There is a first time for everything. I finally went strawberry picking! I love love love strawberries when they are in season. It was an absolute treat to hand pick the ripe fruit from its very own patch. I am planning on making something homemade with my strawberries. I’ll post my finished product.
There is something really great about buying and eating locally grown food. Certainly I will still eat my imported grapes from Peru! But there is something nice to go to Sever’s market for corn on the cob in late Summer or go to Apple Jack’s Orchard for some awesome Honey Crisp apples in the Fall. I will be going strawberry picking again next year for sure.
Friday July 4th 2008 we attended the Apple Valley parade with our friends the Hansens. It was sweet! They had military planes fly overhead, at least 10 marching bands and a stunning troop of geezers driving go-karts way too fast by small children. It was 2 hours but very pleasant passing the time with Chris and Dawn and their kids. 
Senator Norm Colman did his political thang during the parade.
Nora and Molly beat the heat under the shade from their strollers.
Ryan and Jack sat guard for anybody throwing candy in their tot spot camping chairs. Do you think they called each other to plan their get-ups? So cute!
For evening festivities we headed to Richfield for a BBQ and fireworks show. Tim, Peter’s middle brother, is a pyrotechnic and assisted in the City of Richfield show at Vetern’s park. Even my folks came our for the show. I stayed back with Molly at the house (I was running out of steam myself due to finally trying to get over a bad chest cold) as the rest of the gang took in the show.
Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Home Front, kids | Posted on 26-06-2008
Today Peter was Mr. Mom as I went off to work and he did the childcare. The kids love the attention from their Daddy. They are always playing just a little rougher, louder and longer than they do with me so of course Daddy days are always a hit! This afternoon he set up the kiddie pool and hose in the backyard. 
Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Home Front, kids | Posted on 24-06-2008
Molly is on day 5 of a cold and Ryan was diagnosed with an ear infection today. He started acting out of sorts on Sunday but by Tuesday morning he complained of a head and earache. He did comment without prompting that, “My heart feels great!” Ryan was very grateful for everything I did for him even through the groggy heaviness he possessed from a fever of 102.1 degrees. After I put a cool washcloth on his head and neck he told me he loved me and that [the washcloth] felt so good. His sweet and blurry tone pulled at my heart strings even more than normal.
Molly and I had some rare alone time with each other as Ryan slept off his fever. It was fun to play with her without parenting a 3 1/2 year old at the same time. She smiled often as she realized that I was indeed still paying attention to her and just her!
We spent most of today with the shades drawn as the house seemed to ache with the kids. The general feeling was happy but we all knew that we weren’t running at full steam. Finally after supper the three of us walked around the block. Ryan only made it 1/2 way before hopping into the stroller. I only hope boredom doesn’t set in tomorrow!
