Picking Strawberries

A few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to do something different. Here is Spokane we live just below a TON of produce farms. They are called The Bluffs. There are like 20 different farms and they all have different, fun things. Some have cute little shops and boutiques others have actual activities that go on. So I got online and found the place that had the cheapest price for picking strawberries and mapped out where we were to go. I loaded up the car with picnic stuff and we headed up there. We found a great farm that had the berries for a great price. We grabbed our basket crate and a wagon and walked over to the strawberry fields. The strawberries were actually pretty picked over because we hadn't gotten there early in the morning. But we still got about 10.5 lbs. The kids had SO much fun picking through and finding the "BIG" ones (which weren't really that big but big enough!) Canden kept eating them. I had to keep making sure to tell him to put them in the crate and stop eating them. I was afraid I'd have to come up with more lbs to add with all my kids ate--- especially with the evidence all over their hands, face and clothes. After we got what we needed we went back and sat a picnic table and ate our lunch. When we decided to leave I told Cory I really wanted to stop at this cute shop that was just at the beginning that I had heard about. They make homemade donuts every Saturday that I heard were fabulous . . . so we went there and found it the cutest little place. They had donuts, ice cream, produce, decor and a live band. There were many people there eating lunch out on the decks and we just sat in the rocking chairs and enjoyed our treats. We had a great day. Not to mention we made it back to the Valley by 2 pm and headed out on the boat with the Lewis's. Lets just say this Saturday was a great one!

Canden is finally 2!

Canden is 2 now and been acting like it since 1. We had a great birthday for him in Idaho. We had a small party at Grandma Chrys' and Grandpa Kent's. All the family came to celebrate with us including all his cousins. His daddy of course couldn't be there because of work so that's always a bummer. .. but we had a good time anyways. Canden got pretty spoiled this year. He got a new trike which we could barely get out of the box before he was on it screaming "my bike my bike!" He got a toy lawnmower-- to be like daddy, some cars, and a gun. It was a fun one. Nothing to extravagant but just us. He didn't like the candle on the cupcake --- and just wanted to lick the icing. Another trait just like his father. Canden has been a true joy in our family. I just love the kid. He is so funny and has so much of Cory in him that it is a little scary.. I know he will always have me on my toes. Canden and Araleigh have such a special little relationship. I watch them everyday and get butterflies at how much they care for each other. Araleigh is so wonderful to him and just takes him by the hand and leads him. He adores her. He is always running up to her saying "sissy" and attacking her with hugs. Every time they go outside to swing Araleigh has him all strapped in and they are usually holding hands swinging together. Canden is one of a kind and his little smile and adorable face is what gets him from being in BIG trouble most of the time. I am so glad he is mine though I am usually sweating all day trying to chase him but I love him so much. Cory just adores Canden as well. Canden is a Daddy's boy . . . which usually breaks my heart. He runs to Cory and will just lay on him for hours . . . me I am lucky to get a quick hug and then he is off getting into something. Though I don't like it --- it means a lot to Cory to have that special bond. Canden is the most amazing little ball player. I have never seen a kid with such amazing coordination at such a young age. He will pitch a ball, point his toe and get right where he is aiming. He makes his basketball hoops when he tries and he dribbles a soccer ball better than most 4 year olds. I have a feeling he will be an expensive child one he is old enough to start playing. We are glad he is ours and adore him. Happy Birthday Canden Boy!

What a month.

Well, I am so sick of traveling. THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. In the past 2 weeks I have been to Washington, Utah, IDaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Too much travel for this momma. Life has been pretty crazy the past month. We had Canden's birthday, a huge trial that we are still trying to get through, a funeral, a family vacation to see family for the 4th, 2 trips to Utah, a job change, and 4 fish deaths in our family.

So life has been a little much for me lately. All trying to keep from puking up all my nightly meals-- I think that being home will help me to start calming down and getting my stress level below the red zone.

About 2 weeks ago Cory got a call to go to Utah for a job interview which couldn't have happened at a better time. We ended up leaving the Monday before the weekend of the 4th which was about 4 days sooner than planned. We got to Idaho and Cory took off to Utah. He ended up being there for most the week. But ended up getting the job. As we were in Idaho I got to see a little of my Aunt Shelley and Uncle Dale who were here from North Carolina. I spent most the time with the Arnold's. Mainly Cory's sisters. We took the bigger kids to the new water park in Rexburg which was so fun for them. We as usual did a lot of sitting around and the kids played in the fun water stuff Darla bought them. This go around was a bigger challenge for us with the 2 year olds. They were into EVERYTHING. We couldn't take our eyes off them without them going down and dumping all the shampoo all over them selves in the bath tubs (yes, this happened 3 times I think). Parker and Canden are not good together. All they do is find trouble. I was lucky enough to be able to go to the funeral of a family member of my second family growing up. I was devastated to hear of the passing of Brad's wife (Brad was pretty much another older brother growing up.) She passed unexpectedly of complications with the baby she was carrying. The baby is still alive and I believe is doing better. I am pretty sure there was brain damage on the poor baby -- who is the cutest thing ever. My heart hurts for them so much. Just as our trials seem to bring us down and we think that things are terrible . . . you hear of someone else's trial and how much worse it could be. I have heard of all the wonderful things that have happened to help his family and only wish I could do more as well. This whole thing makes me look at my children a little longer . . . . and pray a little harder in thanks for my time with them. I truly hope the family feels the Lord's arms around them . . . especially with that little baby. I was very grateful for my in laws for watching my kids all day . . .even after getting stuck in Brigham City at my brother's Dairy Queen. Luckily Cory was passing through to come back from Utah so I hitched a ride. It was a sad hard day . . . but I am so grateful I was there to be able to show my support. I just love that family as my own.

As always we ended with the fourth which meant the Rexburg Parade and camping out down at the fireworks will BBQ's and food, sparklers and the men playing football. We always seem to have a good time every year doing that. The fireworks were great as always but this year was the first year we really got stuck in traffic -- so that was a downer on the night.
{Canden and Parker relaxing and eating}


Then come Tuesday Cory decided it was off to Utah to find a home. So we packed up and headed and spent the next 4 days looking for houses ---- when in the end they told us to stay in Spokane til our baby is born. SO that was a waste of a trip! BUT we got to spend time with the Shirts family. Becca has 1 more boy we had never met --- so it was fun to see them meet their new guy. Though the stress level was a little high on my end I think it was a pretty good trip overall. We ended the trip in Idaho going to Bar J Wranglers in Jackson with my family. We never get to do that with my family so it was nice to do that. We left the next morning for home and here we are now . . . trying to recoup from being gone for so long--- and get back into our normal routines. I am trying to feel better which seems impossible these days. So weird usually with my kids I always had morning sickness, day sickness, and then heartburn all night. Now I am perfect in the morning but come 2 pm . . . I am done for. . which lasts all night. So thats a bummer. I am hoping only a few more weeks of feeling like crap then it will be smooth sailing. Though I have noticed with this #3 -- I am huge a little sooner than I thought. All my clothes are already snug and I look and feel about 7 months prego not 4. So if anyone sees me and thinks "WOW, she has really gotten fat" . . .. I am blaming it on the baby (and the carbs to keep my food down). NO JUDGING.