We pick, do U Pick???

I've been craving a way to really break into summer...some recent events have kept me inside and in bed and sick, so when I thought "U Pick! Strawberries!" I knew that would put me even more in the spirit and McKinley would love it.

I was right! We even convinced Mom to tag along, so I planned a quick trip to the grocery, packed a picnic lunch and we began our little road trip to a nearby U Pick farm.

We laid our little feast out on the picnic table and enjoyed the cool (okay, a little TOO cool) breeze while we ate salad, pita and hummus, yogurt, pop chips and dip, watermelon and cantaloupe...and a long-time fave of mine and McKinley's - Blood Orange Italian Sodas! Oh it was perfect. And delicious. And Mom even bought a little piece of cake that she and McKinley shared.

Once we were finished, we packed back up an hopped on the farm's golf cart for the worker to drive us to the patch. Honestly, I think the golf cart was McKinley's very favorite part of the entire trip. He was giddy as he rode in the front like a big boy. It was so cute!

We were assigned our rows and set out to work. We made quick picking out of it, Mom chose two small baskets and I chose the medium basket (which was about 5 pounds of berries). It didn't take long to fill them up, the three of us were plucking away! The berries were the most beautiful color...and the taste, OH MY GOODNESS I have never ever tasted a sweeter berry. We didn't add any sugar to them at all, they were perfect as is!

And if it tells you anything, McKinley was previously NOT a strawberry fan. So, why would I take him to pick them? Because I intended to use them in his smoothies and in ice cream, no actual berry to bite into, which is what is doesn't care for. However, he is a changed man! One taste of these suckers and he was hooked!

During the picking, a moment of perfect comedic timing happened when "Precious" the farm dog left her perch beside the employee and ran to befriend McKinley, just seconds after I pulled out my camera and started clicking. The dog KNEW I had a camera. Matter of fact she began posing in various ways: rolling on her back while laying on my foot and turning her head JUST SO. Lying with McKinley and looking back at the camera. And my favorite - her little sneaky way of capturing her good side in the shot with Mom and McKinley. What a diva! I turned off the camera and replaced the lens cap and poof! Precious was gone. Imagine that!

Once our baskets were full we headed back to the golf cart and to the stand to have our berries weighed. We tucked them safely in the hatch and headed home.

On the way there we made a stop at Cary's office where he had just arrived. The four of us stood, hatch up, eating those strawberries right there in the parking lot! Holy Moly those things are so good!!!!!!!!!

Today was awesome. The perfect way to put me back in the summer spirit! Here's hoping we'll be back soon for more strawberries and then blueberries!

YUM!!!

Lynn

A Fun Visit...and a 'Bus'

This week, Mammy & Grandpa hit the Haute for a fun visit with McKinley (and Cary & Me, of course)!!!

Their first evening in town we met them at their campsite. We had dinner together inside their camper (dubbed a 'BUS' by McKinley), and soon Cary was off with his Dad for his weekly softball game. Denise (Mammy, aka my Mother-in-Law) and I took McKinley on an adventure through the local KOA. We bought some ice cream cones filled with DONKEY FOOD at the welcome center...to feed four sweet little donkeys on site. My, they were so happy to see us! I wasn't sure how McKinley would react to feeding the donkeys, but to my surprise he was thrilled at the opportunity! After the donkey-feeding time we visited two playgrounds: one for McKinley, one for Cody (my furry brother-in-law). By this time, it was time to go. We made plans for the next day and away we went.

In the afternoon, we met at our favorite local park for a little picnic and play time. I'm shocked McKinley was able to concentrate long enough to swallow what little of his lunch he did eat. Mommy had chosen a nice spot right next to the newly-functioning train! Not my smartest move, but who cares! We were all having fun! Grandpa scooped McKinley up and off they went on a little train ride. He came back with perma-grin...from ear to ear.

Onto the playground where, as Daddy & Mommy know very well, McKinley could happily stay for HOURS. I hung back and tried to give Mammy & Grandpa some special time with McKinley. Cody and I grabbed a big bench swing and enjoyed the cool-ish breeze. Suddenly, a light rain came and we relocated back at our house where McKinley was pleased as punch to show off his new big boy room.

Later that evening we had dinner together and said goodbye. We so enjoyed the visit and can't wait until next time. McKinley will be talking about this for weeks!

Lynn

Keeping up with May...

We have sort of been turned upside down lately...good, bad and crazy. In the meantime, I'm trying desperately to catch up with all the fun we've had! ***side note: CANNOT get over how smokin' hot my handsome hubs is in the pic to the left. He's always hot, but YOWZA!!!!! Holy Hot Husband, Batman! ;-)

Mid-May we gathered at my Godparents' home to celebrate Shelby's 13th birthday (pics at the bottom of this post). McKinley had so much fun playing with all the kiddos and swooping his new Mickey Light Sabre around the house --- thus making Mommy a nervous wreck!

Cary was on vacation for a week near the end of the month. We had such a great time together! Got lots of landscaping projects finished and love the results. The coolest thing was that Cary got to take McKinley to his Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic! Just the boys! They had a great time making the catapult - so cute! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall, but I'm so glad they were able to enjoy their manly time.

During that week we also had a wonderful family picnic on a beautiful, warm day. McKinley seriously enjoyed having both of us with him to play his little games of chase.

We've also finished up another round of renovation...a GIANT, Mammoth-sized WINDOW!!!!!!!!!! It's gorgeous. Now to find window treatments that we love...fingers crossed.

Finally, BIG NEWS! We are currently pondering our preschool choices, McKinley will be attending preschool in the fall! WHOA!!!!!!!

This has been a super busy month for us! Gotta keep up!

Lynn

I Love a Good Picnic...

...and so does my boy!

Today was perfect. The pictures say it all.

Lynn