Family Pumpkin Patch and Sausage Fest

On the last beautiful weekend in October we were able to all hang out as a family.  There were plenty of things going on that we thought of doing and the winners were hitting up one of the pumpkin patches and the Sausage Festival.

Saturday we decided to hit up the pumpkin patch.  We have so many up in the North end we decided to try one of the new ones, Thomas Family Farm.  After deciding on what package we were going to get for all the activities we headed on into Kid Land.

The weather was beautiful this day and warm.  Our bundled up selves weren't really prepared for the sixty degree weather that it turned out to be.   First up was the water duck races and then the miniature golf.  Knox loved this part and would have been happy staying here the rest of the time.  Then they hit up the corn pit and Alyssa went into the play house where she wrote her name on the chalk board to let everyone know she was there.  Of course you can't hit a pumpkin patch without riding the cow train, I think they did this twice at this visit.  After that was all said and done we headed on out to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins.

We each were able to find one we liked.  Alyssa I think would have taken them all home if she could.  It was such a beautiful day out we decided to head on out to Fred's in Snohomish for some lunch.  The kids love it down there and after our lunch we walked along the river.

When we got home we all had some down time before our babysitter arrived and Cory and I headed out for dinner.  We wanted to try something new so we hopped the ferry and headed to Kingston for dinner.  It was a great evening out!

Sunday we headed on over to the Sausage Festival.  The Catholic school in Everett puts it on for their fundraiser to help raise money for the care of their grounds.  It's been a hit with the family since we started going.  Of course there are carnival rides and yummy food!  Alyssa was so excited because she is tall enough now to ride the Ferris wheel, unfortunately I had to ride it with her.  I hate this ride.  You can throw me up side down at high speeds but put me on that thing and I freak out!  I sucked it up and rode it with her while Cory was with Knox doing the cars.

The big hit besides the elephant ear was the roller coaster.  They went on that about five times and we were smart and got them bracelets so they were able to ride the rides multiple times.  What I found fascinating was that since the end of August both kids had grown two inches.  I knew they had just by eating/sleeping/clothing habits but didn't think two each!

It was a perfect way to spend what will probably be the last nice weekend of the year!

Preschool Field Trip

Last week Alyssa had her field trip to one of the pumpkin patches up by our house, The Farm.  It's one that I have been going to for the last four years now and it's pretty cool. 

We really lucked out on the weather.  It was a beautiful foggy morning and after an hour or so it lifted and was a crisp fall day that turned out to be perfect!  The ground wasn't wet so there was no need for rain boots, unlike normal fall weather around the PNW.  There was also really no need for jackets.

Alyssa and I met up with her class for a nice three hour trip.  First up was the hay ride out to get our pumpkins.  On the way she sat next to her friend Miley and Mason.  She actually snuck a kiss into Mason.  It was so cute.

Once out into the field Alyssa picked out several pumpkins we were allowed two for free and any others we had to pay for.  She really wanted to bring some home for Knox.  It was very cute.
When we got back to the farm our next stop was the barn for the hay maze and slide. 

It's funny because I mentioned that I have been going here for the last few years with Alyssa.  This year was a whole new experience for both of us.  Meaning the shy girl she once was is blossoming into this little girl that at times I don't even recognize.  She was probably the first one in and running all over climbing up the hay barrels and heading to the slide.  It was fun to watch all the kids fly down that thing!

Next up were the duck races...literally!  I will post a video so you can get a look at that!

Then we headed over to the play area and the kids ran around playing on the slides, swings, corn pit, and another hay maze.  I got to chat with a couple of moms and that was nice.

After we were done there we headed over to see some of the new baby animals on the farm.  Alyssa loved the kittens.  She wants a cat soo bad!  Thankfully Cory is allergic so I don't have to worry about getting one, plus I dislike cats.

Next up was the ice cream which Alyssa let her teacher know was her favorite part when asked at school the next week.  We were waiting for that to start and were excited to learn that the pig races were beginning to start so we headed on over there to have our ice cream and watch the races.

After all was said and done and our good byes made we headed down to pick up Knox who was hanging out with his friend Cal at the Children's Museum.  They were having a blast and we hung out for about an hour before we had to pack it up and head out.

Dentist Appointments

The kids had another dentist appointment.  For Alyssa it was just a routine appointment but for Knox it was his first.  Alyssa was so excited to go and talks about it all the time, she loves brushing her teeth and does such a good job.  I wasn't sure how Knox would do but surprisingly he did ok. 

Alyssa went back by herself and did amazing and with good results no cavities!  That always surprises me because I stress about them cleaning their teeth good.  It's such a huge part of being healthy, good hygene.

Knox was no different, no cavities, he let them clean his teeth and was a pretty good sport.  He wasn't a huge fan but let them do it and enjoyed watching Cars on t.v. while doing so.  He would stop screaming and only to start again because I think he realized he wasn't doing it anymore.  He cracks me up.

Until March all is good!

Zoo Day

We hadn't made it to the zoo at all during the summer and decided that we would wait until school started back up and go then.  My good friend and her kids were going with us and she picked her birthday for us to go.  It was a beautiful day, we have been fortunate to be having such great weather for so long, and there was absolutely no one there to boot!

