Back to School

This summer has been one of many changes in our local school district. A lot of these changes have had adverse effects on Addie. 2 of her FFA officer team left the district, 3 ASB officers left as well. These people were friends and indicators that somethings are wrong at the high school. We believe in working to lift where you stand. With all the changes and sadness of loosing friends and good teachers we realized the need to put more effort into the remaining friends. Thus when the young women went roller skating we encouraged Addie to go so she and this friend could spend some time together.

 Addie quickly found herself in a new situation- very unskilled and unsure. She is usually the one in the know totally in control and helping others. This coupled with her fear of hurting her legs made for a very trying experience. However, Elle the friend, is patient and encouraging. She is super good with animals and has been raised to be patient, gentle, and calm. Thus with her help and knowledge she helped Addie get off the wall and make a few trips around the rink all without serious injury. 

I'm pretty sure Addie isn't going to take up skating as a hobby but this was a good lesson on friendship and trying something different made possible with a friends help. 

The two had started the day early with a 6:16 senior sunrise breakfast devotional for all remaining seniors at our school. This is new. No other kid has attended one of these. Again trying to retain and bolster what is left after the mass exodus that has occured district wide. 

The girls, then the whole class with their new senior shirts. 

Senior year is about memories and while they have already started this was a nice kick off. 

The day of back to school was very exciting. Somehow the kids forget year to year that the first couple days are just what rules to follow and getting to know you not actually learning. But they were anxious to go. 

After her first day of school she told me she was only sad when the day ended because she loved it so much. She looks forward to going back each morning even though she is really tired at night. 

Merle enjoys playing with off limit toys, and playing with Andrea and the dog. He misses his brothers a lot and asks often when they will be home. 

Andrea is a good helper and caretaker of mom and the dog. She is a sweet youngest but I do keep reminding her you are not a baby. Her tendency to whine and baby talk has got to go. I will also be taking her for speech therapy hoping early intervention will help her express more clearly all she wants to say. She talks a lot but I'm having trouble decoding all her stories. 

First week down only a million more to go. We are thankful for the dedicated teachers who make school unique and entertaining. At the end of the day in Aftons class kids get drawn at random to pick a jelly bean from a jar. These are multi flavored. Ear wax, strawberry, burnt toast, marshmallow. Yuck to me. But the kids are delighted to try their luck. 

Reed and Addie are sweating their way through after school workouts. Reed works hard at practice as we've told him games are won and lost in the 3 & 4th quarters depending on which team is in better condition. So thank your coaches for making you be the better conditioned team. Unfortunately as kids and parents get softer so does the effort level and amount asked of the kids. This will be an interesting football season. 

Livy heads to the shop after school to vacuum cars, run parts, do oil changes, and joke with Mark. She's going to miss him a lot. His teasing and teaching are unique. His brain misses the challenge of daily education so he teases even more. 

I think Addie might miss him most. For her entire life he has been pushing her around, helping her discern what is super worth worrying about and what needs to be let go. He has been an anchor to float around. She too has made him better, on time, and more responsible. The separation is always hard. I'm thankful the older ones have had time to work together and go to school together to still support and keep each other in check. 

 

fair prep

One special aspect of fair is the anticipation. The younger kids have come to expect a few hours baking time with mom to prepare some foods to enter in the fair. Andrea made bread. 

Merle made chocolate chip cookies. 

Lia made a few things and got to help clean-up. The amount of dishes we use in a day is staggering. 

Afton made banana bread. She made quite a bit of that this summer. I'm pleased with her advancement being able to follow a recipe and make tasty food. 

We had a lot of tears over this. Afton had painted her most favorite animal a cheetah as her final art project for the year. A sister somehow stabbed through the canvas thus ruining the picture. We got rid of it as it was no longer useful. When we couldn't find the picture many tears and insults were thrown. Livy found the remains in the burn pile. A few days later I remembered the why. Poor Afton she was very proud of this picture. 

Livy, Reed, and Bruce spent time gathering crops at our farm after getting the pivot moving again. Something happened that they had to spend a few hours fixing the pivot thus cancelling their time to go gather crops at Uncle Kevin and Papa's farm. We don't usually do  very well at the fair as our soil is just not as strong, deep, or water retaining as other places in the valley. But Reed found some very impressive samples and was proud to enter them in the fair. 

We got the pigs weighed early the next morning all made weight this year. Then it's time for their first bath. The strong stalls make for a secure handling environment. 

After picking beans we stopped to harvest some wheat for Addie to make a wheat sheaf. Livy helped.

The lead-up to this fair was rocky and stressful. With the resignation of the Ag teacher a lot fell on Addie's shoulders to answer questions, organize, and be the leader of the chapter. Another teacher volunteered to be the adult "sub" but the main make it happen was on Addie. She has been to countless training workshops and seminars and this time to actually be the leader, organizer, communicator has been good for her.  

