Spring = Strawberries

The girls and I picked strawberries yesterday morning. It was a spur of the moment decision. The toddler started fussing and whining on our way home from dropping off the teen at his bus stop. We'd been planning on going berry picking anyway, so, prompted by desperation, I decided to do it right then if it could distract her from her whining.

It worked out as well as I'd hoped. She ran wildly up and down the rows, picking strawberries and eating them. I picked strawberries and put them in the basket. The baby grabbed at leaves and tried to get them into her mouth before Mommy took them away. She also grunted a lot as Mommy shifted her up, down and sideways. Picking berries while holding a baby on one hip is not the least complicated thing I've ever done! The only snag came when I had to haul her kicking and screaming back into the car. There was room to run, there were strawberries to eat, there was a friendly dog to pet - what more could a little girl ask for? So why go home? Such a mean mommy.

After gorging ourselves on berries all day long, we wound up having pancakes with strawberries on top for dinner. Not the healthiest thing I've ever made them, but oh, was it good! And what's the point of living healthily if it means you can't enjoy the occasional indulgence?

We won't be going back Saturday for more strawberries as originally planned though. Everybody is coming down sick again. Thank goodness it's the end of the week and the husband is coming home. Not the funnest way to spend the weekend with his family, but much easier for me than trying to cope with three sick kids while I'm sick myself. Poor husband.