Its been a truely marvelous weekend. Our yard looks 500 bazillion times better. Maybe even 600. Its so nice to get that much work done, and to not have to look out of my computer window and see work.
My kids were fabulous sports and worked there little hearts out. They never complained, never grumped, just trudged on and on. And kept asking "What do you want to do next?" 
We as a result rewarded them and told Zeria and Kaylin we would pay them each $10 for the weekends work. Jamari and Rainee $8. Samuel was on a different deal as he did some special projects so he ended up doing $15. He used his muscles and his hammer and did some major deconstruction for me. MAJOR. HE took apart a very well built set of steps (the ones we took down when we built the sunroom). A old wooden couch, and a old gutting table. (Gutting fish) Two out of the three were relics from the previous owner. They had to come down so we could burn them. He LOVES to deconstruct. ROFL.
The money seems like a lot in some ways--but on Saturday they quite literally worked 6 hours with very little breaks. And not because I forced them, but because they were good sports. They don't get an allowance, we just offer them "extra" jobs when they want spending money, and the rest of them time there required to help out because well they eat here. Rob and I just felt like they deserveda bonus this weekend. They were major troopers! If you could have seen some of the things they helped me haul to the fire. *proud mom*
We didn't always work. We kept having to let the fire burn down. So we sit by the fire and watch it, or lay in he grass, or they'd run around. But it was still a lot of work.
Rainee spent an hour raking the driveway. Getting all the little sticks that needed to go bye-bye. She LOVES the rake.
Kaylin has become my little worker bee. Everytime I begin another project within 30 seconds she's beside me asking to help--or just pitching in and helping where she can. She loves mom time, and figures this is a good way to get it. She's becoming quite effecient too. 
Last night after they'd already put in a hard days at work I left everybody enjoying the fire and snuck into the house to make dinner. Rainee came in a few minutes later and said "Mom can I help?" She ended up unloading the dishwasher (with my help) And doing multiple errands. Because of her the weekends destruction zone in the kitchen was cleaned up in 12-15 minutes. What troopers.
Kaylin taking a rest in the buttercups. She'd EARNED it!
Zeria the first part of Saturday wasn't much into helping, and I didn't push it. But about 11 she realized how much fun the other kids were having began to volunteer to work, and then announced "This is fun I like burning--except its hot." I laughed at her and said. "It makes everything look clean doesn't it." And she agreed that's why it was fun, it was good to see our yard become pretty again.
Zeria taking a goof-of break. Or is that being goofy?
Samuel has just gotten so strong. We kept lifting these 8 foot long railroad ties. They were HEAVY. But he never once complained, instead beamed as he lifted his end up. "I'm strong mom!" He'd announce, and I would grin and agree.
Jamari has been the "little" boy. And has for the most part been required to not do too much. Take care of his own stuff--and mostly just be a gopher for mom. But in the last couple weeks he's taken this huge jump in maturity. Now when dad wants something lifted he has two strong sons. I'm constantly amazed what Jamari can suddenly carry, and do. We have this big huge HEAVY gate across our driveway. It has to be opened and shut each time we leave our property. It has to be drug across the driveway as its hung wrong and sits on the ground. Its a awful job. And he does it now with aplomb. Kaylin can't even begin to open it--we know she's tried. LOL So this weekend when Samuel and I couldn't lift it--we'd call Jamari and his added strength was what we needed.
Jamari has tended in the past to be a bit of a mamby pamby--so its fun to see him taking pride in his strength, and watch him mature.
And yes even Jeremiah worked. HE found sticks his size about once every five to fifteen minutes. He'd bring them over to me. "I throw in fire?" "Yes, you can throw it in the fire." He'd beam from ear to ear and chuck it--most of the time missing. And then wander off to play on the swingset, push his bike around or climb trees. Too cute. Yes, this weekend he learned to climb trees. He's 2 and a half. TOO YOUNG. That stump I put the video up. Its ten feet off the ground. As a result he wore himself up. And after one of his moilky breaks on mommy he fell asleep. Samuel brought me his blanky, and we layed him in the buttercups where he slept for over an hour. So sweet.
The video of him climbing doesn't do a great job of showing the height of the stump. So I had to share this one;
I can't explain the euphoria spending that much time in my yard burning and working gives to me. I think the thing is. YOu spend 5-10 minutes loading the fire and then you can sit and watch the mezmerizing fire burn it all away until the raging beast becomes managable, and then you add some more to the beast. ITs amazing the power, and the beauty, and how much it cleans.
And I can sit with my feet up and watch the mess disappear.
What do ya think they dirty enough????
