Strawberry Picking

We had an absolute blast picking strawberries this year. The girls were terrific pickers and we gathered over ten pounds in no time. We took hayrides to and from the fields. After picking, we enjoyed lunch and a strawberry shake, the girls went on a "cow train" ride, we had another strawberry shake, fed some animals and of course, ate tons of strawberries!



On the hayride:

My pickers!

Willa wanted to bring her pony along, so we had to devise a way for her to use both hands. The carrier worked well!

A sour one!
Feeding the animals:

It tickles!

Riding the cow train!



Eating lots of berries and being goofy!


Now we are all set for smoothies, popsicles and more!

Milestones for the Bee

I've been negligent in posting about some of Willa's latest milestones. First, she transitioned to her big girl bed. It was a long time ago and we have yet to put up her canopy. She adores it nonetheless. I love how it is positioned in her room at an angle and looks like a chaise lounge.

Second, just like we did with Jia, when Willa was ready to be done with her pacifiers, we went to Build-A-Bear and she stuffed them inside her animal. She chose a horse and named it "Sparkle." Sparkle now goes everywhere with her.


Sparkle often gets decked out in the latest fashions, including bunny slippers!

Ready for bed!
Each transition was a breeze! Phew!

Lastly, Willa got a hairstyle! We had been trying to avoid bangs, but clips wouldn't stay in her hair, and she couldn't keep her hair out of her face. This is how she felt about her hair before her cut:

And after bangs and a bob!

We all love it!

Sisters

Happy Father's Day!

The girls sure adore their baba! Today we celebrate Joe, my dad, my brother-in-law Pat and all great babas out there.

The girls made Joe some presents. Their silhouettes are in the middle of their paintings. We used this technique.




Yay for wonderful dads!

Farming and Plants Week

We have done some fun activities this week for our theme of farming and plants.

The girls have been eagerly anticipating the start of our favorite farmer's market. It was finally time! Here they are in front of their most loved item:


Time to play on the grounds next to the market:


Planting sunflower seeds (and they've already sprouted!):

Our reading:

We visited the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and the Quaking Bog:

The visit was quite dramatic. The outhouse-style bathrooms at the Wildflower Garden were apparently traumatizing and caused lots of nose-holding and weeping. (They were actually nice and clean.) Also, many trees in the area had fallen due to the recent tornado. We took a path at the bog that had yet to be cleared and should have been closed. We climbed over, under and around many trees. Willa thought it was exciting and shouted, "We're adventurers!"

We made leaf imprints in clay (fern and catalpa):

We also pressed flowers from our garden and made a sun catcher:

Tomorrow we are planning to go strawberry picking (if it doesn't rain)!

Oliver Kelley Farm

The first thing we did for our Farming and Plants theme week was visit the Oliver Kelley Farm. It is a working 1860's farm where guides are in clothing from the period. Kids get to help them with their day to day chores.

It was a breezy day.


What is our city girl doing? Spreading manure.

A few moments later, the pig shook and we were all covered in mud.

Carrying logs for the wood stove.

She asked them to help water the plants.

They were happy to oblige.

No farm would be complete without newborn kitties!

Struggling to pump well water.

Hauling water for the plants.


Willa told us she wants to be a "farm girl."

We also watched sheep shearing (the old-fashioned way with clippers) and went on a wagon ride behind some very fast horses. Jia said that her favorite thing was "doing the chores." She also said that "farming is a LOT of work!"

On the way home we talked about where our food comes from and discussed each ingredient from our recent meals and snacks. I think the girls appreciate it more now (hopefully)!

Our theme summer

The girls and I have decided to do a theme summer. We have chosen a different theme for each week. For each theme, we will read library books about it, do activities and go on excursions related to the theme.

Here they are:

Farming and Plants – Week of June 12th

Insects (no spiders) – Week of June 19th

Art – Week of June 26th

United States - Week of July 4^th

Oceans – Week of July 10th

Sewing – Week of July 17th

Science and Technology – Week of July 24th

Health – Week of July 31^st

Forest Life – Week of August 7th

China/Taiwan – Week of August 14th

Environment – Week of August 21st

We each chose a few themes. Our criteria for picking the topics was... stuff that interests us!

Highlights of various weeks will include strawberry picking. raising caterpillars into butterflies and releasing them, visiting a Pioneer and Native American Museum and other fun stuff.

We also plan to do ethnic food weekends during the summer. We typically eat a wide variety of cuisine anyway, but it will be fun to make it a focus. Can't wait!

Jia's Last Day of School

Jia is done with kindergarten! Oh, I can't even believe it. This year flew by faster than I could ever imagine. Here she is on Field Day with her class.

She has blossomed so very much this year. She has done great academically. I didn't doubt she would, but I was also surprised to see that she's doing multiplication and division. Jia started the year as a terrific reader. Kindergarteners are supposed to read at Level C by the end of the year. Jia's teacher assessed her at Level M (about third grade). Yay Jia! I'm glad she's at a school that allows her to move at her own pace. She also did research reports on the rainforest and the solar system. She now knows far more than I do about both.

Jia has come the furthest, though, in the way of confidence. I attribute this entirely to her teacher. She has a very special way of connecting with kids and making them feel good about themselves and like they can accomplish anything. She has also set the stage for an excellent educational experience for Jia, and as a result Jia loves school!

In fact, Jia doesn't want school to be over. She has cried many tears because she will miss her teacher so much. She received an award for perfect attendance, and told me she wishes school would continue forever with the same teacher. Poor kid doesn't even want a summer break. The bar is very high now for future teachers!

Here is what Jia's teacher wrote about her: "Every moment in kindergarten with Jia has been a true delight. She is a bright, genuine, respectful, creative, curious, independent little girl. She is eager to learn and has great work habits. Jia is very well liked by others and has many friends. She has made great academic progress. She has strong reading, writing and math skills. I will miss Jia next year! She is definitely ready for First Grade!"

Joe and I both cried today. Then we prepared a party for the neighborhood kids!

Excited for her friends to arrive.

Enjoying the first cone!

And the second!

The kids from the block. Nine girls and two boys. Thick as thieves.


Migrating to the neighbors' house.

On to a fun summer!