A couple weekends ago, Avery and Kieron had a bunch of extra energy to get rid of, and I desperately needed to get some work done around the house, so Jonathan took the boys hiking for the afternoon. While I enjoyed some much needed alone time and crossed off items on my to-do list, the boys had a blast on Tiger Mountain. Kieron even hiked 45 minutes of it!
We had an action-packed first weekend in October. That Saturday we went to the Salmon Days Festival in Issaquah. We had fun checking everything out and watching the salmon try to jump the fish ladder. At the end of the day, the boys got to try their first cotton candy, which they both loved.
The following day we met up with our friends/old neighbors, Jessica, Vasili, Lily, & Owen, at Remlinger Farm in Carnation. Avery and Lily enjoyed going on all the rides together. Before leaving, we treated Avery to his first candy apple. Avery saved some of the seeds and planted them in the back yard the next day. That’s when he informed me he was growing a candy apple tree!
Picking pumpkins
Jessica, Vasili, Owen, & Lily
Kieron loved playing peek-a-boo on the train
Snacking on kettle corn
The daddy’s and Kieron
Riding the train at the Salmon Days Festival (Avery appropriately picked the animal cage)
Go, salmon, go!
Tired festival-goer
Jonathan and Avery went on a couple of special outings at the end of summer. A few weeks ago they attended their first Seahawks game together. We’re not much of a sports family – never watch games at home – so this was pretty foreign to Avery, not to mention a little noisy/overstimulating. Overall, he seemed to have fun just being out with Dad. Although Jonathan reported later that when they left (right before half-time, Avery was getting tired), he said to Avery, “I had a good time at the game with you,” to which Avery replied, “I didn’t.” Wow, brutal honesty.
The following weekend Jonathan took Avery on his first camping adventure. We surprised him after preschool with a sign that read “We’re going camping!” We sounded it out with him, and his reaction when he finished the last word was so incredibly cute. Shock, excitement, followed by, “let me go get my flashlight!”
They left on a Friday afternoon, and planned to stay one night, two if things went well. Fortunately, Avery was in good hands with his father, the Eagle Scout, and he rated this experience far better than the football game, so they stayed until Sunday. The pair had a blast hiking, exploring, building campfires, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, telling ghost stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Plus, there was the added bonus that without cell reception, Daddy could not possibly be distracted by the iPhone. When it was time to come home, Avery tried to convince Daddy to stay a few extra nights, and even suggested that Daddy could bring his laptop and work from the campsite.
Heading out to their first Seahawks game together
“Camping is so much fun!”
With a railroad tie he found
Collecting wood for the fire
Expert s’more chef
Sunday morning
The boys say bye to Daddy before he leaves for work in the morning
We went blueberry picking a couple of weeks ago at our regular spot, Bybee Farms, in North Bend, WA. Avery was a much better picker than the previous year. Kieron, who doesn’t like blueberries, stayed occupied in the jogger with snacks as long as they lasted. After that, we let him out to roam a little, and he wandered among the bushes collecting dandelions. In the end, we picked about six pounds of berries, not bad with our little monsters in tow.
“Personally, I prefer dandelions over blueberries.”
Our bounty
After returning from Texas, we stayed home long enough to do laundry and repack our bags. Then we piled into the van and headed down to spend a long weekend with Nana and Grandpa at their condo in Neskowin, Oregon.
The boys had a blast digging in the sand and playing in the creek. Kieron can entertain himself for a long time with a shovel and rake, and enjoys the feeling of sand running through his little fingers. Avery is all about building sand castles and sand kingdoms, often favoring the role of project manager over brut laborer. And Mommy and Daddy got in another date night while Nana and Grandpa watched the boys.
On our last afternoon we had a nice walk along the beach with Avery while Kieron napped. It was fun to get out with just him, since these days he usually has to share us with his little brother. There’s an ancient forest on the beach that becomes visible at low tide, and we checked out the tide pools around every tree stump looking for marine life. To get to many of the trees, we had to run out while the waves were out, take a quick look, and then book it back in before the waves “got us.” Of course Avery loved the thrill of it.
Posing with his sandcastle
Avery in front of Proposal Rock
Date Night!
13 week bump shot
For his sweetheart
Avery took this pic of Mommy & Daddy
