Blueberry pickin' in NJ

Maybe my geography skills aren't what they should be or maybe I'm just slow to put it all together, but here we are, in our third year leading the Wildwood Summer Project, and I finally realized that blueberries come earlier in New Jersey than in New York. It doesn't feel like we are much farther south, but apparently we are . . . . and the blueberries are ripe about a month earlier! Amazing! Because one of the things we really miss when we are not in Albany in the summer is berry picking! 

Actually, I learned last year that we could pick blueberries before we returned to Albany because our dear friend Robin had loads of blueberries! Yay! So, this year, the six moms and twelve kids packed up and drove a ways (some of us drove longer because, well, we might have gotten lost) and picked blueberries. So fun. So good. 

Anna Kate works hard.

 Will is eating blueberries, sometimes! 

 Samantha picked a lot, too, and when it was time, she added all her blueberries to our family pick.

 Ellen and Maddie Mae are with us in Wildwood, too. And Maddie Mae really, really likes blueberries. She was like little Sal (from one of our favorite books Blueberries for Sal), putting her hand in her mom's bucket and trying to get a tremendous handful. Unlike little Sal, she really only got one blueberry at a time!  

 Look at these amazing moms, picking blueberries with toddler children, and carrying infants along with them! Amazing! 

 There was lots of running up and down the wide aisles.

 Some are faster than others . . . .

 Sweet Caroline also really, really, really likes blueberries.

Around my birthday

One morning, Will decided he wanted to fix Anna Kate's hair. Being the patient and generous big sister that she is, she let him! I guess he's watched enough to know I need the hair detangling spray and a pick. It was so sweet. He's started calling her "nana."

On my birthday, we went and celebrated a high school graduate with whom we have become friends since starting to lead in Wildwood. The kids had a fabulous time and were only sad to leave early, since Dad had to work that night. Samantha loved petting Kelly, their dog. 

 Will tried to play ladder ball.

 Dave took the kids to the store to pick out and purchase birthday presents for me! So sweet. Then, they each decorated a bag to wrap my present in! So sweet, so thoughtful. I loved it. 

 My girls! Love them so much.

 For my birthday, Will decided to eat vegetables. That might be a little dramatic, but it seems like about one of the best birthday presents for me! I had to capture it for history.

 We went to the zoo for Father's Day! It's a great zoo.  

This is not a real bear. But the kids love it!

 You might not be able to tell, but this is Will's face in the flight suit.

 Dave and some kids looking at the cheetahs.

 I love giraffes! They are amazing. And we got a great show on Father's Day, as they were eating! Amazing! This is a feat!

 Then we had a picnic. 

 Our picnic included Doritos, which both Will and Daddy loved (and the rest of us, too!)

Wildwood Beach Day

We enjoyed our first Wildwood Beach Day on Memorial Day. 

It was great to be back!

 Dave made Anna Kate's annual mermaid tail. 

 Will poured water on Anna Kate, even right on her face. 

Will loves sunglasses! 

Every Saturday there is a parade which runs on the street just a block and a half from us. 

We watched it from the steps of one of our partner churches.

On Sunday night, we went to a fabulous home for a time of fellowship and sharing with our students. Dave took each of the kids out on the lake in a boat.

 Rachael showed Anna Kate and Will the tree house.

 The kids have all been sick. So we spent a big part of this afternoon at a doctor's office and getting antibiotics. Will has an ear infection, Samantha looked like she was developing one, and Lucy has a bronchial infection. On the path to recovery though!