Jenika's Day Out...

Jenika's Kindergarten class had a day out of the classroom today. They took a field trip to Hands on House, A Park for lunch, and then to Hayloft Candle Barn where they got ice cream and visited the petting zoo...

The day started early for me with needing to do some work in the laundry room, packing lunches, cleaning up breakfast dishes, tiding up beds, before dropping off Javon at Rachel Ann, then meeting the class at school where I drove the big van full of excited children! Jenika and I made good use of the insulated Bots containers today!! I heated up soup this morning and it hit the spot at lunch time! The day was chilly and eating out in the cold is not my idea of fun, but the soup did help to warm up our inners some.

Hand on House was great!! We were the only group there and I could tell that was a huge benefit!! The kids had so much fun at each station and at times it was hard to push them along!! Especially at the grocery store station!!... They could pick up a basket and a grocery list then check out there groceries... Some of them did it over and over!! It looks easy!! Think I might try this one at home! I think they would spend hours playing with a set up like this!!

 

 

The face painting station was a highlight and the rest of the days pictures had the paint included...I tried her request... A  blue and yellow Butterfly...

The ice cream was a hit even if it was a little on the chilly side...

Everyone that knows Jen well enough knows how she loves animals!!! Especially horses!!! So a few times when I did not see her with the group I went back to look for her and always this is where I would find her!!!... Feeding the donkeys!!

 

She spent her three quarters on food for the animals, she loved every minute of it and made use of every piece that came out of the machine!! The baby ducks was also something she declared would swim right up to her (which she would love!!) were I only to let her wade into the water after them!  The fence was definitely not something she saw as a warning sign to "keep out"!!:) She often asked me to just lift her over!! Me being the proper (obey that sign) and cautious type, of course set her straight, but given the option she would walk up to any animal without any fear!...:)

These two gals are great buds...:)

I had so much fun with you today Jenika!!... I loved creating patterns with you, painting your face, making birds, leaping frogs, having lunch together... I love you!  Your love for adventure amazes me over and over...:)

 

Now to come home and find energy to do the work that is screaming my name...:) A day like this is tiring to me!:) I'm not sure if it's trying to keep up with the kids in energy level or just being on my feet so much already today but the cup of coffee I just enjoyed will need to kick me into another gear because we have projects going on around here that need attention tonight. We need to plant a few bushes that are crying to get planted and the mulch pile is still not completely finished... It would be so much more exciting were it warm outside but it sounds like warmer tomorrow...Yay!!!

A chilly Spring so far!!!

 

This was us yesterday... I worked like a man yesterday!! No need for a gym that day!!:)  My shoulders are still feeling it!! It was fun though and I did take about a half hour to sun my face (out of the wind) in between projects...:)

 

I edged around the garden in preparation for the wood chips then we dug up a patch of grass where the grape arbor will go... It was work digging up the grass with a shovel but Jenika and Javon helped load the grass onto the cart and the job got done...:) Justin got home just in time to finish for me!! He rescued me after my shoulders felt like they were on fire...:) We are also pushing our mower again! The self propel gave out AGAIN and I like to mow the small front and back yards with this small mower... (It's almost seen it's last days!) Justin rescued me when I was pushing the thing the other day! It felt like my shoulders were on fire then to! Maybe one of these days they will just get used to it...? Love my hard working young man...:) THANKS Justin!!

 

I let my Little's take all the pictures they want when they get there hands on the camera...:) Sometimes I can even use some of them...:) but often I just delete awhile cause many of them go like this...:)

 

We also got the pea wire put up yesterday... since the peas are peeking out...:)

 The strawberry patch is in it's third year and looking really healthy...:) Last summer I replanted many shoots off of this patch onto the bank in the back ground beside the shed... I wasn't sure if they would come because it was in hot July when I planted them  but we  kept them watered and they must like the spot because they are also coming up very nicely!! We love strawberries so I'm excited about filling up this bank with berries as well as the bed...

Last evening we then packed up and headed to my parents to do some mulching for them. We made a family night out of it and with the many hands at it the work got done in short order...:)

The guys dump and the ladies spread...

 

My Mom insisted we stop what we are doing so she can take a picture of all her kids...:) It's not the best and we are so dirty from a days hard work but mom took it and it was special to her...:) My siblings and I at our worst...:)

 

Smoky always mans the weed eater and does all the trimming...:)

The adorable kiddos all run around having a blast together!!!:) They even got to watch the neighbor milk his cow by hand!! Jenika got as close as she possibly could without milking the thing herself!!:)  Can't wait to spend a few days with this crew at the cabin this week-end! We are all looking forward to it very much!!:)

Coffee break is long over but I'm still waiting to feel the kick...:) Off to gather the family together for an evening of outside work around here...:) I love the outdoors way better then working inside!:) But bring on warmer weather!!:)