Birthdays on the Farm

We recently had a farm birthday party for the kids. Sam is 6, Eli is 2, and Cora will be 4 in a few weeks. (Note of God's goodness: We always wanted our kids 2 years apart. When we began the adoption process we figured that "plan" was out the window. Guess who is 3 weeks shy of 2 years younger than Cora? God gives us the desires of our heart.)

So we invited family and friends down to the farm to help us celebrate. It turned out to be a GREAT time. Its so fun to watch kids play, and I especially enjoy sharing a bit of the farm with non-farm kids.

Our fun included sack races, bobbing for apple slices and strawberries (more boys liked this than girls), and hunting for candy and small toys in a straw pile. We also had Dandy the calf in the yard and gave him his bottle and feed. We fed popcorn to the chickens. We had a playhouse, tee pee, rocking horse, stick horses, cowboy and Indian costumes, ropes, guns, and a bow with arrows for the kids to play with. And of course we ended the evening with a hayride, and it wasn't just any hayride. We rode in the hog hauler, which has tall sides, therefore Grandpa figured no one could fall out and so he could go fast!

We snacked on veggie and fruit trays. I made lots of cupcakes, then set out various colored icing and toppings so the kids could decorate their own. They really liked the gummy worms, sprinkles, and jelly beans. Nana also made an awesome tractor cake. It was so good we didn't want to cut it, Eli just slowly picked much of the icing off. He still talks about the tractor cake.

Cora and her best buddies were rounded up by cowboy Cruse.

Dandy didn't mind all the attention, as long as he got his bottle. What a big baby! The kids in the background are searching the straw pile for goodies.

Eli was all smiles.

A few days after the party we took our bikes and tractor to the turkey building. It was cleaned out and powerwashed for a new flock. The kids had a blast with all that room to ride.

Ausbrooks Family Home School is back in session. Today was the first day. Sam is in first grade, kind of. We got through 3/4 of the kindergarten material, and we've not touched it since mid-June so we have some catching up to do. I love that about homeschooling. He doesn't have to keep up with anyone else. Today we reviewed to see what he remembered. He's definitely forgot a bit, but it comes back very easily. I think in a few weeks will be plowing fresh ground. Cora is in preschool, and anxious to do things right along with Sam.

I am learning that I have to make school a priority if I want Sam to also. But I also have to be flexible. For example today we had a great morning, with Bible, calendar, phonics, writing. Then we had to go feed Dandy (lesson on responsibility right?). We had more to do after that, but while we were at Dandy Uncle David came to work in the baby turkeys. They are 5 days old, and he was ready to take the pens down and take out water jars. So, we helped. The kids did a great job. It was fun and hard work all together. After that they went with David to check a cow, and they found she had calved and they got to see the new baby (who made Dandy look big to them). They came home from lunch and after that Nana stayed with the older kids while Sam and I went to Meme's (my grandma) to can relish. Most of the ingredients are home grown, and Sam helped us chop and measure. We did do some reading, math, and science while took a nap in the late afternoon.

This wasn't the day I'd planned, but it was a good day. Education comes in many forms. I think time spent with the other generations of our family is invaluable. Lessons on hard work, team work, life cycles, and food supply are so much better learned in reality than books. So, our school may look much different than most, but I pray God can use our opportunities to turn our kids' hearts toward Him and our family.

Finally, I have to show off the beautiful flowers I recently received from my sweety. Thanks Josh, I love you!