Fall is Here

In Bellingham, Mondays are the general Early Release day for the school district. For preschool and kindergarten, that means no school, so yesterday we joined a group of friends for a tour of one of the apple orchards in our county. The kids got to take a tour of the orchard by golf cart, see the cider press and sorting tables, and sample four kinds of apples. It was a great day!

Cooper, in his new "afraid of everything" mode, had to be really convinced to ride on the cart, but once he was on, he was happy.

 

Every time we stopped, he'd get out of our cart and go find someone else to ride with.

 

 





































We asked them to hold hands in the sorting room. Coop was on the end, so he grabbed the leader's hand, trying to start a game of Ring Around the Rosie.

 

He saw the raised display area with the gourds, said, "Show!" and did a great dance!

A career possibility?

My current favorite pictures. Cooper and I were on a walk in the neighborhood, when he spotted this sign. He picked it up, and stood on the sidewalk facing the road and swinging it around like those guys with the ad boards on the curb! Quite pleased with himself about it, too!

 
 
 

Coming home

We've been in San Diego for 3 weeks, and out of our house since June 26th-avoiding the dust and the damage from our kitchen addition. Tomorrow night, finally, we really get to go home. Ironically, we'll be there about 7 hours, before bringing Cooper to St. Joseph's Hospital for the adeniod/tonsil surgery that we hope will decrease his chronic school year sinus infections. My dad says he's going to equate vacations w/surgeries from now on, and refuse to leave the house. I say, he's going to equate surgery with unlimited ice cream, and ask to go back to the hospital whenever he's feeling deprived of ice cream. (If you're a Facebook frequenter, sorry for the repeat. It's late.) I'm failing miserably to keep track of both my camera, and the cord needed to upload pictures, but I'll work on it.

San Juan Island County Park

One of our longstanding traditions is the San Juan County Park camping trip. This year we saw more Orcas than we have in years, and Chris and I saw glimpses of a future trip where things might be a little easier with the boys. Thankfully, we have good friends who keep us buoyed when things are feeling hard.

 
 
 
 

Just like Grandpa

My dad is notorious for eating peanut butter right out of the jar... This morning, I had the spoon and the pb out to make sandwiches, looked over, and there's Coop, eating the PB (and almond butter, and sunflower butter- we were trying to clear out almost empty jars) right out of the jar!

Ian's First Birthday

We had a great visit with the Uter Family at their new place in Pacifica, CA. Ian & Cooper both loved getting to play with their cousins, Connor & Dylan, and of course, Uncle Nate, Auntie Jen, Nana and Pop Pop. Our friends the Largays came up from Santa Cruz to help celebrate.  
 
 















Hey, who blew out my candle??? 

Hmmm, I'm not sure what I think of this chocolate cake.

Speechless

Cooper's never been a hard kid to put to bed, but since he moved out of his crib, and into a big bed, he's always wanted someone to lay down, and be there with him until he fell asleep. Tonight, he walked upstairs with me, and as I went to get his toothbrush, continued on down the hall to his bedroom and shut his door behind him. Smart mama that I am, I turned around and went straight back downstairs. Chris just checked on him, and yep. he's in his bed. Asleep. Of his own accord. We really can't believe it. (Do you thing it was the threat of toothbrushing???)