Berry-licious Day!

We decided that on our way to pick Auntie Trisha up from the airport in San Jose, we would stop and do some berry pickin! It was so much fun. We went to Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville. While driving to the ranch there were berry fields everywhere. The air smelled like strawberries! We got to the ranch and there was a cute red farm house, an antique shop, a berry store, a barn/eatery and a lovely little picnic area in the midst of an apple orchard. There was a broke down tractor for the kids to climb on and a haystack tunnel for them to run through and fall off of. Also a sand box wherein Ava and Ella played for an extended amount of time. After playing for a while we went to the Olallie and Boysenberry fields to harvest some goodness(the strawberries and raspberries were closed:(). We got some little buckets and a pull wheelbarrow and started to pick/secretly devour(just a few)boysenberries. They were huge and juicy the kids loved 'um. We picked until our bucket was full. Then we crossed the little dirt road to the Olallie berries which are a mix between logan and boysenberries. These where even bigger than the boysenberries, but a bit more tart, so we only got like half a bucketful. After picking we made our way back to the barn and ordered some sandwiches and strawberry shortcake, and apple raspberry pie. The dessert came out first and we couldn't wait so we ate it first. The strawberry shortcake was DIVINE. I hearted it will all my heart. The pie was good also, but my pie crust is better. After we were done we headed to San Jose to pick up Trisha. The kids were sooo excited. They were jumping up and down as soon as they saw her coming out of the gate. She is the best, so grown up and pretty, and already leaving me today to go hang out with boys from my ward. Oh well. I'm going to attempt to make some freezer jam now with all my berries:)

My Little Beaner....

Graduated Kindergarten!! She is one smart cookie!

The other day I accidentally posted Kayla's post to my blog...ha haaaa.

Today we joyously drove 40 minutes to the Dr's to get all the kids caught up on their immunizations...Ava of course has been having a freak out about this upcoming visit ever since I warned her about it three weeks ago, but she assured us after the promise of a "white slushie" she would be brave and wouldn't cry before the shots, only after. Which was fine with us. Truman went first and he was brave and only cried for a little. The girls were in another room having their turn with the doctor(whom we really like so far). Then it was time for the girls. I took Ava into the other room to distract her while Ella had her turn. I had Ava apply lip gloss to my lips and purposely talked and laughed super loud as to muffle the screams of Ella coming from the other room which worked. Ava didn't even noticed, although I could hear Ella and it makes my heart cry always to hear any of my kids cry from pain. After Ella was done I took her and comforted her whilst opening her sugar-free lollipop, while Stu tried to coax Ava into the room. She started out by saying "No, I don't want to yet"..."No, I'm scared!" "no no nonono No no NOOOOO!!!!" I could hear Stu struggling with her to calm down, and I honestly smiled a little because she was being so hysterical and dramatic and the things she said...hope that doesn't make me sound mean..but anyway they finally were able to give the shots to her and she cried for about two seconds afterwards. After we left Ella said to Ava, "and I'm never gonna get shots ever again" Ava responds "next time Ella I will put a force field around us so they can't. Cuz I can do that..really.." ahh..poor kids. Glad thats over with. After wards we drove down to Pismo beach and got out of the car and realized it was cold and windy and we were all dressed for oh, I don't know beach weather. So we went to the local Old Navy and bought the cheapest long sleeved jackets and shirts possible..I got Tru a long sleeve christmas snoopy shirt for 97 cents and fuzzy pants for 3 dollars! go me! We got the girls some leggings and Ava a jacket for 10 bucks,(El already had one)and then they had to get flipflops 2 for 5 so its ok. Then we went to TJ maxx and I got black leggings and a jackety shirt for ten dollars. Then we went to the beach looking super styly. It was fun and everyone came home with sand in our butt cracks.