It's blueberry time!

One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of fresh blueberries. Deliciousness!!!

Luci and I visited the blueberry patch this afternoon and picked two gallons. She started out as such a huge helper; picking only the bluest berries. She picked enough to cover the bottom of her bucket and then sat down and began to eat...and eat...and eat (reminded me of Little Sal in Blueberries for Sal). When she tired of eating she began to scoot down the rows on her belly, saying "excuse me" to the branches that got in her way. Needless to say, by the time we (I) had picked two gallons, Luci was filthy!!!

The bushes were absolutely loaded so I know the season will last a while...we will be back for more! I have already been on the lookout for new blueberry recipes in anticipation of the season. My Pinterest recipe board has so many tasty possibilities that we will have to go back for more berries.

I can't believe it...

...has been 3 years already!  Time has flown by since Luci joined our family!  What a precious gift she is.

She came home as a sweet, loving, quiet, timid baby and has bloomed into an adventurous, fun-loving, daring, funny, smart, and energetic little girl.  She is still very sweet and loving; she always wants to snuggle, hug, and kiss.  She is quiet around new people but is an absolute wild child around those she knows.  She says the funniest things like "Hey, hey, hey...cool it man!" or "slow down dude" if she feels you are driving too fast.  She often offers suggestions and adaptations to current plans like bedtime.  Her suggestions always end with "so how 'bout that?"  She loves to flirt and is always laughing, which is the most delightful music I have ever heard!

To celebrate our Family Anniversary or Gotcha Day we decided to get away.  We headed to Kansas City for the weekend; it's only about 4 hours away so it was perfect for a long weekend!

We arrived Friday afternoon and headed to Crown Center.  Unfortunately we arrived too late for Luci to play at Kaleidoscope (we will have to save that for another trip).  We ate dinner at Arthur Bryant's BBQ and it was delicious!

We spent Saturday at the zoo...one of mine and Luci's favorite places.  I spent a lot of time at the Kansas City Zoo when I was a kid but haven't been back in the last (I am guessing) 25+ years.  My grandparents used to take my little brother and I there quite a bit and I have fantastic memories of this zoo.  It didn't disappoint!  Luci loved it too!  At the end of the post you can see many of our favorite animals...hope you enjoy your tour of the KC Zoo in pictures!

Patience, Goat!  Your food is coming!

 

The highlight of the entire day was a ride on Ben the Camel.

 

Sunday was cool and rainy but we headed to the City Market in search of some delicious treats to bring home.  We have been eating well this week using up all the yumminess we toted home!

Each year of life as a family of three has brought many surprises, days of laughter, and countless blessings!  I can't wait to see what is in store for us in year four!

Easter 2012

We began our day attempting to take Easter pictures.  One thing people rarely understand is that Luci NEVER stops moving...I mean NNNNEEEEVVVEEERRRR!  I tried to get her to pose and smile but we had to boogie a bit first.  I decided I would simply hold the shutter down and keep the camera firing; I'd eventually get something right?!  The second picture below was probably picture #97 out of 120.  I might be exaggerating a bit but not by much.

After the photo shoot we headed to Pops and Nana's house for an Easter Egg Hunt with the cousins.  They all play so nice together but we honestly haven't been with the whole family since Christmas.  It was time.  Luci calls Allie "my cousin-friend".  They couldn't be more different...in looks and personality and they are so much fun to watch together!

Hit the jackpot!

You think there are any eggs in the mailbox?

You can have this one Allie.  (LOVE this girl's heart!!!)

Blair found one egg, discovered the candy, and she was finished with the hunt!

"Cousin-friends"

 

 

Kindall cousins...minus Grace

Spring Happenings

...and by Spring, I mean February and March.  We didn't have winter this year so we basically went from Fall to Spring.  The weather has been great and we have been able to spend more time than usual outside during what is supposed to be the winter months.

I realize I have neglected my blog entries for quite a while so I am going to cover a lot of ground with pictures in this post. 

We haven't been that active...just normal, everyday life happenings!  Luci is very into all things princess so dress up and princess outfits/movies have taken center stage in her (our) life.  As you can see from the picture below she even goes to the chicken coop to collect eggs in her princess dress.  I am not sure where this came from...is it engrained in little girls?  We are so NOT princess people and I don't remember ever going through a princess phase (Mom, you can correct me if I am wrong!).

Luci also LOVES to help us cook.  Sometimes she cooks as a princess, sometimes in an apron ("I a sef."), and sometimes, as you can see below, we are in a "big shirt with just panties".

We visited the zoo in Tulsa over Spring Break.  It was a beautiful 80 degree day and we had a wonderful time!  When we asked Luci what her favorite animal was she replied the elephants because "they were splashing in mud".  She was also THRILLED to snag the only elephant on the carousel. 

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

We finally visited Crystal Bridges Museum this afternoon.  It has been open for more than 2 months and I am ashamed to admit that it took us until now to visit this incredible place.  If you live in NorthWest Arkansas you have to see it!  If you don't live in NWA, this is a great excuse to visit (and a great excuse to visit us)!  Check it out by clicking on the link here.

One half of Crystal Bridges from the overlook off the Compton Garden's trail.

I am including some highlights (in pictures, of course) below.  Enjoy the show.

Entrance to Crystal Bridges with Roxy Paine's Yield sculpture

Beard's It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?

Luci made the docents in the museum very nervous here...she was so good though, resisted temptation, and just looked!!!

Gilbert Stuart's George Washington

Curtis's Geronimo photograph

VERY UNIQUE!  Sperber's After the Last Supper created inversely using spools of thread.  I was amazed!

Sound Suit; Luci was mesmerized!

Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter

A much needed break outside...freedom...

...and a little bit of room to run equals...

PURE JOY!!!!

Hide and Seek...Dombek's Tour de Tree; it isn't real but this sculpture sure blends in nicely with the surroundings!

Finally headed back to the car with a major case of the sillies!  Snoopy on a stick!

 However, when you visit know ahead of time that you will not be able to get away with ANYTHING!!!  Luci couldn't ride on Jason's shoulders (insurance reasons), we had to stay further than 18 inches away from the painting (I think some docents may have had a ruler stashed on their body), and we got caught chewing gum (my mistake...I should have thought of that!).  Still a great trip and we had lots to laugh about later!