Strawberry Fields Forever

What a great time we had strawberry picking. Mati dove right in. She needed constant reminders about not picking white strawberries and then more reminders about not eating the strawberries in the field but it was a wonderful time. I think this will definitely be an annual trip and maybe we'll go back this summer and do some blueberry picking.

Now that we're home with them Mati thinks the strawberries are her own personal possession. I bought a pint of pre-picked raspberries while we were at the farm and Mati doesn't like them sitting near her strawberries. I put the case of strawberries on the kitchen counter, turned my back and Mati was picking up the entire case and putting them on her play table. She has certainly taken ownsership of the strawberries.

Gymnastics

After our failed attempt at gymnastics last summer I was worried about this summer's try, but my worries were unfounded. Mati loves gymnastics. After the first week I had to carry her out because she did not want to leave; she spent 10 minutes crying in the car saying "I want more 'nastics'." For week two, Doug went with her and I got to watch.

The reverse of this device looks like a rock wall; Mati climbed and then slid down the other side. That's her teacher Miss Gretchen looking on.

Balance Beam. With assistance Mati practices forward, backward and side-stepping.

The rings. At this point they are just supposed to support their weight with the rings.

Bear crawl across the parallel bars.

Finally a video of a jump attempt and then high-stepping across the balance beam.