The Farm, Falls and Fathers

Hadley really likes blackberries.

 Now that Hads is a little older she is a better playmate for Miles.  These two love to have fun together (when they aren't fighting over the same thing).  Here are three funny things Miles said this week:

• One night at dinner he said "I want butter."  He wasn't eating anything that would be appropriate to have butter on so Grandpa Gray asked him "where do you want it?"  Miles said "on my finger."  He has been known to swipe butter and lick it straight off his fingers.
• We were talking about the weather and I asked Miles "where is the sun?"  Very matter-of-factly he said "I'm going to test it" and he ran to open the sliding glass door out to the deck.  He stepped outside for a minute and then came back inside and reported "the sun's not out."
• Today we saw a golden retriever and I pointed it out to Miles and said "look at the big dog."  Miles said "yeah, big like you mom."  Ummm, thanks Miles...

Miles is fighting his first ear infection since he got tubes in his ears at 15 months.  His left ear is very sore and he's on ear drops and ibuprofen.  Of note, he's also starting in the younger preschool room at school.

Hadley has been getting worse with sleep.  Mike and I haven't been diligent with sleep training her like we were with Miles.  Gradually though Hads was having a more difficult time going down to sleep and would wake up every night crying.  She would then end up sleeping in our bed - which means she would flop around a lot and sleep while Mike and I would get no sleep.  So we started sleep training her.  We began by putting her down in her crib awake at bedtime.  The first night she cried for 1 hour before falling asleep.  This was torture for all of us because I don't think she's cried for more than 5 minutes at a time her whole life.  She now cries only a few minutes each night before falling asleep.  Last night we started having her self sooth in the middle of the night as well.  Each of the 7 times she woke up crying (yes, it's like we're living with a newborn again) we went to her crib, made sure she had her pacifier and told her it's night-night time.  She cried for about 15 minutes each time before falling back asleep on her own.  Of course this meant that Mike and I got very little sleep.  Although difficult now, we're on the right path for getting our family back on track for sleep (a full nights rest is something Mike I can can only imagine at this point).

Miles loves to give Hads high speed rides up and down the hall.

Just hanging out together.

Here Miles told me  that he was trying to give Hadley a mohawk.

Laughing with mommy.

 We had a very fun and busy weekend.  Saturday morning we visited our CSA (community supported agriculture) farm in Hutchinson with Mike and Mariann.  Loon Organics is a beautiful organic farm that we pay a flat fee to in the winter in return for a large box of fresh produce every week from June-October. 

Hadley and Miles loved the chickens.

We got to pick two varieties of strawberries to bring home.

Miles was very proud of these strawberries...

...And wouldn't put them down.

Hadley and I admired the potato field which will supply us with lots of potatoes later in the season.

We also visited the local pet store and had lunch at Zella's downtown Hutchinson.  The weather Saturday was so beautiful the kids got to do one of their favorite activities in the afternoon - bike riding.

Caught red-handed!

 To celebrate Father's Day, Rachel and I surprised Mike and Graham with a dad's night out at the Twins game Friday night.  Today we met the Sievers at Minnehaha Park for a morning of fun.  We started off my renting bike surreys.  I was laughing so hard during our cruise around the park my cheeks hurt. 

To prepare for our trip the kids each got to pick out their helmets.

Here we are in our surrey.  Hads and Miles got to ride up front while we pedaled in the back.

 After our bike adventure we explored the park.

Miles and Corey climbed a tree.

Mike and Miles took a break.

We enjoyed the falls and ate lunch at Sea Salt.

Caught red-handed again!  Does she look guilty?

Miles is feeding Hads some of the organic strawberries he picked.

We finished our Father's Day celebration with a grilled shrimp dinner with Mike's parents and my mom.  Mike and I are both lucky to have such great fathers.  I think Mike also feels good today about being a dad.  Happy Father's Day everyone!