Sharing the excitement

[Wally's Angels]

Good morning all!
It's the mama here. I just thought I would take a minute and share the excitement at our house. Taeler and Caleb got their bees on Wednesday and have probably made about a thousand and ten trips to the back lot to "see what the bees are doin'". Needless to say yesterday they weren't doing much ...... until right before supper last night. About the time I was putting the bread in the oven Caleb comes running into the kitchen hollerin for all he's worth that "the bees are ALL OVER the garden ... you better come see mom cuz Daddy don't know what he's doin yet"

I caught myself giggling all the way back there because you could hear them from the back door .... who knew that bees could sound so happy! Caleb was right, they were all over our garden area sippin on the little drips and drops of water here and there and hummin along in their little bee world happy as anything. Taeler came out to see and ended up with dozens of them landing on her arms just to say hi I guess (she always has that happen). The whole family and all the kids ( 9 extras) we had over visiting last night ended up sitting out there watching our facinating new little neighbors for about an hour when the tiny friends had to go in for the night (not the kids). Needless to say the bread was burnt but I don't think anybody cared at all.

I am amazed at what the interest in beekeeping has done for my kids!! It has proven to be motivation for all of them and it seems to have sparked some of the most incredible character I've ever seen in any kid in each of them. And for one of Wally's Angels who isn't on this board (yet) it awakened happiness, smiles and joy that had been gone for half a year..... now she beams!!! All four of those kids spend nearly every free minute thinking about all that they want to do with their bees and how to get more bees and so on. The two boys have been scheming since we left Wally's on Wednesday about the business they hope to create as partners ...... that they talk of doing anything together without a battle is only a tiny bit short of a true miracle!!!

Words just can't express what a great experience the classes and the extra tutoring with Wally have been to our family. I want to thank all of you for never saying or doing anything that may have discouraged any of the kids from getting so interested and involved in beekeeping. I was a bit leary of taking them to the classes because so often adults don't welcome kids into such places, let alone make them feel welcome and answer their questions and share their advice and experience so freely.

I apologize for the extra long post .... like I said words just don't do justice to what's been going on at my house!!!

[Locust&Honey]

That is wonderful to hear Mama Angel. We share in your experience as well. I took my two boys with me and they are taken up with the "hives". They are going through what your kids are going through as well. It has been really refreshing. Triston has been dying to tell Caleb that Wally had a hive at his house with his name on it. I told it him it was probably a secret and he has not been able to stand it. He was sooooooo happy to hear you guys joined the forum so he can talk to Caleb. The best part about the bees are they get more and more interesting as you start to live with them and work them. Just wait and see, it gets more interesting. Good luck with your hives and happy beekeeping. This is from Triston to Caleb...... . Hey Caleb. I hope you like your bees. A guy came over to our house and went into the hives with us. He said I had about 40 to 45 thousand bees! The bees have already drawn 5 frames of comb in the first super. It took only 1.5 weeks for them to do that. They are really working. Good bye and may the Lord Bless you.

[Wally's Angels]

Taeler here. Caleb is itching to answer Triston but him and Daddy had to be gone this morning. Mama will sit down with him tonight and help him answer though.

I'm glad that your bees are doing good!! We haven't had this much fun since we stayed on my uncles farm during lambing season .... but wait, this is nowhere near as gross so I guess we have NEVER had this much fun!!

Even Jared, the one who wasn't too interested in bees, is just dying to get his own hive now. He helped Mama get them unloaded and situated and I guess he caught the bee fever too.

[Wally's Angels]

Hi Triston!! I got my bees on Wednesday. We fed them some sugar syrup and they really like it alot They already ate over a gallon of sugar syrup in one day! I have about 4 frames of capped brood cells that I think might have already hatched. I can't wait to get into my hive and see!!

How are your bees doing? Are they flying alot and bringing in lots of pollen? I saw your pictures, you look like you are having great fun with the bees.

I don't know the name of the kind of bees I have. Grandpa Wally and his friend Wayne made them for me. They are kind of dark colored though and really fast Taeler's bees are really soft and a pretty light golden color, I don't know their names either.

Have a great time with your bees!! God bless you and your family.
Caleb

[Locust&Honey]

Hi Caleb Good to hear from you. I am soooo excited that you got your hives. They sound like very good hives. Our bees are doing very well. Our drones are faster than our workers. They have been bringing in lots of pollen and nectar. One hive has been trying to rob and has been robbing. We put a deep super and a medium super on top of our hives. They are REALLY tall now. Wally said that would make me a real strong hive for the winter and next year I would be able to do some splits. More bees I love bees. Aaron said hello and gives you this smiley Take care and may the Lord Bless you. Bye