Strawberry Fields Forever

After 3 days of hot weather, I could not resist going back for some more strawberries. I sent out an email to lots of friends, because, as I learned while I was picking strawberries at 11am in 90 degree heat, misery loves company. The Boodrams, Pattersons, (both pregnant, and Ashley Boo days overdue!) and McGowans joined us as we quickly filled our baskets full of hot, juicy ripe fruit. 

I always romanticize being in nature with my kids, but once we are actually having the experience, the romance fades. Quickly. Like last time, Nancy was good for about 15 minutes and then started breaking down. She was only happy if I let her eat fruit, so she ate about 20 strawberries (not exaggerating). And Kate at times got so hot she would just stand in a stupor zoning out at the berries on the vine, wiping her sweaty brow. 

A friendly fellow picker came from the middle of the field telling us there were berries more abundant further out into the weeds near the irrigation pipe. I picked up my berries and my babies and hauled us over a dozen rows to discover that he was right. Emily picked Cohen up in his stroller and climbed over too. We were all encouraged by the abundance of berries, and Kate was a more willing picker once it was easier to find and pick them. We quickly finished and had 2 gallons full of berries. That was Tuesday, today is Friday, and after 4 jars of jam, a strawberry pie and strawberry shortcake, we still have about a quart left. And even though it was hot and we all wanted to cry at some point, I know I'll make us do it again next year.

Pre-meltdown, and pre-bulging berry belly. I think that's the juice of only berry number 2 or 3 on her chin.

Cort's messy face. 

The friendly berry stranger was right! The berries in the middle of the field were amazing!

One of two gallons. That grin is joy that we are finished and she can get in an air conditioned car, not that we had a wonderful, quality time experience as a family. 

Are we having fun yet?

Tiny Dancer

It was touch and go for a little while: The day before her rehearsal, Kate was throwing up! Ryan and I prayed hard that the entire 9 months leading up to the weekend of Kate's dance recital wouldn't be a wash, and we are so thankful to say she recovered miraculously quickly and we had so much fun celebrating Kate. We had 2 rows of friends and family join us, Kate's cousins McKenzie and Paige were there to cheer their cousin on, and my mom made it this year (last year she wasn't feeling well enough to come). 

Kate's class did two numbers, a ballet to "Daydream Believer" and a jazz number to "Old Time Rock & Roll". All semester long Kate said she liked the ballet better, but after the performance she said she enjoyed the jazz dance the most, and it showed. She grinned the entire time she was out there. And even though she spent parts of the dance fidgeting and scratching her face, I was surprised at how much of the routine she remembered.  The highlight of her evening was the flowers she received after the performance. We learned last year after not giving her flowers that we should have given flowers, so we made up for it with a big bunch of roses. She was more than thrilled to fill her room with all of the gifts!

Emily came to Kate's recital last year, too. She's a great "aunt" and friend! And really fun to sit with and make side comments with about the other performances...

This  pose was Kate's idea. Needless to say, she eats up the attention.

She was SO excited about the flowers Daddy gave her. I didn't get the credit, but that's okay. And again, I don't know why this is underlined and I'm too busy to sit and figure out how to fix it.

Another Visit with the Gainors

We made up for our rainy April date with a zoo trip with the Gainor in May. We met at the zoo, picnicked and then played on the playground. The kids napped at our house again, and Bran made me some chai tea, which was so yummy. After that, we even went to the mall for a bit, we really did spend all day together! 

Now the Gainors are spending 6 weeks in Hilton Head, and we miss them! Love you, friends.

Jackson and Nancy were making each other laugh. Sam's in the foreground.

Kate had her photos for her dance class, so the kids napped at our house (this was the next day, Bran came back to Greenville!) and so Sarala and Kate got to hang out again for a bit.

Nancy. She's just cute.

This is just how they sat, but they are in order from oldest to youngest. For every one child I have, Bran and Mary, and actually most of my friends, have one and a half children (if you want to be technical).

I Was Spontaneous!

May 15 was Kate's last official day of Kindergarten, and I decided at 11am to pack the girls up and go pick some strawberries. I was tired of waiting for Ryan to be able to join us, and I was desperate for a gallon of the sweet juicy things, so I gathered some water bottles, the girls and some wipes, threw everyone in the car while promising Ryan we would all return to pick as a family one day soon, and headed to Sandy Flat Berry Patch, about 20 minutes from our house. 

I should be spontaneous more often, because we were rewarded with a visit with our friends the McGowans! We can't plan a family dinner together because of everyones' crazy schedules, but drive 20 minutes out of town on a whim for some berries, and there you are! And yes, it rained as we drove away from the strawberry fields.

This picture was too funny not to post. Chris and Nancy both sampling the harvest.

Friends.

