Downtown Christmastime

This afternoon when N woke up from this nap we shuffled the kids into the van, drove downtown to find a parking spot and did our yearly Christmas outing. It was just us, and we had a really nice few hours. N even wore underwear the entire time without an accident! We didn't do everything I had on our list; we forgot about the giant gingerbread houses until we were already back in our seat on the monorail, we skipped ice skating on purpose because neither D nor I wanted to wait on the sidelines with a 2-year-old rubber ball bouncing off the walls. But the miniature train was pure magic for N, the aforementioned monorail offered a lovely view, and the carousel is a must. This year we also stopped in for a scheduled snow flurry inside a mall (not much to write home about, but now we've done it). All in all it was a really nice time with my family.

Stilts

It's been really fun to see N take a few of the same classes E did when all those years ago. The 1 1/2 hour Fun Factory class with Teacher Tracey has/was great for both. It's basically preschool time with parents. Art, songs, snack, sensory table, parachute play, and large motor play. E especially loved the stilts back then and N is getting the hang of them too.

My Christmas Decidedly Just Got Merrier.

I love Tuesday mornings, we wake up to find all the delightful things I ordered the day before from our milkman. Most every other morning it's, well, milk, sour cream, the occasional muffin 4-pack, loaf of bread or bag of coffee and since N can't stomach (literally) the cow variety, Almond milk. But when the holiday's come round their seasonal offering's are mouth watering! Today's splurge was Alki Bakery's Chocolate Crinkle cookies, they're dipped in peppermint white chocolate and then topped with crushed candy cane. Yu-Um. So perfect with my afternoon cup of coffee.

It's The Great Pumpkin!

Happy Halloween everyone! Our family really went all out this year, and we had sooo much fun! There were a lot of really late nights and long hours poured into the papier-mâché heads, but didn't they turn out great? And isn't our little Woodstock the cutest?

What May or May Not Have Happened

 

 I got a call on Friday morning saying E and N had been selected from a drawing (which, ahem, may or may not have been so random) of raffle tickets (which, ahem, we may or may not have padded the purchase of) to pick out a pumpkin over at our Rubberneck Farms. What I do know is, that this afternoon we went for a walk so the children could get their beautiful pumpkins. And it was a relatively strenuous walk back home for me with 2 pumpkins and N in the jogger, Molly on leash and E gliding along (not so gracefully) in her new roller skates. Thank you Mike & Melissa!

Girl Fest 2011

We went down to Girl Fest 2011 this morning for a great time with loads of stuff that girls are interested in! She rolled pretzel dough, competed in an obstacle course (and won by the way), climbed around on a fire truck (a few of the guys knew our uncle Jason), learned the correct form for crunches, petted a horse, chatted with the people from School of Rock, was interviewed by a King 5 News anchor, and all sorts of stuff!

Trades

Doesn't the world just seem perfect when you can give part of yourself and receive back an equal part from another? This last year we've become friendly with a really neat couple just down the road from us.

Last winter I watched as a sprawling grassy field was converted into a glorious garden! The couple, Mike and Melissa bought the property when it went up for sale last fall and did what I always envisioned for that space. I was always so hopeful that someone would convert the pristine sunny exposed property and use it for its potential.  It happens to be on our every-day driving route and each time we passed there was something new, something exciting! We'd slow each day while passing and exclaim about the covered rows, or drip lines. And apparently we weren't the only ones; so became Rubberneck Farms.

One day I stopped and introduced myself (Which as many of you know is not typical behavior on my part. I am pretty firmly planted in my comfort zone and reaching out is difficult for me). I let them know we were eager fellow homesteaders up the road with a flock of chickens and a small but hopeful garden. After some sincere conversation it was arranged that for 1 dozen eggs we would take home some of the most flavorful produce you could ever find. Some weeks it's a bag of purple, green and yellow beans, a few zucchini and pound of salad greens. Other days we get to take home a bunch of carrots and tomato's. And I will say that my family eats it with abandon.

This is what drives me to become more self sufficient, this is what I believe it's all about and the thing I earnestly and purposely expose my children to, so that it goes on. We must come back to a place of knowing our neighbors and feeding one another. Not just with food, but with information and empathy. We of course send our texts and e-mails to sync up our trades, but when it comes down to it; when I offer that carton of eggs and they extend their harvest it's putting us out there. We have conversations about our lives, about how our passions have gotten us here. It's what changes my mind about the direction of where our world and country are going, it's what makes my cold and skeptical heart warm a bit; I have evidence: People can be good and can take care of one another.

Summer Playgrounds

The Biggest Little Circus in the World

The Wenatchee Youth Circus was back in town and the rain held off for the performance. We met up with Mable and Rochelle for some popcorn and fun! N was a little hesitant to enjoy himself for the first 1/2, but as soon as he realized he was safe up in the bleachers he really enjoyed it.

* you can't see how completely nervous this outing makes me, but rest assured that my mouth is dry and my palms are sweating...before the act even starts.

Pushing the Envelope

The temperature was in the 70's all day, but so overcast it looked like the 50's. We didn't care, I piled the water toys, towels, snacks, and kids in the van and drove to the wadding pool where it was very evident that most folks were using the non-existent sun as a guide...we were the only ones there! Hey! We live in the Pacific Northwest people! If you don't grab it while you can it'll be drizzly sweater weather before you know it.

In Our Own Backyard

They started digging this week...

Give Big - June 23

"GiveBIG is a communitywide giving challenge created by The Seattle Foundation that will increase the size of your donation to a non-profit (of your choice). This new, one–day, online charitable giving event will rally together our community on behalf of the amazing nonprofit organizations in King County." There's loads of good organizations to give to  like our zoo, Seattle Tilth, etc. Help out!

* Quote from zoo.org

Cookie Time!

Yup, E's troop is selling them, talk to me if you'd like some!

4-H

E joined 4-H today! A new group has just formed and we're taking advantage of it! E will be working on showing poultry. It was a crack up to see all these city-farm girlies with their hens and rabbits today. We all me at the leaders home in the Wallingford District, received instructions on how to show chickens, what judges will look for, and what judging is like. It was so fun!

Here is E with our Blue Laced Wyandotte, Petunia (iPhone pic's sorry).

Swansons

We like to visit this nursery around Christmas. They bring in animals (camel, donkey, and reindeer), set up a train and this year the kids got to pet koi in their Garden Cafe...

*ps, a total coincidence, but I love that his little green hat made it's second appearance at Swansons!