5.3.11

I was just analyzing, yet again, my coupon grocery shopping trip of yesterday. I was feeling let down I didn't get the ultimate sale price on some items. Then Mark rushed in breathless.  "A gopher is sticking out of it's hole! We've got to call dad and have him come kill it." Knowing that a gopher would be long gone before dad got home, and knowing even more so my total inability and unwillingness to take out a gopher I suggested we call dad and tell him (thinking the gopher would burrow back in the ground end of exciting story.) Well Mark called and talked to dad. Dad said go kill it. Mark goes to report to his brothers. A few minutes later still worrying about the dollars I didn't save on tortillas with cinco de mayo coming up and major sales coming,  Harold comes in and says simply I killed the gopher. 

What? This is not an easy feat. He explained he dug it out with a stick and then killed it. Now before you feel sorry for the gopher or worry my son is harming innocent animals. A) it is a rodent see the teeth UGH!, B) These are major agricultural pests cause thousands of dollars worth of damage a year. And if they were making foot high and foot wide mounds in your yard and you had to mow it or had planted grass and got it to finally grow you just might shoot it yourself. C) no he did not use a gun. that would be irresponsible. and D) there is a gopher bounty and so Harold earned a dollar. Maybe 5 from mom who is majorly scared of rodents. He also kills mice. thank goodness my freaking out has not transferred to him. I really try to praise his macho-ness of killing rodents. I gotta be protected from those awful creatures. Seriously I really don't like rodents. So after I saw the evidence and then had to get the camera to share my boys awesomeness! I realized so what about the dollars lost we had a great week. And last week I was almost jumping for joy at the hundred dollars I saved with coupons so you win some you loose some.

 
This last week finished out the ground work here on the farm. The kids of course loved going for rides. Only two at a time but it was great as long as it lasted. The fields look great and are waiting for a quick trip of the pivot/sprinklers and then planting. After a morning ride we went to their favorite place in town, the bank or the sucker place. All the kids love to go there. We also got busy on our pinewood derby car.
 

Harold first drew it out on paper and listed the painting colors then he and Greg went and cut it out. Then the real fun began sanding! Man if you want to keep boys busy for days give them a block of wood and sand paper. It was great. John took a handsaw and cut his own piece of wood and used the cut out of Harold's car to make his look like Harolds'. They sanded and sanded. Aliza provided quality control and advice. 

 
I had to include the picture of Addy and John doing dishes. I didn't take that picture. I feel like the only one who does dishes here so I had to send proof they work when I'm not paying attention. We also got to enjoy cousin Megan for a few days last week.

Harold showing his sanded car. We painted it blue with a black pin stripe. Thank goodness I had watched a car show at Ben & NAtalie's this fall or we would have been significantly less cool. But we taped and painted. Next morning after it had dried we began sanding wheels. Harold was more excited to put on the fancy decals from Grandma Corn but I reminded him that wheels not stickers make the car go. We forgot to sand the nails. Didn't know how very important this step was/is. Next year is our mantra. Greg and the kids signing in at the race. He is trying to attach the weights. Kinda ironic the money he has in tools at his shop a mere two blocks away and not a one to screw in the weights. oh well. Again another important  issue we will better do next year.
 

However, and the most important so it's going in caps. HAROLD WAS ESTATIC! HE SAYS HE PLACED 2ND. SO WHAT IF HE DIDN'T. HE AND HIS DAD AND MOM DID A PROJECT TOGETHER. IT WORKED, IT WAS FUN!  Although Greg said it felt like his fatherhood ability was on the line it may have been but in another way. It's about the time and working together to bring a dream to life! Harold was so excited to report to family. It was pretty amazing to see the cars. There were some very fancy ones. It was great to see the boys, dads, grandparents, leaders etc. support, cheer, and anxiously await results. It was one of those great nights were there are no losers. Really, kids need that kind of experience. Do the work compete and loose some win some. Don't get me wrong I'm not anti-competition I'm not that was the motivating force to sand for days. But I'm against obsessive competition where there is a "LOOSER!" There was a kid that won. It was  cool to watch his car compete. His dad told us he had made it that day it was the same as all the others he had made for his other boys- they all won too. This is his last boy so John, Mark, and Reed may have a prayer of winning. But maybe HArold will too. Who knows.? Note: Dad's that are experienced did better than the newbies. I doubt that boy was as excited as HArold because this was our families first experience with racing.  
 
After the race the boys helped put the track away. It was so cute Mark pulling and Reed assisting.
 
This last week was full of surprises and family teamwork. We learned, experienced, and lived much family stuff. I am grateful again and again when times are tough, stressful, joyful, and normal it is great to have a BIG team of support, encouragement, and love. I am also thankful for some of my faith questions being answered by a very loving God. Faith is a slow process like watching a garden finally produce fruit... but it is real just like we have all had fresh vegetables grown from a garden I learned I do have a lot of faith that has come from years of trying to believe and let God be in charge.
 
I read a quote today from Gordon B. Hinckley's daughter on why he was so optimistic about life. She said he believed so much in God and HIs ability and presence in the affairs of this world that he (Gordon) knew everything would eventually be alright. And that worry, stress, and pessimism did not change God's direction or course. It was better said but the main gist is believe more worry less. Working on it.

Best to you all. Hopefully we will continue catching rodents and ridding the world of these pests quickly.