Finnian - The Star of the Week, and Bellewood Acres Field Trip

Finnian was the Star of the Week at Preschool last week, and he was very excited for it.  I had to make a poster, and then he presented it to his class.  All week hew kept asking me if he was still the Star of the Week.

 

 

Yesterday, the preschool had a Field Trip to Bellewood Acres, a local apple farm.



Photo op at the front door of the Bellewood Acres' distillery/café/shop.



We all loaded on the tractor-driven carts out to the orchards and processing plant, which makes apple cider, dried apple slices, and candied apples.

 

Even with all the cloud cover, Mt Baker was visible in the distance.  Beautiful!

 

Finnian served as the example of what an apple goes through in the inspection process, and then he was "stamped" (notice the produce stickers on his hand) to be put in a box and shipped to a grocery store.



Picking apples in the orchard.

 

Vaughn was happy to be out of my arms and able to wander freely.



The return cart ride back to the shop to sample fresh apple cider and apple slices.



That cider is amazing!!!



Vaughn wanted nothing to do with the samples, until I literally poured some apple cider in his mouth; then he couldn't get enough.



Class photo



My handsome boy - ignore the boo-boos on his nose and forehead.  He was rubbing his face on the carpet again; when asked why he said he was "acting like a bronco."  Weird kid!



After the tour was over, it was play time at the playground and time for more photos.

 

I highly recommend Bellewood Acres tour - it was informative and fun!  The cart ride, the tour of the processing plant/sorting machine/the large refrigerators, picking apples, and the samples at the end.  A great day with the kiddos!

Yes, another lawn mowing post...

Collin has another helper, but this one actually helps!  We got a second lawn mower a few weeks ago, and Collin taught Ronan how to drive the old one.  They can now get the lawn done in record time!

 

Ronan is a responsible 8-year old, and he takes his new responsibility very seriously!





 

Stoney Ridge 2014

We did our annual trek out to Stoney Ridge Farm a little early this year since we looked at the October schedule and realized that it would be the only weekend Collin would be home this month.

 

We started with the corn maze, and actually made it from beginning to end!  Usually we end up leaving the same way we came in. 



Ronan was our navigator, and he did a great job!



My men



Next was the barrel car ride.

 

This is one of the boys' favorite things to do at Stoney Ridge. 



Vaughn and I waited on the sidelines.

 

We did the photos in the cut-outs like we always do...



...and fed the goat at the top of the high pole. 



The lucky goat

 

I was extremely happy to get this picture of all four boys; photos of all boys looking reasonably well are few and far between.  This is a contender for the Christmas letter, for sure! 



Ronan - 8 years old now and in 3rd grade. 



Boys #3 and #4 (Finnian and Vaughn)



Boy #2 (Latham)



Collin and Latham feeding a cow.



Of course we stopped for pumpkin donuts... 

 

...which is another of the boys' favorite things at Stoney Ridge. 



Finnian

 

Latham 

 

And a walk through the pumpkin patch,

 

Finnian was on a serious mission! 



Picking the perfect pumpkin 



The middles (Latham and Finnian)

 

It was an unseasonably warm day, with only a 5-minute rain shower, so it was the perfect day to go.  Latham is going there for a field trip later this month with his Kindergarten class.

 



Vaughn's First Haircut!

Yes, the curls were cute, but the mullet shape...not so much.  After dropping off Finnian at preschool one morning, Vaughn and I headed (pun intended!) off to Great Clips.

 

The "before" photo



I came prepared with what the brothers call the "secret weapon" - Vaughn's bottle.



Vaughn was as cool as a cucumber - he had absolutely no problem during the haircut.

.

And the "after" photo - so much older looking!



Back to School!

I love September!  September means that school starts again. We did our family trek to the end of the driveway on the first day of school to take some pictures while waiting for the bus.  This year Ronan is in 3rd grade and Latham is in kindergarten, but kindergarten started a week later, so the first few pictures are of Ronan's first day.

 

Daddy and his boys.



Mom and Boy #1 excited for school to start again.



Boys #1, 2 and 4



The bus!





Off to school for the first day!



Latham started a week later.  The first two days I had to drive him and pick him up.



Notice the "thumbs up" - priceless!



Finnian started preschool this year at our church two mornings a week.  He wouldn't stop playing long enough to have his picture taken, and after half a dozen tries, he exasperatingly said, "Bye, Mom!!!"  He loves it and was definitely ready for school.