The Farm

I feel like I have gotten behind in my blog posts, at the beginning of the year I wanted to post each week with one happenings of the week, but I seem to be posting things that we do the week after.  Which is fine, I suppose.  My purpose of wanting to post weekly was just to keep a log of what we do and have a timeline to look back on, so I guess being a week behind isn't too bad, right???  Right, glad you see it my way.

Ok, so with that being said, LAST weekend Kayden and I went out to "The Farm" in Snohomish with Blake and Shelley.  Both of the hubbies were busy for different reasons, so we decided to meet up and have some fun.

Our intention was to go and pick apples, but apparently apple picking has become rather popular over the last few years and because they opened apple picking the weekend before they were cleared out by the time we got there.  Thankfully, they have plenty of other activities to occupy one four year old and one five year old, so we opted to split the "Small Family Pass" and ventured out to the different hay mazes, let the kids jump on a big, orange blob and let them pet the farm animals.

Kayden and I had a birthday party to attend that afternoon so we weren't able to stay too long, unfortunately.  I can easily see families spending the day there, watching the pig races, petting the farm animals, riding different farm rides and wondering hay mazes.  They also have a pumpkin patch, but we opted to forgo pumpkin picking since that is something the Dads enjoy going to also.

My child was being pretty defiant this particular day and wouldn't let me get a picture of him and Blake without his tongue sticking out.

Oh, what do we have here?  A picture of Kayden with his tongue INSIDE his mouth, but that's because I piggy backed on Shelley's photo session and not because he was cooperating with ME.

We had a great time at The Farm and would be happy to go back year after year.  We had great weather and the kids really had a great time!

I'm a Real Cowboy

"Mom, I'm a real cowboy now, I can't believe it!"  I'm not sure how many times I have heard that statement over the last week.  We went to Katie's tenth birthday party last weekend and Kayden has been dreaming about going back to the "farm" ever since we left.  He has been lassoing everything in the house and is trying to convince me to let him be a cowboy for Halloween instead of his, much desired, fire fighter costume he was interested in a month ago.  Sorry, he'll just have to wait until next year because this mama already got the fire fighter costume!  Sorry, child.

He tells me he is going to grow up to be a cowboy and has kicked his shark theme sixth birthday plans aside and is discussing the events of his cowboy party instead.

It's all about the cowboys around here.  I guess he is just channeling his real cowboy ancestors, as well as Great Grandma Sally, she was a real cowgirl you know!  It has been o-so-fun, I love watching him get so excited over things he is passionate about.

So, like I mentioned we went to Katie's birthday party last weekend and it was fun.  The kids, minus Kayden because he was too busy learning the lasso techniques, rode horses, and then chalked the horses.  It was my first experience with "chalking" a horse too, but the kids did it, and loved it.  They literally take sidewalk chalk and write/decorate the horses.  I bet Kayden's ancestors never did that!  Again, however, Kayden opted out of that activity so he could perfect his lasso wrist flick. 

It is hard to believe that Katie is old enough to be in the double digits.  Makes me wonder where the time really goes?  I mean, how can she be ten already?  And how can Kayden be the same age Katie was when he was born?  Oh, how I long for time to stop, just so I can keep him little forever!

Ok, so here are some pictures from the party.

 

 

 

It was a great party and Katie had a great time.  Happy Birthday, Kate!

Remlinger Farms

Last week we got invited to join some friends at Remlinger Farms on Sunday.  We had a great time, of course, it's difficult to not have a great time there. We have visited there many times and always love it.

The farm was decorated for the fall and Halloween, it was great.

 Kayden was asked to hold this kid tight so he could get a turn on the train too.  Kayden took his job very seriously.

 One of Kayden's favorite things at the farm is riding the ponies.  This time he got to ride Apple.

 This crazy kid told us he has a license and was allowed to drive, so we put him in the drivers seat.

 I love this tunnel they have, I have take other pictures of him in it and it never gets old.

We all had a great time at Remlinger Farms.

Kayden is Five!

We celebrated Kayden's fifth birthday on Saturday with a big fire truck party.  I have mixed emotions about his birthday.  Four has been hard, the defiance, talking back, stubborn and strong willed behavior needs to go, but he also can be so sweet and caring and concerned.  Out of the blue the other day he says, "you're a great mom", which may or may not have brought tears to my eyes as I have struggled with knowing how to parent him and his tantrums.  When asked if he likes to get his toys taken away he'll answer with, "yes", or if in the middle of an authority war I ask if he enjoys when I get upset with him, he'll answer, straight faced and with a hint of a grin, "yes".  So to moved to five and kiss fours goodbyes feels good and hopeful.  If we never relive another year like four, I will be one happy mama. 

So, lets discuss his birthday party.  I was happy and not happy about his birthday landing on a weekend.  It is kind of nice to enjoy two days celebrating this little guy, but that's ok.  It was great to have everyone here helping us celebrate him on his real birthday. 

Christy, of course, did an awesome job on the cake.  It tasted as good as it looks!  We have been sampling every part of this cake since his party and it's all delicious.

We had a family friend, Jenny, come to demonstrate and show the kids the gear.  It was a hit, the kids seemed to enjoy it, although a few were a little intimidated by the noise her equipment made.

 

 

 

I made most of the decorations.  



 These fire hydrants lined the entry way.

 This little ham loved the "fire truck wheels" mixed with dirt.  Delish.

 

Kayden enjoyed opening his gifts and loved playing with all his friends.  He is at a really fun age for birthdays and Christmas.

We are hoping for a great fifth year ahead, fingers crossed it is better than four.

And if you want to take a trip down memory lane, here is a list of his past birthdays.

Fourth Birthday
Third Birthday
Second Birthday
First Birthday
Birthday