The Fam on the Farm.

Well we just got back from the hot, stifling, humidity drenched, heat in Kansas. Boy was it hot.

The first day we were there Jack wanted to head to town to play with his cousins. I said I would take him in and as we were pulling out of my parents driveway he looked at the fields of corn and asked why they weren't picking the corn. I told him it was because it wasn't ready yet. This led him to say, "Boy, it sure is going to take them a long time to pick all those pieces of corn."

Okay, let me stop right here. I grew up on a farm so I guess I take this for granted, you know, how food actually get to the magic store of Walmart. How corn is harvested and what corn us used for. Not to mention the difference between field corn and sweet corn. I realized at this moment that this is something my son had not been around or educated on. There was a missing link, but we were about to connect it all. Now, back to the story...

I told him people didn't go out and pick each ear of corn there was a machine called a combine that harvested the corn. I realize there were a lot of words in that sentence he may not understand so I explained further. He hung on every word then followed by asking "Is it really important to learn to ride a bike?" Okay, random. I tell him yes it is important and how it will improve his little life and provide all these important life skills like balance, confidence, toughness, how to do his taxes and pay his mortgage someday. Okay the last two maybe not but I was emphasizing that he needed to learn and not give up being able to ride without training wheels. 

As we were entering town he noticed a field with a different crop. He asked what that field was and I said "Soybeans." He got all excited and said , "Oh!! Like Edamame!" I was thinking... are you kidding me? Oh how I have failed as a parent first the corn, then the bike conversation and now edamame. What is wrong with this picture - he needed an appreciation of farm life. I said, "Well, yes, I guess edamame is one of the products from soybeans but they are used for much more. I again explained. After dropping him off at his cousins I drove home and put the educational plan in place...

I got home, marched inside and asked my dad what he was doing the following days. I said I need you and Ross to take Jack to the sale barn. I want him to see how it works. I want him to see how cattle are sold and then I would like you to go eat at the sale barn restaurant - have a burger - it's full circle. :-)

Now, I live in an area where poultry is king. We see chicken and turkey trucks all the time, it is a norm. Ever since he was in preschool he would ask - where are they takin those chickens? I would simply say, "To the plant where they will slaughter them and make them into chicken nuggets." Sorry folks, I'm not trying to be politically correct just honest. 

 

Long story short, they went to the sale barn. I gave him a simple rule - don't raise your hand. I didn't want to come home with a herd of cattle. LOL. I don't think our POA would appreciate that much. He enjoyed it, learned some and the links were falling in place for his learning curve of farm life. 

Here are some of the pictures from our trip back to KS. Fun times, relaxing and great to see family.
This is the perfect summer picture.Kids having fun riding their bikes after a cool dive on the slip-N-slide.

On those hot humid evenings the best place to find these boys was on the porch eating popsicles.

The best way to stay cool on a hot day is nothing else than the ole faithful slip-N-slide. 

One of my nephews - what a cutie!

My niece. She is super cute and quite the athlete. We caught a t-ball game of hers and it was a lot of fun. We don't get to see their sports that often so when we are back and get to it is a real treat!

Jackson was upset in this picture but it only lasted a short time because grandma and grandpa were making homemade vanilla ice cream and it was almost done! He loves playing with his cousins. Loves it so much he stayed for an extra week!

Friends of my family, the Stadlers, brought some of the best sweet corn we have ever had. It was so sweet and we didn't hear any complaints from the twins - especially Jake. Josh was eating the cob and all - I had to cut him off - who knew what that would do to his little tummy. We all loved it! Yum-O

Josh was wanting to climb a tree after he saw my niece climb one. Maybe in a few years... Josh always has some sort of food on his face. Is it a sign of a good eater or a messy kid? TBD.

After sitting outside helping make or "watch" the ice cream as it was made. It was super hot but I am trying to smile as I came inside to the cool air. Ahhh...

One of my favorite things - watching storms roll in....

and then the ice cream was done.... It was the first time the twins had ice cream like this and I think they would have eaten the whole thing if we would have let them.

I love this look. It was like.. "Really, you're going to give me a bowl when I have all this in front of me? I don't think so...."

Yum-O! it was worth the wait...

"I will not take my eyes off the spoon of ice cream... I will not take my eyes off the spoon of ice cream.."

And then the trip was over. I didn't get pictures of my older nephews, they are teenagers and growing up so fast. It is fun to see them taller than their mom now, and hear about their activities and what's going on with them. They're a lot of fun to hang out with. It went really fast but we will be back to visit soon and hopefully it will be cooler and Jack can see how the corn is harvested.

Comments

[Amanda]

Love this posting! I'm glad you included a picture of yourself too :)