Heidi Fieldtrip

Each class at the boys school has a book that they read through over the school year, study the time in which it took place, the location, the culture and other pertinent things about the book. This year Brian's class read Heidi. The fieldtrip consists of the kids getting dressed up in character, and going to a local home or property where they do crafts, projects and activities that were either found in the book, or would have been done in the location/time frame the book took place in. Even their snack and lunch is part of the theme.

When Brian chose who he wanted to be from the book, he wanted to make sure none of the other boys would dress the same as him, so no Peter for him, he wanted to be Grandfather. For weeks beforehand he was telling me all the details of the costume that was important to him. On the top of his list was bushy eyebrows a beard and mustache. He wanted me to spray his hair gray, and he wanted a pipe and walking stick. The pipe and walking stick were vetoed right away, but I promised him I'd work on the facial hair and gray hair spray. He was SO excited! Then the day before the fieldtrip I took him to the fabric store to get the final touches. Some felt, ric-rack, and fabric glue to make his lederhosen (because I DON'T sew ) He was very confused about this process, so I pulled out my phone, googled some images, and he proceeded to FREAK OUT! "MOM, there is NO WAY, I'm wearing anything like that! I'm going to look like a DORK! NONE of the other boys are going to wear something like that!!!!!!!" And then he stomped off and pouted.

What are you kidding me?????? The kid had NO hesitation with spraying his hair gray and wearing a gray bushy eyebrows and facial hair, but THIS is going too far????

I bought the supplies anyway, figuring Daddy was staying home with the kids that night while I went out to get a pedi and dinner with Tana. I was hoping that coming from Daddy, things would look "cooler".

The next morning we woke up and Brian couldn't wait to get into his costume! I waited to the very last second to glue on the facial hair, thinking it would last all of 5 minutes before it either fell off, or he pulled it off. Just gotta say, he kept it on all day! Taking it off only to eat, and then put it back on! That was the best $3 I spent on a costume!







Wildflowers........ what little girl dreams are made of


The stool making station







The soap making station (they took glycerin soap and carved it into shapes and letters)




Wallet making station


Station to experience what people with disabilities deal with

Checking out the horse named "Tuesday"


Poor Brian has had a HUGE fear of animals. He SO wanted to feed Tuesday, but just couldn't bring himself to allow the horses mouth to get close enough to actually eat from his hand. Every time Tuesday would try and get the carrots in his hand, Brian would pull away, eventually dropping the carrots on the ground. He was so disappointed, he really doesn't want to be afraid, but can't quite figure out how to just let it go, and be ok with it either.

Then a neighbor came by and brought her goat. She talked with the children what it's like raising and caring for a goat. Then let the children, pet and play with the goat.







Then the kids went on a "hike" around the water reservoir, stopping at a neighbor's home to see the baby birds in their nest up in a tree.



Brian found a HUGE pine cone on his hike and was SO proud of it. It's still floating around the house here somewhere

The ride home was fun. I had 3 boys in my car, and to keep them occupied I plugged my iPod into the car stereo and they watched some children's video podcasts. I just LOVE little boy giggles!