Working and playing with dirt

Paul got the soil turned last week in preparation for planting.  We joked that since he works from home his ride on the tractor after work was like his commute.  A running tractor is still really exciting for the kids but even more exciting was the soft and squishy soil.  By the time I came out the girls had their shirts off and Henry was down to his underwear.  When I asked why, the answer was they didn't want to get their clothes dirty and the soil felt so comfortable on their skin.

Then a few days later a dump truck delivered 10 yards of compost. The kids instantly ran from their breakfast and the pile instantly became a play structure.  I told this to my sister in law Kaley and she directed me to this little article that argued that girls who played in dirt would grow up to be healthier.

It is hard to believe how much energy I use to put into the physical appearance of my children, especially my girls.  They use to spend their days in handmade dresses with matching bows while I'd spend my days making sure they remained unsoiled.  That doesn't work out here and we all feel liberated because of it.  They do have a few outfits that are reserved for going into town and to church but other than that it seems anything goes.  Clara must have picked this day's outfit from a pile that was too small for her, I love how instead of pants she wore tights.  It doesn't matter to me that they barely cover her and do not match, what matters to me is her being embodied with joy and confidence and I saw that shine through while playing in the dirt.

Maryanna is also bringing her own style to the dirt pile, that and her joy of cooking with beautiful mud pies.

But the day finally came that the pile of compost had to be moved.  The younger children had fun helping with this project for about 5 minutes.  Then it was just the boys and me, but you can only do so much shoveling and wheelbarrow dumping with a sleeping baby on your back.

So the older ones agreed to moved the whole pile for $5 apiece.  It doesn't look like much of a pile but it took them all afternoon.  And before I even paid them they said it was actually kind of a fun job.
 

All the while the younger ones played along side them.  This little crowd at the door was soiled enough that they were kept outside until bath time, and even then they actually required a hose down before they came in.  Life is as good as it is messy out here!