Today the Browns move to Orlando. There have been many tears shed over this major move, but we know the Lord has led them to Florida. Why? We're not sure but His ways are not our ways. Paul loves his job and it sounds like his students love him. We got to read some of the student evaluations when he was here a few weeks ago, and they said things like "he's an awesome teacher" "more teachers should be like Paul Brown!"
Three days from now they will arrive at their new home. Grandpa and Grandma Wall are driving with Stephanie, the kids, and Kate (their two year-old mastiff who's not great in the car).
As sad as it is to see them leave, it's exciting to anticipate what God has in store for them in Florida. Christy and I prayed for them before they left this morning. We are confident He has friends waiting to meet PJ and Brookelyn, teachers to help the kids in their problem areas and encourage them in their favorite subjects, a job all lined up for Steph, and best of all a family back together again.
PJ has had the most difficult time with this move. His age makes it difficult, the child development books say a six year-old likes everything in its place. PJ's world has not only been changed, it's been turned up-side-down! I sat him on my lap and said that this is not goodbye because we will see you again. Russell's parents have time-share in Orlando and we plan to use it to come visit them. I also told him my Mom did not say goodbye to Stephanie because Mom and Dad plan to come to Florida to visit them.
Their adventure begins today...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Cruisn' for a brusin'
We've entered the stage...it's a new one for me, it didn't really exist in my home, it's the era of bumps, bruises, cuts, and scrapes. I went to get Charles yesterday morning and found him with a red eye. Evidently he bumped it sometime after he woke up. I knew it was recent because it wasn't black or blue YET. By the end of the day the redness had faded and black, blue, and a yellowish-green hew had appeared. He must've felt fine because later that morning he was falling off the love seat head first into a pile of blankets and pillows.
I asked if we should take a picture of his ouchie and he returned with his toy camera! He took a picture of me, but I wasn't able to snap a shot of his soon-to-be black eye.
At lunch he was being silly...standing or dancing around in his chair rather than sitting or kneeling. He's been warned numerous times about sitting since we have a pub table that's quite tall (like the tall bar tables at Applebee's). Sure enough, he fell head first on to the kitchen floor. I haven't heard him cry like that since he was a new baby. On the verge of hysterical. I rocked him but it didn't seem to help. He got frustrated with me and disappeared upstairs sobbing uncontrollably the entire time. I took the opportunity to use the bathroom (necessary about every 5-10 minutes these days!) and to gather up Tylenol and an ice pack. Charles returned to the main floor still in tears but carrying his precious green blankie. I finally got him calmed down enough to take the Tylenol and get the crying to cease. He fell asleep on my lap which I figured was an okay place to spend the afternoon given the fact I wasn't sure how much damage he'd done to his noggin. He slept about an hour and a half and I was able to doze a bit too.
Okay...today I made another attempt at a picture or two so you can see the black eye. The results are not the greatest. I need my sister's camera that doesn't have the delay like most digital cameras.
I asked if we should take a picture of his ouchie and he returned with his toy camera! He took a picture of me, but I wasn't able to snap a shot of his soon-to-be black eye.
He wanted to take a picture of me and wouldn't sit still so I could document his injury. After this picture he wanted to hold my camera. I conceded and let him look at the pictures I'd taken. Being a button fanatic, he loved scrolling through the pictures with the left and right arrows!
At lunch he was being silly...standing or dancing around in his chair rather than sitting or kneeling. He's been warned numerous times about sitting since we have a pub table that's quite tall (like the tall bar tables at Applebee's). Sure enough, he fell head first on to the kitchen floor. I haven't heard him cry like that since he was a new baby. On the verge of hysterical. I rocked him but it didn't seem to help. He got frustrated with me and disappeared upstairs sobbing uncontrollably the entire time. I took the opportunity to use the bathroom (necessary about every 5-10 minutes these days!) and to gather up Tylenol and an ice pack. Charles returned to the main floor still in tears but carrying his precious green blankie. I finally got him calmed down enough to take the Tylenol and get the crying to cease. He fell asleep on my lap which I figured was an okay place to spend the afternoon given the fact I wasn't sure how much damage he'd done to his noggin. He slept about an hour and a half and I was able to doze a bit too.
