Tractors vs Machetes

In preparation for our new horse that will be coming soon, the boys have been working hard to get the pens cleaned up and ready. Sunday they will be making a trip to go pick out what Brandon wants. A reward for working hard all summer. We have decided for the most part that we will bring the horse to it's new home after the winter. We are not experienced with horses and winters seem to be harder so we are going to wait until the spring. But he will go take a look to see if he is partial to one.

So being the good parents we are, we allowed our children to work hard and build character in preparing for the new animal by handing them sharp, long machetes and told them to "Get to work!!!" So here is my youngest son whacking away at the grass and brush that is as tall as he is.

What??? I told them to be careful okay??? I told them to watch for snakes!!! Geez! What kind of mother do you take me for??

I don't seem to have any pictures of the other two boys but that doesn't mean they worked any less than this boy. You'd be surprised at the amount of work boys will do when you give them permission to use machetes!

So here he works; and they worked and they worked! For about a week they whacked! And they got blisters. And they got sweaty. And they got dirty. And they didn't care!! But it was moving a little slow...

Dad starts helping. There was trash hidden under grass and other junk they had to clear to get ready for...

(Cue music) The Tractor!!! Even Buzz had to give a moment of silence and awe.

That tractor did in 5 seconds what it took my babies an hour to do!

The King of his Throne! He spent hours on this thing. And only once did he pick up barbed wire which put a pause in the shredding.

It sure helped to have this tractor. We borrowed it from a friend that lives in the next town over. Did you know it takes about an hour to drive a tractor 10 miles?

He certainly was enjoying himself.

And it cost us less than $30! We uh...had a flat tire....

But it was all worth the time and trouble.

Our pens are cleared for the most part. There are a few trees and branches to be trimmed and some wire that needs to be removed but we have all winter to work on that!

We are lovin' it up here! I just can't believe how blessed we are to have this opportunity. We have found our place in the universe!