Adventure Fridays: Strawberry Picking

We made our annual pilgrimage to a local farm to pick strawberries as one of our “Adventure Fridays” this year. As usual, Anna had an absolute blast! Here, my little strawberry princess enjoys a ride in her “coach” with her pickings. Plenty to eat, and plenty to freeze!

And, Kate got to really “experience” strawberry picking for the first time this year! Last year she was only a few weeks old for our adventure, so spent the trip attached to me in the sling. This year she got in on the action.

And, of course, our fellow adventurers, Julia and Jocelyn, joined us for the harvest.

The lines to pay for our goods were LONG, but the girls were troopers while we waited. They may have a sampled a strawberry or two along the way…

Spring Break in Tomball

We spent a few days over Spring Break in at Grammie and Bucko’s house in Tomball, and the girls were pleased as punch when the neighbor illegally burning brush caused the fire truck to show up out front! The firemen were so nice to the girls, and let them take a picture with the truck.

We also ventured to the Rodeo while we were all together. It was a whirlwind trip, but a great time! Thanks to Bucko and Grammie for keeping up with us and our gaggle of little ones at the Rodeo!

Both Sydney and Natalie think having a baby around is pretty novel, which happens to work hugely in my favor when to comes to feeding Kate! Here, Sydney helps Kate enjoy some morning munchies at our favorite breakfast place in Tomball…

Kate loved sitting out on a palette on the porte cache (sp?), enjoying the not-too-hot-yet weather. Looking at this photo now, she looks like such a baby! How did my little one grow up so much in just six months??

Kate’s Maiden Voyage to Kemah

Ok, consider yourself fairly warned. The backlog of blog postings has gotten to the unacceptable level, so I've taken advantage of being on work travel for a fewdays to work on getting caught up. I'm committed to make November my month of catching up (have to get it done before the Christmas photos start piling up, right?). So, expect pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

This spring, we took Kate on her “maiden voyage” to Kemah to ride the rides. Anna was beyond thrilled to show her the ropes, and excited at how much fun Kate had! Anna also took this opportunity to be quite the “big girl” and decide to ride most of the rides by herself. In this shot, Kate and I are riding in a balloon on the Ferris wheel, while Anna rides in her own balloon. Very grown up.

Again, with the independence, Anna was very insistent on riding in her own plane. Quite the little pilot in the making…

Architect

I always have a hard time "predicting" what kind of career path Anna will choose...in some ways she's a very logical, systematic child that makes me think she'll follow in her parents' footsteps in some sort of engineering/science type field. But, oh my does this girl love art! So, then I think maybe that side of her will end up being more dominant and she'll pick a more creative field.

Well, she was playing with some of Kate's stacker blocks (again, last Spring...whatever...), and this was what she came up with. Very systematically stacked so that they wouldn't topple over (they are lots of different shapes and sizes), but color-coordinated.

Then it hit me--she's going to be our little architect!

(Disclaimer: Anna is actually going to be allowed to pursue whatever profession she chooses. Architect is merely a suggestion.)

BFFs

Just a few random shots of Kate and her "BFF", Charlotte. Above, at Kate's birthday party...

...and here, at a birthday party of one of their siblilngs' friends.

(I'm also noting that Kate is actually wearing the same dress in both shots. We do actually occasionally dress her in other outfits when she's playing with Charlotte...)

Mud pie

Seriously? I'm now updating the blog monthly? Unacceptable. I'm committed to "dig" myself out of my blog-backlog hole over the next few weeks, so bear with me on the outdated posts.

(As Clint noted as he walked behind me as I was posting this--"Is she wearing long sleeves there? Yes, yes dear--I am in fact now TWO seasons behind on blog updates. We'll get there...)

Anyway...

I've heard many mixed reviews over the years about these sand-and-water tables because lots of mom friends of mine told me that they just turn into mud tables. Well, I was really excited when the girls got one as a gift because I kind of thought they were neat! The verdict? Yes, the absolutely turn into mud tables. And, yes, that is absolutely wonderful! The girls have SO much fun playing in the mud, but its all so neat and contained (and "clean"--at least its mud made with "play sand"), that I don't mind a bit! A little hosing off (or dip in the pool, depending on the season), and we're all cleaned up! Kate has now joined in the fun (she was a little young for it LAST FEBRUARY when this pic was taken...ha!), and I think loves it even more than Anna does...

Go Texan Day

More "blasts from the past"--here is Anna at Go Texan Day at her school (last late winter/spring).

Look at that cowgirl ride! I think she'll be ready for the barrel races in 15 years...

Anna had so much fun playing with her girlfriends outside...

...and of course eating lunch with her "boyfriend". Hot dogs, cheetos, AND Owen?? While wearing cowgirl boots? Happy.