Later that evening I was getting ready to leave for my Weight Watchers class and Russell was trying to rest after a long day at work. Charles was on our bed with Russell, once again being silly. He lost his footing and fell, hitting his head (the same spot he hit falling out of the chair) on Russell's leg--right on the bone. Again, hysterics. I was glad to leave the house and let Russ handle the injury. With a short nap, several injuries, and being on the verge of two years old Charles' mood was less than stellar and filled with tantrums or demands.
Thankfully their evening went smoothly although Charles did have some ideas about how the bedtime routine should go. He insisted on watching TV so Russell relented and let him watch the women run the obstacle course on American Gladiator! Maybe it's bad to give in, but the funny thing that we've begun to notice with Charles is that if we explain what will happen (i.e. we'll watch the end of this show and then you have to go to bed) he's perfectly happy to comply with you. Russell said they turned the TV off as soon as the show ended he took Charles to bed without any problem.
Hopefully when we go to the hospital to have baby #2 the bruises will be healed. I'd hate to have both kids taken into SRS custody! On the bright side, I've got two freinds who are Master's Level Social Workers (the most prestigious degree in that field, or so I was told when I worked at the Children's Home) who can vouch for both our good character when it comes to parenting. Jeremy has seen Charles in action and witnessed the "tricks" (like climbing on the coffee table) that he's taught Jeremy's daughter Merrill!Okay...today I made another attempt at a picture or two so you can see the black eye. The results are not the greatest. I need my sister's camera that doesn't have the delay like most digital cameras.
Blurry, but the best I could do. Two-year-old boys don't sit still! You can kind of see the bruise under the eye on the right and a red mark just down from the end of his eyebrow on the left side.
You can kind of get the idea of how tall the table is in this picture, see how much taller it is than Casey? He was being so cute today, just sitting drinking some of Great Value's version of Crystal Lite and swinging his crossed legs!
WHY?
Charles doesn't get much in the way of characters...he doesn't know Disney Princesses (thank goodness!) like the little girls his age do, but he loves PBS's show "Super Why." Why is the only "person's" name he can actually say.
We were on the PBS web site today and printed off some coloring pages and then hit YouTube and found the opening song. Of course he threw a fit when it was time to turn it off. Here's the opening for those of you who aren't up-to-date on public televisions children's programming!
Friday, July 18, 2008
News from the Homefront
Not much is going on in the Sharp household. We try to stick around the house and not waste money on gas that's nearly $4.00 per gallon. After a week at home with an almost two-year-old I tend to get cabin fever. Today I called Russell and we met him for lunch just to get out of the house. The rainy day didn't help my cabin fever either. At least when it's been hot I do not have the desire to leave my air conditioned dwelling!
I'm waiting the anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #2. I don't know how much more of this I can take. There can't possibly be room for this baby to get any bigger and I'm not able to walk or bend over very well these days. Thankfully every other night or so I get a good night's sleep and most days I'm able to take about an hour nap. Those two things will end abruptly when the baby arrives! Honestly, I dread the sleepless nights but I'm ready to be done being pregnant. I just focus on when the baby will be 12 weeks/3 months and sleeping through the night. I got "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and have some new tricks to try.
Charles continues to be BUSY! What does that mean? Always doing something, sometimes good, sometimes ornery or dangerous. Today while I was putting on make-up he climbed on the bathroom counter via the toilet and licked the mirror. Of course earlier he opened the toothpaste, put some on Russell's toothbrush (nothing came out of the tube but he went through all the proper motions), and then proceeded to stick it in his mouth and turn it on. I was able to grab my toothbrush from him before he could get it turned on. It did get in his mouth, however. Maybe it's time to replace the heads on our toothbrushes.
