how to not maximize blueberry picking yeilds

We took Theo to a blueberry farm to pick blueberries on Sunday. He is already an accomplished picker having practiced on our bushes at home. He knows to only pick the blue ones and leave the green and purple ones for later. He knows that the blueberries on the ground are for birds, not for Theo. And he knows that it is way more fun eat them right off the bush than to put them in a bowl for later.

We arrived at the farm and got a large plastic bucket (10 gallons maybe) and three smaller aluminum buckets (1 gallon). Un-stated goal was to fill up the large bucket I suppose. We walked about a quarter mile to the bushes that were ready to be picked. We chose a row and started picking. All of the excitement apparently stimulated Theo's colon and of course the fresh diapers were a quarter mile away in the car. So after filling two of our small buckets half-way, we realized we were done. We took our harvest back, returned our empty 10 gallon bucket with humility, paid, and changed Theo's diaper on the gound next to the car. We ended up with about 3 pounds of good, fresh blueberries. Lesson learned for next year.

On the drive home we went past a small air-strip where a skydiving operation was in full effect. Theo liked watching the parachutes come in for a landing and would impatiently tell us "more" whenever there was a lull in the action.

The walk out:
Working the fields:

The diaper change:

"squishy mulch, huh"

We got a large truck load of mulch last week from Ballard Tree. They dumped it in the driveway and I had to move it all to the back yard under the Douglas Furs. So I enlisted Theo’s help. He wasvery helpful. He would take a pinch or sometimes a handful of mulch from the pile and put it in the wheel barrow / trash can that I was using to transport it. He also liked to help by rolling the empty garbage can back to the mulch pile and telling me where to dump the mulch (the former was truly helpful).

Anyway, all this brings me to how Theo’s mind works. After spreading a thick layer under the trees, he and I walked around in the mulch and I said “Squishy mulch, huh?” He thought that was funny and repeated “Squishy mulch, huh” several times. Then later at dinner we were telling Penny about the mulch and at some point I said squishy mulch. Without pause he followed up with “Huh.” It took a second for me to realize what he was saying and then it clicked. Several days later (today) we finished moving the mulch pile and we walked around on the mulch again and he said “Squishy mulch, huh” (emphasizing the huh and I think realizing that he was being funny). His ability to recall such specific things amazes me.

Theo's faces

A short series of Theo's on command faces.

Fat lip:
Long face:


Surprise face - open mouth:

Fake smile:

Family hair week

Theo's haircut was a hit so mom and dad decided it was time for some change too.

Before and after

Theo's hair was getting long again and his mullet was getting more pronounced and unruly every day, especially after waking up. So yesterday Penny took him to a kids barber at the University Village - fancy pants for Seattle. He got to play with toys the entire time and took it all in stride like the little man he is. If you look close you might note a glimmer of "product" that they used to style his hair........

Before:

After:

Theo also decided that it was fun to kick a soccer ball this week! And he kicks it pretty well I must say. For the longest time he just wanted to throw the soccer ball. He liked to throw it regulation style but as you all know his head is big and his arms are short relative to his head's size. So he had a hard time getting the ball to clear his head as he wound up (and as he threw it) and just about fell every time he tried. Kicking the "hoccer" ball is much easier for him.

Father's Day Dance Party

We haven't uploaded our own photos yet, but here are some pictures from Father's Day from the
KEXP Dance Party Blog Post. You'll see us if you look closely.

(photos of the Dance Party by Chona Kasinger and Tracy Cilona)

Happy Mother's Days

Make a Smilebox slideshow