Summer Saturdays - Mowing yards

The kids have earned a lot of money (for their ages) over the summer for the work they've done clearing yards at the management properties and with other endevours. We spend almost every other Saturday mowing lawns at the properties. Most of the time there is a bit of complaining. On the 19th, after finishing up all but one yard, Eric decided to let the younger three kids try their hand with the mowing machinery. Complaints of "Can we go home now?" turned into smiles and "It's my turn!"

Co-captain Neta driving the mower.

Nate taking a turn in the Captain's lap.

Graigry has just enough weight to keep the seat in place
and arms long enough to steer while sitting.
He's feeling more grown up driving a machine.

They all need help to get the riding mower started, because their legs aren't long enough to hold the brake while sitting on the seat, but they drive just fine once it's moving.

We also decided to see if the boys were tall enough to work the walk behind mower.

YEP! Tall enough to push a mower!
Nate enjoys it right now.
I'm sure in a few years, it won't be as fun.

Graigry gets to walk while Nate rides.
Not as fun as the rider, but it will have to do.

Neta thought it would be fun, while the boys were busy mowing and helping Dad, to climb into the neighbor's tree and then asked me to snap some pictures. They turned out pretty good! She's naturally photogenic anyway.

Pretty Princess in the Tree

The boys don't mind helping to mow so much, one, because they get paid, and two (more importantly) they get to handle something with an engine (and feel all grown up). It's a little hard for me to let go of the mower because, one, I enjoy mowing and two, I will do it faster and better than they will. However, I need to remember what Elder Ballard said once in a conference talk, that, although we can do things better and faster than those that need to learn, they can't learn if they aren't allowed to do things and work to figure things out for themselves (as frustrating for us as that may be sometimes).