Strawberry Pickin'

It's the lovely month of June (well, almost), which means it's time to pick strawberries! My family and went out to pick those delectable little berries at the strawberry farm today. I'm glad we were assigned a row, because there were so many, one would hardly know where to begin. As you might expect, more strawberries ended up in my kid's tummies than in the basket. My kids had every intention of helping me fill the basket, but those strawberries were just so sweet and juicy, they couldn't resist! Fortunately my husband is an amazing strawberry-picker. He quickly helped me fill two huge trays with berries.

We had a bonus golf-cart ride back to the paying/weighing station. The kids thought that was great. The lady at the cash register took one look at my kids and started laughing. "So how did all those strawberries taste?" She asked. I guess the red stains around each of their lips gave it away!

Hide and Seek

One of my son's favorite games is hide and seek. He wanted to play it today -outside in the scorching heat.

"Mommy, count to ten."

I counted.

He hid in the magnolia tree. I found him -piece of cake.

"Your turn!"

My turn is always a good trick. Of course I'm big, so hiding places are a little hard to come by. That's not what makes it really tricky though. My son never closes his eyes and counts to ten. He follows me. So that means I have to outrun him. I managed to get away. I hid in a most excellent place. He tried to find me, but he gave up after passing me two times. It was funny to watch. Then I snuck up behind him and said, "Boo!" You should have seen him jump!

Then it was my turn to count again. He thought he was being pretty clever when he went inside the house. But I was smarter than he thought. I hid behind the magnolia tree and waited for him to come out the front door. Then as he walked down the front walkway, I snuck up behind him and scared him again!

I like playing hide and seek too!

Hungry!

My little guy went swimming today at the neighborhood pool. When he was done, he was hungry!

"I'm famished!" he said. (Yes, my five-year-old did use the word, "famished." -Pretty impressive!)

So I made hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. When they were finished cooking, I brought them in.

"I'll take one of each," he said.

"Let's start with a hamburger,' I replied.

He ate the entire hamburger.

"I'm ready for my hot dog."

He ate the hot dog.

"Still hungry!"

"Have some watermelon, " I said.

He ate the watermelon.

"I have a little room left for ice cream," he said.

What am I ever going to do when he becomes a teenager?

Emerald, Rubies, and Pipe Cleaners

My daughter is probably one of the most creative people I have ever met. Today was her first day of summer vacation. She decided to spend it making pretty necklaces out of pom poms and pipe cleaners. she worked diligently in her room for about an hour. When she was finished, she brought out some neckaces, bracelets, rings, earings and a crown. "These are for you, Mommy!"

"Why thank you," I exclaimed. "They are beautiful!"

"Put them on!"

I put on the crown, the earings, the bracelet, the necklace, and the ring.

"You look beautiful!" said my daughter.

I have to admit, those colorful pipe cleaners did add to my appearance.

Then it was time to go to the bank. I was about to take off my jewels, but my daughter begged me to keep them on.

So into the bank I went, decked out in pipe cleaners and pom poms.

What a mom doesn't do for her kids!

Grouchy Mama

Today I'm feeling a bit like the mama in my new book, That Mama is a Grouch. Let me tell you why. First, I was trying to prepare the minutes from the Ohio String Teachers Board of Directors meeting that occured the night before. Every two minutes it was, "Mommy, I need you!"

"No, you don't!" I would grumble.

Then my son parked himself on his belly in the office where I was working. He started kicking his legs. Guess what happened next? He knocked the floor lamp over and broke it.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to..." he whimpered.

'Yeah, I know. Just go," I said.

A little while later, it was, "Mommy, I need help!"

Exasperated, I went to see what he needed. There, spread out on the family room floor, were the contents of a mighty big Lego set - 890 pieces to be exact. "Can you help me put this together?"

"Arghh!"

(I think I got about 500 of those pieces together. The rest will have to wait!)

Fuzzy Friends

Here in Ohio, it's that time of year when the cottonwood trees start shedding their seeds. Fuzzy little white puffs float through the sky on a gentle breeze. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Well, it's not because I'm allergic to them! My eyes get all red and itchy, and I start sneezing, even with the prescription allergy medication I take.

So today I was outside with my son. He was chasing these little white puffs. I really wasn't paying much attention, until he came over to me with a request: "Uppies," he said. Translation: Pick me up! So I did. Unfortunately, I did not see he had one of those fuzzies on his finger, and he was aiming to shove it right up my nose.

"Hey, cut it out!" I said, quickly putting him back on the ground. 'You wouldn't like it if I put one of those up your nose!"

"Yes I would! Fuzzy friends like noses!" was the reply.

Um, right. If he was sitting here, like I am, with a swollen eyeball that's itching very badly, he would be singing a different tune!

Creative Genious

One of the requirements for being a mom is an ability to be creative. My creative abilities were put to the test today.

My son was playing with his wrestling action figures. "Mom, we need to go to the store!"

"Why?"

"I need a wrestling ring."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do!"

"Then go find four sticks," was my reply.

He looked at me like I had rocks in my head, but he went and fetched the sticks.

"Now go find some yarn," I instructed.

He came back with some lovely pink yarn.

"Now find some playdo."

When he had completed his mission, I tied the pink yarn to the sticks, and put the sticks in the playdo.

"Viola!" I said, looking at my masterpiece. " A new wresting ring!"

My little guy was amazed.