Strawberry Picking

It was a beautiful, although very windy, day here yesterday. The strawberries that we planted in our yard this year aren't doing much (although I didn't expect that they would) and the ones I have been buying at the grocery store have been very sour. So, Madeleine and I left the boys at home and we headed up to Independence, IA to pick some strawberries at Bagge Strawberries.

Independence is about an hour away from where we live. Thirty miles up the highway and then the rest of the drive is through rolling hills complete with farms and farm smells (courtesty of the cows we saw along the way). Granted we live in a small town too (population 900) but at least we are 15 minutes away from 2 somewhat large cities. All Independence seemed to have was a Walmart and a Fareway. and it wasn't that close to a lager city. Where do they shop??!!?

We arrived a little before noon and there were about 15 people already out in the field picking. We stopped at the little building on the edge of the property to find out what exactly we were supposed to be doing. We each got a basket and then were given a ride on a golf cart out to the field.

We were dropped off in the field and led to the row where we would start picking. Basically we could pick in that row for as long as we wanted and we were given a flag so we could mark where we left off. Before he left, Madeleine was told she could taste test as many of the strawberries as she wanted, and I'd say she took that statement to heart. When we left she had red smears all around her mouth.

Busy picking strawberries:

When we were finished we started walking back to get our strawberries weighed and to pay for them. About halfway back we stopped and Madeleine posed with our haul:

We ended up picking about 13 1/2 pounds of strawberries, at $1.20 a pound, ended up costing us just over $16. Not a bad price when you consider the grocery store charges about 4.99 for a 2 pound box.

Now, what to do with all these strawberries ...

Welcome Christopher Matthew!!!

OK, so I'm a little behind, but honestly, is anyone surprised??!?!

My maternity leave started a week early when I went for my weekly doctor appointment and my blood pressure was still creeping up. Add to that a nice weight gain in a week and the doctor decided it was better for me to be home on partial bed rest. We scheduled the induction for June 6 although I was keeping my fingers crossed baby was going to decide to arrive beforehand.

So, Saturday morning arrived and I was still pregnant so off we went to the hospital. After a long, boring day in which I ate more Jell-O and drank more Sprite than I ever have (while David got to eat real food) baby finally decided to arrive at 7:30 Saturday night:

Christopher Matthew

8 pounds, 6.5 ounces

20 inches long

Christopher ended up being a 1/2 ounce lighter and a 1/2 inch shorter than his big sister but I'm guessing he would have been a 9-pounder if he was allowed to come on his own. At first I thought he didn't have any hair but once they brought him over we realized he had a head full of blond hair. Both of us had lighter hair when we were little, but Christopher is as blond as my brother (the only blond) was when he was little. Funny how genetics work.

David's parents had arrived on Madeleine's birthday for about 10 days. It was nice to have the help although a certain someone got pretty spoiled. She also moved to the preschool room in the midst of all of this so going back to daycare this past week was a bit of an adjustment. She wanted to go back to her 'old friends' and then she flat out didn't want to go at all. Hoping next week goes a little more smoothly.

Things are going pretty well though. He is a great eater and a decent sleeper, despite his hatred of the swaddle. With Madeleine, the miracle blanket was the ONLY thing I tried that actually helped her sleep for any amount of time. Christopher manages to break out his arms and legs in no time and then falls asleep with a look on his face like he is taunting 'go ahead mom, swaddle me up again, I dare you'. In other words, he is his father's son.

Here are a few more picture. For those interested, there are more pictures uploaded to myphotoalbum.com (link is on the right). Have to keep the grandparents happy by keeping the photo website updated.

Coming home from the hospital. There are very few cute boy clothes out there, I am discovering.

Please stop disturbing my sleep to take my picture:

Surprise, surprise, sound asleep:

Happy Birthday Madeleine!

Madeleine turned 3 years old yesterday. Hard to believe - time goes by so fast!

We made some cupcakes to take to daycare and tumbling. They are actually cupcakes made in ice cream cones. I though that putting them in the pan with the aluminum foil would help them stay in place. If the city of Cedar Rapids patched potholes, then I think it would have worked:

When we wished her a 'Happy Birthday' in the morning we were informed that her birthday did not start until she put her birthday crown on at daycare:

Blowing out the candles on her birthday cake:

David's parents arrived yesterday too, so between her birthday, tumbling, the presents and all the sugar consumed she was a little wound!