Daddy Day Care and Max's Newest Trick

Today Max and Daddy went to the Wodland Park Zoo for the Pumpkin Bash. Lots of kids in costumes and the animals get pumpkins as enrichment toys to play with or eat, whatever the case may be.

They had a great time! Max wasn't thrilled with wearing his costume but wore his helmet around for a while. He also has 3 new words in his vocabulary, zoo, animals and lizard. Daddy says he wasn't all that interested in looking at the animals this time but really enjoyed pushing the stroller around, until they came to the Komodo dragon.

Here he is riding the dragon sculpture. An art connoisseur, he is not. Animals are for riding!

His newest trick is pretending to be a lizard and sticking his tongue in and out, just like the Komodo dragon does. I will try to get some video of this cause it is too cute.

Anyway, they clearly enjoyed themselves because they came home and had a nap together! Now that, is a great day!

Pumpkin Carving

Well, here are the promised pictures of our carving extravaganza! We, of course, did most of the work but Max was intrigued all the same. He liked playing with the tools. We use my old ceramics tools and they work really well when you want to create intricate stuff. Check out Terry's handy work! He struggled with finding the "inner pumpkin" while we were out in the pumpkin patch. I think he did an awesome job. I just stuck to the basics. Frankly, I won't ever be able to top my Frankenstein pumpkin from last year, so why bother. Maybe next year one of the pumpkins will speak to me and tell me what he wants to be.

 Daddy really got into the spirit of things. Max wasn't to interested in touching the inner goo.

 Daddy did all the work, Max reaps all the benefit and cuteness.

 He didn't mind scrapping it out once the innards were removed.

 Yup, that's my pumpkin! My mommy cuts a good letter!

Daddy, Max and Mommies handy work! Not to shabby!

Pumpkin Patching

Since we moved out to Snoqualmie over 3 years ago we have begun the tradition of going "Pumpkin Patching" out at Jubilee Farms in Fall City. It is a great co-op farm that has hay rides to the pumplin patches, a pumpkin trebutchet, daddy's favorite, pony rides and more. We have easily melded Max into the festivities and this year he was able to really participate. I think he really had a good time this year. We even tried the pony rides again. This time he stayed on the whole time and never lost his smile.

 I think this might have been the same horse we rode during Salmon Days.

 Proof positive that we stayed on...

 all the way around...

and paused for a picture. What a brave boy! I am so proud of him!

Then we rode out to the pumpkin patch on a tractor pulled hay wagon. He looks a little tentative, until we started to move and then he was all smiles.

 Max did a great job of walking around the patch all by himself. Here he is with daddy looking for a pumpkin to cut of the vine.

Here is Max cutting my pumpkin. He also cut all of the gourds for my holiday centerpiece. He was so happy to use the big clippers, under supervision of course, pushing mommy and daddy's hands off of them so he could do it by himself.

Our family portrait in The Patch.

Riding the tractor back to the farm. Look at that smile!

 He looks a little stressed about being in the wheelbarrow, but he was laughing his hinders off about 2 seconds before I took this picture.

Daddy always makes everything funner!

Next post will have our carving night festivities!

My Friend Jake's Birthday

Hi Everybody!

Mommy is letting me tell you all about my friend Jake's birthday party. It was so super, crazy fun. We went to Seattle Gymnastics Academy, in North Seattle. It was kind of a long drive but soooo worth it.

 There was a gigantic pit filled with foam squares. It was kind of difficult to move around in, but so much fun.

I even jumped off of a big platform into the pit. Mommy and daddy said I was fearless.

This is me and mommy going down the slide into the pit. She had a lot of fun too. We played for a long time in the pit. I even swung from the ring over the pit. Both mommy and daddy did it too.

 There was a long trampoline track for running and jumping. Obviously, mommy liked the bouncing.

 Here she is high stepping down the trampoline. Can you tell how much fun I am having??

Here is a pretty good indication!!

I am sure that I laughed so hard, for so long, I peed my pants.

 There were all kinds of climbing and balancing things to do.

 I got really good at walking across the bridge.

Daddy takes some great pictures.

After we played hard for an hour, we went to enjoy some lunch with brownies and ice cream. Jake had some of his other friends there and we all played together. They were all little people like me. I think everyone had a good time. There were  lots of giggles and smiling faces. I like this birthday thing, we should do it more often.

This is me and my friend Jake! It was his birthday. He turned 2, like me! We had a lot of fun!

Thanks for inviting me to your birthday Jake!

