Strawberry Fields

My mom and I took the three littles strawberry picking in Snohomish today. We went to a cute little farm called Bailey's Vegetables. I appreciated the small business feel to it. No big showy attractions, just a little stand to pay at. And for $2.00/lb I wanted to stock up!

I had planned to wear Moses on my back while I picked. But I soon realized that was going to be impossible. It would have worked if we were picking raspberries or something else where I would be reaching up, but being on my hands and knees with a squirmy eight month old baby on my back was not going to work. But it was cute while it lasted!

After about 20 minutes I took Mo off and let him crawl in the dirt, smoosh strawberries and get all dirty. Safe to say he had a good time.

Micah was so adorably excited to go picking. He kept talking about it at bedtime the night before. You may not be able to tell from the photo above, but he had a blast. His sweet innocence was perfect. He would search so hard for a good strawberry (which was tough, all the berries were quite small). Once he found one he would show it to me or my mom asking, "Is this a ripe one?! Is this a ripe one?!" We'd assure him it was wonderful and then every single time he would categorize the berry. A big one would be a "daddy" berry, and medium one a "mommy" berry, and a tiny one a "kid" berry. He kept saying he was going to use his strawberries to make a strawberry cake for my birthday. My birthday is in December. He is the sweetest.

Malia was so completely Malia. My very competitive little girl would change spots every two minutes trying to find the best picking areas. She delighted in her allowed freedom to pick wherever she desired as long as we could see her. She is such a sweet girl. Her berries were supposed to go into my box for us to take home, but she kept bringing special berries to Nannie and helping fill her box too. I'm so proud to be this girl's mother.

Strawberry picking was SO MUCH HARDER than I expected. I think I much prefer raspberries, cherries, or apples. But at the end of our day we filled a box and made some memories. 

Now I must figure out what to do with them.

-Kelsey

Holding Tight

I don't want to forget these days. These days full of the pitter-patter of little blessings running wild through this house.

I don't want to look back one day and wish I had captured it better. Mental pictures will fade. Moments I think unforgettable will one day float away.

I want to keep as much as I can. I want my children to have a place to come and look back on their childhood. I want to be reminded of all the good that I was so blessed to live.

Currently, Moses is debating taking a nap in his bedroom. I hear him chatting instead of sleeping. Micah and Malia are playing with the Hot Wheels track Malia got Micah for his third birthday.

I love hearing Micah and Malia's conversations with each other. It's like a special world I can only observe, but never enter. I desperately hope and pray we are giving them a good childhood. I want them to look back on these days and remember them as peaceful, unhurried, golden days where they were loved and cared for.

Today we got the very sweet checker at the grocery store. Moses was smiling and flirting up a storm with her. She smiled and said, "The last baby is always the sweetest." I have no doubt she meant well, but I'm not sure where she got the idea that Moses was a "last baby". We love each of our children so deeply and uniquely. We will love and cherish each child God so chooses to bless us with. Children are gifts and we are blessed to receive them. A gift should never be demanded or rejected. I pray our children know that they have always been and always will be loved, wanted and cherished by us.

I just love my days with these kids. The good, the bad, the hard, the messy. I want it all.

Here is a little questionnaire that has been floating around on facebook. (Side note: I gave up FB for Lent, and thought I'd never go back. Well, I caved, but I'm telling myself it's only temporary to get info on my upcoming high school reunion)

I asked Malia (age 5) these questions and here is what she said.

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Amen.

2. What makes mom happy?

Love.

3. What makes mom sad?

When one of her friends dies. (That has never happened. I find this a little creepy!)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Doing silly things.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Like a baby child.

6. How old is your mom?

28

7. How tall is your mom?

8 ounces.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Love us.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Read her book.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

By us loving you.

11. What is your mom really good at?

Loving us. I have a lot of words that is love.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Face painting. (Huh, I thought I was pretty good.)

13. What does your mom do for a job?

Take care of us.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?

Vanilla Rice Pudding. (I’ve never even had that but in a book they feed this to the dog...hmmm)

15.What makes you proud of your mom?

Giving me Elsa presents. (We have a constant Frozen battle in this house)

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?

Elsa (please, no!)

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Hang out after quiet rest time.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Cause we like some of the same things like smoothies.

19. How are you and your mom different?

Cause God created everyone different.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Cause she’s my mom.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

When he picks up fuzz from the ground.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Shopping with Nannie.

23. How old was your Mom when you were born?

20 (close, I was 22)

What a cutie.

Kelsey