Blueberry Hill

We spent last weekend pruning the blueberry bushes getting them ready for the June harvest. There was a lot of new growth, but we also cut down some of the old canes that were too far "bent over." Kiera calls the bushes "Blueberry Lane" but we can't get "Blueberry Hill" out of our minds thanks to Fats Domino. While the three of us worked on the bushes, Ryan and a friend worked on "sprucing up" the front entrance to the farm. 

The before pic...A lot of brush/vines, 

some poison oak and old barbed wire fencing

The after...Not perfect, but a lot "cleaner" looking!

Volleyball

 Kiera is enjoying her second season of club volleyball. She loves her teammates and her coach. She has grown so much since she started last year. Though the tournament days are looooong, it's fun watching her play. She's fierce...she's always diving for balls, makes a play then runs backs to her position quickly and is finally getting her serving down. Go #4!

 She couldn't believe her "tip" over the net 

was successful!

 The girls are in charge (with the help of the coaches) of refereeing

the games they aren't playing. Here's Kiera keeping the score book. 

Kiera's 10th Birthday - Party Two

Next party was at Mimi and Papa's house! We enjoyed a traditional St. Patrick's Day diner, watched March Madness, played Words with Friends, had a coloring contest and celebrated the birthday girl. The hat made another appearance! 

A whole decade old! 

Kiera's 10th Birthday - Party One

 This year, Kiera's birthday fell on a Friday, so we celebrated with Grandpa and Great Grandma on her actual birthday. No birthday would be complete without a cassata cake! Kiera received a hover board. She was excited to have her own...She had played with them at her friend's houses so she knew how to operate it. The weather was in the 50s and no snow or ice was on the ground so she was able to try it outside as well as inside. Our girl smoothly rolled into double digits! 

 Then everyone took a turn trying on the silly

St. Patrick's Day hat. Who wore it best?

 Cake time!

 One is a decade old and the other {almost} a century! 

Mentos and Coke

Mimi and Papa got Kiera the "Geyser Tube" for Christmas, which is a contraption that releases Mentos into a two liter of Coke after the string is pulled. It's a trick that's been done many times before but it never gets old! 

 Setting up...

 The aftermath...

 After the explosion, Kiera used the 

single scoop ice cream scoopers to enjoy a

(slightly minty) Coke Slush!

Christmas Day 2017

For Christmas, everyone got the gift of sleeping in this year! Kiera didn't wake up until 8am which was a treat after hosting Christmas Eve. First up were the stockings, both K and Ty won on their lotto tickets. Kiera's big gift was a softball bat and a waterproof bluetooth speaker. Ty's was a new gym bag. We didn't have a true Christmas breakfast this year, we just nibbled on the leftovers from the night before. 

Kiera loves baths! Here she is with bath crayons, 

but also got bath bombs and shower gel. 

 Santa brought a softball bat! 

 As Kiera was posing for the pic, both Ty and Dave shouted,

"Get your elbow up!"

 After a disastrous canoeing trip this summer, both Em and I

gifted Ty waterproof cell phone holders, ha! 

 For the past few years, Kiera has slept in front of the tree in 

hopes of seeing Santa. This year she slept on the couch, as you

can see all of her pillows and blankets!

 Kiera made Dave a button Christmas tree picture for Christmas

 Handmade gifts are the best!

 New pajamas for me

 Kiera has become quite witty, thanks to the tween shows on the 

Disney Channel. I wish I had written down what she said, but
here's the look that when along with her doozy of a comment...

 Santa brought this toy for Kitty, not Kiera!

 Brooke wants in on the action

 She looks so cute here, but she's still a D.C., as we call her.
D.C. is short for Devil Kitty, which would technically be D.K,
but once you start with a nickname, there's no going back! 

 Christmas Beverages for both!

Kiera got vanilla syrup and coke in bottles and Ty got a pack of

seasonal local beers...Thanks to World Market!

 Vanilla Coke for breakfast? Pouring sugary syrup on the couch?
Sure, it's Christmas!

Now off to see the family!