Our trip to the Pumpkin Patch

I think just about everyone went to the pumpkin patch this year and posted pictures on their blog. We also went this year. This is our first year going to one in Spokane.  We went to Seimers Farm at Green Bluff. The kids had a friday off school and Devin, Dacia, Tanner, Anson, and Ella were here from Tacoma as well and Grandma and Grandpa Shumate. It was one of the coldest days of this fall so we bundled up in coats and hats and gloves. 

First the kids played on the hay bales.

Then there was this boat that was fun to play on. 

Next we went headed to the castle which was in the middle of a huge corn maze. 

We found a gorilla cage and the kids had to check it out. 

Are we there yet?

Here we are at the top of the castle. 

We each got to take home a pumpkin. I had to include a picture with pumpkins since it was a pumpkin patch, after all. We also rode a tractor train, but I didn't get any pictures of that. 

Here's Gwyn and Ella.

Afterwards we went out to dinner. Here's Kelsey and Tanner. They've been best buds their whole life. 

Close your eyes!

Gwyn doesn't know how to close her eyes on purpose, so when you tell her to close her eyes, she scrunches up her whole face. This makes for some great entertainment. She'll do it over and over again. It's pretty funny. 

Conference Sunday

Last weekend we were able to watch General Conference on TV. Matt's brother, Devin, and his family were here from Tacoma and they were able to watch the first session on Sunday with us. Did I mention this is the first time they have come to our house since we moved to Spokane? The kids played conference bingo and other quiet activities. 

Then we let the kids get some fresh air since Devin and his family were going to spend the next 7-8 hours in the car. They were on their way to Utah, but would be coming back to see us the next week. 

It was fun visiting with them and we couldn't wait until they returned. 

Charm bracelets

Reagan and Kelsey came across some of my sculpty clay and wanted to make stuff with it. Reagan said she wanted to make charms for a charm bracelet. So, I got out some tools and let them play with it for quite awhile. Then we baked them in the oven. I thought that these charms would hang around for a week or so, until I stashed them somewhere. But the next day, Reagan was ready to make her bracelet. We got out some beads and stretchy string and I let her make it. I tied it together and here's her bracelet.

Kelsey wanted to do the same. Luckily, she had holes in most of hers so we were able to make a bracelet for her too. 

Good job Reagan and Kelsey for finishing a project you started. 

If I could only do that...

Playpen needed

I was asked if I knew anyone who had a playpen or something similar that they were wanting to get rid of. I don't know who it's for, but there is a family in need. Apparently the baby is sleeping in a drawer. Let me know if you have one or know anyone who does, and would be able to get it to me. Thanks!

Firsts and Lasts

I never do these,  mostly because they take too much time. This was a quick and easy one. I filled it out the other night. Here it is:

EVERYONE HAS THEIR FIRSTS: 

FIRST REAL BEST FRIEND: Tami - 2nd grade till about 5th grade when we moved. 

FIRST SCHOOL: Sunrise in Puyallup, WA 

FIRST CELL PHONE: Christmas 1998. I got it for Matt for Christmas 

FIRST FUNERAL: Grandpa Marini - I was about 13 or so. 

FIRST PET: I had various cats and a dog named Sadie growing up. Matt and my first pet was a water dragon. 

FIRST BIG TRIP: Probably California. I can't remember that far back, but we always went somewhere every summer. 

FIRST FIGHT: I'm the oldest, so I was always fighting with my little brothers. 

FIRST CELEBRITY CRUSH: Kirk Cameron - I thought he was sooooo cute! 

FIRST TIME OUT OF THE COUNTRY?: Canada - family vacation as a kid 

FIRST JOB: Besides babysitting, I worked at Enchanted Village as a ride operator. 

FIRST MYSPACE FRIEND: Bill Simmons. I don't really do myspace, but he is the first person I know who got one. 

EVERYONE HAS THEIR LASTS: 

LAST PERSON YOU HUGGED: Matt 

LAST CAR RIDE: To Dairy Queen - family ice cream treat 

LAST TIME YOU CRIED: This got me real teary-eyed. Have you seen this? Click here.  I got this off of my brother's blog.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED: No Reservations. It was ok. 