The age of two is rapidly approaching and the "terrible twos" are already rearing their ugly heads. Charles is insistent on getting whatever he wants. We found some shoes in the hand-me-down boxes I was organizing last week and decided to try them on to see if they fit. Now he only wants to wear those shoes...despite the fact they are still a little too long and his feet are a little too chubby for the strap that goes over his foot. I tried hiding them but he looked all over for them when I told him to get his shoes! Most of the time I relent and let him wear them, but there are times they are not the right accessory for his outfit--like Sunday morning with his dress pants and button down shirt. Today I actually got him in his Stride Rite version of Crocs. After his bath last night I noticed a blister on his foot and decided he needed to wear a different pair of shoes. I told him to bring me his blue shoes and he brought me every other pair of shoes he owns!
Speaking of colors...when Charles is asked what color something is he always answers "black." He's not even two yet, so I don't really worry that he doesn't know his colors, but today I wondered if maybe everything looks black or grey to him. Thanks to the Hiebert women in my family the men have various levels of color blindness. Including his Uncle Brian. Even our more distant cousins have it too. Guess I need to have Dr. Yarrow test Charles sometime in the future.
Charles' speech is still developing. He can say words, but many times has to be prompted. He can't distinguish between the name of an animal and the sound it makes. For example, when pointing to a dog and asking "What's that?" Charles responds with "arf, arf." We went to Pet Co yesterday to look at some things for the dogs and took time to look at all the critters. We saw some type of domesticated rodent--gerbil, hamster, guenia pig--with brown and white coloring. I asked him what it was (he wouldn't know, he'd never seen one before) and he said "Bubba!" Yes, Brian & Heather's Jack Russell Terrier has the same coloring. I guess maybe he knows his colors after all....
I'm waiting the anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #2. I don't know how much more of this I can take. There can't possibly be room for this baby to get any bigger and I'm not able to walk or bend over very well these days. Thankfully every other night or so I get a good night's sleep and most days I'm able to take about an hour nap. Those two things will end abruptly when the baby arrives! Honestly, I dread the sleepless nights but I'm ready to be done being pregnant. I just focus on when the baby will be 12 weeks/3 months and sleeping through the night. I got "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and have some new tricks to try.
Charles continues to be BUSY! What does that mean? Always doing something, sometimes good, sometimes ornery or dangerous. Today while I was putting on make-up he climbed on the bathroom counter via the toilet and licked the mirror. Of course earlier he opened the toothpaste, put some on Russell's toothbrush (nothing came out of the tube but he went through all the proper motions), and then proceeded to stick it in his mouth and turn it on. I was able to grab my toothbrush from him before he could get it turned on. It did get in his mouth, however. Maybe it's time to replace the heads on our toothbrushes.
The age of two is rapidly approaching and the "terrible twos" are already rearing their ugly heads. Charles is insistent on getting whatever he wants. We found some shoes in the hand-me-down boxes I was organizing last week and decided to try them on to see if they fit. Now he only wants to wear those shoes...despite the fact they are still a little too long and his feet are a little too chubby for the strap that goes over his foot. I tried hiding them but he looked all over for them when I told him to get his shoes! Most of the time I relent and let him wear them, but there are times they are not the right accessory for his outfit--like Sunday morning with his dress pants and button down shirt. Today I actually got him in his Stride Rite version of Crocs. After his bath last night I noticed a blister on his foot and decided he needed to wear a different pair of shoes. I told him to bring me his blue shoes and he brought me every other pair of shoes he owns!
Speaking of colors...when Charles is asked what color something is he always answers "black." He's not even two yet, so I don't really worry that he doesn't know his colors, but today I wondered if maybe everything looks black or grey to him. Thanks to the Hiebert women in my family the men have various levels of color blindness. Including his Uncle Brian. Even our more distant cousins have it too. Guess I need to have Dr. Yarrow test Charles sometime in the future.
