Photo Shoot Sunday: The Many Faces Of Evelyn

(may 2011)

Evie The Graduate

Way back in May Evelyn had her Preschool Graduation for her first year of Preschool.

Her awesome teach Miss Jill put on an amazing program.

It was too fun and so so cute to see all of the kids do their part.

I especially loved seeing the kids come in during their march.

Evie got super embarrassed and it was so fun to watch.

I loved the part when each of the kids got to tell us what they want to be when they grow up.

Of course Evie said Princess.

We had a great year with Miss Jill and are looking forward to another one.

Riding Lawn Mowers

**I have no idea why my post is spaced like this. I have tried to fix it about 6 times. I give. Sorry**

We live on a half acre and we are an anomaly in the neighborhood.

We are the only family without a riding lawn mower.

Why? You ask. Because I refuse to get one.

Here are my reasons:

#1 I like the exercise it provides.

Here's where I let out a little dark secret about myself.

It always makes me snicker a little inside when I see one of my neighbors, who also happens to give us the most grief over not owning a riding lawn mower. And who is also used to zipping along on his mower, beverage in hand,

with his yearly expanding ponch,

and is usually done with his half acre in 20 minutes,

be reduced to pushing his mower while his riding variety is in the shop.

I feel a little ripple of pleasure watching him struggle up and down the lawn,

(taking almost two hours, like the crazy Mills family)

while I cruise along like it's nothing. hee hee.

It makes me feel good inside.

I know, I know, I'm terrible. Normal. Human. Terrible. Yep, that's me.

Here's where I will try to redeem myself.

#2 I grew up on around two acres.

With a huge garden, and lots of variety of little animals to take care of, etc.

There were plenty of opportunities for learning work ethic.

Come hell or high water, I WILL teach my kids work ethic.

Since we live in a slightly different environment than I grew up in
I have to take every opportunity I can to teach my kids this wonderful trait.

Which is why I put my foot down every single time the riding lawn mower issue gets brought up.

Every. Single. Time.

We can get one when the kids are grown and I don't feel equal to the task.

This year two more of our kids are joining the family ranks of hand pushed lawn mowers.

Ally:

And Ryland:
Because our kids are born with sticks for arms, we have found that we generally have to wait til around the age of 8 before we turn em loose with the mower.
The year the kids turn 8 they get to mow the lower, flatter part of the back yard.

Which Ryland is doing this year.

They eventually graduate to including the other, more hilly part of the back yard.

Which Ally at almost 10 is doing this year.

Ethan has graduated to doing the ENTIRE front lawn this year.

At age 12 we felt he was finally ready. It's almost all hilly and slanted which

makes it a bit more of a beast to do.

I will admit.

I enjoy watching it get done while I work in the flower beds or the vegetable garden.

However, I do LOVE to mow the lawn and this year is bittersweet for me.

While I have had opportunities to mow, thank you scout camp, I have had to turn most of

it over to the kids this year.

Bittersweet for sure.

But it is worth it in the end if it brings me to the ultimate goal of teaching

my kids how to work hard and contribute.