Strawberry Extravaganza

So, I have been looking on Craig's List for a U-pick strawberry farm to take the kids to. We ran out of freezer jam last week and can't stand to buy another jar of the store bought stuff. I found an ad for one out in Molalla that had strawberries for 65 cents a pound! Yesterday morning Mom and I packed up the boys and headed for the country.
When we arrived at the farm, I had a little talk with the boys about not eating the berries until we were done picking and had paid for them. They both nodded in agreement and then unlocked the car doors and let em loose. As mom and I were having our containers weighed before the picking began, Cart yells "Hey Mom, I ate a strawberry!" As I started in on one of my "didn't you listen to me?" lectures, he just laughs and says "Just kidding, I didn't eat one!" and runs off to fill his container. What a kid! How in the heck do they know how to push buttons like that?
It took us about 45 minutes to pick 28 pounds of those beautiful berries. We got home and went to work rinsing and cleaning and slicing and mashing. When all was said and done, we ended up with 34 half pints of freezer jam and 8 pints of strawberry syrup(delicious on waffles or ice cream). What a day! Just to make sure it was good stuff, we had waffles for dinner with homemade buttermilk syrup and fresh strawberry jam. Heavenly.

Merett's 1st Birthday Party

Last night was Merett's 1st birthday Party. She actually turned one on Wednesday, but we decided to celebrate it last night. Liz and the kids came, so did my cousin Robyn, her husband Gerald, and Aunt Darvis and Uncle Jim. It was wonderful! The weather was perfect and the food turned out great. I loved her cake the most. I was so surprised that it looked as good as it did, because I kind of tweaked the recipe and it could have easily been a disaster. GG (great grandma) gave Merett some darling pj's and she wanted them on right away. Liz made her a headband and a flower for her hair. Both of which are adorable. Robyn and Darvis got her the cutest swimsuit, ball, and fuzzy beach blanket for Haiti. She was excited about it all, and then she was ready for bed. We all enjoyed sitting out on the patio visiting and laughing and missing all the other family that is scattered in different states.


CINDERELLA CAKE

1 C. Sugar
1 C. Butter
4 Eggs
1 C. Milk
3 C. Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. soda
pinch kosher salt
1 tsp. Vanilla

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes in a greased pan.


CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
½ C. Butter (softened)
6 oz. Cream Cheese
2 tsp. Vanilla
¼ C. Sour Cream

Beat together until light and fluffy.
Add 5-6 C. Powdered Sugar until proper consistency.
PS Thanks to my best Meg for typing up all of my recipes. Just another reason why I love you!

Family Reunion at the Oregon Coast

It was our annual Moore Family Reunion at the Oregon Coast last weekend. This year it was in Lincoln City. It was Merett's first time at the beach and she loved to eat the sand. It was so nice to see all of my cousins and talk and eat and do puzzles and bum around in the little shops.
Mom, Merett, and I drove to Cannon Beach first to have lunch at this wonderful little cafe and to go to Moms favorite shop Sesame and Lillie's. It was so nice to have it be just the girls. Quin and the boys were in Warm Springs at the Father and Sons camp out.
I left Saturday morning to meet Quin and the boys back at Mom and Dad's in Portland so we could all spend Father's Day together.

Portland

Well, we are here in Portland, waiting for news on Quin's contract in Haiti. This whole process has been painfully slow at times, but overall, I am handling it really well. It is so nice to be here in the house that I spent a lot of my growing up years and have so many memories. I love the time that my kids get to spend with their Nawna and Babba (my mom and dad). And they get to run next door to Gg's house (my grandma) whenever they want to visit or to get a Popsicle! Merett has learned to walk here. Just before her first birthday too!
As soon as we got here, Carter planted peas in my mom's flowerbed that circles the fountain on the patio. Everyday he would water those peas and say his prayers that they would grow. Every day I would be asked the same question "Mom, why aren't my peas growing?', and I answer the same "They will buddy, you have to be patient." That is how it went for three weeks, until Monday morning when I heard a big whoop and a holler coming from the patio. Carter ran inside and yelled "My peas are growing!". We all had march outside to inspect the miracle that had taken place. I love that boy so much!
This afternoon, I took my boys to a little plant stand to see what else we could have in our little garden. We left there with 3 Celebrity tomato plants, 1 Jelly Bean tomato plant, 2 peppers, and a blueberry bush. A random little assortment to add to our little raised beds in the backyard.
Hudson spent his day with Quin and my dad working on our car. I know, I know, I cringe every time we have to put another dime into that thing, but as of now, we have no other choice. It just has to last us a few more months! It is nearing 300,000 miles and it has made a Toyota believer out of me. Quin and dad had to go get a part for the car and I watched as Huds had his little box of tools, worked on the car by himself while they were gone.
Merett is such a little bunch of yumminess that I can hardly help but squeeze her every time I pick her up. All of the men she loves (ie. Quin, Babba, Gabe) are all called Diddy. Whenever she sees them, she says "Hi Diddy". While she points her little finger at them. She has started giving kisses out to her favorite people. Open mouthed and slobbery. Just the way I like em!
We think we will be saying goodbye to Quin sometime in August. That is quite a bit later than we had been thinking, but what can we do? Just have lots and lots of patience and enjoy every day.