Sweetness

After we picked blueberries today, I decided to make some blueberry sauce. As it was bubbling away on the stove, Mister J came to see me in the kitchen and gave me the sweetest compliment. The conversation went something like this:

Mister J: Mom, what are you making?
Me: Blueberry sauce?
Mister J: Why?
Me: We're taking it to the picnic this evening, to put on top of the ice cream.
Mister J: Mom, you're like a bakery lady.
Me: Do you think so? Why?
Mister J: Because you bake stuff that we love.

Isn't he just the sweetest?

While Miss M is Away, Mommy and Mister J Will Play!

Well, actually, Miss M hasn't really gone anywhere...
...but she is at camp this week, and she's having a blast! While she's there, Mister J and I are having our own brand of fun. Keep coming back to the post, because I'll be updating it throughout the week.

Fun Day Monday was rained out, but we had fun anyway! We went to a friend's house to pick up my co-op fruit and veggies, and she invited us to stay for a while. Mister J really enjoyed spending some time with her sons, and I enjoyed the time to visit and plan some activities for later in the week.

On Tuesday, the plan was to get messy with paper mache. We headed to our church to help make some decorations for VBS. Well, Mister J had more fun playing with the dry strips of newspaper than the wet ones, so I was the only one who really got messy. No matter, he still had fun! (No photos because I was, well, messy!)

Wednesday was Movie Day! You just can't beat the $3 kids movie program in the summer!
We saw Babe, which was new to both of us. Cute movie! We saw friends there again this week. I think the movie is becoming a more popular option now that the weather is starting to heat up a bit.

On Thursday morning, we went blueberry-picking! It was lots of fun, I have lots of pictures (maybe enough for a separate post), and we have LOTS of blueberries! We picked a gallon in about and hour and a half. The weather was overcast, a little muggy, but not too hot. We got done just in time - it started sprinkling as we were leaving the farm!

Tomorrow is Miss M's last day of camp. She's had so much fun with the other kids in her class - several that she already knew (church, preschool, folks that used to be our neighbors) and some new friends, too. I especially love hearing her sing the songs she's learning!

Thursday Thanks #16

If you think that this post sounds striking similar to this post, then perhaps as your read this week's thanks, you'll be reminded of this post.

I'm thankful for the fantastic summer camp that Miss M is attending, and for the wonderful mom-and-son time that Mister J and I have shared while she's been there! (follow that link to take you to the post I'm continually updating about our week)

Yes, two opposite-but-very-much-the-same weeks! In each instance, I have really enjoyed the time spent one-on-one. I've had a unique opportunity to see who they are when they are without the other, and I've gotten very special peeks at their individual natures. We have had uninterrupted conversations, tried new things, and done some 'ordinary' things made 'extraordinary' simply by being 'just the two of us'! Lovely!

Previous Thursday Thanks posts

Family Reunion 2009

We went to see Grandma RL and Aunt L for the weekend - it's family reunion time! It was great to see all of the folks we don't get to visit with regularly. You would think that a reunion is also a great opportunity to get a family photo. Plenty of hands around to take a snapshot with me in front of the camera. Did I get one? Nope. Forgot. Forgot to take photos at a family reunion.

One more thing about family reunions - I love the food. Love it. But my excitement is dampened a bit now that we are living with food allergies. We brought along foods that we knew Miss M could eat, including her own dessert stash. Wait ... I did get a photo!

"Mmmm! Oreos!"

MMMMM!

Big J had a bowl of the Best Shrimp and Grits in the Southeast for dinner tonight! We drive quite a ways for these, and are never disappointed. (Bummed that I forgot to use my flash, so I don't think you can quite understand the deliciousness from this photo alone. But, trust me - best. shrimp. and. grits. Ever.) Only disappointment of the evening was that we could not have the Pound Cake Panini for dessert because the ice cream in it contains eggs (we all eat according to Miss M's food allergies, especially if it's something we know she will want to eat - like ice cream). However, since we couldn't actually finish all of our meals, we ended up skipping dessert anyway.

While Mister J is away, the girls will play!

Well, actually, Mister J hasn't really gone anywhere...
...but he is at a camp this week, and he's having a blast! While he's there, Miss M and I are having our own brand of fun. Keep coming back to the post, because I'll be updating it throughout the week. (If I can figure it out, I'll try to keep this post at the top of the blog for a few days!)

