Rancho Buena Vista

On December 7, 2011 Emma's class took a field trip to Rancho Buena Vista.  It's one of those places that is a historical landmark and typically only slightly interesting to school kids and history buffs but this time I had a different feeling about it.  Our group got this tour guide who was so great!  Later I found out that all the stories she told us were unique to only our group and that no one else got to hear all the fun stuff that made history come alive.  We're just lucky I guess. 

One of the things they get to do is make their own Brand like in they do for cattle.  The kids of course loved that!  After they do that they get to burn the Rancho's Brand into a piece of leather.  It stinks but again they loved it!

It was close to Christmas when we went and this tree was cracking me and Em up.  We loved all the chili's!

This of course was the FAV!  They got to make their own candles.  They had about 200 dips by the time they got done and the candle wasn't even a 1/4 inch think.  We still have yet to burn that candle.  Oh well, one of these days!

This last picture cracks me up.  The girl next to Emma isn't even really a friend because Emma has had issues with the girl trying to get her into trouble but when I told Emma to point to where we were on the old fashion map this girl comes running up and wants to be in the picture like she and Emma are friends!  Whatever!  Girls are so nuts!!!  I love that I got to spend time with Emma during this field trip.  Even though we are with the whole class it seems like such great bonding time together!