8/23/13

summer: fresh picked fruit

We love fresh fruit. We love even more to pick our own. Here's why..

"One way to jump-start eating healthier and more pleasurably, while burning fewer fossil fuels: Pick your own. Buying from a local farm eliminates the carbon costs totted up in "food miles," the distance food is trucked or flown from farm to plate. Locally grown produce travels an average 56 miles from farm to institutional markets, while conventional produce travels an average 1,454 miles, or almost 27 times as far, according to a study by the Iowa State University Leopold Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. When you go to the farm, you're getting the fruit at its freshest; while it's true that you've travelled, and not the food, well...you've still supported a local farmer, which strengthens the local food system."-- Source

We also find it important to model and demonstrate healthy living for Logan. Children are sensory learners and learn best with experience. Picking your own fruit and vegtables builds a strong foundation for beginning to understand where some of our food comes from. 

Logan loves picking fruit and being able to share it with family. We pick enough to eat, enough to share, and enough to be able to make a sweet dessert. 

This time around we found a new pick-your-own spot, and we plan to have many more return visits.

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Logan--





A black-and-white babe sitting in a pizza shop. 

So pretty. 
So patient.

You already know it's worth the wait.

So smart.






"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."


8/17/13

33/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013." 

Logan: It was Daddy's birthday morning, and in Starbucks we sat sipping coffee & planning out his day. You sure were bored-- but you were so patient and so polite. Thanks for that. And also, thanks for being the best birthday gift I could ever give to him.

Linking up with Jodi and many others here.

Favorites from last week are Ellie and Bo.

8/13/13

t h e s e d a y s// b+w


There is lots and lots of growing going on over here.

A growing girl.
With a growing brain.
Expanding vocabulary.
Intensifying attitude.

Long hair, eyelashes, and toes.
And a mouth full of teeth.
Plates full of fruits, veggies, and tall glasses of milk. 
(Oh, and a cake pop, too!)

Countless baths, long naps (still,) and barbies galore.
An ever growing library.
A big girl bed-- finally!
And a nature box that would impress Mother Nature herself.

This girl is the best.

I've been trying to write down the little cute things that this girl comes up with. You know, the things that literally stop me in my tracks. This girl.

Here are a few worth documenting and sharing:

-When not getting her way, Logan angrily hollered: "Fine, I'm going to Florida! ...with Daddy--  and he is going to stay there!" She did later come back and apologize and make it known that she was not going to Florida without mommy. Phew! That was close ;)


-Yesterday, Logan asked me if the movie that the big kids were talking about was "propriate" and if she could watch it.

-Lo's latest thing is making baby pterodactyl sounds at the weirdest times. For example: 

"Look I'm not sick anymore, [insert pterodactyl sounds]" 
"Look I'm finished, [insert pterodactyl sounds]"

While out at Starbucks, after Logan made her baby pterodactyl sounds, Scott asked where she learned that, and she replied: "Jordan... Of course." Jordan is the silly random cousin, who in reality probably did not teach her this, but if any of them did, he would be the one we would all guess. Sometimes this girl seems wise beyond her years. Her wit and mature knowledge of a joke astounds us. We laughed and laughed and laughed. 

-In response to Scott’s yawn. Logan: “Somebody’s tired..”

-As I walked in the door from the gym. Logan: How was the gym, Mommy?

-While answering a question Logan was asking Scott, she interrupts me and says: "Mommy, I was talking to daddy." [And so it begins..]

-She is always telling her cousins: "I've missed you" and "I'm so happy to see you." 

- Anything big or oversized, we call "king daddy."

-Lo has the cutest little raspy voice. I always though that as her mother I was biased, but lately, people have been telling me all the time. The most random of people too.

These days, Logan's favorite things are:

Random shows on Netflix. Her latest favorite is "TroTro."
Trips to the library.
Swimming with goggles on. Always.
Homemade frozen yogurt pops.
Her stuffed dog "Boggs" and "Stripey" (blanket) are her favorite material loves.
Watermelon is still her favorite and most requested food.
She still loves chocolate, and prefers it over any other sweet treat.

There is more I am missing, I know. 

This little girl is full of so much more than her years. 
She both surprises and amazes us everyday.






center picture credit: beyond measure 

8/12/13

mama/baby beach day

 
 
 

Saturday we went to the shore, our favorite summer time adventure. Last year we had gifted my nephew a trip to the water park and shore for his birthday but unfortunately never made it before they closed for the season, as the weather got too cool too quick. This trip was already rescheduled once this summer due to inclement weather, so we made a last minute decision late friday night that we would go the next day. Scott and Beavs went to the park and Lo and I went to the beach. It was such a nice day with just enough sun and a sweet kind breeze. There was a sand bar which allowed for Lo to fully own the ocean and spend the day not wrestling waves. She spent most of the time in the water, digging in the sand (finding weird worm species,) and collecting shells. She met two little friends-- who were also rocking braids. They played for over an hour running in the water and jumping waves. They even taught her a few spanish words. It was such a neat experience for her, and she loved every minute of being one of the girls. She was so confident in herself and yet so inspired by the girls as she mocked their high pitched screams when the waves came at them. We had a great day that we ended like we usually do with pizza from our favorite shop and a chocolate with rainbow sprinkles treat for Lo, only this time we watched the brightest pink sunset sky I've ever seen.

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"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Logan: Saturday afternoon we headed to the beach. Daddy brought Beavs to the water park (for his birthday) and you and I hit the beach. It was the perfect mama/baby date. You are a total beach babe, already.


See more photos from our day here and/or on my instagram.

8/5/13

impromptu beach trip

 
 
Wednesday evening we decided to take a trip to see the ocean at sunset. 

It was about 4:15 when we hopped in the car for the hour drive. Lo fell asleep 15 minutes in, which was great because we knew it would be a late night. We ate pizza and (the best darn) fresh-cut fries for dinner, then ventured off to the beach. 

The beach was perfection. The water was the nicest temperature and there was a soft breeze coming in off the water. There was a live band playing music on the boards behind us. We played in the sand, chased seagulls, watched the surfers, searched for treasure, and jumped the waves as they broke at our feet. After getting our pants wet from the(not-so-gentle)waves, I was wishing we had brought bathing suits. 

As the sun started to set, it got a little chilly-- not quite as chilly as Logan's outfit makes it seem (she doesn't understand the whole "let's bring a jacket just-in-case" yet) but, chilly enough for us to stay close and cozy. 

Lo finished her night with a soft serve chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, as we watched fireworks (the loudest and brightest) over the beach. 

It was the best time.