Strawberry Picking

On Valentine's Day I decided to take the kids to Froberg's Farm to pick strawberries. I thought my idea was unique, but once we pulled off the highway I realized it wasn't. There was quite a long line of cars we had to wait in. It took about 15 minutes to get a parking spot. So between the 30 minute drive there and the wait in the car, I was happy I had decided to bring a DVD along with us in the van. :) It was kind of sad driving down that way. We haven't passed the Mackay's old neighborhood since last summer. It's weird going down that way and not seeing them. The girls pointed out their neighborhood. We also missed them as we picked strawberries. It's been something we've done with them the past couple of years. Last year the Hoglunds even joined us! This year though, it was just the kids and I. Andy was working...although I don't think he's ever been. It was a perfect day for strawberry picking. Rachel was even complaining it was a bit hot, but it wasn't. It was a perfect 73 degrees!

Here are some pictures of us picking strawberries:

Rachel took very seriously the task of making sure the strawberry was sufficiently red enough. She even got a bit too bossy for Audrey's taste...

Both girls did really good finding ripe, big strawberries!

Ian LOVED it!

 

Once our buckets were full enough, we started heading back to pay for our strawberries. Before leaving the field everyone wanted to get a picture sitting in the tractor:

 

 

Ian had fun that evening telling his dad about peeing by the tractor. Ian had to go to the bathroom halfway through our strawberry picking and I knew we wouldn't be able to make it to the bathroom (plus I didn't want to trek all the way back in from the field to a gross porta potty), so we hid behind the tractor tire and took care of business. There are definite benefits to being a boy!

After pictures in the tractor we walked by a few more photo opportunities. Ian lost interest. He was tired and hungry. So, I got cute pictures of the girls:

 

 

We paid for the strawberries, picked up some chocolate-covered strawberries for a Valentine's treat, and the kids each got a small bag of popcorn. Everyone was very content on the drive home. :) We enjoyed our morning adventure and we are still enjoying the strawberries. Whenever we pick strawberries it makes me really miss California. I took for granted how fresh and yummy fruit was while I was growing up. Strawberries are definitely better straight from the field!