strawberry pickin' and bloglovin'

Last night babysitter had a conflict, so we decided to take the family strawberry picking. We strategically strapped both of the kids in strollers while feeding them berries to keep them happy.

All those strawberries I am holding were only five bucks, but I think we may have ruined about twenty dollars worth of kids clothes. On the plus side, both kids now have designated "berry picking outfits."

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So here's something to work on this weekend: If you read multiple blogs via Google Reader, it's closing up shop on Monday. Today I finally looked into other blog readers and I have a thing for Bloglovin.

It took me four minutes to set up, (it will transfer all of your google reader blogs over for you...easy peasy!) and I really love the layout (sort of like pinterest).

So if you follow this blog, be sure to head over to Bloglovin and add joyfullybecca.com to your list of blogs. Or don't add me if you don't want to. I actually took some time to pair down my list of blogs that I read, added a few new ones and it sort of felt like a little room makeover. Some new voices and ideas for the summer which feels fresh and good. (But I would miss you if you gave me the boot.)

And if you don't use a reader, I think you would love it (...mom). It's a WAY easier way to check multiple blogs and will update for you when a new post has gone up. It's like having a magazine that updates every minute with new articles and recipes to read.

Happy weekend everybody!

honeybees

We have bees. We actually have had them for a while, but I just keep forgetting to put the pictures up here on the blog. They hang out behind the pole barn, and in the weeks we have had them we haven't seen one single bee up by the house. They seem to really love their new home and are making honey like crazies.

We don't really tend to the bees at all. Our friend Adam is the keeper and comes out every week or two to do his thing, and at this point, I'm still unsure what that is. I think he collects the honey? All I know is that we then get some of the honey, and that is awesome.

What I am realizing in this venture is how little I know about bees and honey. I don't quite get how those bees, after enjoying the flowers and clover outside, go into that box and make honey inside.

So stick with me. I'm going to get us some answers this summer, and let you know what I learn...

peonies

Some loveliness for your Wednesday. These beauties border our road.

This morning I woke up and fed the kittens warm milk, fresh water and cat food. Then I changed the chickens water and got their new bag of feed from the jeep and opened their coop for the day. Then I came in the house and fed my own children breakfast. And it hit me: we now have morning chores.

We had a perfect summer day today. We went to Rory's parent's house with lots of other moms and kids and spent the day splashing in the water. Ivar and I got to ride on the pontoon and I got to spend some time sitting in a lawn chair talking to other moms while Rory had the kids inside with his mom. It was wonderful. Then we drove to Annika's and had burgers for supper followed by Mara's soccer game. She scored the only goal for her team, The Bananas. It was a glorious evening, a beautiful day and I am so glad for summertime.

And, in other news, my fourth post over at the Soul Sisterhood went up today. This week we're talking about self-editing your life story; taking responsibility for the decisions you make and the consequences that come from those decisions.

introducing our kittens

We got our kittens on Monday. It felt like Christmas morning.

This here is Verna. Named after my Grandma Harrington. She is tiny and meek and seems a little nervous.

This here is Velma. Named after my Grandma Bredberg. Is it offensive to name kittens after your beloved grandma's? Clearly, I think it is an honor. Plus, what are the odds that my grandma's both had stellar v-starting first names?

   
These girls came from the same litter, but Velma is about twice as big as Verna. And Velma is very determined to get out of her nice plastic home, while Verna seems more determined to practice her pouncing on Velma's back.

My favorite part of the day today was hearing Ivar say, "no, no Velma. You cannot get out. You stay in your home, Velma."

dad's retirement weekend

My sister just emailed me, "sister, there is no pressure here only want you to know i have checked your blog 5 times today and i stare at Sedum.  i am craving pictures from our weekend!  but i am also the sister who told you to relax and rest today so there's that, too."

Well, Annika, here are my top twenty favorites. Could have easily posted forty.

In the words of my brother-in-law Jedd, this weekend was epic. Dad, and the ministry he has led as a pastor was celebrated. Mom, the woman behind the man and the one who held everything together on the home front was celebrated. And our whole family was together. We celebrated our family all weekend long.

Here's Simon. I love this kid. He faithfully pulled these little ones around in the wagon two days in a row. Ivar adores his big cousin and we even got to have Simon Friday night for a sleepover. As we drove back to our house with Simon in the backseat Ivar kept saying, "This is fun Simon. Right? This is so fun."

Simon took a little walk through our field on Saturday morning. And he really did a number on his shoes.

We got to go and visit the kittens at the neighbor's house. And some got to go and see the horses too. A perk of living where we do!

You'll notice Sonna has a broken arm. Clearly she is in a cast. But I think she missed the memo. The girl doesn't act any different with that cast. She was tying water balloons (it's waterproof!), canoeing, jumping off of things that made me nervous, but she is not nervous. It's basically an accessory.

And here's the man of the hour. Dad preached at all of the church services for his last time. It was a momentous weekend...I'll have to expand on this another time...you know, with twenty pictures and all.

Oh how we miss our Seattle family! Claire is getting so tall. I just love her to pieces. And so does Elsie.

And Nellie is a joy. She is four and very determined to learn how to do the high monkey bars. Right now she just does the low ones. She told me all about it.

Mom was in her glory with all of her family around. We spent nearly every moment of the three days we had all together. When it was time to all say goodbye, these four older girls tied themselves together so they couldn't be separated. I love that. I wanted to tie myself to them too.

Today we are feeling full and grateful and so sad that it all flew by so fast.