Picking Strawberries

I went with some other moms and their children to pick strawberries at Washington Farms, a local berry farm. We (the boys and I - the girls were in school and missed out) had a blast! The weather was beautiful and the boys (even Logan) quickly picked our bucket full. After we were done, we helped the others fill their bucket and then had a picnic lunch and played at the playground. Jake couldn't stop talking about how fun it was and that we'd have to take the girls next time and go for FHE.

I had to limit Natalie's berry intake once she saw the bucket! They are huge and delicious. Blueberries and blackberries are on their way. We will be making many trips back. I can't wait to make jam. Robert wanted these for shakes, so they were individually frozen and are now in a bag awaiting some milk, bananas, and chocolate syrup!

The Ghosts Upstairs

All my children have gone through a phase of being scared to be upstairs (or the basement) by themselves (even now, Natalie would still rather have someone with her). Jake is at the prime age and gets really upset if we suggest he goes upstairs, alone, to get or do something. When he is being super brave he will run fast and take an audible breath when he gets back downstairs.
With that preface, the weather has been beautiful and I have been opening all the windows during the day. We were in the living room the other day and one of the bedroom doors got blown shut. As soon as we hear the bang!, Jake immediately says: "see, mom, I told you so."
I didn't have to wonder what he was referring to - the ghosts he believes to be upstairs. I told him I had the windows open and forgot to prop the door and the wind blew it shut, it was just the wind. He didn't say anything, but I'm sure he was thinking, "yeah right mom, it was the ghosts."

Our New Addition

Robert "finally" (Alyssa's word) put up the rope swing, to the enjoyment of everyone, even Robert. If you notice the seat of the swing - true to Robert's wood project self - it is rounded, sanded and finished. We, of course, are using this as another draw for visitors. We now have a tree swing, fire pit (with s'more makings always in stock), sand box, and river. We are taking reservations.

Touch a Truck

Last Saturday the county parks and recreation hosted a "Touch a Truck" activity. It has stormed the night before and the girls soccer games got canceled, but the "Touch a Truck" activity was on as planned. We went to the county park and after Jake decided he was ok with his feet being wet in his Crocks (the whole reason for wearing them in the first place), we all enjoyed looking around at all the vehicles and equipment they had.
The kids could get inside most of the vehicles. I thought for sure they would all get taken off to the sheriff's office, but alas, the sheriff's car as only on display and not in use. The helicopter was a favorite. I learned that a double trailer FedEx semi, loaded, gets 5 1/2 miles to the gallon! Empty it can get up to 7 miles to the gallon. Sure I'm hauling around different cargo, but it made me feel better about the gas mileage the van gets.
It rained off and on, but most were under a covered (open-sided) arena area. Yes, Jake is wearing Natalie's red beret he found in the van. He didn't want his hair or ears getting wet.

2nd half of Spring Break

The weather was cooler and rainy the second half of Spring Break. We took Gary and Marjo on a tour of UGA, stopping by the stadium (which is in the middle of campus) and the arches (the entrance on the north side of campus, leading into downtown Athens). The dogwoods are blooming all over the place.

We went to the Georgia State Botanical Gardens and walked around on a path a bit muddier than anticipated and on trails not as stroller friendly as anticipated. Being indoors allowed for lots of playtime with Grandma. The wet outdoors didn't deter the kids from playing outside and Logan went through more clothes (including PJ's) than I care to remember, as he took any opportunity to open an unlocked door and go out. Socks will be missed, but I think he will be glad to be far away from the tight hugs Logan gave him whenever he came near. Spring Break was great and it was hard to get back in the swing of things once Monday came around and school started.

Spring Break

The girls are on Spring Break this week. Robert's parents, Gary and Marjo, are here visiting. We have had a lot of fun already:
Logan is overjoyed that there is another dog (Socks) in the house. I heard Socks' kennel door being played with and found Logan wanting to try out Socks' bed.
Alyssa, who has been dying to plant flowers, finally got an opportunity to pick out and plant flowers with the master gardener herself (Grandma Beckstead). Natalie joined in the fun and picked pansies as her flower. I had just been to a gardening class and got a handout on deer resistant plants. Under plants that deer LOVE to eat were pansies. The paper said to "avoid planting unless you are going to protect them." The flower pots moved from the back deck to the screened-in front porch.
We also went to Madison, GA - one of the many historic towns in Georgia, and went on a walking tour - looking at all the historic homes and reading about them in the guide. Jake, as I was putting the picture in the blog, said "that was the BORING walk we went on." I'll just add that it was long for 4 year old legs, but he did get carried part of the way and got to ride in the stroller for other parts - Logan is all too willing to walk around on his own. The wisteria is in full bloom. Even though it is a vine that encroaches on a host tree, they are beautiful and smell beautiful. This is a picture of wisteria on a magnolia tree. You see curtains of wisteria all along the highways in the spring, they are beautiful - until they are done blooming and in the winter you see all these woody vines hanging over trees and shrubs. We enjoy them while they last and are glad they are not in our yard.

Alyssa won county

Alyssa won the Georgia Young Authors contest for 5th grade for our county. Her story will go on to the state competition.
All the 5th graders had to write a story. She had a story she had already written and wanted to turn in. Her teacher had said that would be ok. I told her that wasn't fair, since everyone else had to start from scratch. After complaining, she wrote a new story and it won 5th grade for her school and went on to the county competition. And now she won county for her grade. I think points go to me for being a mom who makes my children do extra work for school.