This was our first year going to Hunter Farms without our friends the Campbells. And since I didn't go during the week, it was our first time to go on the weekend and Jason, Michaela and Brendan's first trip there too. It was Brendan's first pumpkin patch! We went with our good friends the Kellers. It was a busy Saturday but didn't feel too crowded. They had all kinds of yummy food vendors there by their store which is different than going during the week. It was a beautiful day and we actually didn't need to wear the coats and stuff we brought towards the end. It is usually always muddy so boots are a necessity. All the kids LOVED the wagon ride and we took two different ones and the ride back was very bumpy which they all approved of. We let the kids play and had some lunch in the greenhouse which was very HOT! We took the traditional pumpkin board pictures, saw the animals, played on the slide and each found a pumpkin that they will paint. A good day had by all...and nothing like hot kettle corn to munch on on the way home.
(catch up post)
Every year we have been making it a tradition to go toHunter Farms. The kids love the wagon rides out to the pumpkin patches and the rule we have is: "If you can carry the pumpkin, you can get it." They also love the big barn with all the animals (usually pigs, reindeer, bunnies, goats, emu, chickens, roosters) and the big hay maze and big tunnel slide. It really is a fun place to go and when not raining and cloudy you can see all the beautiful fall colors around the farm! We have been going with our good friends the Campbells as part of our preschool field trips with Eddie and Angelica. So we usually go during the week and it isn't too crowded unless you get a big school trip there at the same time. This year Emma got to come too so she was in heaven!! I was big and pregnant (Michaela would be born two weeks later) and was a little worried that the bumpy wagon ride might make my water break. We have made it a tradition with the Campbells that we picnic lunch at a local park on the way home. Another fun time and year at Hunter Farms. (We are sad though because the Campbells are moving and next year we will miss them at this special event!)
the tunnel slide thru the hay
Our traditional pumpkin board pictures
loving every moment of wagon ride
getting lost in the hay maze
they love the picnic park lunch mainly because they can throw rocks in the water
We really enjoyed K & Q week. The kids are getting faster and faster with their letter formations and doing the Handwriting Without Tearsworksheets very well. I found some cute little crowns and jewels and had them decorate them for kings and queens.
For K, I bought some Kix cereal, made a K with glue and had them stick the Kix on....they LOVED this. So easy!
After being disappointed in a try at swimming lessons at the Aquatic Center, we decided to try it again at theOlympic Swim Center(at Olympic High School) because Angelica really LOVED the water. So a couple weeks ago she started taking twice a week and is really enjoying it....so much so that it is a daily question (sometimes hourly) of "Do I go to swimming lessons today?" I have already seen improvement with her going under the water and just being more comfortable. The swim instructors she has have been excellent!! Hoping maybe we can do a summer session as well!! Of course Emma is so jealous and just dying to get in the water herself....poor girl, patience!!
Thought the Handwriting Without Tears idea for letter formation for M was great....had a Mouse chasing the cheese to get them to write the letter correctly. Loving it!
We did these letters at the beginning of May for Mothers Day. So M and D went nicely. We went and tried a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the local library....however it was a bust....I think they prepared for about 10-20 kids and had more like 60!! We made Dog paper bag puppets which were fun. They got to color the templateand then we put them together.
Then they made Mothers Day Necklaces for us out of different kinds of Macaroni noodles. Angelica really enjoyed stringing these on and I HAD to wear the necklace a lot! I got lots of smiles when people saw it!
Another good day of learning fun, with Muffins they Mixed and Melons to go with a yummy lunch.
One of our favorite places to go as a treat is the Fritz European Fry House in downtown Bremerton by the ferry. They have a selection of dipping sauces you can get for the delicious fries and the girls love the chicken strips. So we usually get some chicken and fries (the beer is good too!) and enjoy sitting out by the water fountain. The girls LOVE it and also chasing the seagulls and watching the ferry boats go by. Last week we made our first trip of the season. It was a bit chilly so we ate inside, but didn't stop the girls from wanting to play in the water fountain!
Michaela had her first fever a couple weeks ago with an ear infection. She was not feeling well and would get hot except for her legs and feet.....so I put her in a onesie and then our favorite baby legs!! These are great for under pants in the winter especially if you are outside....or under dresses or in times such as these!!
Angelica was so excited about her party that we celebrated on Sunday of her birthday weekend. She wanted spaghetti and bread and carrots for dinner. She requested a heart and strawberry party with pink and red, so those were the colors I decorated with. She insisted on wearing her Princess dress for the party, so I bought her a crown to go with it. They enjoyed some bubble blowing time outside and she had so much fun with all the attention. She got some wonderful gifts from her Saint Rose doll, to a coloring book Alli made her, new swimming gear, a Writing-tracing game, new puzzle, books, clothes etc. A spoiled princess indeed. Thanks to everyone for making her birthday weekend so special! Lots of good pics at the end....all smiles that night!
Trying out the new big bubble maker
New Princess Dress Up Shoes
Aunty Megs and Uncle Chris gave her swimming lessons, a cap, goggles and new swimsuit...she has loved all of them!
Practicing
This year she wanted a Heart Cake. I thought it would change but after months that was still what she wanted. So I did a double layer Red Velvet Heart Cake.....so yummy....and teh REAL red velvet icing recipe. I did increase sugar to 2 cups, only used one bottle of red food coloring, used 1 cup oil instead of shortening and doubled the cocoa powder. Angelica wanted hearts and strawberries on the heart cake as well, so I found some heart sprinkles and then cut strawberries in half to look like hearts.
I found some cute little crowns and jewels and had them decorate them for kings and queens. 
For K, I bought some Kix cereal, made a K with glue and had them stick the Kix on....they LOVED this. So easy! 
For Q, we did some Q-tip painting... 
We did these letters at the beginning of May for Mothers Day. So M and D went nicely. We went and tried a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the local library....however it was a bust....I think they prepared for about 10-20 kids and had more like 60!! We made Dog paper bag puppets which were fun. They got to color the template and then we put them together.
Then they made Mothers Day Necklaces for us out of different kinds of Macaroni noodles. Angelica really enjoyed stringing these on and I HAD to wear the necklace a lot! I got lots of smiles when people saw it! 
Michaela had her first fever a couple weeks ago with an ear infection. She was not feeling well and would get hot except for her legs and feet.....so I put her in a onesie and then our favorite baby legs!! These are great for under pants in the winter especially if you are outside....or under dresses or in times such as these!!
Trying out the new big bubble maker
New Princess Dress Up Shoes
Aunty Megs and Uncle Chris gave her swimming lessons, a cap, goggles and new swimsuit...she has loved all of them!
Practicing
This year she wanted a Heart Cake. I thought it would change but after months that was still what she wanted. So I did a double layer Red Velvet Heart Cake.....so yummy....and teh REAL red velvet icing recipe. I did increase sugar to 2 cups, only used one bottle of red food coloring, used 1 cup oil instead of shortening and doubled the cocoa powder. Angelica wanted hearts and strawberries on the heart cake as well, so I found some heart sprinkles and then cut strawberries in half to look like hearts. 