LAST FOOD YOU ATE: Hot fudge sundae 

LAST ITEM BOUGHT: Groceries 

LAST SHIRT WORN: red silk screen shirt with pink cami underneath 

LAST PHONE CALL: Wendy - my new friend 

LAST TEXT MESSAGE: Matt wondering where I was 

LAST KISS: Matt 

LAST THING YOU TOUCHED: Computer Mouse.. duh, toothbrush before that 

LAST FUNERAL: My dad - Nov 2006 

LAST TIME AT THE MALL: Couple of weekends ago - Back to school shopping for the kids 

LAST TIME YOU WERE EXCITED FOR SOMETHING: First day of school! I was so excited for my kids. 

LAST PERSON YOU SAW: Matt 

LAST THING YOU DRANK: water 

LAST PERSON THAT BROKE YOUR HEART: Not sure - I was mostly the heartbreaker. 

LAST TIME YOU WERE REALLY HONESTLY HAPPY: I have all that I ever wanted. Couldn't be happier.

Now, if you read this, consider yourself tagged. I'll be checking your blogs or my email!

First day of school

I LOVE the first day of school. I love being able to relive this experience through my kids. So here's a few pictures of the kids on their first day of school. It's weird for me to see them in jeans and tennis shoes after wearing shorts and flip flops all summer long.

Reagan and Kelsey had a great day of school. When asked about school, Reagan says "I really like it." She likes being in the 3rd - 5th grade hall and playing at the other playground at recess. Kelsey was excited about having three recesses on the first day. She also loves being able to go to music and gym and lunch. Three big differences from kindergarten. Gwyn and I have been doing very well by ourselves. I think it's going to be a great year!

August update

We've been keeping busy these last few weeks of summer. Here are some of the things we've been doing. We went to the new Southside pool. It was close to 100 degrees that day. Gwyn loved being on the inner tube in the lazy river. We walk around it at least 100 times. Here's a picture of Reagan and Kelsey and some friends in the lazy river. They decided to walk it after a failed attempt to fit all four of them in one inner tube.

Here's the picture of all four of them in one tube. 

And one more picture of Kelsey.

Here's an update of our garden. The zucchini and pumpkin plants have taken over!

And here's what we have so far to show for our hard work. My mission is accomplished, as far as I'm concerned. Anything else we get after this is a bonus. I found a recipe on line for a chocolate zucchini chocolate chip cake so I made it with this zucchini. It was yummy!

We made it to the Mobius Children's Museum, as promised. Reagan and Kelsey read books this summer and earned a free coupon from the library. We went with our friends, the Buers. They had a lot of fun. I didn't seem to get a picture of Reagan,  but she was there too.

We made it to one more Shock game this summer. This was one of the play-off games, which they won. GO SHOCK!

This is an interesting thing Matt and Gwyn did this month. Matt flew to Tacoma to see his favorite band, Radiohead, in concert. It would be highly unlikely for Matt to miss a Radiohead concert anywhere in Washington. He was only going to be gone for 2 nights and one day so he took Gwyn with him. He was staying at his parents house and they were more than happy to have a day with her. At home, Reagan, Kelsey and I brought some scrapbooking stuff up from downstairs and we watched a couple of movies and scrapbooked. It was a nice, relaxing day. 

Here's all of us at the airport. This is Gwyn when she first saw us. Can't you tell she missed us? 

I was trying to take a picture of them walking, but everytime I got far enough ahead of them to take the picture, Reagan was right behind me.  So, this is the picture I got. 

House for sale

This is not our house, this is my mom's house in Bonney Lake, WA. (Click on the link) Since my dad died and my brother Chas went on his mission, there seemed to be no point for my mom to live in this house by herself. She will be downsizing, leaving this house to be filled up by another family. So, if you've ever thought about relocating, come by and take a look. They say the schools in Bonney Lake is what draws people there. It's also by the lake. My mom has also done a lot of work on the inside of the house. Both bathrooms are new, new paint and carpet on the main floor and upstairs, and more. If you don't have a realitor and you just want to look, I can call my mom and work out a good time. Pass the word along if you know anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

Our pet snake

So, the kids love our new pet, Cinnamon. They can't wait until Dad gets home so they can hold her. I even have to admit it's a nice little snake. Gwyn cries because she wants to hold her. She doesn't understand "holding" very well. Holding to Gwyn is squeezing with both hands tightly.  I usually hold her hands and Matt puts Cinnamon on her arms. She likes that. Matt actually let her hold it one night on her own. She did pretty good. Reagan and Kelsey like to hold her and play with her for quite a while. 

This is Cinnamon after eating her weekly mouse. Yum!