Saturday, July 31, 2010

Summer Fun 2010

The blog has been neglected, but due to a very busy schedule! We've been having a fun summer. We just returned from Whidbey Island, Washington, where Mike was in a week long Regatta. Their boat came in middle of the pack, but we had beautiful weather and Nick and I got to see everything the island had to offer.

Day 1: Oak Harbor

I didn't want any time in the car since we had spent 8 or more hours driving the day before. So we went to a really nice park and playground on the waterfront and played for several hours. We also played on the beach and were able to see the mussels and clams since the water was so far out. It was fun to see the Seagulls getting clams and dropping them onto the sidewalk to shatter the shell, then they would pick the meat out of the clam. So everywhere we walked there were broken clam shells.

Day 2: Lavender Wind Farm, Bells Farm and Coupeville.

I forgot my camera, but we went to Lavender Wind Farm and then to Bells Farm where we went strawberry picking. Then we headed to Coupeville and had lunch. We walked in the restaurant which I thought was the same one we went to two years ago. Walked in and it was not the same place. I asked if we could have a seat by the window, but was told they were reserved. There was only one occupied table at the time, but within a half and hour the place was packed. They sat us as far away from the window as possible and then told me they didn't have a printed out children's menu, but they do have children's items available. At this point I'm thinking we are definitely in a non-kid friendly place and wondering if we should leave. But Nick had wonderful noodles and I had the best salad I've ever eaten. Nick was also on his bestest restaurant behavior so I was relieved! We did go back for dinner on my birthday, but I called and made reservations and requested a window seat. They didn't know we had a child over the phone so we actually got a window seat! So we were able to look at all the boats while we ate dinner.

This is also the day I took Nick to the toy store and he didn't care about any of the toys, he saw the display full of chocolates and that's all he cared about.

Day 3: Greenbank farm, Lavender Wind Farm (the second visit) and Coupeville. This was my birthday so we did what I wanted ...hee hee.

Greenbank Farm. The Loganberry Festival was going to start the day we left town. They have a neat cafe, wine tasting room, cheese shop, art store, ducks and beautiful gardens.





Lavender Wind Farm. Purple everywhere and it was fun to watch the bumble bees. We brought home a plant and it's now a member of our backyard.
Coupeville: Knead and Feed Cafe. Nick took me to lunch where we had sandwiches made on thick homemade bread. Yum. And then a giant cinnamon roll. Again, yum.



Day 4: Oak Harbor

Island Bliss Alpacas

This was the highlight of our trip in my opinion. The Alpacas were so sweet and had the softest fur. They were so fun and enjoyable to be around. The wonderful woman who has the Alpacas said you can't have a bad day while surrounded by such serene creatures. She was right. Nick got to pet and feed them and we spent an hour there before I had to pry Nick away for lunchtime. They all had such wonderful names, from simple "Bo" or "Toby" to "Fuego" (Spanish for fire, his name was longer but Fuego is the only part I remember).



The Llama "Toby" .


Day 5: Coupeville.
We had dessert, then lunch, and then ice cream. I know how to show a kid a good time :)
This was my favorite boat. Not Mikes boat he sails on, but I like the sail. Enough said.
This was also the day that Nick stood in the middle of the outdoor restaurant and announced loud enough for everyone to turn around " I have poopies in my diaper and I'm stinkin up the place!"

We went to Applebees for dinner on our last night on Whidbey Island and Nick told the host at the restaurant "When I'm done eating, I'm probably going to want a balloon". He said it very serious and matter-of-fact. The host was cracking up and said "Thanks for the heads up".


Early July - Nick and his big boy bed! He does so well, and it's nice to be able to snuggle him during story time. His bed is soooooo cozy!
June 24th Nick had his "Graduation" at little gym. He's still a Super Beast, but will be a Funny Bug in September where it's no longer a parent/child class, but the kids just participate with eachother and the teacher. I'm sad, I like to play too....

Stamp time. Tummy - check, feet - check, hands - check.....time to go.
Nick getting his ribbon for growing and learning at the Little Gym.


Getting ready to do a handstand - and first to volunteer!

Flipping over the bars.
Playing on the uneven bars with Teacher Bree.


Ready, set, jump!

Parachute time.

Doing the wheelbarrow!!

May trip to Newport. We did everything that day. Grand opening of Swampland at the aquarium. I forgot to take my camera inside...oops. But Nick pet 3 different snakes. The Albino python thought Nick looked like a tasty snack and actually made the handler nervous. But Nick had no fear and "snugged" them all, including an Alligator. Then we went to the beach since it was a nice day. Then we bought the trio tourist package where you go to the Wax Museum, Ripleys believe it or not and the Undersea Gardens. Nick didn't care for the Museums because they were a little dark and scary. Then we finished off the day with a spaghetti feed and silent auction for Relay for Life. I won a cake dish, along with a delicious cake!
Nick wanted his boots off so he could go into the water with Grandma and Grandpa. The cold Oregon coast water touched his little feet and he swiftly turned to Grandma and said "pick me up!"

Nick and I on Mothers Day playing with the Camellia blooms.



Nicks favorite thing to do right now is playing with plugs. He doesn't mess with the outlets, and they all have safety covers, but we gave him and extension cord and he plugs everything in there. He'll have a tangle of 5 different appliances dragging behind him as he moves from room to room. Hair dryer, humidifier, tooth brush charger, etc....

