Challenge Accepted

If a man is only as good as the woman he's with, then a bread is only as good as it's starter. It's plain to see, my starter is sucky. Thankfully my man is not (not hard to figure out, because I'm so awesome...right?) I have had this sourdough starter for at least a year, maybe 2, and it's obvious it's time to move on and figure out how to start a new one. 

Also, it will be a very long time before I attempt to make baked beans from scratch again. They cooked for over 36 hours. 36. HOURS.  I'm not sure if there's anything less appetizing than waking up to the smell of baked beans in the crockpot for the 2nd morning in a row. If we invited you to the house for supper at any point during the next 3 months, count on having baked beans with the meal. If you really love us, you'll still come eat.

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.

I Love a Good Wedding...

Some friends of ours got married May 22 - Joseph and Chelsea Dion! Dion has been in our small group in some capacity for I think 4 years now, and Chelsea was in my dgroup back in our student ministry years. Dion asked me to help out on the engagement night, which was SO fun to be a part of, and Chels asked me and a couple of other friends to be honorary bridesmaids. I got to be there when it all started, and it was such a blessing to be front and center as we watched them take their vows, at what was a sweet, and at times funny, ceremony (we can talk later about the invisible communion).

Chelsea was the most gorgeous bride! She has fantastic taste, and everything was so beautiful! I had a haircut the day before the wedding, and she straightened my hair, so I wore my "21 year old hair" to the wedding. It was fun to be straight for a couple of days.

Kristin Jensen, another former dgroupie. Kristin was also the MOH. Don't you love the "persimmon" dresses? (I'm not allowed to say they are orange).

My sweet and fun friend Kelly Keever and me, honorary bridesmaids. I somehow never got a picture with Vicki, HB #3. Some of the photos were taken in Chelsea's family's backyard, which I thought was so precious. 

Ryan literally had to dust off his suit for the occasion, but it was worth it! Did you know Greer has a new city hall? It is so pretty! And I am obviously conscious of the flowers on my belt, as I have put myself to the left of anyone I am taking a photo with. But it's a darn cute belt, thanks to Kelley S!

Prom 2009 with the Keevers and Mozingos. Funny thing is, Ryan and I really did go to prom together, twice.

The ONLY photo we had of the couple that wasn't in a dimly lit room or of them dancing. And I don't know why this is underlined, I can't get it to stop.

There was lots of dancing. And did Joseph drop something on the floor, or is he looking at something else?

We tried to pretend we really were at prom by finishing the night at Waffle House. It was so much fun, but our covered and chunked hash browns left much to be desired. The company was top notch, though. And our husbands did join us, we just sat boy/girl, middle school style. The girls talked about where bathrooms and closets are positioned in various people's houses, and the guys talked about sports and circumcision.

Congratulations to the Dions!!

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? 

Popcicle in the Poo?

The last time we had a sunny weekend a few weeks ago, we had a fun day outside. It was Nancy's first experience in the baby pool in the backyard since she could stand and jump and not float to the top because of her awesome chunky leg rolls. They had a great time. And you'll understand the title of the post after you watch the video at the bottom.

Kate being girly. We are trying to remember when the girly-ness began. Nancy is showing no signs of being a fairy-loving ballerina.

Mom and Kate made some popcicles and the girls enjoyed them for days. I did too, since I knew they were made of yogurt and sherbert and fruit!

Nancy's request. 

Nancy enjoying the freedom of her request. (and on her arm is a "stwawbewwy worttake" tattoo.)