Charles' speech is still developing. He can say words, but many times has to be prompted. He can't distinguish between the name of an animal and the sound it makes. For example, when pointing to a dog and asking "What's that?" Charles responds with "arf, arf." We went to Pet Co yesterday to look at some things for the dogs and took time to look at all the critters. We saw some type of domesticated rodent--gerbil, hamster, guenia pig--with brown and white coloring. I asked him what it was (he wouldn't know, he'd never seen one before) and he said "Bubba!" Yes, Brian & Heather's Jack Russell Terrier has the same coloring. I guess maybe he knows his colors after all....
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Independence Day
Yesterday was a much welcomed holiday. It was not a typical 4th of July in Kansas, only getting to about 86 degrees. Russ was FINALLY able to get some outdoor chores done since we've now been without rain for almost a week.
Grandma and Aunt Heather showed up with a garage sale find...a Craftsman workbench for Charles, complete with tools, safety goggles, and tool belt! I got a few things done around the house too and got the cupcakes made for our BBQ in the afternoon. Charles and I both got naps, which is always a nice way to spend the afternoon hours.
We went to Jeremy and Kirsten Hickey's house for an early evening BBQ. We all have little kids, so earlier is better so they can all get to bed at a reasonable hour. Charles was excited when we pulled up to their house, we don't go there often, but he always remembers that we're at his friend Merrill's house. This time Merrill was busy playing with another little girl, which is okay because Charles was happy to run around the backyard and play on the swing set. He loved that he could climb the slide not only without help, but also any time he pleased.
After dinner we headed to Mom & Dad's house to watch some fireworks. The Brown kids had some things to shoot off and Mom & Dad's cul-de-sac is much safer than their busy street. Turns out the entire family was there for dinner: Mom & Dad, Brian & Heather, Uncle John & Aunt Lola, Stephanie with the kids, and even Mason & Carissa with both Elena and the new baby. We made it in time for dessert, ice cream pie. Yum, yum! Aunt Christy even showed up in time to watch some of the fireworks.
Lola's brother Mark had given them some fireworks to do with PJ and Brookelyn before their move to Orlando. I don't know if Nebraska allows fancier fireworks or if Mark got them in Wyoming where just about anything is legal. In any case, there were lots things to light and explode. We headed home about 8:45 and they were still going strong. My parent's neighbors, however, had not even begun to bring out their firework displays.
When we got home we went on the deck to watch what our neighbors were shooting off. We were surprised to see a fire truck--actually a suburban like vehicle--pull into the cul-de-sac down the street with its lights on. Two men jumped out and spoke to the huge group that had gathered. We don't know if they were ticketed or just warned, but the firemen sure weren't there very long before they sped away. Earlier in the week Wichita had 3 fires in one day all related to fire works. People just don't use any sense. Of course I can't cast too many stones. Uncle John shot off something that landed in Mom & Dad's gutter. Mom and Stephanie quickly pulled it out, thankfully it was just a parachute that was launched with out opening.
I only took a few pictures. Elena was timid at first, but got into it as PJ and Brookelyn lit one thing after another. Charles wasn't scared at all, but I'm not sure he knew what was going on. He just loved being outside and all the activity. PJ was the most excited and not all that thrilled he had to take turns lighting fireworks. He wanted to light everything. Stephanie says he comes by it naturally...Paul (III) is rumored to be a pyromaniac. Too bad he wasn't able to come home this weekend, he would have loved shooting off fireworks with the kids.
Now for some pictures:
Grandma and Aunt Heather showed up with a garage sale find...a Craftsman workbench for Charles, complete with tools, safety goggles, and tool belt! I got a few things done around the house too and got the cupcakes made for our BBQ in the afternoon. Charles and I both got naps, which is always a nice way to spend the afternoon hours.