We also have gone blueberry picking twice in the last couple weeks. That was fun! The first time it was Nick, Emily and I and Nick ate the entire hour Emily and I picked. We picked 4 1/2 pounds, came home and baked pie and cobbler. We did it again yesterday, but brought along Grandma, Misty, Emily and Staci. Then baked 2 pies and 2 cobblers. We had 6 1/2 pounds and used almost all of it.

I'm sure everyone else has been just as busy, if not busier, than we've been this summer. It's been a blast!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Bunny time!

I had to start with my favorite photo of Nick following the Easter Bunny around. This picture just makes me laugh.



Getting ready to go to the Easter Carnival and see the Easter Bunny!!!!!!




Cotton Candy + ice cream sundaes + cookies = a perfect meal for a 2 1/2 year old.







Nick and Jefferson cornering the Easter Bunny. They both did their fair share of stalking him this year. Jefferson became a big brother on April 5th to baby sister Cora Bailey! Pretty cool!







Decorating cookies. Frosting, sprinkles, more sugar.



Share with Grandpa? Denied!!!!



And we are stalking the Easter Bunny again....



And the Easter egg hunt begins!


And ends....


And begins.....



Nick found the first two eggs and was pretty much done. He said "Mommy, open the eggs now!" So I suggested we look in the bushes for more eggs and he found a couple more eggs and then spotted the "grape hyacinths" and the egg hunting was over. Four eggs and two grape hyacinths, he was a happy boy.





And we found the bunny again.



A Nick funny of the evening. He's been complaining that his seat belt is too tight and I thought maybe the shoulder straps were hurting his shoulders. So tonight Mike checked the seat with Nick in it and asked Nick if he was faking. Nick started cracking up and said to my mom and I after Mike shut the door "I was freaking you out!" Not sure where he got that, but it was pretty funny!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

March Madness

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Okay so there weren't any lions, but we did go to the circus! The Jordan Circus was here one day in Corvallis and we had the opportunity to take Nick. He really enjoyed it and liked the pink girl and the elephants the best. Mike said he liked the pink girl too, but Nick told him "no, you like the purple girl".
Nick riding on the elephant. He was so excited to ride the elephant and then the people in charge separated Nick and I so he was in front and you can see me waaaay in the back. Glad I got a ticket to ride the elephant....


Light Saber for sale! Yes, it was the only circus item we went home with.





oooohh, pretty lights...



We have a path near our house and took a walk recently when there was a break in weather. We found some nice puddles and brought some mud prints all the way home with us.








The frog boots went for a little swim.



Our little cookie monster.

Nick got really sick and he looked so pathetic. I would say "I'm sorry you're sick" and he'd say "I'm not sick, I'm happy". He didn't look very happy. He had blood shot eyes and layed in my arms for almost 3 days. He also threw up 7 times in a row and when I was getting him out of his vomit soaked jammies he said "I want to look at the puke". Hmmm.
Mr. Potato head....need I say more?

Miner hat from Yaya.


Quotable Nick:
"I just want to color for two more minutes"
He was reading one of Mikes sailing books and saying "once upon a time" when he was turning the pages.
Nick said "I want kisses" so I smothered him in kisses and he said "No, hershey kisses".
I took him to the bathroom at Applebees and he said "someone might be peeing in here".
One of my favorites stories from Nick "I didn't want to go to kindermusik and grandma said Teacher Sue would be sad and I didn't want her to be sad so we went and then went to wacky bounce and it wasn't deflated today".
Nick says "Watch me mommy, watch me" and he'll move his hand slowly or something simple and make sure I'm watching.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Good times

So much time has gone by since the last post! We took Nick to the OSU lambing barns to see the new baby lambs (and a few sheep in labor). The lambs were just so cute! There were twins born the morning we went and they were just walking for the first time on very wobbly legs.

This Llama really needs some dental work....

Just a couple hours old. How very sweet!

I signed Nick up for private swimming lessons with his favorite girl, Katie. She works at Wacky Bounce (Nicks favorite place on earth), so Nick is very familiar with her. He did pretty good for his first lesson without me in the pool with him. Should be interesting to see where it goes! Will he become a champion swimmer or first class splasher?




On February 13th we headed to the coast and met up with the Sand Family there. Mike and Nick played down at the beach and both ended up pretty soaked. It was really windy, so I wimped out claiming Daddy and Nick time was precious and I needed to stay in the car and do crossword puzzles. My plan worked out perfectly. Then we spent a little time at the aquarium touching the anemone's, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. We got a quick peek at the octopus who decided to swim out and really give us a show! Then we went to dinner at Cafe Mundo where there was a live band. Nick and Jeff had a blast on the dance floor!














Some nice photos Mike took early in January.






Some of Nicks latest funnies:
Mike and I were sitting at the dinner table and Nick said "I'll be back in a little bit, I'm going to work now" and he ran into the living room then ran back and said "I'm home from work". So I asked him where he was working and he said "Safeway".
He would tell people that he's 49 when asked his age for the longest time, now he says he's 9.
Nick asked for a glass of water at bedtime and Mike got some water out of the bathroom faucet. Nick tasted it and said "this is not good water, daddy get me better water". This coming from the boy who drinks bath water every night....
Nick started crying all of a sudden so I picked him up and asked what was wrong, he said "wanted mommy to hold me, so I cried a little bit."