Slate Run Historical Farm

Back on September 17, Gramma, Grandpa and I took the kids to another fun local attraction...

Having grown up just across town, I actually can't believe I'd never been there.  When I mentioned to Matt that we were going there he said he'd been there lots of times but not for, years....

Having spent so much time visiting some of my favorite places while we were home, it was fun to take the kids some place that their father used to enjoy when he was very small.

When we first got there they had some old fashioned toys out for the kids to play with...

Like these stilts, which I must say I had mad skills on.

Peter didn't do so bad himself.

They also had this wooden hoop to roll around in the grass and that was just good honest fun.

There was also this ring toss,

Although A.J. was much more interested in eating the rings than throwing them:

They also had this little lawn bowling set.

After the toys, we headed up the bath towards the barns.

And had a great time exploring and meeting lots of animals.

This horse was named Marcus, just like Peter's favorite Uncle.  :)

If you're wondering about the face, he was mooing at the cow.

Gramma was showing Peter the top of a turtle shell.

Grinding up corn to use as feed

Then we found the turkeys.

And the pigs...

And some more sheep...

Grandpa found this feather for Peter.

A.J. tried to eat the hay.

When we went to see the chickens Peter climbed right up the fence to get his best look.

Then the kids and I relaxed for a moment together in the hammock they had outside the farmhouse.

Baby face extreme close up!

Peter took a quick swing.

As did A.J. and Mommy

And finally we went inside the farmhouse to explore.

Peter went straight to the piano (and Mommy was very proud.)

He was obsessed with this marble run.  There had been one outside too and he played with each on for quite a while.

A.J. and I were waiting for him for awhile.

On our way out there was a little stand set up where you could leave a donation and pick out a watermelon or a pumpkin from the farm's gardens to take home.

A.J. liked this little watermelon

Peter had no trouble picking his pumpkin

Of couse then it was time to head out and find lunch.

Peter did not want to go

Our pumpkins

Gramma had packed a picnic  Peter ate a little, then he spent the rest of our picnic time taking the trash...

...and running it to the garbage can.

It was a great morning. 

And actually, after all that running around, it was a pretty good afternoon too as both kids took extra long naps when we got home.

Been Busy... Tired, Jet Lagged, Etc

Ever since Matt's youngest brother Marcus blew into town (in Ohio) a week and a half ago, home on leave from Afghanistan for their other brother's (the second youngest, Jonathan) wedding everything has been all go go go.  He showed up while I was in the middle of editing pictures from the previous weekend and then the next thing I knew it was, well, now.  And here I am, more than a week later, back in Washington (sad face) feeling completely exhausted after travelling home today, with, like  509 pictures from  10 different events waiting to be sorted through, edited and posted on this blog under appropriate categories.

And even though I'm home now, I only have a month to get myself organized and packed to move again at the beginning of November. 

So yeah.

I haven't abandoned all hope of getting caught up eventually, it just might take me awhile.  And, as we got up at 3 o'clock this morning (Ohio time, which actually is freaking MIDNIGHT in Washington) I am just not going to be able to accomplish anything until I get some sleep.

So, until then, bear with me, I'm working on it...

Peterese

The way Peter talks just cracks me up.  He tries so hard, and really his language skills are expanding hugely every day.  But he just gets so many of his consenants wrong.  And it makes me smile every time.

Today as he's been about his business, I've been compiling a short list of the way he says things so I can remember his cute toddler speak later in life and smile, like when he's a teenager and he won't talk to me at all.

drape= grape
tow= cow
eeep= sheep
herse= horse
wook= look
dig= pig
widdle bewl= little bill
dori= dora (as in the explorer) or actually as in the fish, dori, as well
meemo= nemo (as in finding)
chaco muk= chocolate milk
pwease=please
titty tat= kitty cat
take= cake
ap dos= apple sauce
hewp= help
twain twacks= train tracks
cwime= climb
Dog-a-mic=Dominic
badana=banana
cwash=crash (usually where his toy cars are concerned)

This least hardly seems to cover it, but for now it will have to do.  Maybe I will be able to make another list, or add to this one sometime, but for now, I hope just hope that if this is all I ever get around to writing I will be able to look back here and fondly remember my son's adorable way of speaking at this stage.

aHa!

Gramma and I took the kids some place fun on Friday....

Oh my goodness.  Peter ran wild and had so much fun.  A.J. explored too, although with much closer supervision from myself and her Gramma. 

Peter rang the doorbell.

And built the wall of the house with the giant blocks.

He played with the trucks in the sand.

Everybody played with the firetruck.

Then Peter found the trains.

But A.J. stayed behind at the firetruck and studied her reflection in the wheel.

Next Peter went to the water tables.

Before going to investigate some x-rays.

Then A.J. went to the water with Gramma...

... followed by this maze table.

Peter went fishing.

He caught a big one!

And then he went back to the trucks in the sand.

He also did some quick grocery shopping...

...before climbing around some with his sister.

Peter made some artwork to send his Daddy.

Everybody played the xylophone!

Peter played with the legos and their cars.

A.J. had her turn at the art table too, but mostly she just played with this green feather.

Finally, just before we left for lunch, Peter and Gramma worked on the puzzle wall, filling in the shapes.

Oh, and if you're wondering, I really was there too, not just behind the camera.