Our plan was to try and get there by 930 and head to the giraffes so we could feed them.  We didn't make that but were able to cone in on the feeding and they are just amazing animals.  Both my kids loved it and thought it was fascinating.

When we got to the monkeys one of them saw us started "talking" to his friend who then decided to come out and they put on a little show for us.  It was pretty funny.

Around noon we had our picnic lunch and Knox and Calvin decided that they were birds and doing some bird calling.  They were pretty cute and loud!  After we finished up we had a few more animals we wanted to check out.  We made our way over to the bears, elk, and leopards.



When we were looking at the Komodo Dragon Alyssa said "Mom, that is so cool he has a pool and a beach!  He is so lucky!"  I laughed and told her it wasn't exactly a pool or beach and she said it is for him.  Good point!

The bears were very active that day.  We were watching them for awhile before we went down to the viewing area by their pond.  The kids were both checking out the fish in the water when one of the bears came and got it.  Knox got a little frightened by the bear because he came up and stood up against the window.  It was pretty amazing to see.

This was one of our last stops and the kids were all starting to reach their limit.  I had one more stop to make before we headed home.  Since it was Michelle's birthday I took everyone over to Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford.  I don't get the cupcake craze at all but I know my kids love them, hers had never been and it was her birthday so you need dessert!

The kids all enjoyed them as did we.  I would have thought the kids would have fallen asleep on the way back but no such luck.  They were all being crazy and making up stories etc.  It was a fun day had by all!

The Life Of My Four Year Old

This last week Alyssa has started what is her last year of preschool before entering Kindergarten!  I can't believe she is going to be heading into that scary but exciting world of elementary school.  She has been so excited to go back to preschool and has been counting down the weeks/days until she returned.

When we met with her teacher and learned of the new stuff she would be doing this year that was different I couldn't wait for her to start.  This year she is going to have some home work that will involve writing and math.  It's not mandatory but if they do bring it back there is some incentive, a toy box!  Alyssa is so eager to start reading and I can't wait until she actually does. 

There are only four returning kids from her class last year including Alyssa.  Her class is full with twelve kids, nine of them being boys!  It seems though like it's going to be a good class.  She goes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings for two and a half hours.

She is doing dance again this year.  Her class is still half ballet and half tap.  I think next year we or she will have to make the decision as to which one she will take.  I'm sure she will pick ballet.  This little girl loves it and when I receive info. from the PNB or a commercial wants to go so badly! 
 
We have also kept her in swim because she is progressing so much and want to keep her going until she actually can swim on her own.  Mondays thru Thursdays are pretty busy for us!  Also starting in October which I guess is just a couple weeks away, YIKES, she is going to be starting Campfire Girls.  I'm really excited for this and what it will bring her.

There are going to be so many changes with her in this next year.  I can't wait to watch the growth in her!

Busy

The last month has been very busy for Cory and I.  Cory has been working an insane amount of overtime with all the festivals, sports, and his normal schedule.  I have been busy with the kids and getting stuff done around the house.  I apologize for the possibility of a long post or one with not too many details of events!

Alyssa was able to go down for a quick "girl time" trip with her Grandma Gail.  They did all kinds of fun stuff while together.  She was also able to go spend some time with my parents while there too.

When she came back we were busy with more activities and then both kids got ready to go back down for another adventurous week.  At this point I can't remember what all they did but I know they had fun and were exhausted when they came back!

That weekend Cory and I enjoyed two days in Seattle doing whatever it is we wanted to do.  The first night we went to this Cigar party on Lake Union and took an electric boat out and had cocktails.  It was a lot of fun as well as the company.

Saturday we got a corner suite at the Grand Hilton and enjoyed a night out on the town with some amazing dinner.  We ate at Wasabi, a sushi restaurant located in Bell Town.  It was so good. Then we went out for some cocktails and hit the Highway 99 club before heading back to the hotel.
The next morning we went out for Dim Sum in China town.  It was soo stinking good!  It's one of the places Cory goes to on shift.  It's nice sometimes having him work in the city to know where to go. 

After picking the kids up later that week we hit the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, WA.  We headed there after Cory got home from work and had a great afternoon.  The kids loved it of course and we saw some animals and had fair food. 

That weekend my oldest sister came to town with her husband and visited.  It was great to see them and the kids had a blast.  I was surprised that they weren't shy with them because Alyssa hasn't seen them since she was about two and Knox obviously was a baby.  The kids had a great time showing off and all of that.  Sunday we hung out up in my neck of the woods and headed into historic downtown Snohomish.  We had lunch, ice cream, and walked around.  Monday before they left we headed into Seattle.  The first stop was Discovery Park.  I love this park.  I plan on taking the kids back there very soon!  After walking around and playing we headed down to Chinooks and had lunch and checked out the boats before saying our goodbyes.

