Too Heavy

I was folding laundry today, and Austin and Lauren took the basket to play in. He was pushing her in it, then pulling her, down the hall. I heard Lauren, half crying, say, "Want to go to my wroom!!" She didn't want to only go partway down the hall, but all the way to the end, to her room. Austin pulled her back into the living room, huffing and puffing, telling her, "Wauren, I can't pull you anymore! You're a little too heavy!" And no, "Wauren" is not a typo--he does call her Wauren. She calls herself Waurnen. :)

Monday I had my friends here for brunch. We had a fun time (as usual ;) ). One of them gave us a bag of clothes for Lauren. I looked at everything before her nap, and she immediately grabbed these little pink slippers out and wanted to wear them to bed. She didn't take them off until she had to get in the tub for her bath that night! She's been wearing them all day today, too. There was a stocking cap in the bag for Austin, which I put on his head and said, "It just fits." Lauren wanted this red cap on, and kept saying, "Djust fits! Djust fits, Mommy!" She went through each clothing item, said, "Nice tsirt (shirt)!" or "Nice tights!" or "Tute (cute) pants!" or "Nice dess for Waurnen!", etc. She wanted to wear these shorts and told Brian when he got home and asked her what she was wearing, replied, "Myyy tswimming tsuit!" Ha ha--earlier she'd been calling them "my undies".

Windmill Farms Revisited

Friday after school the kids and I went back to Windmill Farms, where we'd gone for Julia's Sparks outing. I told them in the morning that we were going someplace fun to take pictures, but didn't tell them where. When we pulled in the driveway, the girls were happy, but Austin burst into tears, and said, "This isn't fun! There's no picnic tables here!" Earlier he was trying to guess the spot and asked me if there were picnic tables there. (Yes) He also asked if it was the park. (No) I'm not sure where he was thinking we were going. Well, as soon as we walked into the gated animal area, he was all smiles again. The animal area is all fenced in, with a gate that you have to go through. It is really nice, because the kids can run around and you don't have to worry about cars, or easily escaping. The owners built a sort of Old West town in the animal area. The old buildings are sheds for the animals, and it's funny, because every now and then you'll see a goat peeking through a window! I took some other shots in front of the big wheel, and a goat joined the kids in a few of them! He stuck his head right around the edge of the wheel. Ha ha--they had to laugh too!


Austin and Lauren were picking leaves from the bushes to feed the goats--he's holding one here. We went in the little store later, and the lady told us next time we come to come inside first and they'll give us food for the animals. That will be even better! We bought some raspberries (they grow them there), a cranberry scone that we all shared pieces of on the drive home, and some honey candies (kind of chewy like taffy).

Disneyland

A week ago we were at Disneyland. We were there almost ALL day. It was fun. It was also hot, was supposed to be 84 that day. I got a headache a few hours after we arrived, and it kind of came and went, but finally we bought some Tylenol at one of the little stores, and then I felt much better. I think we were on the Riverboat here. I am not sure if that is it's name! It goes around Tom Sawyer Island.


We ate lunch at the Plaza Inn. Lauren really liked these balloons at the entrance. I think she thought they were real. Also real hard. ;) In the afternoon we got ice cream bars and chocolate popcorn (yum!!) and ate our snack while listening to stories told by Snow White. It was a princess area, and they were handing out these crowns along with a sheet of stickers to decorate the crown. Julia got one for herself and Lauren. They both decorated them, and Julia wore hers the rest of the day. Lauren wore hers and held it and played with it, and it ripped not too long after she got it!


We all rode in this teacup together.


The castle at night, so pretty.


After the fireworks, we waited by the ropes blocking off the castle to head back to Fantasy Land. I thought Austin and Lauren were cute in the stroller together and took their picture. I was surprised to see that he had fallen asleep, when I checked the picture! They both were tired of walking, and Brian and I wanted a break from carrying them, so into the stroller they both went (I am sure the weight limit was exceeded....). We went on the Peter Pan ride and the carousel before leaving the park. As you can see, Austin woke up from his little nap.


Disneyland was all decorated for Halloween and Fall, with pumpkins, colorful leaves, Fall-colored buntings, and jack-o-lanterns carved with Disney characters, all over the park. They had trick-or-treating for the kids at night, but we didn't realize this until we left and talked to another family about it! Oh well.

