Pumpkin Farm

Trying out a new look for the blog. Here goes... I got to chaperone Kyle's class field trip to the pumpkin farm. Unfortunately the day was quite cold with rain, but they had plenty of sheltered activities for the kids. He and I really enjoyed our time together.

He loves to ride the bus. I sat with him.

He touched a bunny, snake and chicken.

We took a tractor hay ride and saw the muddy pumpkin field, but picked our pumpkin from a bin near the barn.

They fed the goats

And we rode a "train" that looked like Thomas. 

He napped well that afternoon:) It can feel hectic to fit stuff in like this while working, but I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to go. He's growing so fast!

Welcome Frida!

We are dog owners again! Some neighbors brought home a golden puppy this summer and I started to get the itch. We contacted some breeders and recently found an available Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy (same as our previous dog Tatum).

Lucian and I drove to meet her and her siblings thinking we were one of 3 people interested in her. Turns out we were the only ones ready! We named her Frida; a nod to the painter Frida Kahlo and a childhood nickname of mine, Frida Dita.

We made the long drive over Labor Day weekend to pick her up, splitting over two days with a stay at a water park hotel! We stopped in Madison on the way home so she could meet her biggest bro:)

She is now 9 weeks and is settling in and adjusting to home life. My parents spent last week with us to help make her first days nice and easy. It was great.

Claire loves her and is very good with commands, controlling her and pitching in. It really seems she was meant to have a dog.

Off to School!

Kyle started a Pre-K program this year. He is excited and doing well. He was always with me when I picked Claire up and begged to go on the playground equipment and play with the classroom toys. He is in heaven now that is allowed and learning a lot about following rules and having more structure to his day. His teachers say he is so polite and very enthusiastic about school.

He and Claire attended the same school for one whole day. His first day was her last. She was a wonderful big sister making sure he was doing ok and playing with him on the playground. That night she even asked me in a very concerned way "Who is going to play with Kyle tomorrow?". I assured her that he would make friends.

Claire is in full day Kindergarten this year! She knows the drill and seems very confident riding the bus and finding her way around the school. I hope it's a fantastic year for her.

Kyle did cry again on her first day saying how he wants to ride the bus. Luckily there is a field trip coming up for him where he will get his chance:)

Camping

We tried our hand at camping a few weeks ago. Camping is not my thing, I'll admit. I resisted this kind of trip for a while, but the economics of it are hard to argue with. Claire lost a tooth the night before we left.

We loaded up the van with gear and the 5 of us and headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

We all slept in a giant tent. 

We made s'mores.

And explored the coast of Lake Superior. It was a long drive. My two take aways: 1).You can't reserve a camping spot in a National Forest. I would only like go to grounds where you can reserve a spot. (For a while). 2). You only need half the food you think you do.

I will try it again, but much closer to home.

Although I packed a bin of toys, this is how the kids spent their time. Throwing rocks, making food out of sand and playing with sticks.

State Fair

We brought the kids to the Wisconsin State Fair recently on one of the hottest days of the year. I was bummed we missed it last year with moving, so we went in spite of the heat. We made the rounds early in the morning and headed out by lunch time.

Kyle loves all things truck related. Giant tractors included. 

The kids managed a pony ride. Near the end Kyle just asked to get down. He'd had enough.

We made a trip down the giant slide.

And we posed in numerous cut outs. 

And of course sampled delicious food, like cream puffs. (My favorite is still the fried Oreos.)

Still Summer

The weather's been hot. We introduced the kids to water balloons. Claire has quite an arm. Luckily they didn't turn on us and actually asked us to throw balloons at them. Win win.

Aunt Mimi took us to the kids' museum. It literally took the two of us to keep track of Kyle and he still ran off a number of times. That boy has a mind of his own. I think school with be interesting for him next month:)

We finished our soccer program. With great effort I kept Kyle on the field for most of the hour. I think he is happy to be done.

We were very proud of Claire and her efforts. After the first class she was a real trooper. (Secretly, I think she is happy it's over as well.) Back to gymnastics for these two.

Kyle prefers no clothes a lot of the time. I'm ok with it. As you'll notice with the pull-up, we are still potty training. He has mastered #1, but it not on board with #2 at all. 

I thought there was a break through last week when he was home with my parents. He had a success and got to open one of the wrapped presents I have ready to go next to the toilet! 

Were were back to square one a few days later...

A great shot of little blue eyes in the back yard (courtesy of Lucian, of course).

And a fun dinosaur at the park last weekend, Yee haw!