Simple Summer Joy: Kids on the Farm and Flowers
This has been a day full of contentment for me. I just felt so fulfilled at being outside surrounded by the flowers and sunshine with my children. I will miss them so much when they go back to school in a few days.
The kids and I had a blast at Riley’s U-Pick in Genola for one of our last summer vacation days. I had wanted to do the aquarium or a museum, but those have become big expensive outings now and I had to simplify. We started the day early before it got too hot, and they were really happy that I made them breakfast sandwiches before we headed to the farm.
We discovered their cut flowers section and my heart was so full and happy seeing the many beautiful varieties we don’t see in the bouquets at the store. The kids helped me cart the wagon and pick all the ripe green beans (W picked amazing large ones!), raspberries (L has a talent for finding the most ripe), and zucchini we could before it got too hot for us. F figured out that he had to twist the zucchini to pick them instead of pull. His little hands got scratched up from touching all the prickly leaves and bushes (maybe next time we bring gloves), but he was a trooper.
When the kids decided they were done picking, they refreshed with a nice cold apple slushy and we got some wonderful produce like dried beans and beets for a good price.
My favorite purchase was the ready made floral bouquets for $5! All so gorgeous and colorful, and it was very hard to choose amongst them! The kids and Jer wanted me to have fresh flowers for my birthday this weekend, so it was a very nice treat. I love my flowers so much I brought them to my room so I could see them before and after my nap haha. Thank you to L for doing crafts with the boys so I could take that nice nap.
I made dinner tonight! Of course we didn’t have all the ingredients so I went grocery shopping at 2 other stores, too. It was a feat for me to make this meal because it’s been months since I’ve been able to be around raw chicken with this pregnancy, but today I cooked it!! A lady on YouTube inspired me with her Dutch oven chicken and orzo recipe with fresh herbs, and I couldn’t wait to try it. Jer chopped and worked alongside me in the kitchen, and it was so nice for us to cook together. The family was impressed with our meal and I felt very happy to have been able to take care of our family in this way after Jer doing the bulk of the cooking for so long.
And then because we can’t quite get enough of each other yet, Jer took me out on a date to the Red Barn for some “Summer Nights” (my favorite ice cream flavor) in a cone. He tried a new flavor that had Coca Cola as the base, and really enjoyed that. I read Narnia to the kids while we ate Rocky Road ice cream in a cone. Jer made me a special one because I had dropped my last bite (the best part) at Red Barn on our date earlier. Reading aloud with the kids has been one of my favorite things this summer, I love to hear their gasps of surprise and suspense and their giggles at all the funny bits. The cuddles are also fabulous. They must feel the same way because they ask daily if and when we will read Narnia today.
Love, Kat