Oak Glen

More pumpkins! This was the third weekend in a row our kids have played in/on/by pumpkins! We went to Oak Glen with Brian's mom last Saturday. I'd never been there and thought that might be a fun Fall activity. Well, apparently much of So. Cal thought so too--there were LOTS of people! One area had these pumpkins set out, and Austin and Lauren liked playing on them. Austin would just lounge on them, like he was in a pumpkin bed, and Lauren tried to carry some of the smaller ones. Julia was tired and just sat on that one pumpkin while the other two played.


We walked across the street to an area to see animals. On our walk back to our car, we stopped by these trees. Austin liked finding "baby pinecones" (which he started peeling apart in the van), and climbing in this tree.




Brian's mom had made a picnic lunch, and we went up to her campground to eat it. There was a playground there for the kids, which I think they thought was the best part of the whole day. ;) This picture was taken at the campground. After lunch we drove to an apple farm (there are several), and it was SO crowded. Brian chose a gallon of cherry apple cider to buy. It is very good--we only have a little left.

Windmill Farms and Conference

Sunday afternoon we rushed to eat lunch after church, so we could go to Julia's Sparks outing at Windmill Farms. We'd never been there, but it was a neat little place. I want to go back in the next few weeks. All the kids got to feed the animals, plant broccoli starts, and pick out a pumpkin. I didn't take too many pictures; it was just too busy, watching the kids and all. Julia was just carrying this white pumpkin. All the kids got medium-sized orange ones to take home.

My friend took this family picture

Monday was my breakfast group. Six of us get together at one person's house every two weeks or so to visit, and the kids play. The hostess makes the food for everyone; my turn is next. When we pulled into my friend's driveway, the first ones to arrive, Austin said, "Our car was the fastest! We got here first! Our car is quicker than Samanfa's and quicker than Fafe's!" (Talking about Samantha and Faith, two of the kids who come, though "Samantha" is really "Amanda", but Austin *always* calls her Samantha! I am not sure why!)

I risked waking the sleeping baby to get this shot. She was so out she didn't even know I was in the room. Tuesday was Awana. The Cubbies made these Cubbie Bear masks. They *loved* wearing their masks!

Tonight at 5:30 we all went to Julia's classroom so Brian and I could meet with her teacher for her conference. She had said the kids could come and play with Legos she had. Austin liked that very much! Julia read Lauren a story, too. Julia is doing well in school, which we were glad to hear. Next week she will be going on a field trip to a one-room schoolhouse, and also see some other historical buildings. Yesterday on our walk to school, Julia told me, "I think Mrs. F really is 175 years old, because she said she went to school in a one-room schoolhouse!" Indeed, at the conference, Mrs. F told Brian and me she attended school in a few of them! Not the one we are visiting, though. We really like her teacher! She does interesting and fun things with the kids, and seems to understand Julia well. One of the first things Mrs. F asked us at the conference was, "Has she always been such a perfectionist?" (Yes) She said Julia really takes her time trying to make her handwriting "beautiful". It isn't a problem, but when she gets into 4th or 5th grade, things will start taking her longer and she might end up with more homework, if she keeps it up! ;)

Baby Abby

Yesterday morning, when I called the kids to go into the garage so we could walk to school, Lauren started crying and stamping her feet, throwing a little fit! Austin said, "She was playing, and you spoiled her fun!" That didn't last long, thankfully. We came back and spent the morning at home. They helped me make pumpkin bread and then played in the family room. Lauren was rocking her baby, and I started singing the "Rock-a-bye Baby" song, and she joined in. It was funny, when we got to the line, "When the bough breaks...", Lauren would say "When the bough breakins.." I asked her what her baby's name was, and she said, "Baby Aaabby". Lauren's dolls have had that name for awhile now. They are all "Baby Aaabby". I wonder if she picked that up from my cousin's and his wife's baby when we were up in WA? Twice before when I asked her what her baby's name was, she answered, "Baby Tar," and I asked, "Baby Star?" She repeated, "Baby Tar." And they other time, she answered, "Don't know." I suggested, "Jenny? Is your baby's name, Jenny?" She said, "Denny." But Star and Jenny only lasted for a few hours each. Baby Abby has stuck. And she loves Baby Abby!




