Category Archives: Kids

The Family Tree Hunt

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Tis the season…

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Today the Thames family went on our yearly outing to search high and low for the best tree this side of the Nooksack river. So we headed to Fullner’s Tree farm.

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The perfect tree was found and everyone took their turn with the saw.

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This was our first year at this farm and we thought it was great. They have a wood elf named Hans. He is hidden somewhere on the farm and if you find him you get a prize. we didnt take the time this year to search (something about high winds and rain) but next year he better watch out! He has his own cabin and everything.

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Bye Fullner’s see ya next year….

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Here is a picture of the tree all dressed up…..and of course as soon as the the tree was done the house lights went off. So we could play under the lights.

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Merry Christmas…… But don’t forget the reason for the season……

San Diego – The Beach

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Our San Diego visit will have to be spread out over a couple of posts.  We had a lot we wanted to see and do in this area.  One thing for sure was the beach.  The real beach.  A beach with actual waves.  Surfing.  Sand.  A beach with real ocean breeze.  Salty smell.  I love the beach.  And I love beach pictures.  So needless to say we have a few.

Very friendly ‘resident’ campground ducks loved the kids when crackers were involved.

The campground we stayed at was right on the water so as soon as the trailer was set up we headed out for a little walk.  One common theme in most of our beach adventures was our clothing.  I don’t think we ever had our swim suits on.  I don’t know why exactly we would just kind of end up at the beach.  And there was no way we were going to keep the kids out of the water so we just went with it.  And had a blast.

Pure Joy

This beach was on the bay so there were no waves.  The water shallow for a good while and so warm.

Another beach adventure took us to Mission Beach.

This sand is so incredibly fine! As we visited more beaches up the coast it was fun to see how the sand changed. The further north we went the more coarse it became.

I know what you’re thinking. The cutest 17 month old you ever saw!

Oliver was cracking us up as he would grab a chunk of seaweed and throw it back into the waves yelling, “My baby, My Baby, My baby!” as the waves pushed it back onto the shore. Over, and over again.

The wonder of waves

Not crazy about waves. At this point she was yelling “No, No, No!” when I tried to put her down.

Cousins

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This past month we were so excited to have Greg’s cousin and son come visit us from Milwaukee.  We had a blast doing all the touristy things us locals don’t get around to doing.

We started out at Deception Pass and were blessed with a beautiful day (which this summer has been few and far between)

Making the kids sit pretty in too many pictures warrants a crazy picture

We then headed to Friday Harbor.  Someplace I had never been in all the years living around here.  I loved it!  We headed to the American Camp first to explore. 

We headed down a trail to Grandma’s Cove.  It was my favorite place.  Almost like being at the “real” ocean.  You know…not the sound.  That would probably be the one thing I do miss about California.  The real ocean.

Grandma’s Cove had it just about right.  Never mind the mountains you would see across the horizon.  If you closed your eyes it had the right sound, the right smell and the right breeze.

Some of the local wildlife even came out to give us a show.

The ferry schedule restricted us from being able to explore the island too much more but I would love to go to the English camp next time.  It was a great weekend visiting with family and making memories.

Back at Winthrop

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This memorial day weekend saw us back in Winthrop this year.  We had an awesome time.  It was relaxing and mellow.  A perfect way to start out the camping season.

The cutest crew ever!

Deer leg found in our campsite. We found the other three legs in a site a few spaces over.

This little boy buried himself in the sand and Abigail really couldn't understand the point.

Beautiful!

 

 

Great Wolf Lodge

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Summer began this year with a surprise trip to Great Wolf Lodge.  We had a wonderful time and I’m sure we will visit again.  It doesn’t seem to be that big of a water park but there is something for everyone.

 

I love this photo for obvious reasons but, trust me, he did not get hit in the face.  Otherwise he would not look like this…

 By the second day Oliver was having a blast in the water and trying all the different little kid things they had to offer.

   Zeke catching up on a little light reading.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with this site this is the 1,000 gallon bucket that dumps every so often.  There is a bell that dings a few times before it goes.  There are two types of people…those that run TO it (Zoe and Greg), and those that run FROM it (the boys and I).  Abigail is somewhere in between as she just goes with whichever type has her.  Greg heard the bell and ran over with Abigail in his arms.  After the dump she gave a shutter and said “wooo” and that was it.  He came back with a soaking wet girl that look just like this, just a little more wet.  The next time he took her she heard the bell looked up at the bucket then lowered her head with a sigh and took what was coming.

I have so many favorite pictures it was hard to choose.  So I’m going to show you a bunch.  Why not?

See!  She had a good time.

 Ooooo.  The hot tub.  This is where the boys first got comfortable in the water.  That was fine with me.  It was my favorite place.

