Blueberry Picking 2009!

Ainsley has been asking and asking, "When will it be spring?" "When will be going BLUEberry picking?" (I try to help with the pronunciation of blueberry, and she just corrects me and tells me how she says it, "No mom, it's BLUEberry." The fact that they are berries is an after thought, blue is her favorite color. (She's currently asking if we can move to a blue house when our house sells and if she can have a blue room. She also points out blue houses while we drive through neighborhoods.)

So today was the big day. We had to pick a cooler Tuesday, lest we all collapse from heat exhaustion. Plus, we had to go on the first day of picking (a Tuesday), before the Berry Patch got picked out. We walked a mile with our buckets to the open patches and began the hunt.

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I'm putting berries in at this point. This was the only picture exhibiting this task. By the end of picking (3 hours later, my kids are into this) I had just 5 berries in my bucket. Where do you suppose all of those berries went? Well, in my tummy of course, and boy were they good!

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(After about 40 minutes, I (Mom) walked back a mile with Andrew in the front carrier and Ainsley riding piggy-back. Bathroom break! I knew we wouldn't make it if I didn't do the pack-mom sprint. Upon returning to the patch I was armed not only with a stroller but also with a petite porta potty for Ainsley. Good thing, we used it again about an hour later. What a work out.)

I ditched my bucket after awhile and just put my berries in mom's. I felt way more productive that way and we couldn't tell how many I was eating either. So, instead of a bucket when I found some really full BLUEberry bushes, I just used my hat. Some of these berries did make it to the bucket. (I'm glad the Berry Patch actually states it's okay to eat while you are picking!)

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Here's the berry picking crew! By the end of the day we had successfully picked 4lbs. of BLUEberries!

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Well, now Ainsley is asking, "When will it be fall for picking apples?" Maybe she's going to go into agriculture when she gets older.

Food!

Hmm, Hmm Good! No, it's not Campbell's but I think I like it. What more could a growing boy ask for than some Organic Brown Rice Cereal to get the concept of food going?

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And boy did I get going. Here I am helping mom get the spoon to my mouth.

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Yes, I caught on quickly to the idea of silverware. I grabbed for the bowl as well after grabbing for the spoon. I just couldn't get enough. Here's a two-handed grab for the food carrier.

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High Chair

It's getting close to time for Andrew to start eating solids. We started Ainsley at 5 1/2 months and Andrew is going to do the same. The high chair we had for Ainsley is getting redone and will be at my parents, so I had to get a new one for Andrew. I scored exactly the one I wanted off of Craigslist (50% off!) and was able to order a new cushion as well. So, I got a brand new high chair and two new cushions for $60.00. I was really excited to try it out.

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Andrew however is really not to sure about it.

He's really still a bit too small but you can't pass up something on Craigslist or else the next time you look it's gone! (Other score of the week, an Exersaucer, like new, for $15.00. I really get pumped about great deals, it's such a thrill.) We will probably have to use the Bumbo seat for awhile and have an Andrew centerpiece on our table. Completely attended/supervised of course.

Pool, Pool, Pool

I'm going to have to come up with some more original names for pool postings. I can tell already that this is what we will be doing a lot of this summer! It has been hot here, hotter than Texas believe it or not. We have been under excessive heat warnings for an entire week and cooling off in the pool doesn't even seem possible. By the time we get out there with sunscreen and everything, the water mom has pre-filled the pool with is like the bathtub. Tepid, not refreshing. Oh well, Andrew prefers the warm water anyway.

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From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

Action is what I like. Here mom caught me on the move. I love to run and jump (Cannon ball style) into my pool. By the end of the day, a real pool skimmer couldn't even get out all the grass. I also like to practice my kicks. Our grass gets a lot of watering thanks to me.

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

From Andrew Tyndale Rankin

I don't play in the same pool as Andrew does, he has a tiny pool. But what I like to do is play beauty shop with him. Good thing he's still smaller than I am, I doubt I'll be doing this for very long. Here I am spiking his hair. (Mom's sad, it's starting to lay down now on top unless we give him a bit of water help.)

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Check out this video of Andrew. He loves blowing bubbles or playing motor boat. He's putting some extra water in his pool by doing this. I'm still playing beauty shop and doing finger nails with my paint brush and putting on rouge. (Mom never really does this in front of me so she's not quite sure where I have learned these skills even though they are pretend.)


My favorite kiddos. Ainsley likes it when I sing "Ainsley and Andrew, you are my favorite two, and you know that I love you, yes, yes, yes I do." She cracks up and then asks for it again.