Also worth mentioning about yesterday: Julia brought her friend Chloe to Awana, earned two more jewels, earned 2500 points and finished her Climber book! She was SO proud of the plaque she received for completing it. Now she will start reviewing it.

Banker's Holiday

Our banker was home today, for Columbus Day. I'd made pancake batter last night and he cooked the pancakes this morning before school, which was nice. We all walked Julia to school. Brian built Austin and Lauren each a train track. They like to play trains together, but it is more peaceful if they each have their own track! Lauren was pulling her train backwards. Even though James was the locomotive, when I asked her who her engine was, she said, "Tarabel" (Clarabel the coach).





Brian took Austin to the park to practice riding his new bike, and then out for lunch. Austin had a birthday coupon for a free smoothie at California Fresh. When I put him to bed tonight, Austin told me, "It was boys day today!" He had a great time with Brian! I cleaned up a bunch of piles of stuff sitting on my desk in the office. Lauren played in the room with me and looked through my button container. That was very interesting to her!

Naughty Kitty

When we came home from the store the other day, Lauren walked into the kitchen, ahead of me, and said, "Pongo...," and pointed to him up on top of the cabinets! That basket of apples is supposed to be centered in the corner where he is! When we came back from our vacation in August, there were silk leaves strewn about, up there, and a pile on the counter too. Pongo jumps onto the counter, then onto the fridge, then on top of the cupboards.


That's right, get down you stinker!! I'm glad he decided to jump down soon, because I was wondering how I was going to get him down. I didn't want to climb on the counter. Nor did I want to squirt him with the spray bottle, in case he would move too quickly and knock my stuff down! We have sprayed him when he claws the couch or chews the blinds strings. It helps.....for awhile.... ;)

La Familia Ranch

Today we went to a new pumpkin patch! Well, new to us, anyway. One of the owners said they've had it for 20 years. I found out about it here. All the kids were reeeeeeally crabby this morning, and I wondered if we really wanted to take them out! The older two got better on the drive there, and Lauren snapped out of her mood after wandering around the pumpkins and things for awhile. She is coming down with a cold, which is why she was not herself, I think.

This display?? was set up by the parking lot. Austin grabbed that rope on the back of the bale and right away was going to rig something up with that until Brian told him to put it back! Lauren liked the horseshoes, even though she couldn't do much more with them than lift them and drop them back down on the ground.


There was a a corn maze we went through. Yes, this is the best picture there was of me with the 3 kids. Ha ha. I think the corn maze was a big adventure for the kids. There they went, tromping through the corn. Brian and I let them get ahead of us sometimes, and then would call out for them. "Here we are! Here we are!" Julia and Austin called back, both waving their arms in the air. There were only a few other people at the farm when we were there which was very nice! The Avila Barn is always sooooo busy at pumpkin time and there are [too many] people!


This one was too funny not to share. They posed themselves! And Lauren playing with a piece of straw. There was also an old shed the owners had decorated. Painted above that door was "JAIL", and inside were a few plastic skeletons, one on a chaise lounge, one peeking out the window, and I think 1-2? more. Julia and Austin thought that was so funny, those silly skeletons. But Lauren kept saying, and even tonight at home was saying, "Don't wike dat dyail! Don't wike dat dyail!"




Austin found this branch and said it was his broom. He went around brushing the tables and pumpkins for a few minutes, till he had enough of that.


When we arrived at the farm, Brian asked me if I had any money. Nope--had left my purse at home. He only had $3.00, so he told Julia and Austin they could each pick out a pumpkin that was $1.25. Here is Julia with her pumpkin. We told Austin to look for one that said "1-2-5" on it. Here he is studying the numbers on the pumpkins. :)


Carrying her *own* pumpkin to the cashier. Lauren with her 50 cent pumpkin. That is the look she gave me after I told her not to bite the pumpkin. She had started eating it like an apple!


We went out for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. Austin had a birthday postcard for a free kids meal and sundae from there. We always enjoy the food there, and it was wonderful today as well! Austin's sundae was huge!! He shared it with the girls, and Brian and I had a few bites too! They each held their own pumpkin in the car on the drive home. Austin and Lauren right away put theirs on the front porch, but Julia hauled off with hers to her bedroom! I'm not sure what she was planning to do with it in there. Decorate? It is on the porch now, too.