strawberry & raspberry pickin'

The third time is a charm....we finally made it out to Harvold's to pick strawberries!  It was the tail end of strawberry season (so we had to wander pick!)...but their raspberry season had just started!  We ended up getting 9 lbs of fruit - plenty to freeze and use for smoothies!!

 Jaelyn was a champ and picked a ton of strawberries - - Ben really didn't care for it too much and would rather have played in the mud!

 So cute...taking a break from picking to share a strawberry with Brooke!

Our raspberry bounty!!  Loved raspberry picking since it was all at eye level! 

Mmmmmmmmmmm

Brooke is that the stage where she wants to do everything by herself!!  This includes using utensils to eat her lunch!  When I finally break down and let her do this, exhibit A is what usually happens!!  Oh, and the watermelon you see on her tray?  Yep, that's her favorite food right now.  She will chomp on wedge all the way until the green part if I don't stop her and beg for more! 

just another day!

Just another day:  Jaelyn reading out loud to whoever will listen, Ben being goofy, & Brooke trying to mimic her older sister!

 Ben - superhero/firefighter dude!!  Gotta love dressing up!

 Sisters doing what they love!

 Brooke, you are just too stinkin' adorable!  Your little toes and your spiky hair!!  :)

Brooke's protector!

my little helper

trying her best to load the dishwasher (or pull things out)!

school is out!

Last day as a Kindergartener - - moving on up to 1st grade!

school is out for ben!

Ben had his preschool celebration today - he's very happy it's summertime!

 He looks SO grown up in this picture!

 Ms. Erin & Mrs. Phelon

 They put on a little show for us - complete with nursery rhymes, songs and 2 puppet shows!

Ben also presented Daddy with his father's day place mat which included this precious Q & A:

My dad is 7 years old

My dad likes to wear working jeans

He loves to eat meatballs

He's smart because he know how to glue stuff together

My dad works hard at work

Dad always tells me "thank you".

My Dad is happy when he is mowing the lawn

If I could give my dad anything it would be candy

My dad laughs when he is blowing with the blower

My Dad likes to go to Domino's.

graduation tea

Jaelyn had her Kindergarten Graduation Tea today!  How can it be that she is onto 1st grade already!

After they paraded into our room with their "graduation caps" on, the kids sang this song to the tune of "New York, New York":

Start spreading the news
We're leaving today.
We want to be a part of
First grade, first grade

 

We've worked very hard
Our teacher is proud.
So open up those doors to
First grade, first grade.

We know our alphabet
And numbers too.
We all can write our names
And tie our shoes!

So when summer's done
And we're finished with play
Our mom's will send us to
First grade, first grade.

If we can make it here
We'll make it anywhere
So here we come
First grade, first grade

 Mrs. Pietersen said something about each child as she handed them their certificate and a little gift.  So sweet of her!  For Jaelyn, she described Jaelyn has her best "teacher's helper" in class.  Whenever Jaelyn got done with an activity, she always looked for ways to help Mrs. Pietersen out.  Yay!

  

A very proud Mommy & Daddy!  We love you and are so proud of the little lady you are becoming.  It is so fun to see how much you have grown up over this year!  We are super excited to see what adventure you'll take us on as you venture in1st grade!

The kids getting to watch a slide show of pictures from all the fun activities they got to enjoy!

 Jaelyn & Ethan are best buds!

 Jaelyn & Taylor

Even Oma & Opa came to support Jaelyn.  She was happy that they came!