Blueberry Season

There is nothing better than blueberry picking with the kids on a nice summer day. Maarti is crazy about blueberries so I'm sure way more went in her mouth than what went in her bucket!



It was so fun to have Cousin Anna join us at the berry farm... she was super excited about all the blueberries that were in reach!



I worked really hard at getting a picture of Sam, but everytime I told him to look at me he said "I'm too busy!". He was really serious about filling his bucket... he picked about 4 lbs. all by himself!



Finally! His bucket is full and he can take a minute to give me a smile!

How to Beat the Heat (Slip 'n Slide Edition)

The other day the kids encountered a slip 'n slide for the first time. When I was a kid I think we just went for it, but now I see there are a few different ways to enjoy it:

1. The Cautious Approach (aka "Do Not Let Go of Gramma's Hand Under Any Circumstance")



2. The Common Baseball Slide



3. The Huge Splash



4. Forget Sliding... just sit in the cool puddle at the bottom! (Please note that this method is extremely annoying to older brothers who are waiting at the top of the slide!)



However you decide to use your slip 'n slide just make sure you stay well hydrated!

Nostalgia

I've said it before... watching the kids experience all their "firsts" makes me think of some of my "firsts"... Like my first concert in the mid-eighties (I guess I didn't need to say that... the era is pretty evident once you watch the video!). Silverwind. As kids we were BIG fans so my parents graciously loaded us all up in the station wagon (gold with a classy wood panel down the side) and we drove an hour and a half away for my very first concert! They thought it was too loud. I loved it!

It was good of Mom and Dad to go to a concert that wasn't quite in the "Bill and Gloria Gaither" category. I wonder what kinds of concerts we'll have to go to with our kids... Whatever it is, it will probably be too loud for me!

So That's the Problem

Just this afternoon I was watching Maarti struggle to undo a button. Finally she looked up at me and said "Not working. Need battery."

How to Beat the Heat (Country Bumpkin Edition)

• Go to a berry farm that serves fresh strawberry pie. (This is an especially good idea if you've just had shots.)

• Find the smallest pool you can and pile as many cousins as possible into it.
  

• Flake out on the couch.
  

• Sit on a tire swing in the shade.
  

• Go for a drive... and don't forget to roll down the windows!
  

• Sit with Papa and relax in the breeze.

• Go for a ride on a hay wagon.
  

• Take a spin on a motorbike.

• Put your hair in pigtails and go for a swim.
  

Swimming Lessons

We took a leap of faith this week and put the kids in swimming lessons. This could have gone very, very badly as they are both pretty cautious when it comes to water... in fact I think this has been the first time they have ever been in water without clutching to some sort of inflatable! I'm so impressed with the progress I'm seeing, but it could have something to do with the fact that we quite possibly have the very best swimming instructor in the world teaching our kids. Thanks Mrs. Marie! It sure helps that our kids already loved you before they even got in the water!

Here is Maarti watching Sam swim.
She spends most of his lesson pointing at him saying "I try dat".

Look at him go... and it's only day two!

They both love blowing the ducks across the pool. Yesterday they just blew the duck today they put their lips in the water to blow.

Efficiency vs. Relationship

The other day the kids helped me make cookies and I was reminded of a sermon I heard a few years ago by Bruxy Cavey. He talked about how God's "plan A" is always to use people to accomplish His will even though He could do a better job on His own. He likened it to making cookies with kids... you could choose to be efficient and do it on your own or you could choose relationship and let them help.