Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree farm we have been going to closed last year and the closest we could find with a tree taller than 4 feet was in Center. So, the Sunday after Thanksgiving we braved the rain and cold and headed to Center. I am glad we went when we did because the farm in Center was low on the larger trees too. 

Our Christmas tree 2020. 

It is around 9 feet tall and has a bit of a crooked trunk. 

Cason cut down the tree all by himself this year and did a great job. 

All finished!!

Turkey Trot 1K and 5K

Thanksgiving morning the kids and Bradley ran the Turkey Trot. Eli and Bradley ran the 1K and then Bradley, Cason, and Emory ran the 5K. 

Pre- race social distancing picture. 

Eli did a great job and pretty much ran the entire time. He was super proud of his medal. 

Several friends from school ran the 5K too. Post-race Regent's Runners picture! 

1st Trimester Report Cards

Last month the kids brought home their first trimester report cards. 

Eli has had a great first trimester of school. He likes certain parts of school (socializing and talking about farms) and dislikes others (rest time). Mrs. V told us last night that Eli has talked up farming so much all the boys but one now want to be a farmer like him. 

Both Emory and Cason picked up right where they left off when COVID hit last year and continue to do well in school. They both earned all A's this trimester. 

6th Grade Field Trip

Two weeks ago Emory's class took a field trip to Cane River Creole National Historic Park just outside Natchitoches, LA. The park includes two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations in the United States, Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. 

The front gate at Oakland Plantation, which was founded by Jean Pierre Emanuel Prud'homme in 1789. 

 One of the many huge Live Oak tress on the property. This one stood just outside an enslaved houses. 

We discovered a bee hive up in the tree. If you look you can see two honey combs. 

This setee was on the porch of the big house. I thought it was an interesting design. 

In front of the big house. Everything was period to the time it was built, except the kitchen was 1950ish. 

A view of the front gate taken from the front porch of the big house. 

A huge cane syrup pot that was just outside the big house. 

After touring Oakland we drove a few miles down the road to the Magnolia Plantation. Magnolia was established by Ambrose LeCompte II in 1835, however 1753, Jean Baptiste LeCompte I received a land grant and started farming the land would later become part of Magnolia. The big or main house suffered significant damager during the Civil War, which was later rebuilt. We were not able to tour the big house as it stands today because it is privately owned. We were able to see it off in the distance and saw that it suffered some damage from Hurricane Laura which hit back in August. 

Some of the enslaved living quarters at Magnolia. 

We were able to see a cotton gin and a square cotton baler at Magnolia, both of these still stand in the barn. 

Emory standing next to one of the cotton bales. 

This is what they used to bale cotton. The park ranger told us there are only two left still standing in the U.S. This one and one that was found outside of Tyler, TX and moved to Texas Tech University. 

A view from the side. 

A view from the front. 

Emory and I took a picture of this old square hay baler to show Eli. The kids had a great time on the field trip and were able to see what they have been learning about in history. 

Fictional Character Day

Today is Fictional Character Day at school! 

Eli went as Old McDonald, Cason Joe Hardy from the Hardy Boys, and Emory one of the Three Blind Mice. Two of Emory's friends were dressing as the other blind mice. Cason took along his Hardy Boys book to prove he was in fact Joe and not Cason. He said he was going for comfortable this year! 

 

FBC Fall Fest

This year because of COVID our FBC Fall Fest looked a little different. Unable to have hundreds of people in the building we were not able to invite the public and had to take the fun outside. We had a trunk or treat with families scheduling a time to arrive and walk through to keep the numbers down. The weather was dreary and wet but the kids still had fun seeing all the different trunks and of course getting lots of candy. 

Eli and Cate (AKA Dori) He was a little hesitant standing next to Dori, even though we told him it was Cate dressed as a fish. Eli went as a deer hunter this year, that would be the end of his gun sticking out from behind his head! 

Cason and Weston. 

The OCC trunk!!

 Emory worked the Merge (6th grade) trunk and helped pass out candy. They all dressed as characters from the Bible to go along with their theme. 

We had around 30 trunks to visit, but because of the rain I was wasn't able to get many pictures. 

Piney Woods Fair- Goat Show

 Friday morning was the goat show at the fair. The show started off with showmanship and this year both Cason and Emory participated. They both did great and were pulled out and in the top 5. Emory won grand champion junior showman and Cason placed top 5 in his first showmanship. They both did great and we were super proud of them both!

Emory and Cason during showmanship. 

Grand Champion Junior Showman

Cason during the goat show. Cason placed 1st in his class and was 5th overall. 

Emory during the goat show. She was in a tough class and placed 3rd in class and was 6th overall. 

Emory won this buckle and $40 in cash in junior showmanship. 

While waiting to go in the ring Skittles took a bite out of Emory's number, he is always hungry. Overall we had a great fair week with both kids making the premium sale with their chickens and goats!