Marburger Orchards

We must have been in a strawberry mood because the next morning we decided to go to a local farm and pick strawberries. A lot of our friends have been doing this, and it looked like it would be so much fun.

After we parked, we headed to a covered area to get instructions and a bucket to hold our strawberries. We were told how to pick the strawberries as well as which ones to pick and a few don't's. I was a bit nervous because Taylor and Payden don't do the best at listening . . . they're very active and tend to act first and think later. As it turned out, they did FANTASTIC. Tom and I were so proud of their behavior. They followed instructions and obeyed really well.

After the instructions were done, we headed to the strawberry patches. The girls were so excited. In fact I think Taylor and Payden ran ahead and back to us numerous times by the time we got to the strawberry patches.


It was really a beautiful day and fortunately cooler than what it had been.


We picked 2 empty rows at the end. Taylor, Tom, and Declan headed down one while Shelby, Payden, and I headed down the next.

You can see in this next picture how good the girls were. They would ask for just about every strawberry if it was a good one to pick. Honestly, I'm still amazed when I think back at how good they were. In fact, no one tasted any strawberries until Tom told one of them to try one. So here's Payden asking if she can pick this strawberry.



Tom found this moth while he was looking for strawberries. As much as I don't like being around bugs, I do think they're interesting and like for the girls to get to see and appreciate nature.


You can tell by the chubbiness of these fingers that they're Payden's . . . too cute!


Getting pictures of Taylor was DIFFICULT. She was so fast at removing the strawberries that I was usual in the middle of clicking by the time she was done.



The girls wanted to make sure we got a picture of a strawberry you DON'T pick.


After awhile, Payden decided playing in the dirt was more fun than picking strawberries, which was fine by me.



About the time we got to the end of the row, Tom decided he was ready for us to be done, so we headed back to weigh the strawberries.

I guess Tom wanted to run out more of Taylor's and Payden's energy, so he told them to go run down this side row. Of course Payden and Taylor were far in front of him by the time they heard his instructions.



Since they weren't following his instructions, Tom had Shelby run off and yelled for Taylor and Payden to go get Shelby, which they immediately did. I just love the progression of these photos.




Through it all, Declan just chilled in his stroller. He is such a easy-going baby. I ABSOLUTELY love it!


After the little run down the row, they headed back up to weigh the strawberries. I just love seeing Tom with his girls.


This farm also grows peaches . . .


and blackberries . . .


Unfortunately, the peaches won't be ripe for pickin' until June, but we'll be heading back in May to pick some blackberries.


I don't remember how many pounds we had - probably just one or two - but all but about 11 strawberries were eaten by the time we got home. They were delicious, and we had a WONDERFUL family outing. Now I can't wait for May to come for another family outing!