Strawberry Picking

On Sunday, we went off to the strawberry farm for our

annual harvest, like we did in previous years.

Three walking children this time. Ooooo.

We did get Jenna to actually eat some berries this year.

She said, "Last time I didn't like strawberries.

Now I like strawberries!"

Kate liked them, too.

Here is how to eat a strawberry - a pictorial tutorial:

Step 1

Sashay up to the buffet.

Step 2

Select (surreptitiously).

Step 3

Position

Step 4

and mash into mouth.

Step 5

Nonchalantly walk away.

All done!

We did 14 lb this year, before the children vocally made

it clear that they were more interested in lunch. Minimal

berry processing this year because we still have lots of

jam left over in our freezer from 2008 and 2007. So just

4 pots of jam and the rest get frozen for pies, shortcake

and other winter dessert needs.

Picnic for Fish and Men

Two weekends ago, we got to do an outdoor lunch

with G. Arne and G. Karen.

We went to one of our favorite parks, which had a fishing dock.

Of course, all the real fishing was done by other people.

We came with lunch for the fish. The girls and I were

here the week before, and they liked it so much that

they wanted to share it with their grandparents.

The fish were mostly crappies (we think).

All that stale bread made us hungry

so we had a picnic ourselves

after which the girls (except me) ran all over the fields

and had races with Grandpa.

We stopped to smell the flowers

before adjourning to the playground.

Jenna's face says it all -

summer days+outdoors+family = priceless.

Random Summer Activities

Some hot days recently, so this is one of

the ways we've been cooling off.

The girls thought they were very interesting.

Being gentle folks, we decided that even in

water wars, there must be some rules, like

1. Thou shalt only throw balloon at the feet of another person.
2. Thou shalt not throw balloon at a person if that person looks genuinely scared.
3. Thou shalt pick up colored balloon shrapnel after the war.
4. Thou shalt not eat balloons or shrapnel (especially for Kate).

Chilling on the deck steps after

and getting in one last shot.

Random Summer Meals

Some afternoons are too hot for anything but cold lunches.

Oddly, Emily thought the plain (white) cream cheese

pinwheels were better than the strawberry (pink) cream

cheese ones. First time she's ever not declared pink superior.

Telematch

Remember this?

Can't find any actual episodes on youtube, unfortunately.

But just watching this intro made me feel like a kid again!

Photo(s) of the Day

From left to right: Jenna, Wa-wa, Kate, Emily

That was not one of Emily's best poses.

Here is a more Emily-like pose.

She is very proud to announce that she has lost one

more tooth, bringing the grand total to three, although

she only has two gaps, since the second tooth she lost

was that mesiodens that got yanked out in surgery. Her

latest sacrifice to the Tooth Fairy is in the bottom row,

and directly under the upper gap. She is especially

pleased that the two missing teeth make a super-long

hole for her tongue to peek through and she said, "The

gap at the bottom can make friends with the one at the

top!" Clearly a social creature, our Emily.

Lots have been happening here in the summer but it's

hard to keep up with blogging about them. Have news

going as far back as Emily's last day of school (shocking!)

so will attempt to slowly show and tell over the next few weeks.

A Diaper Mystery

After yesterday's high-fives, I want to share a not-so-high-five.

On Saturday, after lunch, Kate was found to be missing her diaper. She had her shorts and Tshirt on, yes, but the diaper was somehow.... not there. Very disturbing. Asked Kate, "where is your diaper?" and she replied helpfully, "down!"

Yes, down. But where?

After putting a new diaper on her and searching the house thoroughly, we still could not find the missing diaper. Our final conclusion was that Kate had removed the diaper and thrown it in the trash herself. We hope. Or else we are in for a Rude Shock someday when we spring-clean the house.

Going with the assumption that Kate did indeed toss her own diaper, I guess it is a high-five after all. So OK, high-five, Kate (fingers crossed)!