Strawberries spell summer time!

We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the strawberry patch that is across from the elementary school. Each morning we would check, "Are the windows to the little shack open?" And Finally on Wednesday it was! Unfortunately, the kids had school so we couldn't go right away, but Saturday turned out to be the perfect day! Jonathon had to go back into work after Cedar's soccer game, so off we went. We picked 2 gallons of ripe yummy strawberries! So far we have had them in sugar, plain, in milk, in ice cream, on crepes and with nilla wafers. After school gets out I want to pick some more and make jam, but until then, I'm thinking maybe pie and fruit pizza, and ....

Cedar soccer

We finally remembered to bring the camera to soccer. Cedar's team is made up of 5-6 year olds. They are so cute, the way they chase around the ball. This is Cedar's 2nd year so he had some sort of idea what to do. He is actually pretty good. In the Upward league that he is in they have a smaller field, 40 yards or so. A few weeks ago he actually kicked a goal from the opposite end and made it into his goal! He thought is was the best, most amazing kick ever! He demonstrated it for us repeatedly for many days after.

Oh Happy, Happy Day!

Did you get breakfast in bed? If you're a mom I hope that you did! If you're not a mom, I hope that you served someone up! When I was a kid I don't think that I realized the importance of Mother's Day. It's just a day for giving your mom cards and breakfast in bed, right? I don't think that anymore. Now, that soooo many of the people I love and who influence me are graced with that title, I see more to it than cards and french toast. Mothers hold a position of great power in this world. People, unfortunately take the name of the Lord in vain all the time. Not many will do much to stop it. It has come to mean any number of slang things, from good to bad. But, insult someones mother and you better duck!

I have great sisters. I've always thought that they were the best, but when they became mothers I saw them as so much more. They are the kind of mothers I want to be. My teachers and examples. My brother's and husband's wives were always nice people. I love them and admire who they are. As I have watched them with their children I see grace and beauty in action. As a girl, I always thought my brothers were immature and silly, but I see the women that they have chosen to love and marry and I must admit that I was wrong.
I think of Grandma Loveridge. To me she is the pinnacle of near perfection in wife and mother. She is loyal and true and honestly believes that you (whoever you are) are the absolute most wonderful person in the world. You feel like you might just be when you are in her presence. Maybe that's why none of us can stay away. If we're around, we just have to drop in for a little dose of grandma.
Where would I be with out Marie? She helps me see things I've never seen before. Parts of people that are unique and beautiful. She reflects light and all of us who have the opportunity to have her in our lives are better because of her. Jonathon will spend hours talking to her sometimes and he always comes away a little lighter and I know that he loves her without question.

Now we come to my mom. Several people I know call their mom's by their first name. "Because they are friends and equals now." I don't think I could ever do that. Even as a grown woman with children of my own, my mom is always who she'll be. The woman who (still) kisses my owies better, who may not understand me perfectly, but loves me perfeclty. She is my friend, my caregiver, my advice hotline, my idea springboard, my companion, my mom.
Speaking of my mom, today is not only a day to pay tribute to her, but also to her amazing husband Tony. It's his birthday today. I think he's turning 42. He has been an amazing addition to our family. I don't think you could find a more selfless man anywhere. He is kind and funny and energetic and thoughtful and I am so glad he's around! I love you Tony. Happy birthday!

switch-a-roo

Many of you know that I'm a bit of a psycho about the number of toys out at my house at a time. I'm not really big on picking up toys all day, and I think that if there are too many toys out to be picked up, that just means that there are too many toys! We have a ton of toys, and even though as the kids get older their toys are getting different, smaller sometimes, but we still have tons of 'em. We aren't ready quite yet to get rid of them, so we switch them out every once in a while.

I totally love this! Here's how it works, we have a portion of the toys out, then when the toys start to get left out too much, not played with, and it's been a while we switch them around. The ones not out are in the garage. We put the ones away that we are ready to store for a while and then get out new ones. I let the kids help choose, sometimes. The rule for that is that the toys that they get out have to be roughly the same size as the ones we put away. No matchbox car in exchange for the train table! Then the magic begins, the kids are totally enchanted by the toys again. They remember how to use them and what some of their favorites were and the play room is full of busy, happy people! I love it! Just like Christmas with out the wrapping paper.

We did this yesterday and the play room has been so fun, especially since it has been raining so much. Even the little people that my kids are probably technically grown out of worked well when paired with the other doll house. Olive built amazing train tracks and Cedar has "17 creations so far" in his collection.

Let the swimming season begin!

Last Saturday the kids were invited to a birthday party for one of the boys in Aspen's class. This family really knows how to do it because they invited the whole family. I love it when people do this. And obviously so do my kids. They had rented the pool at Carson Newman College and we had pizza before. The water was a bit too cold for me so I was the official picture taker for my family, but Jonathon is always up for swimming. Here are the first swimming pictures of the season. I'm sure these will start to get old after a few months, but let the swimming begin!

Update on the movie...

Thanks Emily for helping me. For Aspen I would choose Mara Wilson.

My movie

The journal jar question is back. Who would play me in the movie of my life along with who would play my family. I didn't word that quite like Em did, but that's the gist of it.

For me...In my early years it would be a toss up between Emily Watson and Kiera Knightly. I think I was about that obnoxious.

For me in my later life I think it would be Olivia Williams



For Jonathon he is in a toss up between Bill Murray and Toshiro Mufune(He chose those ones!)


Our kids would be...Olive is Dora , Cedar is McCully Culkin, Aspen is, I don't know. I Don't know any child Actresses. Help me with this one!


The title of my movie would be, "Into the Forest"