On Tuesday I headed down to Longview for a few days with the kids to visit my nephew and his family.  It was great to hang out with all the kids together.  I think we all enjoyed ourselves.  The next day I headed to the beach with the kids for some play in the surf and a little shopping.  The next day headed on back home.  It was a very quick and busy trip but I needed to get back to take care of stuff before the big week started!

Phew....I think that pretty much caught us up for the rest of August and beginning of September minus a play dates, park excursions, museum outings etc.

Aerowsmith

One of my all time favorite bands is Aerosmith.  The last time they went on tour I for whatever reason didn't go and I swore if they came around again I was going.  In March tickets went on sale and I snatched some up.  Cory wasn't too interested in going with me so at the time my sister was going to go.  I couldn't believe I had to wait six months to now see them but let me tell you it was worth the wait!  As it got closer my sister decided that she didn't want to go and for me to ask a friend.  I knew exactly who I wanted to ask and so thankful she was able to go.

Stacy and I couldn't wait for it.  The day finally arrived and we left and headed down to Tacoma.  It's the last place I want to watch a concert but you do what you got to do.  By the time we got to our seats the show started within five minutes.  We had amazing seats and were so close.  I couldn't have been happier!

Cheap Trick performed for about an hour and they were alright.  Not my favorite band but it wasn't hideous.  After about a twenty minute intermission the show began!  I don't think anyone stopped dancing, yelling, or singing the entire time!

It was an amazing show!  They all still have it in every way!  I can/t wait to go see them again. 

Room Makeover For My Boy Knox

The Superhero's are done!  Knox loves his "new" room and the space he has now to play with his cars.  I have been in a slow transition of changing his room from his "nursery" to his "big boy" room for awhile.  Once I finally decided on a theme my sister and I ran with it.  I gave her my ideas and she painted away. 

On one wall we have spider man and in the web the letters of his name are hung.  The other wall has batman with him "flying" towards the light with his bat symbol.  The skyline is painted all around on the bottom.
Knox loves going in his room and saying "mom, look....Batman!"  It's so stinking cute how he does it.  He is a crackup.

We are still working on getting him a twin bed, he is still using his crib that is turned into a toddler bed.  I will get him some bedding to go along with his room decor.  I saw a really cool one that I liked but not sure I'm wanting to put out that kind of money for one...will just say it was at Pottery Barn.

His room is nice because now that I got rid of the changing table and the glider he has a lot more room to play with his train table and cars.  He loves going in there and playing.  It cracks me up.  I will go looking for him and go open his bedroom door and he will tell me "Hi Mom, I playing...go away!"  Then he laughs.

 This little man melts my heart!

A Very Busy Weekend

To go along with what was already a busy week this last weekend was exhausting and fun!  Friday we had a fun play date with a preschool friend, Mason and his sister and Mom.  We decided to go out to Jetty Island.  I had never been there before and neither had she and since the weather has been great we wanted to spend some time outside and let the kids run off as much energy as possible.

All the kids were excited to ride the boat.  We headed over there around 1030 and returned around 330. There was an extremely low tide that day so it was fun to let the kids run and run and run!  I can still here Alyssa's giggles from chasing Mason and him her.  There was a nice little breeze out there so it didn't get too hot.  After Kelly and I had a little conversation about sand Knox decided to pour sand down my back and it went down my shorts.  Nothing like a little sand in your underwear to keep things interesting!  Ha!

I can tell that this is going to be a place that we hang out a lot in the years to come!  A lot of people complain about the PNW and I have to say that I love living in this area.  We have so many options of things to do right at our fingertips! 

Saturday my good friend Michelle and I decided to take our kids on a hike and go to the Ice Caves.  Neither one of us had gone before so we weren't sure how the kids were going to do especially the little ones.  It's only about a mile hike but pretty much all up hill to the caves.  The day we chose to go the weather was nice and probably around the mid 80's.  The kids, especially the older ones, did awesome.  Once at the top or to the caves which weren't formed yet we checked it out and headed back.  The kids wanted to play on it but seriously lame parent moment, I wasn't going to have my children be a casualty of the melting snow.  We headed back down and there were no complaints because they knew they were going to eat!  I have to say we were pretty hungry too!

It was funny because I have this game with Alyssa we play picking a letter of the day and we do stuff that is all about that letter.  Well we were finding all these things that begin with "S" and somehow everyone walking who passed us got in on it.  It was actually amazing how many "s" words we came up with.

Anyhow the picnic was fun after and when we were headed home Michelle and the kids came back to the house for water play and an impromptu BBQ.  It was great having them over and all the kids played great and were wiped out!  Alyssa loved going on the hike except for the heat.

Sunday we were able to get tickets to go see the Everett Aquasox.  I say able because that weekend they were pretty much all sold out.  It was a fun time having all of us hang out.  The kids loved it and had fun in the bounce houses, running around from a boy who was chasing them with a spray gun, the goodies, and the "cool" older girl who had an ipod and let Alyssa listen to it.  Jeez she is four and already wanting crap like that!  Oh and if you ask her she will be five soon, not until February, and then six.  It's so funny!

It was a very busy weekend for us and a lot of fun.  Our schedules seem to always be pact but I wouldn't trade it.  I get incredibly bored otherwise!