Strawberry Picking at the CSA Farm

For our 3rd summer, we have joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) where we purchase a share in a farm's crops and get deliveries of fruit and vegetables harvested from the farm June through October. We finally made it to the farm this year for the Strawberry Jubilee festival and u-pick strawberries (a bonus of being a CSA member). You get to ride behind a tractor to get to the u-pick fields and there are lots of animals and fun activities back at the farm to keep any little kid (and adult) happy. We had a wonderful time with Mia's friends Greydon and Noah and their families. We're also very excited for all the good food to come out of the wonderful berries.

Mia's all ready to start picking.

Mommy and Mia picking (and eating) berries.

"Oh, let me steal another one from the basket.
This is so much easier than picking them on my own."

Clearly, someone got his fill of strawberries warmed by the sun.

We were all very impressed with how well the kids did in the fields. They picked and ate and had a grand old time.

Then it was back to the farm for some lunch and a visit to the animals.

Can't wait for blueberry and blackberry seasons, but given the perfect weather today, this will be a hard day to match.

Early Birthday Present

To help keep Mia busy with a new baby arriving in the next few weeks, we decided to put together her birthday present a little early. Here is Mia playing on her new play set in the back yard.

Midwest Guests

We had very special visitors today from Wisconsin. Mommy's childhood friend, Betsy, was in town for a wedding with her husband, Nick, and their new baby, Andrew. Mia and Nick had not met yet and we all enjoyed meeting Andrew for the first time.


Too bad we'll be headed to The River at different times this summer. Mia loved playing with Andrew and we hope it isn't too long before we see them again.

Daydreaming

Mia has really taken to pretend play. She and Daddy will lay on the floor, look up at the ceiling, and pretend that there are clouds in the shapes of animals. Definitely a good option for a rainy day activity.

Go Orioles

Yes, Daddy has already brainwashed Mia into loving baseball and the Orioles. She has become attuned to anything and everything baseball. She seems to have a 6th sense about when baseball is on TV, she knows that the kids are playing baseball (well, really t-ball) on the field at the end of our street, she can spot a baseball picture in the newspaper from across the room. She always says, "Go Orioles" and makes sure everyone does a high five when there is a home run.

Mia's day care provider (known as YaYa) was noticing her love of baseball and since she has a love of basketball, has decided to make sure Mia gets some sports balance in her life. When Mommy picked up Mia last night, Mia was dunking the basketball into the small hoop attached to the play house (with a little help from YaYa's husband, FaFa).

Easter

Happy Easter!

Mia loved looking for her Easter basket.
Here are some post-church pictures.



And finally, the Easter egg hunt courtesy of our wonderful neighbors - the Bierwagon-Pike family.

Happy Birthday Taid

This year, Taid's (Daddy's Dad) birthday fell on the day before Easter and all of his grandchildren were there to celebrate with him.

Welcome Jabber

Nina and Taid's new puppy has arrived! Jabber was welcomed into the family on April 5th.

Playing Soccer (well, sort of..)

Mia loves her soccer ball. She's gotten very good at dribbling and kicking it through a target. The only problem happens when she's afraid Daddy will steal it away. Then the hands come out and the game is more like football.

Hiking and Photo Class

Rob is taking a photo class on people photography through the community college, so the last two pictures here are the pictures that he took to work on "lighting" - one indoor and one outdoor.  We also went hiking at Great Falls (VA) this weekend, so there are pictures from that excursion as well.

A Night Out

It was time again for the rotating dinner with Mia's friends (all born within 2-3 wks of each other). The kids had a great time playing together and seemed to especially think it was fun to all be in PJs at the same time hanging out. Who doesn't like to be allowed to stay up past their bedtime?

House Guests

Friday night, Aunt Kate and her daughter Ellie, along with Aunt Kate and Mommy's cousin Lori and her daughters Azure and Ember, spent the night en route back home after visiting Grandma and Grandpa in South Carolina.

Mia and Ellie had a wonderful time eating breakfast together!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I love you!
Love,
Mia

Snow Day!

Snow days are pretty rare for us, but one is March is completely unheard of. Mia had a great time playing in the snow.




And, one of the best things about a snow day is an impromptu playdate with a neighbor! Maddie and Mia had a blast dancing and drawing together.

All in a Line

Mia has become a big fan of lining up all of her little dolls. She then stands in line and we count everyone. Even Mom and Dad get to share in the fun when Mia has us stand in the line, too.

Bostonians Visit

Our friends Chris and Alex and their 6 mo old daughter Kiera came for a long weekend visit to escape the cold Boston weather. We were able to give them a few warm days before the snow storm hit the East Coast.

A New Sweater

Mia got a hand-knit sweater and hat from Grandma. They are beautiful and the color looks wonderful on Mia.

Spain

We had a wonderful time visiting Allan, Raquel, and baby Alan at their home in Zamora, Spain. We spent most of our time in Zamora and took some day trips to nearby cities and villages.

Mia loved being able to spend time with her Uncle Allan, Tia Raquel, and Cousin Alan. We also had a wonderful time with them. This was Mara's first trip to Spain and we were able to get to see a lot of the local history and sites. We have lots of pictures of various sites, but have mostly posted pictures with people here. (Click here for a direct link to the album.) Let us know if you'd like to see all of those.

We can't wait until the Spaniards come to visit us in just a few short weeks.

Big Bed

Mia has officially moved into a big bed.

She even has a quilt especially made for her bed by Grandma.

Good-bye Raskal

Raskal was put to sleep last night after sudden complications from a previously undetected heart tumor.  We'll all miss him terribly - he was an exceptionally well-behaved, loving and playful dog.

I will remember him for poking his nose around the corner and sulking to the back of the house when we would show up with Mia, barking furiously at anyone who went into the pool and being so patient with Mia as she learned how to pet a dog.