We went to Jeremy and Kirsten Hickey's house for an early evening BBQ. We all have little kids, so earlier is better so they can all get to bed at a reasonable hour. Charles was excited when we pulled up to their house, we don't go there often, but he always remembers that we're at his friend Merrill's house. This time Merrill was busy playing with another little girl, which is okay because Charles was happy to run around the backyard and play on the swing set. He loved that he could climb the slide not only without help, but also any time he pleased.
After dinner we headed to Mom & Dad's house to watch some fireworks. The Brown kids had some things to shoot off and Mom & Dad's cul-de-sac is much safer than their busy street. Turns out the entire family was there for dinner: Mom & Dad, Brian & Heather, Uncle John & Aunt Lola, Stephanie with the kids, and even Mason & Carissa with both Elena and the new baby. We made it in time for dessert, ice cream pie. Yum, yum! Aunt Christy even showed up in time to watch some of the fireworks.
Lola's brother Mark had given them some fireworks to do with PJ and Brookelyn before their move to Orlando. I don't know if Nebraska allows fancier fireworks or if Mark got them in Wyoming where just about anything is legal. In any case, there were lots things to light and explode. We headed home about 8:45 and they were still going strong. My parent's neighbors, however, had not even begun to bring out their firework displays.
When we got home we went on the deck to watch what our neighbors were shooting off. We were surprised to see a fire truck--actually a suburban like vehicle--pull into the cul-de-sac down the street with its lights on. Two men jumped out and spoke to the huge group that had gathered. We don't know if they were ticketed or just warned, but the firemen sure weren't there very long before they sped away. Earlier in the week Wichita had 3 fires in one day all related to fire works. People just don't use any sense. Of course I can't cast too many stones. Uncle John shot off something that landed in Mom & Dad's gutter. Mom and Stephanie quickly pulled it out, thankfully it was just a parachute that was launched with out opening.
I only took a few pictures. Elena was timid at first, but got into it as PJ and Brookelyn lit one thing after another. Charles wasn't scared at all, but I'm not sure he knew what was going on. He just loved being outside and all the activity. PJ was the most excited and not all that thrilled he had to take turns lighting fireworks. He wanted to light everything. Stephanie says he comes by it naturally...Paul (III) is rumored to be a pyromaniac. Too bad he wasn't able to come home this weekend, he would have loved shooting off fireworks with the kids.
Now for some pictures:
Brookelyn lighting a tank.
Notice Mom & Stephanie in the background trying to retrieve the parachute from the gutters.
Now it's PJ's turn to light something. Notice his cool new glasses!
Elena wasn't sure about these at first, but then got the hang of it and didn't want to quit!
Russell & Charles shooting a champagne bottle with Mason and Elena in the background doing the same thing.
Fireworks must be a father-child bonding event!
Mom, Dad, and Heather watching the activity.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
New Babies
We've had three new babies added to our family in the last week few weeks. No, none of them belong to Russell and me. Hopefully that will happen soon!
- Russell's friend Imie, and his wife Amy, had a little boy on June 10th. That is if you call 9 lbs. 15 ounces little! He was 21 1/2 inches, so he's a nice plump "little" guy!
- Russell's cousin Brady, and his wife Jaime, had a baby boy on June 20th. Wyatt Halston Sharp was 7 lbs. 13 ounces and 19 inches.
- Yesterday, June 30th, my cousin Carissa and her husband Mason had their baby boy, Ernest Holden Robbins. "Holden" was 7 lbs. 6 ounces and 19 inches. No pictures of Holden yet, but my sister should have some good ones from our hospital visit last night.
I'm having trouble mixing up Halston and Holden. I know I'll get the hang of it soon! The mommies all seem to be doing well. The big sisters (Mary Kate, Hannah, and Elena) will have some adjustments to make with new babies AND the fact they now have brothers, but all seem to be enjoying their role as big sister.
