I Scream....

We've been having so much fun homeschooling this year. I mean how many kids get to say that they learn about ice cream in school. We had an ice cream party at home with our friends at which all the kids got to make their own homemade ice cream. It was so easy, I had no idea. Then for our field trip we got to head over to the ice cream shop, a first for the kids. They had a blast. Isabel chose bubblegum with chocolate chips.....hmmm, she might let mom choose next time.

This week we learned about kites and I am proud to say that I can now fly a kite. It's a must for any parent. The kids loved building their own kites and then flying them. Josiah loved holding it and Isabel even got good enough to make the kite do some tricks.

I really have the best job in the world!

Winter Wonderland

Seattle is super fun in the winter and we have been taking full advantage of it. It has snowed here in the city twice, if you can believe it. Once on Christmas Day! The kids got out and played in it a bit, but each of them hated it on different occasions.

The day after Thanksgiving we ventured downtown to see the Macy's Parade. We bundled up nicely, having lived in Michigan we now have proper gear to survive cold days. We took the bus downtown and braved the crowds. It was fun as we got front row seats and Liz, the oldest girl the I nannied for was the Snow Queen and the highlight of the parade by far. They make it snow paper in the streets after the parade and the wind form the bus tunnle made is a surreal experience for the kids, running around in the streets chasing the "snowflakes".

My brother visited and we had a great time. We took a trip to the mountains to sled and found a snow hike to a waterfall. We went ice skating a visited The Garden of Lights, a display of 800,000 lights in the shape of different plants, very cool.

Other highlights have included visiting reindeer and watching marching toy soldiers perform. I never would have said this before I had kids, but I love winter.

Snow in Seattle, an annual experience

Enjoying the Downtown lights and watching toy soldiers

Hiking in the mountains

Playing in the "snow" after the parade

"I'll deliver the presents!"

Fall, a Bit Delayed...

No, we really have not dropped of the face of the earth. We have just had a really amazing Fall and Winter full of joys and crises.

The Fall was really beautiful here. I really think that I enjoy things so much more now that I have children. To look through the eyes of complete innocence, in wonder of seeing things for the first time is life-changing. Some would think I would never have rolled around in falling leaves or picked an apple off of a tree, listening to my excitement of visiting a park filled with leaves or heading to the farm for fresh Fall fruits and vegetables. God and all of His glory really does seems much more real and present when looked upon with childlike eyes.

So some of our many events included visiting several u-pick farms, taking hay rides, picking pumpkins, and apple picking to make apple pie. I was even filmed teaching kids for a local TV show on organic farms. We visited Leavenworth with Grandma, it is a small German style town in the mountains. Halloween was great as Isabel and Josiah dressed as a lion and a lamb, very Biblical. Our other Grandma and Grandpa visited and we took a ferry ride to have a picnic on the islands. The kids and I have been doing a home school preschool and doing fun things like setting up an apple stand, growing grass, and visiting many museums. They also attended art school, which was great for me because glitter did not end up on my floor.

Jason and I finished up our marriage group, helping newlyweds get through the first year of marriage. It is a program set up by our church and we learned much more than we were able to teach. It is such a gift to our marriage.

Here are some pictures of our Fall...

Isabel and Josiah playing in the leaves

The lion and the lamb

Down on the farm

In Leavenworth, Bratwurst anyone?

Hiking

Here are some pictures from hiking...

Isabel and Josiah enjoy the view...and their ride

It's so peaceful, he couldn't stay awake

We made it to the waterfall, Isabel asks "can we leave now?"

Berry Farm

Here are some pictures form the Berry Farm...

Daddy and Josiah hiding in the hay maze

Ibby's first roller coaster ride!

On the steam train

Josiah and Ibby cool down in the canoes

Summer Vacation

We had a great summer vacation. The headline of the newspaper over our vacation was "Number One Vacation Destination - You're Already Here" which was quite fitting because the was exactlywhat we decided to do, vacation at home.
We took a ride on the car ferry and headed towards the ocean. We got to visit the beach where a put our feet in the water and a crab tried to run off with Isabel's shoe in it's claw. Our brave daughter was actually the one to retrieve it.
We visited the Berry Farm which in name is deceiving, but should be called mini Disney World (without the lines). We took a train ride around the farm on a mini-steam train, rode tons of ride (including Josiah) and Ibby rode her first roller coaster. We ran through the hay maze and jumped in the hay jump. We never even made it to the berries because the park was so much fun.
We also hiked a two mile hike with the kids to an amazing waterfall. We were actually able to hike right to the falls.
We also celebrated Josiah's one-year birthday. He's such a great kid, and tone of fun, his newest trick...I found him eating out the garbage yesterday!
Here are a collection of pictures, from the ferry ride

Josiah and Daddy enjoying the water

Josiah playing with the hermit crab

Isabel and Mommy having fun in the wind on the ferry boat

We had to try every seat on the boat!

Cutest Girl in the World!

Isabel is growing up fast. Summer is off to a really fun start with her being able to really enjoy all of the activities. We put in some more sod and added a play structure and sandbox which is really fun.

Isabel also got new bunk beds this week. We are currently using is as a loft with no under bed. She loves being a big girl and having a space to call her own, and that Josiah can't get to.

Ibby in the sandbox

Painting her masterpiece

Hanging with the Pig at the Market