Fall = apple picking

Anyone who knows us knows that fall is farm season.  In Washington there was never a close pick-you-own-apple orchard but we have one about an hour away in Virginia- Stribling Orchards.

I hope they like apple pie, apple sauce and just plain apples because we have a lot.

Green Dragons

Evan is playing soccer this year.  His team named themselves the Green Dragons.  He's got lot of learning to do and I can't say he exactly loves the game but he's working hard on his skills and his attitude.  I give him credit.

Dutch Wonderland

Instead of a big birthday party Evan chose to go to Dutch Wonderland with us.  He loved it last time he was there and this time was no different (other than this year he was too scared to go on the roller coaster - that didn't happen last year).  Here's Evan and Alexis in action at the park!

It was a real fun - and long - day.

 

Alexis's first day of preschool

Alexis loves going to preschool and she loves her school bag.  Here she is ready to go!

At school, she hangs up her bag and signs in by sticking her apple on the board.

Here she is hard at work.

Guess what this is?

If you guessed a 6 year old Evan then you'd be right!  Jill visited him at school for a special lunch.

When he got home from school, Jill read him his special birthday story...

Then his friend Ryan came over for their favorite meal - Pappa John's pizza.

Then we sang and ate his Oreo Blizzard ice cream cake for desert.

Happy 6th birthday Evan!

Happy Birthday Grandma

We had a visitor!  Grandma came down from Philadelphia for her birthday.  We took her to dinner at her favorite place and had cake too.

Thanks for sharing your special day with us!

Preschool Preview

While Evan was starting kindergarten Alexis was gearing up for her first day of preschool.  She is in the 2s class at Evan's old preschool which meets Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00-12:00.  Before she officially started the preschool had a preview day so Alexis could meet her teacher and see her classroom.

We were a little nervous for the preview because Alexis does not like being dropped off anywhere with anyone other than us.  She had a great time however and her teacher is awesome.  Fingers crossed she does as well on the first day when we aren't there with her.

The Alexis Cocoon

Alexis is taking gymnastics lessons now and one of the things they have there looks like a little sack of some sort that she can climb in.  She's also obsessed with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".  When I asked her how her class was she said that she was in a cocoon.  I didn't get it.  Then I saw this picture.

It's time for the big KG

Yep - it's hard to believe but it's time for Evan's first day of school!  He's in kindergarten now, 5 days a week.  It was hard to send him off on the bus that morning!  In fact Jill came home from the bus stop and we ended up in the car following the bus to school to make sure he got there.

This is what I was greeted with when I got home.

He's got a Falcon feather sticker, which means he did something good at school today.  He looks no worse for the wear.  Congrats Evan and have a great year!

Cooking with the kids

Jill was away for her parent's anniversary so the kids had what we call an "Evan Alexis Daddy Party" over the weekend.  One item on the list: bake something.  Evan paged all through Jill's cake pop cook book finding many complex ideas.  I ultimately convinced them to make ice cream cone cupcakes.  They turned out pretty well.

As for the rest of the weekend, it was indeed a party.

You can't take the Seattle out of the kids

It was raining today and we were unpacking our jacket box.  The rain coats were out, the kids put them on and out the door they went!

Happy in their boots, raincoats and umbrella.



Collecting acorns in the baby pool.