Welcome Cousin Canyon!

Introducing Canyon Kenley - Hale's newest cousin!

Canyon arrived on October 22nd. We were able to spend the weekend in Bellevue with her and the rest of our family. Hale was quite excited about "Baby Can-yah". It was a fun preview to how he will be with his own new sibling whenever he/she arrives (hopefully soon).

Here are a few pictures I took of Canyon the morning after she arrived.













beauty mark

Stoney Ridge Farm with Rocklyn

A few weekends ago we celebrated fall by meeting Rocklyn and family at Stoney Ridge farm - a cute place just down the Van Dyk road.

The kids were so happy to see each other - they couldn't stop hugging! It was hard to believe they had just seen each other the night before.



My favorite part of Stoney Ridge is the mini-donuts and pie - of which I captured no pictures because I was too busy eating.

There were, however, many other photo opportunites - mostly of the kids...











The kids liked looking at the animals at the farm. This picture cracks me up because it was snapped by the donkey's pen at the exact moment that Hale asked "Dad - you like donkeys?" To which Landon replied "Um...not really." Which made me realize that Landon has not fielded many of Hale's like/dislike questions. I have learned to always answer positively (along the lines of "Sure! As long as they are friendly and tame!") because those answers always seem to be sufficient for Hale. If you say no, Hale always looks a little offended and then asks "Why?"



Look at all the winners we have in our family!



We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch. The kids had fun picking out pumpkins.





Rocklyn shows her excitement (though not her face) for her final pick!



We hit the apple orchard next. Hale was fixated by this apple on the ground. It had a bee perched on it and I told him that I did not want him touching it or even getting near it. I guess we know it is human nature to be tempted by forbidden fruit. But it was funny to me that he lingered by it for so long.



We tried out the corn maze. Hale and Rocklyn enjoyed it - though they ended up cutting through a wall to get out. I guess it's more fun to break the rules.



Here are the kids emerging from the maze. Of course, Hale has somehow managed to get dirty.

To Owen's house we go!

Hale and I took off for a great adventure in Yakima last week! We had a great time visiting with my friend Jen and her two boys Owen and Silas. Owen and Hale were like two peas in a pod and played so well together. It was so fun - Jen and I had a great time visiting.

We were especially excited to see Jen and CJ's newly completed house.

It is only too bad that it is already haunted.



No, actually I got a huge kick out of Jen's Halloween decorations. She's the only one I know that can put a skeleton and a huge hairy spider in her living room and make it look sophisticated.



So, Hale, as I mentioned was in total country-boy heaven. Owen shared his interest in sticks, rocks, dirt, and bugs. And the weather was so awesome (85 degrees in October?) that we didn't even make them put on proper clothes before they went outside. They just woke up and ran right out to play in their jammies. That's what washing machines are for, right?



Jen and I had our coffee and watched the boys play out the kitchen window.



Hmm...I think I need a fenced yard.

We also made a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a lot of fun, despite the unseasonably warm weather (we were all sweating by the time we left).



A hay maze!



Decisions, decisions!



Thanks Jen! It was so fun.

For more on our adventures, see Jen's post.

Minnesota Trip - finally!

And since I'm on a roll, I think I'll just finish up my summer pictures! This was our trip to Minnesota over Labor Day - looking through them tonight made me miss the warm weather!

Hale and I enjoyed two weeks in Minnesota with my parents. The worst part was being without Landon, the best part was...well there were MANY highlights. Maybe all these pictures will give you the idea.

By the way - my Dad took almost all the pictures in this blog post. I was too busy enjoying myself to use my camera much. Thanks, Dad, for documenting our trip so well. Hope you don't mind my editing!

We had great summer weather the first weekend.



Hale loved helping his Grandpa and Grandma water the lawn and flowers. Grandma taught him how to put his finger over the hose to make it spray farther (which he is kind of doing here).



Grandma spoiled Hale with frequent ice cream parties on the kitchen floor.



We enjoyed a Saturday as a family at Shady Oak Beach.







I was glad I had a good excuse for why I couldn't do this.







Experienced the best State Fair anywhere to the very fullest! Mom and Dad spoiled us all with food- and rides for the boys.













We, of course, went to the cabin and enjoyed the mild sunny weather...

...playing outdoors





...feeding fish







...eating Mickey pancakes



...making new friends (aka Malin, one of Gaard and Torve's other cousins)



...and celebrating Torve's first birthday!!!!



As if that weren't enough, we also visited Como Park Zoo. The boys (and Grandpa and Grandma) did some more rides that day too!







Whew! You can tell why we came home exhausted - and why it took Hale a few weeks to adjust to normal life again! When you have 13 days of fun it is hard to get back to reality!

Thanks for the great trip family! We miss you again already!