I have the MOST AWESOME bugs in my freezer.  I’m talking about big bugs with all their legs and wings still in tact and I was so ready to hot glue them to foam board for Reece’s bug project.  Except for the fact that they AREN’T doing one this year!!  WHAT!?  Are you kidding me!?  Every year, the third graders at Manchester Park do a bug project and it’s kind of a big deal!  I even had friends catching bugs for me and a perfect stranger at a baseball games caught one for us.  This was going to be the best of the best of the Conley bug projects!  I don’t know who made the decision to call it quits on this science unit, but I am so disappointed.

Instead, they decided to grow gardens in the back yard of the school.  Ok Ok, so that’s pretty cute that they are doing that and Reece has given me so much information each week on how their crops were doing – radishes, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, kale, swiss chard, you name it and these cutie pies have grown it and learned all about it!Honestly, it’s probably the highlight of my after school talk, learning about which class is growing a better garden, the dear tracks they found in the garden, who does the best job harvesting the crops and who needs to take a little better care.  Trust me, if you are not doing it right, Reece will call you right out!  It’s really been hilarious having these detailed gardening conversations.Yesterday was the big harvest day and volunteers were needed to wash the crops at home and bring them back to school today.  Reece very proudly brought me a bag of radish plants and I got her started on washing them.  I had to run out to pick up Jake from basketball practice and when I returned about 30 minutes later, she was still at the sink washing those radish plants!  I think she misunderstood – she thought she needed to wash them until I got back from basketball!  Let’s just say those radishes got a very thorough cleaning!  It was so cute seeing her still perched at that sink!

Today they were going to taste all the crops.  I can’t imagine that goes over super well.  You know 3rd graders are allergic to green healthy stuff.  They prefer goldfish and fruit snacks.  Except Reece is my one kiddo that enjoys salad and lettuce on her sandwiches.  One out of four is fine, isn’t it!?

I’m also proud to report that Reece’s brownies troop went shopping and donated a bunch of food to Harvesters today!Ok so I guess I take back being so mad about the elimination of the famous bug project and I can finally discard all those bugs in my freezer.  Great job farmer Reece!