Strawberry Fields, Again

I have told you before how much I don't like picking fruit. I generally disprove of the heat...and the dirt...and the bugs...and the fact it seems to take forever...and the fact that you do all that work and it saves you no money at all. However, I think it's growing on me. I'm starting to enjoy the process, the end result, and really how much Cordelia enjoys it.

It might actually be better priced than I think, due to how many pounds this little monster eats while in the fields.  

The day was warm, and overcast. I tried to dress Cordelia so she wouldn't get hot
(a loosing battle no matter what) which means it looks like I forgot her pants. That's the ok thing about being a kid, right? I'm trying to figure out if we are beyond the phase of ruffly butt diaper covers- thoughts? Part of me thinks I am just willing her to stay little. I've been feeling really down about how fast she is growing up, the glimpses of big girl independence and teenager attitude we get these days. Where did my little 8 lbs 10 ounces, 20.5 inch baby girl go? 

Cordelia likes to steal the berries out of Shauna and my bucket to eat when she gets tired of picking- or when she feels the bushes are too bare in our spot. It would be ok if she only stole from me because, I don't need that many. However, Shauna makes jam and such with hers and needs a ton. Especially with how fast Cordelia eats Shauna's jam- a spoon full in her Greek yogurt every morning. 

This sums up how Cordelia feels about being told she has to pick her own. 

Cordelia's favorite strawberries to pick were the abnormal ones. Berries that grew in funny shapes, or look like three stuck together, or are tiny, or flat. They are her favorite. I hope that it's a metaphor for how she will see life- that she will appreciate the things that are different, that she will see just how precious they are too. 

Over the Weekend

Another fun filled, busy weekend at our house. Sometimes I wish we knew how to take it slow and be bums. However, this weekend was wonderful and exciting. While I was working on Saturday, Brendon and Miss C had a Daddy/Daughter date at the park. They road the carousel and the miniature train (hundreds of times)   and had a blast being silly and crazy. Brendon was awesome and sent me lots of pictures, but I was still a little jealous so, on Sunday, we went to Watkins park to see the animals and ride the carousel there.  

She doesn't look happy here, but she really was having fun I swear! 

It's soo much fun to look at the different animals- and the amazing details the artists put into them.

I know you have seen a lot of pictures of the animals at the Old Maryland Farm already- but I love animals and I think it is soo much fun that the farm is super close to us (and it's free!). It is really just all around amazing. 

Now when you ask Miss C what noise a peacock makes she makes a horrible, incredibly loud, shrieking/ cawing noise- just like a real peacock. 

Too bad they are so obnoxious to listen to because they sure are beautiful. I'm a little obsessed with peacocks, in fact a dear friend of mine always tells me that they are my spirit animal because of it. 

Brendon took this photo- It's making the face I make at Brendon when he forgets to take the trash out.

 

After the farm we found a nice little trail to the nature center. Finding the trail was a godsend because without it you have to walk past the giant park and no kid wants to pay attention at a nature center after they see a giant park- even if it is the coolest nature center in the area. 

Cordelia comparing her wingspan to a Red Tail Hawk.

Daddy and Cordelia comparing their wingspans to that of an Eagle.

Have I mentioned before how turtles are a really big deal to Miss C? We end up taking a lot of pictures of then because of that! 

Miss C Looks like such a big girl here! I look at this picture and I can see her as a teenager- please time slow down. I hope you and your family had amazing adventures this weekend! Any ideas about what we should do next weekend?

Seeing Black and White

I must admit Miss C is made of stronger stuff than I was when I was a kid- or even than I am now. When I was a kid I hated dirt, smelly things, and bugs- I was super girly. I only wore dresses, my favorite color was pink (until I learned that my brother's favorite color was purple and I decided mine would be too so that I could be just like him) I loved Barbies, and Disney Princesses. I am so happy that Cordelia loves to play in the dirt and she is fascinated by bugs, but she still loves Barbies, pink, and Disney Princesses. She is such a great mix of both worlds, such a good strong mix of her father and I too. 

On Wednesday we took a trip to visit my grandmother- while we were there we decided to swing by my Aunt and Uncle's dairy farm. I didn't appreciate the farm when I was a kid- because cows are kinda smelly and dirty and the flies LOVE them but Cordelia really enjoyed it. She thought the cows were super neat and my Uncle took us for a ride in his tractor which was awesome (it was my first time in a tractor too!). Now that I have grown up I am really impressed with, and in awe of, the farm. This trip also made me realize just how little I know about what is really involved with farming and how we get our milk. 

See that yellow brush thing- the cows can rub against it so they can scratch themselves. 

In the tractor, after our ride.