Blackberry patch pickin'

For the past 4 years I have taken Addie to pick blackberries in Elkton, KY. There is an old client of mine Margerite Oakes that owns the Tin Barn and she sells them as well as blueberries and day lilies. Claire has gotten to go with us the past 2 years. This year we didn't get to pick very many because they were pretty picked over (I got us there too late!). We picked a few and then had to buy the rest so I could make jam and cobbler. I hated having to buy the pre-picked ones because it is so much fun getting them yourself. However, I have to work the next 3 Saturdays and she is only open to the public on Saturday. Oh well, the jam turned out great and I loved eating fresh cobbler for supper last night! Can you say sweet tooth?

Claire is proud of her blackberry!

Addie is all about picking.

Addie's prize berry!

My sweaty hot little pickers. Claire got really tired in the hot sun and wanted to be carried and that is when I decided it was time to leave! Addie was not ready to go though.

Fourth of July

We really had a nice July 4th weekend. We were worried that we wouldn't enjoy it because Chris's father was having some tests ran at St. Thomas in Nashville but he did get to come home and we are so thankful he is okay. We ended up postponing our 4th celebration at our house until he is better. We did get to go over to a family gathering at Ronda and Donnie Lewis's farm. Addie was all excited that she was going to get to use her fishing pole she got for her 5th birthday for the first time. Uncle Boyd helped her fish and she didn't want me or Chris to help her. She did end up catching her first fish. She told Boyd that it was going to feed her whole family!

Addie loves her a smore! Aunt Lynn made her one on the fire.

Claire hit it off from the start with Clay and Lacy's "Mimi", Wilby, Boyd's mom. She wanted to hang out with her the whole night! She rode with them in the car up to the fireworks.

Clay and Claire

Boyd, Addie, Lacy, Clay, Claire, and Wilby fishing

Chris wanted to show me the log cabin that Carlos and his wife Theresa had built on the back of their property. It was really neat and we hiked over to it.

Addie's first fish!

My fourth of July cuties

The grand finale that made Claire come up out of her seat! She was done after this one.

Claire turns 2!!

Claire turned two on July 3rd! I could so eat her up!! I was off that day so Addie and Claire "helped" me make her birthday icing and cake. Thanks to Aunt Sherri we have an awesome recipe for homemade cake and buttercream icing.

Obviously from the picture Claire enjoyed it!

I love love love this picture!! The expression on Claire's face is classic! She didn't know what to think about the candles for her! So she had to hold on to big sister.