Friday's Fieldtrips

Today both Natalie and Zander had field trips. Natalie was going to Mt. Hood Community College to watch a play "I don't want to take a bath" and Zander was going to the grocery store. Natalie woke up not feeling well, so I kept her home until the very last minute and made extra sure she wanted to go and she did, so I dropped her off at school and took Zander to his preschool where I was a chaperon on the field trip.

Here is his class...and his new teacher. Zander is standing next to her on the right side.

The kids got to go behind the scenes, into the coolers and even into the freezer where they keep the ice cream (a rather chilly -10 degrees). They also got to go behind the butcher counter and in the bakery where they got a cookie. They were given a satsuma orange (my favorite kind) in the produce section and Mr Yuck stickers in the pharmacy.

Afterwards they went by the Starbucks for some hot cocoa. Here is Zander with his friend Carson who just returned to school after having a second chemo and radiation treatment for a brain tumor. Zander and Carson have the same neurologist.

When we got done with the field trip, I did some grocery shopping and went home. Then the school called and Natalie's teacher said she did great during the field trip, but she wasn't feeling well and needed to come home. I picked her up and went back to the grocery store to by a new thermometer and some chicken noodle soup. Ironically, after checking the mail today I received a free thermometer from the Target pharmacy (where I fill our prescriptions)...how often do you get a thermometer in the mail? Guess I will be going back to Safeway to return the other one!

All in all it was a busy day. We had to cancel dinner plans with our friends Chris and Anne...which also means my pear tart I was going to make for dessert (and feature on Fabulous Food Friday) never got made either...stay tuned next week.

Polar Bears and Penguins...oh, my!

Last Thursday I took Natalie to see Princesses on Ice, so this week it was Zander's turn to do something fun (and the other kids got to come along too!). I love taking the kids to OMSI and when I heard they were featuring an Arctic exhibit with polar bears and penguins, I knew Zander would love it!
Although there is an element of this photos that freaks me out (note actual stuffed polar bear)...I think Zander's expression is pretty funny!
Natalie compares the different bear skulls, black bear, polar bear and grizzly bear. The polar bear was the biggest by a long shot.

Here the kids got to look through microscopes.

This was a fun game where you try to touch the fish that light up in the water in an effort to "feed" the baby penguin. It was hard to pull them away from this game.

Follow the penguin tracks and walk like a penguin. What you can't see from this picture is Zander flapping his "wings" like penguins do...it was so funny cause I turned around and there on the monitor was a video of the penguins doing just was Zander was.

Zander got to try on a penguin suit...

...and slide down the snowy hill on his belly, just like a penguin.

Zander and Hayden were listening to the different sounds penguins make.

Penguin Paradise!

After lots of fun and discovery at the Arctic exhibit, we ventured up stairs to the kids area for more fun!


Looking at nature through a magnifying glass. Natalie and Zander dressed up like chipmunks and gathered acorns inside an old tree.


Here's Natalie with her new eagle friend.

One of our kids' favorite areas is the sand pit. They have the best sand at OMSI.

The water table is always good for some wet fun. Despite wearing rain boots and smocks the kids always seem to get their clothes wet...oh, well...it's all good "clean" fun! (sorry, I couldn't resist...please refrain from throwing tomatoes!)

Foggy Fall Day

We've been having some really fogy days this week and I thought I would share a couple pictures from around here:

Fall Fun at School

Today was picture retake day and I was having Natalie's pictures re-done. Being the photo Nazi that I am, I offered to volunteer today in the class in hopes that I would be able to help Natalie feel more relaxed as she got her picture taken again . (In her original pictures, her smile looked really forced.) As luck would have it I got in on the Artist in Residence Day.

Here is Mr. Verdoorn teaching the first graders some painting techniques. It was so great to see all the wonderful things they can learn by having a local artist come in and work with them.

All the students were instructed to illustrate their interpretation from one of the phrases in the book "Owl Moon."

Then they got to use the techniques Mr. Verdoorn (artist in residence) taught them using special dyes that come from New Zealand.

Afterward I got to sit with her class during lunch. Natalie, of course was a total goof ball!

Right before my first surgery, I was able to help out at Zander's preschool for their Teddy Bear Olympics. It was lots of fun, but boy was I tired afterwards!

Here is a photo from "Pajama Day" at Natalie's school.

Natalie liked going to school in her pj's!

Hood River Apples

A beautiful view of Mt. Hood on the way to Hood River.

The kids all got to ride to the orchards together inside the Mickle's motorhome.

One of the first things we did was take a hay ride tour of the orchards. We got to get out and everyone picked an apple to eat on the return trip.

Here is Natalie holding one of the larger varieties of apples they had at Kiyokawa Orchards.

Poor Ryan just couldn't get the wheel barrow to move.

Our traditional "family playing on the tractor" pose.


Zander liked tasting the different kinds of apples.

Lots and lots of pears and apples to make yummy treats with.

Enabler Alert: Stocking stuffer ideas

Run, Don't Walk to Target's Dollar Spot...

Yesterday, after my super early doctors' appointment, I went into Target to get a mocha from Starbucks. As I drank my caffeine, I wandered around in the store and was soon drawn in to the vortex that is...the dollar spot! I love this place...it's my little happy place. Not just the dollar spot, but just Target in general. Here are the things I found at the Mall 205 location.

Princess stuff: paper dolls, pencils, purses, and stickers. Cars stuff: Coloring pages, crayons, tattoos, a notepad and a wallet.

Hayden still loves trucks, so he will no doubt enjoy these. Still looking for a few more things for him.

With these purchases I am almost done with my Christmas and birthday shopping for our kids. I just need to buy Hayden's big present and all the Christmas pajamas and then I will be all done...before Thanksgiving!!! I think this may be a record for me!

It's Caturday!