We're still waiting on the arrival of our baby. I'm not due until July 30th which is still 4 weeks away, but I'm hoping for an early arrival. Russell's older sister, Kim, and her husband Elisha are also expecting a baby but not until September. Two more boys--do you see a trend here?!?! I keep wondering if anyone is having baby girls. I don't know of any!
We'll let you know when the last two arrive.
Another Year Older!
Russell's birthday was Saturday...shame on those of you who didn't send presents!!!!
Friday was his day off so we got to spend a nice long weekend together. Sadly, Saturday was sort of uneventful. He decided not to play basketball due to a back injury he got the previous week while playing. Thankfully by Saturday he was moving around and not in pain. It was nice to have him home. It rained both Friday and Saturday mornings so he wasn't able to do the outside chores he'd been planning to get done. But, we were productive in spite of the rain. We got our entire house vacuumed--quite a feat with 3 floors and two sets of steps. Russell was a huge help and did the basement, main floor, and all the steps. I got our bedroom carpet as well as the upstairs landing cleaned with our carpet cleaner. Wow, what a difference that makes!
We also got the nursery ready to go, for the most part. We got the toddler bed taken down, all the junk that's accumulated in there put away, and got out all the things we'll need right away with a newborn. We worked so hard that we didn't even get cleaned up for the day until 4:00 that afternoon. Maybe it was nesting, or maybe it was just getting things marked off our to-do list. I'm not sure. In any case, it feels good to have those tasks accomplished.
Saturday evening we went to Abuelo's to celebrate Russ' birthday. My parents and sister joined us and we had a yummy Mexican dinner. Charles did quite well at the restaurant. We were skeptical about how he'd act because we weren't sure he actually slept when we put him in his room for nap time. He loved eating chips and dipping them like the adults. He wasn't interested in his meal, however--except for french fries he could dip in ketchup! Things were going great until I spilled his milk all over him and the floor while trying to wipe ketchup off his shirt. Oops! The staff at Abuelo's was great and was there right away to help us clean it up and bring Charles a new high chair. Of course he never got back in it and sat on Mom & Grandma's laps getting them wet too!
After dinner we came home for cake. Russell kept joking about having all 31 candles on his cake, so I obliged him. Charles figured out how to blow them out so we lit some extras for him to blow.
Friday was his day off so we got to spend a nice long weekend together. Sadly, Saturday was sort of uneventful. He decided not to play basketball due to a back injury he got the previous week while playing. Thankfully by Saturday he was moving around and not in pain. It was nice to have him home. It rained both Friday and Saturday mornings so he wasn't able to do the outside chores he'd been planning to get done. But, we were productive in spite of the rain. We got our entire house vacuumed--quite a feat with 3 floors and two sets of steps. Russell was a huge help and did the basement, main floor, and all the steps. I got our bedroom carpet as well as the upstairs landing cleaned with our carpet cleaner. Wow, what a difference that makes!
We also got the nursery ready to go, for the most part. We got the toddler bed taken down, all the junk that's accumulated in there put away, and got out all the things we'll need right away with a newborn. We worked so hard that we didn't even get cleaned up for the day until 4:00 that afternoon. Maybe it was nesting, or maybe it was just getting things marked off our to-do list. I'm not sure. In any case, it feels good to have those tasks accomplished.
Saturday evening we went to Abuelo's to celebrate Russ' birthday. My parents and sister joined us and we had a yummy Mexican dinner. Charles did quite well at the restaurant. We were skeptical about how he'd act because we weren't sure he actually slept when we put him in his room for nap time. He loved eating chips and dipping them like the adults. He wasn't interested in his meal, however--except for french fries he could dip in ketchup! Things were going great until I spilled his milk all over him and the floor while trying to wipe ketchup off his shirt. Oops! The staff at Abuelo's was great and was there right away to help us clean it up and bring Charles a new high chair. Of course he never got back in it and sat on Mom & Grandma's laps getting them wet too!
