Annual Strawberry Picking

We finally made it out for our annual excursion to the strawberry patch.  This just might be one of my favorite traditions, and I have visions of teenage boys rolling their eyes at me in ten years as I make them fill their own buckets.  For now, they mostly love it and certainly eat as much, if not more, than they pick.

The patch was especially muddy this year, miraculously my two stayed pretty clean.

The second best part to picking them, the JAMAPALOOZA that follows.  We had a new team member this year, between the three of us we canned (53) half-pint jars of strawberry deliciousness.

First World Problems

Kimber was very opinionated about who should drive one night last week and we thought it was weird so we asked him why he wanted mama to drive versus papa.  His response, "when mama drives I have more room for my legs".

Willie and I looked at each other and cracked right up.  I mean in other parts of the world 3-year olds find themselves responsible for working the fields or carrying water for hours on end. 


His biggest problem at that moment,

  
                                                                breathing room for his little legs.

EASTER 2013

Life seems crazier than normal these days so we thoroughly enjoyed our time together.

We started out the day with little boys peeking into their little baskets.  They were most impressed with their new shovels...and the fact that they got to eat candy with their eggs for breakfast.

We headed to church where we got to serve for the 9:00 service and then took the boys with us to the 11:00 service.  I had the pleasure of attempting to teach 8 very sugared up kindergardeners....wow..what an interesting experience.

We made it back home and after a few pictures we set about cooking and picking up in preparation for our guests.

We had 8 adults and 8 kids and that number doesn't seem that big, but when the weather is icky and we are mostly stuck inside it was well...cozy.

Milk baked ham, green bean casserole, broccoli casserole, deviled eggs, cheesy macaroni, potato salad, green salad and strawberry cake filled our bellies.  Once the kids could not stand it any longer Lisa and I went to hide nearly 100 eggs.  They hunted them quite well and set about ingesting nearly every ounce of sugar.  Thankfully some of the eggs had stickers, crayons and even money inside.

Wordless Wednesday

Not there

My heart has just not been that into running lately, I am not exactly sure why?

I have a few theories that include but are not limited to the following:

* Kindergarten decisions
* Work committments
* Weather
* Feeling incredibly behind ALL OF THE TIME
* The hubs and his crazy schedule
* The blahs
* Feeling like a cow....and cycling between severely limiting calories and then pigging out.
* Exhaustion

I need to hit it a little more, I always feel better when I do.  Twice a week is just barely keeping me sane.

I have logged 68 measly miles this year and it might sound like a few but it is just less than a 10K a week and way behind the target I need to be hitting to stay on goal...not to mention I have another half coming up in 4 little weeks and my longest run this cycle has been 8 miles.

I am hoping the coming sunshine helps push me a bit more...soon.....very soon.

Will he or won't he?

Mauser has been a part of our family for 16 months and I have a few a lot of moments in those first 6 months okay maybe it has been for all 16 months I wondered if he was going to make it.  We have made it through potty training, have mostly gotten him over the chewing of anything that stands still phase, of course the monthly cash outlay of $40 for chewies helps, the shedding, well, that part is still something I come to terms with on an hourly basis.

This weekend he "endeared" himself to us in new and inventive ways.  William and I were standing in the kitchen talking and looked out the kitchen window to see Mauser, standing up with both front paws on our barely two year old peach tree just devouring the plump pink blooms right off the branches.  Later the same day, I found brussels sprout transplants proudly displayed on the picnic table........oh I had to walk away and take some deep deep breaths.  That dog!

Those that know me know that I say this all in jest, he is our dog and will be as long as he is one this earth, barring the chewing of my children of course but boy, he has no qualms about testing my dedication I tell ya!

Gardens and Guns

Spring is finally raising its little head and boy have we been enjoying the nicer days.

A few weeks ago we went on a shooting adventure to Tennessee.  Matthew is getting quite proficient with his 22 on his own.  Just a few months ago he needed help steadying it but is getting the strength and agility to do it all alone now.

We pulled up some gorgeous but overgrown sunlight hogging forsythia bushes in the fall and added another big bed to our garden area. 

 Before....

After


I will miss their bright yellow giant display in the spring.



This past weekend we did a final till, layed down newspaper (for weed control) and  planted broccoli, brussel sprouts, onions, garlic, carrots and radishes.   If I can just keep Mauser out of it I will be a happy camper.

 We also tried something new this year in lieu of the seed starting trays.  We always had a hard time hardening our seed starts off outside so I read that a milk carton, left outside from initial seeding until transplant time is the perfect little greenhouse so over the past few months we saved all our milk cartons and have a nice little collection of mini-greenhouses happily protecting our seeds.