strawberry shortcake

When I was little, I had Strawberry Shortcake curtains and bedding in my room. We'd eat strawberries with sugar on them for a snack. My favorite pie was always strawberry.

As a girl I remember going to the strawberry fields with my family... often with my Grandma Char. They had a field right in West Fargo where you could pick buckets of strawberries. Later in the year, we'd pick baby cucumbers for canning pickles. I remember thinking, what is she going to do with all of these!! But she always found a use for everything and it was usually delicious!

So I thought it might be a fitting way to celebrate her life's passing as my baby girl turned two, to spend the morning picking strawberries.

Though we didn't say it enough, I loved my grandma very much and have so many memories of her- mostly surrounded by food- and so as I say goodbye to her, I find myself wanting to create new memories with my kids, start new traditions, pass on some of her warmth, cooking, and sense of humor, so that someday when I tell them about her, they'll recognize a bit of her in me... or in themselves.

So, Saturday morning, we headed out to Pine Tree Apple Orchards for some strawberry picking.

Now that Kiley is two, she's decided that she can pretty much do everything on her own. I'm pretty sure if we gave her the car keys, she'd figure out how to drive herself to the fields. Girl has a mind that is made up. I love it.

And we always knew it would be just a short while before she started sassing back to Jaxon and fighting for what's hers. Well, seems as if overnight, that time has come.

But, through all her tantrums and 'terrible two-ness', she is still my baby girl.

Sweet. Funny. Copycat. Busy-bee. Industrious. Foodie. Determined. Independent. Laughter and gigles. Cuddler. Jokester. Smart.  

And oh, so cute.

It was a special morning and I hope to make it a tradition we can do every year (as long as she'll let us!).

Afterwards we went home and opened a few presents. I got Kiley a Pink Dinosaur pillow pet- she keeps talking about dinosaurs getting her feet, so I thought this was appropriate.

And Scott got her a new blankie to replace the other two that are full of holes.

We love you sweet baby girl. You are pure joy. Our little Strawberry Shortcake.

ringbearer

A trip to the park, bubbles and gifts, bow ties and dresses. Jaxon made his big debut as a ringbearer this weekend in my cousin Tyler's wedding. Despite the sadness of my grandma Char not making it due to being in the hospital, it was a beautiful day and we couldn't be happier for the bride and groom.  Here's a few photos of the night before at the park and the wedding day...

training wheels

I recently bought a bike. Much like motherhood, it did not come with training wheels.

I went biking with the kids in the trailer the other night, only my second ride in like ten years or something. And I chose to go all the way to 'the purple park'.

"Do you think we'll be able to make it all the way there mom?" Jaxon asked.
"I think we should try Jaxon, what do you think?" said I.
"Let's do this."

Right.

So, we set out, with me on the bike (duh!), the kids in the trailer, and fully stocked with snacks and waters.

Let's get serious. The purple park is about a mile and a half away from our house. It was a ten minute ride.

It's what happened along the way that was the real adventure. I kept checking to make sure the kids were still attached to the bike, and at the intersection right in front of the purple park, I did something I'm sure I'll never live down. Especially now that it's in my blog post.

I fell off my bike. Right in the middle of the intersection.

The kids were safe. No worries there.

But me? My pride and dignity were badly bruised. So was my leg. And my ankle. And my hands...

And I will not quickly forget the look on Jaxon's face, when he just stared in awe at me.
"Did you just fall off the bike mom?"

Yep.

And so, a moment of embarrassment and horror turned quickly into a life lesson for me.

There are no training wheels with motherhood.

Even though I made the untimely error of falling off my bike, on a beautiful day, with lots of people around to see, I still had to get back on that bike, pedal my way across the street ( I waited for the next light of course), and face the kids.

"Wow, Jaxon. That sure was embarrassing. Can you believe I just did that?"

It was as if, for the moment, Jaxon realized that I am not perfect. That I do make mistakes. That I'm not the most amazing and all-knowing mom that he thought I was.

In this crash course into motherhood, there are nights like tonight, when I slightly lost my temper trying to put the kids to bed because nobody wanted to listen to me; and there are days when the naps turn into extra play time and tired bodies; and there are mornings when all I really want to do is sleep in on a Sunday but I'm woken up at 6:32 am with a little boy grunting or snorting in my face...

 ...on these days and in these moments, I am reassured that my kids still love me, no matter what. No matter the mistakes I make, or the falls I take. No matter if I'm not perfect, don't always do the right thing and perhaps someday embarrass them more than myself. Somehow, we get back on the bike and keep pedaling...