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Andrew just smiles. He has such a diverse personality. Laid back, introverted, extroverted, and thoughtful. Just like his personalities, he could be a totally different kid when his hair is wet.

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5 Months!

It's hard to believe that this much time has gone past in Andrew's life already. He's growing bigger each day and changing so rapidly. These next few months are sure to bring big changes as he continues to make some single syllable babbles and gets closer to crawling each day. Not to mention that next month he will be expanding his pallet!

So what is he saying? So far, just "ba" and something close to "ma". He loves it when we talk to him and when Ainsley starts chatting him up he laughs at her. At this point Ainsley finds this really amusing. I can only hope she will continue to take it in stride as they continue to grow together. Some other things that Andrew loves to do right now: cross his feet, jump, suck on his toes, and chew on everything!

Some dimples have popped out here recently. Gigi was actually the first to notice them. I'm not sure of they will remain when he looses those oh so cute cheeks of his. I'll hold out hope though for the meantime.

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Here he is almost on the move. He too like Ainsley is a very expressive little one. Overall he's a bit quieter but I have a feeling that they will both give each other and me quite an adventurous ride!

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VBS! 2009

Ainsley was old enough this year to attend VBS at our church. When I asked her if she wanted to go, she responded with, "YES! I get to go to school!" (This broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes. My little baby going to school, well something like school.) Here she is on her first day!

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She had a blast at VBS. We sang the songs she learned each day in the car. She was really excited that she met Moses on the first day and was hoping to see him again on Tuesday. Instead, she met Pharaoh. Pharaoh was pretty scary for some of the 3 year olds but Ainsley came home thrilled that she got to throw flies and frogs at him. (Frogs being her favorite of the plagues apparently.)

We learned bible points and shouted "Fear Not" a lot throughout the week. She had so much fun that she had lost her voice by the weekend. She asked if she could go back to VBS on Monday. Sadly, I had to tell her it was over until next summer but that she had children's church and Sunday school she could still go to. Although this worked for a moment I was quickly asked, "How long until next summer?" I tried to explain that by saying in a year, and then by going through the seasons, then by going through the holidays. None of my answers/explanations were good enough, she wanted a true quantity..."How long is that?" Had I have given her a number of days, it would have progressed to hours, then minutes, and then seconds, and none would have worked let alone the fact my head doesn't compute math like that anymore. Instead, we went back to the VBS music and did dome fun actions were truck drivers saw us mimicking something close to raising the roof.

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Happy Birthday Julia!

We went to one of my friends birthday parties today! It was my first ever kids party and boy was it fun. Julia had a tinker bell theme and we did tie-dye for an activity! Here's some fun pics from the day.

Eating cake! We did this first. My kind of party.

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Here we are swinging. I can swing on a big girl swing but with the boys around I feel safer in the safety swing. It worked out fine because all three of us got to swing that way. This is me, my friend Lucy, and Julia.

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Here we are ready to tie-dye. (Actually, the moms ended up tie-dying and we just kept snacking.)

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From The Rankin Family

Here I am with Julia while she opened her present from me. She got some tinker bell stickers, jewelry, and coloring book. I helped mom pick it out and was really excited when it was my turn to hand over the gift. (Thankfully, I did hand it over.)

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When the party was through, we had a tea party together while mom helped around the house with clean up. (I know I had fun, where did that other pig-tail go?)

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The two of us love to hang out and can be such hams together.

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From The Rankin Family

First Fruits

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23

Ainsley has seen some first fruits in her garden here recently. It has been a very exciting time for her as she continues to watch her tomatoes grow bigger each week and groans about not seeing first fruits on any of her other plants. Romans 8:23 reminded me of Ainsley and her garden this evening...She groans as she waits eagerly for new fruits to appear.

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As parents, we have seen much progress in Ainsley in the past months. We have groaned as we disciplined and waited eagerly to see this little one bear fruit in her life. We've spoke of the fruit of the Spirit frequently and I am excited to relate this verse back to her. That she has the firstfruits of the Spirit, fruits of love, power, and self-control. (Three fruits, just like the three firstfruit tomatoes.)

As she prays and asks God for her garden to grow, giving thanks for the rain to water her plants, and asking for the vegetables to be ready to eat. We too pray and ask God to grow our children, that his Word would rain down on them, and that they would bear fruit for us and others to see and be encouraged with.