All Nancy did was sample, Kate was a very industrious picker. Can you tell that 3 other little girls have worn that shirt before Nancy? 

Springtime at the Burns House

Here's a peek at what we've been up to since spring arrived. I was so ready for it this year, and we have had a blast getting outside everyday, eating outside almost everyday, and watching everything green up and bloom. 

Kate at the peony bush. She calls them "panties" flowers, and it's too cute for me correct.

Nancy likes the soft petals and rubs them on her arms. This bush was one of the first plants we bought after we moved into the house 5 years ago. I had read all about how peonies are finicky and hard to grow, especially here in SC. But this one must really like the spot I put it in, because every year it has more blooms and I get so excited for them to open up. It's my best gardening success story. And I just bought a yellow one to put beside it, hopefully it does as well as this one.

We went puddle jumping after dinner one evening. 

Cort came over one day, and Nancy and he picked dandelion fluff. Cort was teaching Nan how to blow it off the stem, and she was being bashful.

We celebrated our 100th day of school with an M&M one hundred party. Yes, only our one hundredth day of school - I must say, I combine days, so we have done more than 100 lessons, but I was way more relaxed than I ever thought I'd be about how often we did it. And we'll still be done by May 15! (and no, she did not eat 100 m&ms)

Mom and Dad gave us their outdoor table and chairs since they are having some work done in the backyard. It fit well on our deck, and we enjoy eating out there on sunny evenings. And Belle enjoys us eating out there, too! Thanks, Mo & Poppa!

Our butterfly crysallides. Cousin Ben was asking about them, here they are! There were 5, and they all hatched within a few hours of each other. We kept them in the habitat for a few days and just released them yesterday. They are painted lady butterflies.

The release video.

Little wren eggs in my fern on the front porch. They have begun to hatch, so I think I'll just have to let the fern die so the baby birds don't drown!

Edisto Beach with the Keever Family

The Keevers invited us to join them in Edisto for a few days over spring break. It was much like last October (sans flooding the house prior to our trip): Windy, unseasonably chilly but really fun and relaxing. The kids just don't care about the weather and whether (ha!) it's hot or cold out. They were just pumped to be with each other and be somewhere new. Tuesday was freezing cold outside, and especially windy on the beach. Wednesday had a short shower, and then warmed up a bit, and Thursday was beautiful, so that's the day we left. 

I decided to bring Easter egg dye kits with me and we dyed eggs with the kids, and Nancy totally stressed me out while doing it. She just kept picking up the same egg and throwing it back in the cup, splashing dye all over the place. Kate kept dropping and breaking hers and would have a meltdown every time. That got a little old. Harper and Calahan did great. In theory it was a good idea, but it took longer to set up than it did to actually dye the eggs. We went on several hunts for eggs, too. We had a great time with our friends! It is so fun to get to know each other better while we are all relaxed and out of our hectic life for a few days. Thanks again, Keevers!

Coming back from the beautiful "shell beach", Botany Bay Plantation.

Nancy loved "Tawahayan"; he was the first one she asked about when she woke in the mornings. I hear Calahan thinks Nan is "pretty cool". That's cool.

It was really, really windy.

Daddies giving girls rides back to the car. We were all a bit windblown.

Shell Beach.

The Keevers. This was the coldest day on the beach. Believe me, Harper did need the hat. But everyone had fun!

Did I mention it was windy?

I had to include the video. Being a Keever, Calahan was bent on getting the most eggs and coming out on top, until the bannister ran into his face. He recovered quickly, though, and ended up getting the most eggs (he did help me hide them...).

Santee at Spring Break

For Spring Break, we headed down to Santee to our family lakehouse to spend time with the kids before we met the Keevers at Edisto for a few days. It was very relaxing, and I wish we would have spent more time there. We always seem to choose to go when it's cold, but the kids really don't mind. I did tell Ryan next year I don't want to go on vacation until May, so we can enjoy warm weather. 

The house has been part of the family's for over 40 years, I think. Mom, correct me if I'm wrong. It is a small house, no dishwasher and only 1 shower, but the view is priceless, and the kids think it's a magical place to be, as I did when I was a kid. I hope they will have the same fun memories I do of fishing with mom and dad (my MOM was the one who taught me to bait a hook with a worm), swimming by the pier, going tubing on the lake, walking down to Taw Caw campground bait and tackle to buy some candy, and trying desperately to find a decent restaurant to eat at. 

  

"I cwimbin'!" She did this before we even knew it. She's fast.

 

Jumping off the sofa. Sorry Mom.

At the aquarium in Charleston, on our way to Edisto. Nancy didn't mind at all touching stuff. Kate saw her first shark (to her memory. we saw a young hammerhead on the beach at IOP with the Kulps and Gainors a few years ago!)

Sisters.