Trapping Gophers 101

Morgan is finding the gopher hole with a long screwdriver.

Garrett has decided that the girls need to learn how to work, by the age of 8 both of us were doing lots of jobs on the farm. We thought it would also be good time to teach the kids about earning their own money for Disneyland and saving for something special. We talked to my dad and he so kindly found some jobs that the girls could do to earn money. One job was trapping gophers. They get $2 for every one they trap. They have spent so much time out in the fields, they have 15 traps, the first week they got 36 gophers, the 2nd week they got 38. They cut off the tails and take them to grandma every Saturday to get paid. They divided the money between the 3 of them. So far $49 each. They have a Disneyland jar they put their money in. I told Natalie today how much money she had to pay for tithing, she said "Mom I don't want to pay tithing I worked so hard for this money". I told her, yes you did but you would be sad if you don't pay it Natalie, plus Heavenly Father will bless you to find more gophers. It was a cute moment we had.

Brooklyn loves to go, when she hears them talk about going out she runs and puts on her john deer boots and grabs her coat. I think she likes the 4 wheeler the best.

 Natalie and Brooklyn riding
Madalyn finding the hole. The weather this day was nice they have been out in the rain and even the snow.

 The girls have really impressed me, they are so excited about their "Gopher Trapping Business". They get off the bus, run to the house and get changed they are ready right away. They are not even scared to touch the gophers with gloves on. Me on the other hand had a hard time getting use to it.  The kids keep telling me "Mom you can't be afraid". But I can now take the girls out on the days Garrett works and we can do it just us girls.

 Garrett has impressed me, I thought that he would take all the kids out there and he would end up doing all the work but I was totally wrong. He taught the girls how to do it all, and explained why they do each step. It's been a good bonding time for them. They all get so excited when they come in the house and tell me they trapped 13 that day. That's the most in one day It will be nice in a few years when they can do it all by themselves.

The next job the girls have been doing is setting up pipe in the hay fields. We did it Friday after the kids got home from school. The night before Garrett was telling the girls that we were going to be laying out lots of pipe tomorrow. The kids all started screaming with excited and then said "WHAT IS THAT". We just looked at each other and laughed. As kids we were never excited about that.

 Friday turned out to be a pretty warm day. They kids loved it, they set the pipe out and then we had to stake them all done so they don't fall over. These pipe don't get moved everyday.

I'm so excited for the kids, they have done a great job!!