Ahhhhh….. it is summer. The frenzy of the end of my semester gives way to my favorite time of year: early summer. It has been a long time (longer than usual) since we posted pictures… so there are a lot of pictures and a pretty long message!....

After I turned in grades, I went to Alexandria with my brother and met up with my two sisters to celebrate my mom’s birthday. It was a crazy and busy weekend, but very fun.

I have been taking the kids to the strawberry farm that is around the corner from our house at least once a week since the beginning of May. This year, Jonah is actually helpful with the picking (although his attention span for picking is only about 20 minutes long!). Ella can almost match the amount that I pick! The farm also has peacocks, guinea hens, goats, and horses. So, we have enjoyed many lovely full mornings of picking strawberries and petting the animals. Unfortunately, strawberry season is just about over. We all went on Memorial Day and we really had to “work” to find good berries. I put up about 12 pounds in the freezer this year (and I can’t even guess how many pounds we ate fresh!). Jonah regulates the other pickers by yelling: “No eating in the field!” when he sees someone sampling the strawberries. I had told him that we could not eat any until we get home—I guess he thought if he can’t eat any then no one else should!

Jonah and I joined Ella’s class at the Science Museum for a field trip. I was pleased to see such well behaved Kindergarteners from Ella’s school. Jonah hated being confined to the stroller (he is used to leading the way and setting our pace when we go to the Museum) , but it was good to see Ella interacting with her peers. Jonah and I also went to Ella’s school one day to have an “Unbirthday Party” (like in Alice in Wonderland) as part of thanking the teachers and an introduction to their Fantasy/Reality unit. Jonah loved sitting at the table with the kids and Ella loved showing off her little brother.

Jonah and I got to see former President Clinton at a campaign stop at the Apex Community center. Very cool to hear him speak.

Jonah is working hard at potty training. He is doing great at school and has many successes. However, we are far from the end of this process. Ella is his number one cheerleader and his “potty chart” is full of stickers and messages from her.

Ella has been going jogging/running with Andrew. She can also ride her bike to the end of the greenway path and back. She is so active and it is a challenge on rainy days to find enough exercise opportunities to satisfy her. She is doing great at dance and will be performing in her recital in a few weeks. Next year she will be taking tap, contemporary, and ballet. She was invited into level 3 classes (more advanced and smaller classes for individualize attention).

Ella and I enjoyed front row seats at the Carolina Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty. It was impressive! I so enjoy taking Ella to the ballet. She loves to dress up and then critique the costumes! She did get a little antsy at the end of the second act, but the show was 2 ½ hours long, so I can’t blame her.

Spring has also brought lots of nature experiences. We have been waiting and waiting for the praying mantis egg sack we found in the fall to hatch. We were finally rewarded for our patience with tons of tiny praying mantis babies. We have been watching two or three that have hung around. They have already shed and are getting bigger. We continue to find a turtle lurking about in our backyard. He has a crack in his shell so we know it is the same one. We move him out of the way when we are mowing the lawn! The hawks in the back returned this year and they have two babies. Those hawks work hard all day to keep those babies fed! We love seeing the parents swoop up to the nest and hearing the babies. And we have bunnies, bunnies, bunnies everywhere!

Since the weather has turned warmer, we have enjoyed hanging out on the porch and in the front yard with neighbors and going to festivals! The kids love to play with water in the front yard, blow bubbles, jump rope, ride bikes, chalk, throw balls, play bocchi, and hang out with friends.

The kids are getting along so well. Right now they are playing in Ella’s room with her castle. I can hear Jonah being “the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast! I am being summoned to play, so that’s all for now!

Hope you are all well.
Sarah, Andrew, Ella, and Jonah