Picking

I took the kids strawberry picking yesterday. Last year, they plopped down into a row and had their baskets full of ripe, juicy strawberries in minutes. This year, the cold, wet weather has wreaked havoc with the strawberries on the island. It was actually work, and the kids whined and complained. We barely filled one basket. Sometimes, those idyllic pictures you have in your mind of how things should be turn out to be crap.

When we got home, I felt the need to console myself with shoes. Now, since my closet overfloweth, I knew I couldn't get away with shopping for myself, and Jack and Henry had absolutely no interest in it, so I grabbed the girls and we sat down in front of the internet. We printed out measuring guides and comparison shopped for about two hours. When all was said and done, we ended up with five pairs, because Grace couldn't give up the red patent Mary Janes (nor could I). Not that I feel the need to justify or anything, but they're going to kindergarten, and they need good shoes for PE, and dressy shoes 'cuz they're girls. And red patent Mary Janes because you're only five once.

The crummy day of strawberry picking was all worth it, when, as I was tucking Grace into bed, she whispered, "I don't think I can sleep, I'm so excited about the new shoes!" Now, that's my girl.