{summertime bucket list} strawberry picking

For the past two summers the kids and I have made our own little "bucket list" of things we'd like to do before September rolls around. Strawberry picking was at the top of our (ok, my) list this year. We picked lots of juicy, red berries and have the sticky fingers and strawberry-stained clothes to prove it. Jack was a strawberry-eating machine - some of the photos I caught of him just make me laugh. He was two-fisting his berries and as soon as someone would offer him another or he would spot a strawberry nearby, he would chuck the ones in his hands and leave them for dead....on to the next! Needless to say, I think we'll probably make another trip to the strawberry patch next week before the berries are done for the year.

The girls and I will be making strawberry shortcake this afternoon - hooray for sunshine and summertime!

*As a side note to the my photo friends, what is your best advice for shooting in direct sunlight? I obviously couldn't avoid it in this situation and did the best I could but I'm not thrilled with the shadows and harsh light. Any tips or tricks for shooting in direct sun would be very much appreciated. Over and out...