Buzz Talking

This summer Max and I were very busy. We went over the mountain a few times, including once with daddy, to get fruits and veggies to can and make salsa. My good friend Rachael taught me how to make salsa and how to can. I can't thank her enough. This year I made 40 jars of salsa and canned 2 boxes of pears, Max's favorite, and I tried my hand at apricots. The farm stand that we went to last year, sadly, had closed and went out of business. Probably because their prices were so cheap.

This year we found a new farm stand with excellent prices and lots and lots of stuff. Red Sky Orchards off of Interstate 90 at exit #93. The guys that work there were great and always offered Max and I samples. Max never turns down fruit, especially cherries. Just outside of the stand they have some super cute photo-ops.

Isn't he the cutest bumblebee around?

Little by little Max has started to speak a little more clearly. I am pretty sure that we are still the only people who can understand him. He has begun to use 2 and some 3 word sentences. Some words are crystal clear, worths only vaguely resemble his true intent. The word "ment," means cement mixer. Of course we have all the words for cars and trucks. What boy wouldn't know how to say tractor or lawn mower.

I am told that one day, suddenly, he will just start talking all sorts of words and we will be able to understand everything he says. I am excited for the day, but I kind of like the mystery of trying to figure out what he is saying.

First Corn on the Cob

Max has discovered corn on the cob.

We think he really likes it,

alot!

Now we just have to wait until next year for more corn.

Issaquah Salmon Days

Terry and I having been going to Issaquah Salmon Days for at least 8 years. We look forward to it every year. There is always so much to do and see and now we get to enjoy it in a whole new way, with Max. This year Bridgettte and Jake met us there and the boys got to experience it together. 

For those of you not in Washington, Issaquah is a town about 20 miles from Seattle. The salmon that run up Issaquah creek, got their start at the hatchery there and were released to find their way to the creek, then to Lake Sammamish, then to the Sammamish slough, then to Lake Washington, then to Lake union, then through the Ballard locks, out to the Puget Sound. Just as it sounds, it is not a straight path, by any means, and the fact that they come back to spawn, where they were hatched, is incredible!

You can check out their website at http://www.salmondays.org/ to find out more information about the salmon and the journey.

There are always lots of vendors, an amazing amount of food and lots of activities for kids and adults alike. This year Max and Jake were able to participate in some of the fun!

 Jake having his first pony ride! He was a champ! He stayed on his pony for 5 laps around the baseball infield and smiled the entire time.

Max was a little hesitant at first, then settled in for half a lap.

Shortly after this picture he called it quits. We were really proud of him for even trying it, because he didn't want to until he saw Jake doing it.

There were bouncy houses. True to form Jake went first, then Max. Once he got inside he was having a blast!

There was even a small train ride pulled by a tractor dressed as a train. Both the boys did really well waiting their turn and being patient. Such good little men.

 Then they played separately, but together at the play ground.

Max deciding if he was hungry or wanting to play more.

We also had our first experience with paint. Max was a natural and we can't wait to get more practice.

Max painted a fish and pressed the paper on the fish mold to spread the paint around. We proudly have it hanging up in the picture gallery.

It was a great day! Thanks to Bridgette for coming out and having fun with us.

Train Day with Daddy

Most of you know that I work on Saturday afternoons and Max gets to enjoy some time at Daddy Day Care. I think they both thoroughly enjoy the day together. Lately I have been trying to find fun things for them to do away from home. It makes me feel a little less guilty and gives them both some time away from home and in a new exciting environment to explore. Previously I posted pictures of Max and Daddy at the Touch a Truck event in Marysville. This time it was a free train ride to the dedication and grand opening ceremonies of the new Train Shed for the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie.

Max would have been thrilled with just the train ride but there was so much more! The postmaster of Snoqualmie was there on a special train car, the Railway Post Office and hand-cancelled a commemorative postcard for the lucky ones who rode the train. Max and daddy filled out and sent me a message that I got in the mail a couple of days later.

On the train heading to the train shed. Only a short ride, but Max loved it.

Trains...

 trains...

 trains...

trains...

trains.

 Max having treats. They provided refreshments for everyone who came to the grand opening.

Max must be in a sugar coma, because he isn't smiling!

Look, there's a band!

 Max has begun taking self-portraits and loves playing with the camera.

Clearly enthralled by the Mayor of Snoqualmie speaking in the background!

They had a great day! Hopefully, October will be equally as fun. I am planning on playing hooky from work a few times this month, so we can all participate in the festivities. Look for more pictures to come.