Blueberry Picking

Wednesday, June 7th

Third annual trip to Persimmon Hill Farm in Lampe, MO

Their kitchen is so neat!

Lane was able to go with us for the first time this year.  We had Thunder Muffins and a blueberry cinnamon roll (Rhett) for breakfast before picking.

Just a few of the many, many pretty rows of blueberry bushes!

Cute berry pickers!

We saw friends there, which was fun!  These girls were off to basketball camp right after the trip to the farm.

We were happy that Lane could go!

They said this was a great crop this year because of all the rain we've had.  They looked really pretty and they taste great!

So here was the not-so-fun part of the trip...the big rat snake living under one of the blueberry bushes.  Ahhhhhhh.  I hate snakes, and I hate when they ruin the fun.  It was one row over from where we were picking.  We heard a lady gasp (much calmer than I would have been) and point it out to her daughter.  She and her grandkids had stepped right over it.  The boys were kind of done picking then...they were more interested in watching the snake, but that was fine with me because I wanted to know it wasn't slithering my way.  I'm glad they kept an eye on it for us.  They watched it go into a hole.  I'd like to think that was the only one on the property.

a beautiful day at the berry farm!

Here's one recipe that I tried with the fresh blueberries:

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Memorial Day Weekend

Lane worked evening shifts during Memorial Day weekend so we stayed home Friday and Saturday, all went to church on Sunday then the kids and I went to Mom and Dad's for the night.  We grilled burgers and hot dogs and ate outside.

We were also celebrating my nephew's 10th birthday.  They had birthday cake the night before, and my Grandmother made him two of his favorite (buttermilk) pies on Sunday.  Dad and I attempted to make s'mores on the grill, but we burned the graham crackers and melted the graham wrapper to the pan!  Most people chose pie instead of s'mores for dessert!  :)

This sweet picture on the left came up on Facebook Timehop for Memorial Day...Crosby at our cul-de-sac picnic in Little Rock, Memorial Day 2010.  And on the right, he's driving around the farm!

Happy Memorial Day!

We are thankful for our freedom and for those who sacrifice for our country!

On Monday the kids spent most of the day playing outside with their cousins.  We came home early enough to swim with Lane before he had to leave.  It was a good day.

Can't believe my little nephew is 9 months old already!  We'll be celebrating his first birthday before long!  He's such a good baby.  We always love getting to see him.  We drove out into the field to check on the big kids who were climbing on hay bales.  

The catalpa trees were blooming.  I loved these when I was a kid!

My Mom got Alexee this pink cat cake because she said that everyone else had had their own birthday cake with their name on it, but Alexee wasn't in Flippin on her Birthday.  She loved this, of course...cake and cats!  :)

Summer Break So Far

Summer break has been nice so far.  Not too busy yet, just some slower days together.

I cleaned out Crosby's closet and packed away a lot of our little kid books, which was sad for me.  I've read these with the kids so many times.  The Sandra Boynton books...I think Lane and I both have those memorized.  Many sweet memories represented here.  Kids grow up so fast.  

Crosby has outgrown most of his super hero costumes, so he told me I could "put them in a box for grandkids".  :(  He asked my parents for the Wolverine costume for Christmas one year.  Batman makes me think of him wearing it while climbing the Japanese Maple tree in front of our house in Little Rock.  And the Spiderman costume was probably his favorite.  I loved seeing him zoom around the house in it. 

One evening we grilled hot dogs, swam and had s'mores and watermelon.

Crosby did a basketball camp at the school.

We popped popcorn and watched E.T. one night.  The kids liked it!

Lots of things blooming around our yard!  I love this time of year.  Our tomatoes should be ripe soon.

Our Wal-Mart recently started pick-up service.  It is wonderful!  I haven't been inside the store in over a month!

The kids took tennis academy throughout May.  We're taking a break in June but plan to return in July.

Fun night at the new shaved ice stand with friends.

We went bowling with friends...

and rode bumper cars there, too!  The cars flipped upside down!

We've been seeing these twin fawns in our yard.  So sweet!

Momma and babies

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Baby Dedication & Mother's Day

On May 14th we went to church with my sister's family for my nephew's baby dedication ceremony.  He is a such a precious gift from the Lord!

My sister's sweet family.

It was also Mother's Day!  

It is a blessing and a joy to be their Mom.

And I'm so grateful for my Mom!  I loved getting to spend the day together.

Micaela had lunch ready at her house after church, and we opened Mother's Day and Baby Dedication gifts.

I'm very excited about my new cookware from Mom and Dad.  The kids were tired from staying up late and playing, so they took naps on the 2.5 hour drive home.  I wish I could have done that too!  :)

Alexee cut this pretty bouquet for me for Mother's Day.  She's so thoughtful!  (Maybe it is from Bogart, too?  He seemed to think he should pose for the photo.)

And we are also so very thankful for Lane's mother (Grammy) and my Grandmother/"Mo Nina" on Mother's Day...and every day!  We love you!

Baseball, Tennis & Swimming

May 4th was opening night at the city baseball fields.  It was so cold and windy, but we had fun and ate the free ice cream anyway!  We're looking forward to the season!

Love this picture of the boys getting ready for the National Anthem.

This was the night C got to play catcher.  He loved that!

 And at 3rd base

(He got two outs at third!  Way to go, C!)

R, A & C have all been doing tennis academy in May.

We're loving these summer evenings!