Mondays are fun days around here - literally! Several families from church get together for Fun Day Mondays - usually playtime at a local park and then a picnic lunch. Miss M and I arrived early this week, and spent some time exploring the walking paths before our friends arrived.
I think she was just a little excited about our mom-and-daughter time - I know that I was! She was carrying a bendable Easter bunny toy in her purse that morning, but it was destined to hold more treasures.

She found many treasures along our walk (leaves, weeds, and the pinecone you see above), and called the pinecone her 'corn on the cob' all afternoon. She even wanted me to cook it for dinner! As we walked, I let her lead the way - she narrated our journey, told me when to be quiet so I wouldn't scare the animals, and generally pretended we were in the jungle like Diego.

On the way back up to the playground, she enjoyed a moment to look at a tiny creek.
After the second peek over the side of the bridge, she decided her purse was in the way and handed it to me. Then I got that third shot as my heart tried to leap from my chest - do you see that she pulled herself up on the wall and her feet are off of the ground? After that, it was time to go back to the playground for sure. She wasn't happy about that at first - even told me she was 'so angry' because she wanted to walk more. It wasn't long, though, before her inner monkey took hold and she was climbing and sliding with everyone else!

Today has been a big day, too! Miss M got a brand new booster seat yesterday, and we put it in the mommy-van this morning. She's was very excited about it, though she doesn't look it here. That's her 'not another picture, Mom!' expression.... But she really does like her new seat. She picked the pink and lavender flowers over the red and tan options - such a girl!!!
To add to the girly fun, we both got our hair cut today. It's Miss M's first cut by a professional. Mommy can wield scissors, but she's not nearly as good as Dr. Sabrina! Yes, I said doctor. Miss M was convinced that she wanted to go to the doctor today, and was not happy about the haircut until I told her that "Dr. Sabrina" would be doing it!

Sitting in the big chair before her haircut. She did pretty well for a 3-year-old, and was so well-behaved while I got my cut!

Afterwards, we went to a local stationery store. Miss M helped me pick out my new calendar and a birthday gift for a friend. We've got to shop for another birthday gift this week, too - just ran out of time today.

Wednesday was Movie Day!
Miss M didn't really like the movie - The Land Before Time - mainly because she was sad that Littlefoot lost his mommy. Silver lining? You bet! Miss M snuggled with me for most of the movie. I loved that! We also ran into some friends while we were there - another nice treat. After a quick stop by the library, we were headed to pick up Mister J from camp!

Thursday was Miss M's 3-year well visit, so we spent the morning at the pediatrician. (No shots - hooray!) Miss M is enjoyed the opportunity to talk with Dr. C about what she had for breakfast, weigh on the big girl scales, and help Dr. C with the stethoscope and otoscope. When it was time to pick up Mister J, his group leader invited Miss M to sit with the big kids for the closing assembly.
She knows many of the songs already, so she was right at home! I can't wait until she's old enough to attend this camp.

Friday was a very busy morning - no pictures. We were packing for a trip to see Grandma RL and Aunt L for the weekend, then to the closing program for Mister J's camp (so cute! I tried hard not to cry, but did get teary. So proud of Mister J!), then lunch, then on the road. Whew! What a fun, but busy, week! Next week: While Miss M is Away, Mommy and Mister J will Play!

Thursday Thanks #15

It's Thursday again, and boy did it ever sneak up on me this week! I have two big thanks items this week - both related to the other.

I'm thankful for the fantastic summer camp that Mister J is atetnding, and for the wonderful girl time that Miss M and I have shared while he's been there! (follow that link to take you to the post I'm continually updating about our week)

The week's not over yet, and neither is the camp - rest assured this is not the last you will hear about it. I'm looking forward to the CD of music from camp - we get it tomorrow after the closing program. Yes, my friends, a closing program! From the CD to the healthy snacks to the fact that Miss M is already learning the songs and she's not even attending, I love this camp, and my kids will attend every year they are eligible!

(I'm also thankful for my friend, Cynthia, who passed along the contact information about this camp!)

Previous Thursday Thanks posts