In the evening the Great Wold Lodge has a story time.  Zoe just HAD to go so in their jammies the kids went down to the story.  They open with this song about not being afraid if you get lost in the woods.  Just trust mother nature. hmmm…OK.  Sure “mother nature” will just eat you.  Anyway.  Greg and I laughed and rolled our eyes (well I did at least) when the song started and had a chat with the kids afterward.  But they got to have their picture taken with Oliver the raccoon.  Zeke was a bit giddy.  He couldn’t stop laughing.  Our Oliver, on the other had looked like this

He almost went up to him but at soon as the raccoon opened his arms to welcome him Oliver jumped back.   I don’t think he is into trusting mother nature do you? Or at least a giant raccoon.

The final pose.  Isn’t she cute!

Rite of Passage

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So, a friends blog about little boys and rites of passage made me laugh and reminded me of some Zeke has also gone through.  And well, this blog is all about remembering these little events.  A few months ago Greg took Zeke with him to the mountains to collect wood.  When the men returned home many hours later Greg asked Zeke to  tell me what he got to do in the mountians.  His face lit up and his eyes widened as he turned to me and proudly anounced “I peed outside.”  I think he walked a little taller that day.

New Milestones

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Abigail has been growing and changing like crazy.  Her newest trick now is walking.  She doesn’t crawl much any more except if she needs to go really fast.  And just yesterday her first tooth popped through.  And on the top too.  It only took her almost 11 months!

Every time I tried to get a picture she would fall over laughing.  She has gotten a bit picky about her food.  Well, not the food itself but rather the method in which she has to eat it.  She doesn’t like the baby food consistency.  None of my kids have.  And she wants to do it herself as most of my kids have.  It makes it a bit challenging to get a variety in her diet.  Applesauce is the one thing she will almost always eat.  Oliver on the other hand likes to eat whatever she doesn’t.  Seems he likes his food pureed now.

Afro Brothers

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Sometime back in November the kids and I were visiting a friend.  The boys were sporting their freshly shaven heads.  Knowing Greg was in charge of their hair she said,  “What?  He’s not even going to let it grow for winter!”. Later, I relayed the story to Greg to which he responded “Fine, I won’t cut their hair till summer!”  And he hasn’t.

So the boys are working on their fros.  They get their hair done right along with Zoe.  It has gotten to the length now where it is getting hard to put some of their shirts on.  Zeke’s hair especially acts a little like Velcro.

Oliver’s is a bit crazy first thing in the morning.

Where's my baby??

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Abigail has been changing so much so quickly.  She seemed to go from my little baby to this crawling, climbing, tackling, clapping, babbling little girl.  Where did my baby go?  I know I have asked this question as each little baby has made this change but with each child this change is more and more precious.  Its no wonder people have a dozen of ’em. 

Abigail loves to wrestle.  Greg will be wrestling with the other kids and she charges right over not willing to miss out of the action.  Oliver is her favorite target and he loves it.  He needed someone to wrestle with I just wasn’t expecting it to be the 9 month old baby!

She has also turned vacuuming into an sport.  As soon as I start up the vacuum she either charges for the nearest particle on the floor and I have to beat her too it or she charges for the vacuum and I have to quickly maneuver around her.  Today I was surprised as she joined the kids in their favorite vacuum game.  They love it when I chase them with the vacuum.  (I know, I wonder how my floors get cleaned at all.  Those kids move pretty fast and I’m sure there’s not much time for vacuum to actually do its job.)  As I turned it on the screams start and all able kids run to the stairs for safety and not far behind was Abigail squealing and moving as fast as her little knees would take her.  So cute.

Winter has arrived

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The snowman hat is one I knitted a few years ago.  I started it while pregnant with Ezekiel and finished it after his 2nd birthday.  It was my first and last hat.  It’s huge.  Really huge.  But it fits this snowman perfectly.  His head was made from a 3 gallon bucket. 

Winter has finally arrived!  Monday Zoe was outside all day.   I was mean and made her wait until it was light outside before she went out.  About 8am she was in the snow and stayed out until 2:00pm.  At one point I served up some hot chocolate and asked her if she wanted some.  She hesitated saying “I do but….”  I assured her she could go back outside when she was done but she asked if she could have it outside.  Sure, why not.  Zeke was even enjoying it this year which Zoe enjoyed greatly.  What a difference snow pants make.  Oliver played outside for a little bit but was also happy in our nice warm house.  Tuesday gave us more snow and Zoe was out in it again trying to use up all the snow.  She started using a bucket to pack the snow in and made a tall snowman and Snow City complete with sky scrapper.  And what did Abigail decide she needed to do while I was outside taking some quick shots?