After dinner we came home for cake. Russell kept joking about having all 31 candles on his cake, so I obliged him. Charles figured out how to blow them out so we lit some extras for him to blow.
Russell blowing out the candles.
Charles and Grandma blowing out another candle.
I love fruit!
Charles loves fruit. Maybe too much so. We have to hold off on it until "dessert" time or keep it out of sight so he will eat the other things on his plate. He doesn't know when to quit, so if we don't want too much fiber in his diet (we have to change his diapers) we have to monitor his fruit intake.
Grapes are the fruit of choice, but now that it's summer I'm trying to incorporate some new things into his fruit repertoire besides bananas, oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. It's sort of difficult in the Midwest where none of the fruit is fresh...most is shipped in and is either overripe or very green. Plus it tends to be VERY expensive. At our local Aldi grocery store I'm able to get some fruits at reasonable prices, it just depends on what they've got in stock, it's a discount store so you have to take what they've got the day you're shopping.
I highly recommend Aldi if you've got one in your area. It's a German company that has expanded to the US and some other countries. It's WAY cheaper than other stores...even Wal-Mart! There is a 25 cent deposit on the shopping carts which you get back when you return them to the cart rack (there are never any carts left in the parking lot). You have to pay cash, use debit card, or pay with government issued payment (food stamps, Vision card, etc.). They don't provide bags, so you have to bring your own or buy them at the check out. Of course you can always confiscate empty boxes from around the store! I like to take Russ with me when I shop (which doesn't happen very often) because he's good at sacking the groceries because of his experience working at a grocery store! Oh...and help entertaining Charles is always a plus too! Here's their website, in case you're interested http://www.aldi.com/
But, I digress...last week I got some peaches, nectarines, and plums when I was shopping at Aldi (Charles likes prunes so figured plums would be a hit). After they finally ripened up, he gobbled them down. Yesterday at lunch he had a juicy plum. Juice ran down his chin and arm into his lap and on his shirt. He didn't try to eat the pit, which was good.
Grapes are the fruit of choice, but now that it's summer I'm trying to incorporate some new things into his fruit repertoire besides bananas, oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. It's sort of difficult in the Midwest where none of the fruit is fresh...most is shipped in and is either overripe or very green. Plus it tends to be VERY expensive. At our local Aldi grocery store I'm able to get some fruits at reasonable prices, it just depends on what they've got in stock, it's a discount store so you have to take what they've got the day you're shopping.
I highly recommend Aldi if you've got one in your area. It's a German company that has expanded to the US and some other countries. It's WAY cheaper than other stores...even Wal-Mart! There is a 25 cent deposit on the shopping carts which you get back when you return them to the cart rack (there are never any carts left in the parking lot). You have to pay cash, use debit card, or pay with government issued payment (food stamps, Vision card, etc.). They don't provide bags, so you have to bring your own or buy them at the check out. Of course you can always confiscate empty boxes from around the store! I like to take Russ with me when I shop (which doesn't happen very often) because he's good at sacking the groceries because of his experience working at a grocery store! Oh...and help entertaining Charles is always a plus too! Here's their website, in case you're interested http://www.aldi.com/
But, I digress...last week I got some peaches, nectarines, and plums when I was shopping at Aldi (Charles likes prunes so figured plums would be a hit). After they finally ripened up, he gobbled them down. Yesterday at lunch he had a juicy plum. Juice ran down his chin and arm into his lap and on his shirt. He didn't try to eat the pit, which was good.
I tried to find the song "I love fruit" from Sesame Street but couldn't find it on You Tube. I think of it often when he's gobbling down his fruit!
Anyone remember the band "Presidents of the United States" and their song about peaches? "Millions of peaches, peaches for me, millions of peaches, peaches for free...?" It's not a great song, but these pictures reminded me of the lyrics.
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