Photo advertisements were completed for each chapter member. 

And with that we were headed to fair with lots of hope, excitement and caution about what could happen with the very conteneous lead up we were not sure how smooth the week would go. 

harvesting & canning

This summer has been lazy, busy, and nice. I so enjoy the busyness of everyone home and buzzing around. Now that school is back in session it is very quiet and lonely in the house. We did our usual canning. The kids are getting very capable and know the drill. The beans were abundant and we enjoyed quick picks. 

Andrea helped me for a bit with a knife. She is growing up yet so young. Being alone with her I realize again she does not speak well. But she is intent on doing what needs to be done and teasing Merle. She also really likes the dog.

Ahh the beautiful green of summer in the treasure valley. I'm so thankful for strong healthy kiddos who didn't fight me much on the picking this year. Bending over baby was not easy and I felt very queasy after. Popsicles were the perfect after bean treat. So refreshing and light on a woozy tummy. 

We also went one day and picked peaches and blackberries. 

We did corn a few times. We missed the men who use to help us shuck. Grandpa, Jack Torrey, even the older boys who have since left home. But these younger ones spurred on by Addie who actually enjoys corn preservation got the work done. 

Afton, Millie, Andrea, and Lia were my main peach canners. They did big pieces while I supervised and filled in where needed like filling jars and managing cooking times. 

We are really enjoying a lot of flowers this year. While the heads aren't as big as we remembered we do love the vibrant colors and have shared many bouquets with friends, teachers, and neighbors. 

A silly bean just for us. 

I grew up watching movies while we snapped. My kids aren't very quick at snapping when the are entertained that way. So we listen to audio books. Millie took this a step farther and read while she diligently snapped. Not that quick I will say but she got through her bag and her book. 

We made mixed vegetables to use in fried rice. That same day we had some visitors from Ohio come spend time with us. They helped arrange some flowers before they left. 

My up and coming workers full to the top with blackberries. They are learning the deliciousness of summer and working together. Yum yum. 

And one of the most tempting smells around. our tomatoes are coming on now we have an abundance. I love making sauce it is fulfilling to smell it, and see it in jars ready for suppers to come. We are signed up for several high school lunches and spaghetti will be on the menu. 

Since planting seeds in February we have been anticipating this season. We enjoy the abundance. Our garden is full of weeds/ cover crops but we are still reaping harvest. Might we get more with less weeds? Maybe? Am I able to do that right now no. So we are thankful for what we have and as always so thankful for the corn and beans my dad grows and the security of having full freezers and shelves for the next year. I'm thankful for time with my kiddos working, talking, and sharing in traditions.

Fair results

Seeing the different species of animals is always a highlight. This sweet FFA gal let the kids hold and pet her bunny. We will never have bunnies due to our high predator population but they are sure soft to pet.

This fair was especially gratifying in the awards categories. Merle won best cookie award. 

I had to go purchase a new irrigation pump before I got Andrea's bread baked so the other kids not caring, being busy, and not knowing did not time the raising right and the end product was not fair worthy. Andrea was very sad not to see her entry, but we had her pose by food and hope she will recover her sadness and we will try again next year. 

Surprisingly Lia got a first place judges choice award for her cherry pie. She did this herself I was so happy for her. 

Lia got third on her bon bons. These are so good, we thoroughly enjoyed the ones left at home. 

Bruce got second on his red potatoes he was not happy that all he entered was potatoes. Some years are just like that there isn't time to do everything. He did a lot at home keeping everything moving, fed, and watered while the others were of enjoying the fair. 

Reed placed first on his field corn entry. We were so surprised. 

First on his sunflower head there is a test plot of them in our corn field. The scientiest is working to find root worm controls. 

First on his red potatoes. 

2nd on sweet corn but we all enjoyed eating it no matter how it was judged. 

My kids aren't the best showmen but they do the work and get the reward. 

Everyone improved their showing results though and that is growth. Afton enjoyed her pig much more in such a controlled environment. Prior to fair there were many threats she would not go because she refused to work with her pig. The wide open spaces we have to work in require patience, and control. Learning with the new dog has helped the kids understand more the way to be the boss with an animal. But with these solid small pens and walkways Afton was much more confident and had a great fair experience. 

After a long hot sale day we enjoyed lunch with Greg at Red Apple grocery store. The kids know dad is always good for a couple ice cream treats. 

 

It was just so nice to be out of the sun and heat. Fair is always hot and being pregnant makes that more pronounced. I always love having Greg with me at the fair. The kids did well with the sale of their animals people are very generous supporting 4-H and FFA members work efforts. 

FFA members commented how smooth and uneventful fair turned out to be. I'm thankful for that. We will miss Addie's all knowing, always there fair presence. We had that with Aliza too. We shall see what next year brings but she is definitely the expert.