My Little Strawberry Shortcake

Andra and I headed to the strawberry patch this morning and got waaaaaaaay more strawberries than our little family of three is capable of eating. Andra insisted on calling it the "strawberry orchard"...so she apparently remembers our trip to the apple orchard last fall! Smart girl. It's the same concept afterall: gettin' dirty picking our own fruit from the field! So funny the connections they make at this age.

Andra loves filling baskets up with things, so this was right up her alley! I told her to only pick the ones that were bright red, and she got right down to business.

So a few got squished along the way...but I knew I'd be squishing them anyway to make topping for strawberry shortcake...so a little squishing didn't hurt anything. :) She actually impressed me with how well she was able to pull them off the vines.

She was so proud of her loot and kept telling me everyone she was going to share them with, running down the list of names of every member in our extended family!

I hesitate to tell you the most interesting part of our trip to the strawberry "orchard," but I should probably include it for posterity's sake; so someday when Andra's 16, I can look back at this and laugh, remembering what it was like to be in the trenches of potty training (we're ALMOST fully trained, but still have our share of accidents).

I'm sure you can all guess. About 15 minutes into picking, Andra tells me she needs to go potty. Like now. (like all 2 year-olds, she has impeccable timing) I look around slightly panicked... assuming the market even HAS a toilet, that's a good 500 yards away. Way too far to walk and make it in time. I doubt we'd even make it in the car fast enough. Plus, we're about 20 yards deep in the patch. Kind of a cumbersome climb out for a 6-month pregnant lady and her 2 year-old. Time is of the essence when she says she's got to go. So, I do what any mom would do in this situation. Scoot away from any judgemental eyes, help her drop trough, and do her business in the middle of the strawberry patch! (She pointed out that's how Pudge goes to the bathroom. Yet another keen observation I couldn't really argue with!)

Please don't judge. Trust me, you would've done the same thing in my shoes. Look, I avoided all strawberries, and we stayed strictly in the dirt path between berries. And it was only #1...so the gross factor wasn't really there. Then we finished picking strawberries. (ok, I can hear every non-parent out there saying "ewwwww, gross!" And every parent totally gets it)


[awkward transition goes here]

Anyway, here's some of our beautiful bounty. I gave one basket to the neighbors and kept a basket for us. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some delicious strawberry shortcake calling my name! (those farm picked berries really DO taste better!)