McGee

Life with McGeezy is never dull.  She keeps things lively.  Her food preferences.  She goes through stages when she doesn't like butter or lettuce, but she has never been a fan of bubbles in her nose from pop.

Her bedhead.

Her outfits.

Her desire to help.

Her early morning snuggles.

 Her trigger boy.

 Egg washing extrodinaire.

Springtime

It seems like over night the weather changes and there is always so much to be done in the yard.  Cleaning out the old and getting ready for another season.  The kids are always after me to get the garden planted.  They are the onion, pea, and corn planters.

Dandelions never disappoint.

The propane tank is sure to be bustling with a nest full of hungry baby robins.

As soon as the snow melts, I think Trigger starts panting and looking for shade.  We try to help him out with a good combing and haircut.

Popcorn popping on the apple tree.

Another Ag Day

Ag day got it's start when the FFA alumni wanted a program that would provide opportunities for our FFA chapter to interact with younger kids and educate them about agriculture.  Out of my love for agriculture and desire to help our FFA chapter, I volunteered to get it up and running.  

The local FFA chapter is run quite differently than I remember chapters functioning.  After scheduling meetings and trying to get kids to take ownership, I realized that they were not going to provide the kind of event I felt the elementary kids deserved.  I continued to do more and the FFA did less.  To the point that they showed up the morning of with no idea what was really taking place.

Despite my frustration, it was rewarding to see the older kids interact and the elementary kids learn and internalize things they were being taught outside of a traditional classroom.

Putting together goody bags with donations I had gotten: Gossner milk, instant potatoes, pins, literature, and even seedlings for the 3rd and 4th graders.

 Potato station:  Kids were "sorted" according to size.  They talked about how much water is in potatoes and how they are dehydrated to preserve them and make them cheaper to ship around.

Forestry:  They talked about the importance of forests in Idaho and the different kinds of trees found in the forests.  They learned about growth rings and were able to make growth rings for themselves.

With Arbor day being the following day, we talked a little about the history of Arbor day and how they could participate.

 Bees:  Val Barnes has been such an interesting presenter on bees.  He had his live observation hive, a suit, smoker, and honey to share.  The kids are so intrigued, they could stay there all day.

 Dairy:  We have used the Farm Bureau's fiberglass milk cow.  The kids love "milking" the cow.  They also get small containers of cream to shake into butter.

 Wheat:  A presentation on wheat in followed by an opportunity for students to grind wheat with little hand crank grinders.

The activities become full circle when they get a fresh whole wheat roll to spread their butter on.  They can then top it with tasty honey from hardworking bees.

 The kids always enjoy the equipment display and petting zoo.

 It has been a wonderful event that I've taken pride in organizing.