City Kids on the Farm

Seth's preschool class went on their annual field trip to Kelsey Creek Farm last month. Lydia got to participate too, since I wasn't going to even attempt to carry her in the backpack this time. The kiddos learned about different animals, got to pet a few of them, helped sweep and add wood shavings to the stalls, and took home their very own pumpkin. Farmer Jayne is the best!

"I just fed that cow!"

"Seriously, Mom, it's just a cow!"

Our own little critters at the Critter Crossing.

Many hands make light work.

Rookie Athlete

Seth just finished a session of Renton Rookie Athletics. He spent the last 6 weeks learning how to play soccer. They worked on dribbling, trapping, passing, shooting and heading. He really loved it,so I think we're a go for soccer season next year. I don't know any parents who weren't smiling watching 10 3-5-year-olds try a scrimmage. The moment the coach threw the ball into the game, all you could hear were a bunch of squealing little kids chasing after the ball.

Seth's biggest fan

Mr. Big 5-Year-Old

September 26th marked Seth's FIFTH birthday. And what a birthday it was, as in 3 parties stretched over 5 days. While we were at quilt retreat, Terilyn made a giant chocolate chip cookie for his cake. After a nice evening stroll, we had cookie and ice cream and presents from Grandma and Grandpa and awesome aunts.

Yes there's something on his nose. It's a little scratch from when he fell out of bed at Grandma's and landed on his face. He's over it. :-)

Grandpa and Seth are best buddies!

The very next day after we got home from Utah, Seth's class celebrated all the September birthdays with a little party. Turns out he's the ONLY one in the class with a birthday that month. I brought in fish crackers and homemade oreos with blue frosting, which are more like mini whoopie pies. They have the cutest little cupcake with a battery-operated candle that actually goes out when you "blow it out!"

Seth got to be Mrs. Richards' helper for The Birthday Cake book.

Then, on his ACTUAL birthday, we had lunch together with Dad at Wendy's, Seth went to school, and after dinner a few friends came over for cake and ice cream.

He said he wanted a Spiderman cake, so in my cake decorating ameteur-ness, the first thing I think is NOT, "Oh, I'll make an awesome cake shaped like Spiderman leaping between two tall buildings." No, it's more like, "I need to find a Spiderman toy to stick on top of a cake." So I'm pretty proud that I made a layer cake, used every drop of red food coloring in the house (a pink cake wouldn't be good), and piped dots and a spider web.

Note to self: Even though there's some leftover sweetened condensed milk in the fridge, use regular milk when making frosting so your guests won't get an immediate sugar headache when they eat it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE SETH! And thanks to everyone who helped make his special day so terrific!

First day of school

OK, so school has been in session for, oh, 2 months, but since I'm such an awesome mom who's always on top of it, I waited until now to post photos. I just like to keep my readers in suspense. :-)

Seth is in Pre-K at the same school he went last year. He loves Pied Piper and his teachers Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Stephens, and he's happy to have another fun year with them.

Wouldn't want Lydia to feel left out!

Love those big blue eyes.

Little kid bum in new jeans. :-)

If/when he does get into trouble at school, I have a feeling he'll be able to charm his way into a lesser punishment.

Found my apple on the classroom door!

Mountain Valley Quilt Retreat 2011

OK, way back in September, the kids and I went on our annual trip to Loa, Utah for Mom's quilt retreat. I'm always impressed at how she pulls everything together and makes it such a wonderful time for everyone. All us girls have to do is show up and cook! And this year, big brother Darrell was initiated into the Retreat Laborer Hall of Fame. :-) It's always fun to see all the quilting ladies, and they seem to enjoy, or at least tolerate, the silliness that ensues when we kids get together. They've become good friends over the years. Can you believe this is the 8th year??

Mom made these cute aprons for all of us girls, and each had a cute flower clip too. Lydia needed to try them all on...at the same time.

Um, yes, that's Lydia on the roof. And yes, she got up there by herself. It covers the outside basement stairs, so it goes all the way to the ground, in case you thought we leave ladders hanging around inviting toddlers to climb on top of the house. Still, this little stinker scares me!

Ack! Too much quilting and girlie stuff! C'mon, Uncle Darrell, let's stage an impromptu sword fight!

The hostess and host...aww such a cute couple.

What kid can resist playing in the water, especially when it's this cool fountain in Grandma and Grandpa's yard?

All four of us together. Do we look alike? Is it the super squinty eyes (not you, Darrell, you have normal non-squinty ones)?

This is all too much! Can't even stay awake through dinner!

Check out these cute sisters of mine!

Bedtime stories...just sit down with the kids and a book, and they'll be your new best friend.

I'll finish with a snapshot of the splendor that is this quiet little valley. We went for a sunset walk one night...definitely a highlight of the whole trip.

12 of 12 - October

1 - This might not look like much, but it's the best crock pot steel-cut oats with cranberries and REAL maple syrup all the way from New Hampshire. I could eat this every day (and I did too!).

2 - Sewing up Lydia's Halloween costume.

3 - I made a potty chart for Lydia, and until now it's been hit and miss. But the day I took these photos, the light bulb went off, and she's been going potty regularly and has a dry pull-up. Oh, and it may have something to do with me getting out the candy corns as reward.

4 - Seth picked a little pumpkin from the garden to take to preschool. It was show and tell, and the letter of the week was "p."

5 - Just a few more ripe tomatoes out there. I think they're about done, as is the majority of the sunshine for the year. Better late than never!

6 - Hopefully this is the last time for a long time that I'll be caulking the tub. A few months ago, I tried the caulk tape, which was a waste. It peeled right off and looked bad. Then I tried a composite caulk adhesive. It looked good, but it ended up coming off too. Here I am smoothing a bead of pure silicone caulk. Crossing my fingers that 3rd time's a charm!

7 - This month's photo collage was nearly all going to be a collage of fall color. It's everywhere and so gorgeous!

8 - Lydia talking on her play phone to Grandma to tell her about her new Halloween costume. I love seeing her play pretend, and she had a whole conversation that was cute to hear.

9 - Baked chicken-bacon alfredo and spaghetti squash for dinner. I made the casserole healthier by using turkey bacon, less cheese, and whole wheat pasta. I also used only 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese in the guiltless alfredo sauce because that's all I had, but I honestly didn't miss it. A thumbs up from everyone!

10 - My hydrangeas are fading from bright periwinkle to a beautiful shade of antique blue.

11 - I'm doing some contract work for my former employer, so once the kids were in bed, I had some quiet time to get into AutoCad and get some work done. I thought I'd forgotten some things, but 2 years later and I've still got it!

12 - Matt's bead pre-shave. While he was gone for 10 days to New England, he decided not to shave the whole time. It was quite a shocker when we picked him up from the airport. Lydia just stared at him, pointed and said "A mess!" I actually kinda liked it, but it was bothering him, so he shaved it off to a goatee for a couple of days and then got rid of it all. Oh well. Lydia seems happier with the "non-messy" Dad.

Final Farewell to Summer

Amid the pouring rain and cloudy skies, it seems summer was ages ago. I was looking through some photos and wanted to bid a fond farewell to blue skies and pleasant temperatures.

Newcastle Beach Park in August. One of the last, if not THE last, beach-friendly-weather day of the year.

A perfectly un-crowded, sunny day at Woodland Park Zoo with friends.