Pool Boy

At the city pool on Sunday.

Seasonal Approach

No picture today - we will try to download some tonight. Here's an anecdote instead:

We have been really focused the last few weeks on eating local foods. It's something we've been trying for a while in an attempt to be "greener", but now that we are in Cville, we really don't have much excuse not to eat all the bounty that is right in our backyards. Since spring has sprung and the farmer's market is overflowing with fresh produce, we've re-doubled our efforts to eat local, which of course means eating what is in season. So, lots of greens right now, as well as the first of the broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. We had a long conversation with Abby on Saturday morning about the fact that both asparagus and strawberries are at the end of their season, but that now we can get cherries and blueberries, and it won't be long until peach season. We were not sure how much of this she absorbed, but later in the day, Abby sat down to weave a potholder on her little loom. When she was almost done, she ran out of pink loops. Staring mournfully at the last pink in the bag, she looked up and said solemnly "mommy, this is the last pink loop of the season." I am not sure when pink loop season starts again, but hopefully some will grow back before next spring. :)

Feeling Purple

Strawberry Picking

It is strawberry season here in Central Virginia. We have had multiple trips to the strawberry patch, the most recent with Alex and Julia. Those girls sure can pick berries - 13 pounds in total! All I can say is... we may not be able to eat another strawberry rhubarb pie for a year.

Goodbye Levana!

Today is Abby's last day of school, and next year she is off to Kindergarten! We'll have a "moving up" picnic in the park tonight with her classmates, and some will be in camp over the summer, but for some this is our last day to play together.....

Playmates

Abby and Benji have gotten to the point where they will play together for stretches of time. It is very fun to watch. This morning, Abby spent an hour hiding in her "castle" while Benji stormed it (i.e., climbed on top of it), with both occasionally breaking down in giggles. They seem to enjoy spending time together, except for the occasional complaint from Abby about being "slimed."

Build-A-Bear

Abby has been begging to go to build-a-bear for the better part of a year. We finally agreed to make it a prize for keeping her room clean for a whole month. She reached that goal last week, and we hopped over to the mall so she could build her bear (er, monkey).





Here she is with the final product. Yes, that is a monkey, covered in hearts, wearing a bikini and riding a surfboard. She chose all the parts herself... it is quite a piece of work.