All in One Day

Today was a big day! Mom and Mrs. Helman took me (and Andrew) fishing at the lake! We went to a bait shop and I got to see worms and crickets! They weighed our bait on a scale and we were off for our adventure. Here I am casting like a pro. I practiced a lot last summer and this spring in the driveway, it paid off!

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We didn't catch any fish, but I know there are big ones in that lake. How do I know? They kept eating my worms! Well that and I saw a dead one.

We went to the park and had a picnic after fishing and then it was back home for a much needed nap. After the nap what else would a little fisherwoman do but have a tea party?

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All in a little girl's day.

Child-like Faith

Over the past few months of what is commonly referred to as the "treacherous three's", Ainsley has been schooled in the concept of grace. (We as parents are also learning this concept through a new set of eyes.) We are thankful for God's blessing to our family in Ainsley and the way she is introducing us to a new found joy in trials and the fruit of God's word in her life. Here is the latest example, looking at grace through a child's eyes:

Setting: On the way to story-time at the library.

A: Mom can we please get fries and prites (Sprite) today?
M: We'll see. Fries and Sprite are a special treat. Perhaps if we are happy-hearted and good listeners today throughout errands we can.
A: Okay Mom.

Setting: Costco
M: Ainsley, you may sit in the basket or at the front of the cart.
A: Mom, I have an idea, how bout I stand on the basket?
M: No, that was not one of your choices. In the basket or the cart.

Whining begins (by Ainsley.) Mom picks her up and places her in the basket.

A: Mom, No. (Now screaming as we head toward the Costco bathroom.)
A: Screaming and crying. (At the entrance to the Costco bathroom, she proceeds to throw her shoes at me.)
M: Ainsley, this is not showing Costco that you love Christ. We will get our things and go to the car to discuss this.
A: Calming down and asking what are next errand is. (I'm seriously debating continuing the errand list or going home.)

Setting: The car

M: A quick review of what the expectations were and how they were not met. Including, that fries and sprite have now been taken off the table.
A: Whining about no fries and sprite.
M: Setting the expectation for Wal-Mart grocery shopping. "You will sit in the cart and say 'Yes, Mom.' There will be no snacking of any type in Wal-Mart."
A: Yes, Mom.

Setting: Wal-Mart (Everything goes smoothly and we are out of there.)
Setting: Car

A: Mom, will you please forgive me. (Mom, is thinking this is good. It didn't even require prompting.)
M: Ainsley, of course I'll forgive you. But what are you asking forgiveness for?
A: For throwing my shoes at you, screaming, and disobeying.
M: Yes, sweetness, I'll forgive you.
A: Now mom, ask me if I deserve fries and sprite.
M: Ainsley, do you think you deserve fries and sprite?
A: No, mom I don't deserve them. Mom, will you please show me some grace?
M: Complete silence as I realize my daughter is actually putting together a complete picture of grace from her point of view. As we are driving, my car wanders into the McDonald's drive thru. A order of fries and sprite is made, and I say: "Yes, honey, I'll show you grace."

Enjoying the Deck

We've been out on the deck quite a bit lately watching the sprouts grow. Yes, we have sprouts! In fact, quite a few. We've got 7 green bean sprouts, 2 wax bean sprouts, 2 pepper sprouts, and 3 carrot sprouts. We will see if we actually get to the harvesting point or not, but we are making a valiant effort.

Here's a fun picture of Ainsley. It capture's a side of her personality I see often. Happy yet curious, smiling yet looking for the next adventure.

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Andrew's First Swim

Ainsley is a bit of a splasher, so I got out the old baby pool today and thought I'd let Andrew take hid first dip. I let the water heat up in the sun through nap time, it still wasn't quite bath water and Andrew was not a huge fan of it when he first stuck in his toes. After a bit though he really enjoyed "chillin" with his sister in the pool.

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He really got into it when he got down on his tummy. Ainsley started to teach him how to splash with is feet by kicking. She did it first and splashed him pretty good. He wasn't quite sure about that so she proceeded to demonstrate by moving his feet for him, this got a few giggles.

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After she was back in her own pool, Andrew just hung out for a while. He seemed very serious to me. (This was a bit concerning to me, he didn't have a diaper on.) But despite a few bubbles, he was really just watching the birds at the bird feeder.

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I think this hat is a bit too big mom! But this picture shows how strong I am getting. Hopefully, I'll be sitting up soon without the help of anything!

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Man this was fun! I can't wait to get over to the real pool at Papa and Gigi's house!

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