Maria's Field trip to The Pumpkin Patch

 

Ok, so I'm not a big fan of corn mazes. I don't like the responsibility of finding my way out and trying to keep an eye on speedy children who are twisting and weaving while I'm waddling and exhausted.

 

This little boy lost his group... good job chaperon. We invited him to stay with us and he actually led us out of the maze. He was very nice but Maria wasn't overly friendly to him. According to her he moves his marker a lot, and she's not a fan of that.

 

The patch was pretty dead and the pumpkins were caked in mud.

 

Maria was the last one. She wanted a perfect pumpkin. She found it!

 

I love Shay. She's such a sweet little girl and I'm glad they hang out on field trips. Kids with manners that are kind are getting hard to find these days.

 

It was a fun trip. I noticed a boy staring at Maria during snack. Full on staring. I'm pretty sure Maria likes the little boy but she acts like a pyscho around him. She'll hide or avoid contact at any cost.

It's actually really entertaining to watch.

Rinky Dink Pumpkin Festival

 

A festival is defined as a "special event" according to the dictionary. I'm not sure how this can qualify as a festival, due to lack of "special" from every aspect. However, that's me just being a ninny.

 

I personally do enjoy going to this annual event simple for the free pumpkin and candy.

It is really nice that members of the community would do something.

Something is better than nothing... right?

 

We played a couple "games". Unfortunately Home Depot didn't participate. They usually have great things for the kids to put together.

 

Best part is this kid. With a very serious face, Quote,

"Let me explain to you how this game works.

You get one bean bag in, you get a candy.

You get two bean bags in, you get 2 pieces of candy.

You get 3 bean bags in, you get a toy and a piece of candy.

If you get 4 bean bags in, you get 2 toys and 2 pieces of candy."

 

So, I replied.... what if you don't get any in?

 

Quote, "You don't get any candy."

 

Fun times. Mussolini. Fun times.

Maria learns to ride her bike without training wheels!!!

 

We decided to head to a park that we've never been to. It was a drive, but it was worth it!! It was very beautiful and had a great playground and great pathways for bikes!

The park is named Damonte Ranch Park.

 

It was very toddler friendly. Eli finally went down a slide 2 times. The rest of the time he said, "No thanks." But honestly, I don't mind. There were a ton of boys there that were scaling the outside of the large play structure and I thanked God that my son was calm.

 

 

Nina was great while I spent 10 minutes with Maria. Literally, 10 minutes and she mastered bike riding. She still needs to practice starting/pushing her self off... but she was good.

She pedaled, balanced, steered... perfectly. She is so smart and quick!!!

We were cheering for her the whole time!!

And can I state, I love that I taught my daughter to ride a bike in flip flops.

 

This big play structure was amazing!!

 

Maria must have rode for at least 30 minutes straight.

 

Nina always being so supportive and encouraging.

 

Eli ponders on the amazingness of the park. We enjoyed some muffins and were basically just full of joy on the blessings of the day. Gorgeous weather, Maria a superstar.... Heavenly Father truly loves us.

 

And! Maria did crash one time. She landed in the grass and wasn't hurt though.

 

One other event of notice... while the girls were playing, there was a boy who was doing some dangerous climbing and hanging. Maria told him that he could get hurt and he burped in reply. I was thinking of talking to the boy but told the girls, he'd probably just fall and learn his lesson the hard way.

We protest McDonald's!!!!!!!

 

We've been talking about what a shame it is they are opening a McDonald's right down our block. And what did we decide to do? We protested.

The girls made great signs...

"McDonald's is bad for you"

and

"Don't treat animals so bad"

 

I prepped them just in case we were interviewed by reporters. But there were no reporters there.

 

We did get to talk to the owner who said we were "misinformed". He advised us to check out the McDonald's website to see all the "good" the corporation does. When I asked him why he thought so many preservatives in his food was good, he responded that we were doing "a lot of harm for his business."

My heart smiled.

Because really, no one honked or cheered with us.

But we booed the ribbon cutting, did a small march and voiced our voice.

 

Christina made a petition for people to sign. We got 4 signatures. Maria, Christina, Sofia and Elijah.

 

We saw a friend from church there who looked embarrassed that we were protesting.

 

One lady rolled down her window and asked why McDonald's was bad for you and I was proud Christina shouted out "Preservatives!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

I made a sign that said, "Supersize your wages!!"

 

In all honesty, I was very worried that Eli would shout I love McDonald's. He does it to get a rise out of his sisters. But he did great. He booed and everything.

 

The clown was super creepy and Maria kept on saying how scary he was.

 

This really made me want to organize a larger scale protest. I was going to call PETA but I didn't really want my kids exposed to their nudity antics. Is it possible to change what local people eat? Is it possible to help people make healthier food choices?

 

I don't know the answer. But I'm so proud that at least my little ones know to not eat fast food.

 

It was actually really interesting talking to the manager. He genuinely seemed miffed by us and tried really hard to convince us what "good" McDonald's does, despite so many evidences against them.

 

We brainstormed and decided that next time we would put up flyers in gyms and Whole Foods to get people to come.

 

The girls were nervous that we were the only ones going to protest. But I reminded them that sometimes you have to do hard things by yourself. Bruce, our friend who picks up trash along Pyramid Highway, does it all by himself. Yet he's not alone. We support Bruce, we're just not right next to him everyday. I was proud. We took our stand.

 

We're hell raisers.

The Mall

 

The girls really wanted to go to the mall... i.e. they want to go to Claire's.

They were so excited to get matching friendship necklaces. They always do a good job of finding things they like on a budget.

 

We were excited to go in a Disney Store again!! Eli loves Winnie the Pooh.

 

We also headed to Macy's where the girls put on a fashion show. I was so proud that they were trying really hard to find modest dresses.

 

Loving Maria's model face.

 

We wanted to stop by Ikea's... but surprise... I missed it somehow. We ended up eating at Ikeda's in Auburn. Let me tell you, by the end of the day I was ready for a good salad. Way too much grease!

The kids ate good though and so I got them a treat. Maria got taffy, Christina got gummy snakes... they were huge, and Eli got gummy bears. I love his squeals of delight! He ate .41 pounds and then passed out for the rest of the ride.

 

Loving his new comfy falling asleep position.

 

It was such a great day trip!!

FairyTale Town

 

Good ol' Fairytale Town. Perfect to run around, explore, and have fun!

We actually saw some friends from Reno, Emily and her kids! It was a nice surprise!

 

Eli has been a little scared of slides lately. There was no way he was going down this sucker.

 

Eli's favorite part... he could have stayed here all day... the tractor!!

 

It was so sunny and gorgeous. The trees are always amazing as well as the gardens.

 

Maria went into model mode at this point. She was trying to pose Eli to fit her modeling agenda. It was great.

 

 

My cheesers!!!

 

See... the model face. It reappears many times throughout the rest of the trip! :)

 

Oh how they love the crooked mile! I think they went for 30 minutes straight. Maria was so antsy to just start running!

 

Love these girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And my handsome men of course!!

 

My kids are the best. They are always such fun to be around. I was so proud of Eli, he hadn't had a nap all day but he was still going strong. He was happy happy and then crashed peacefully in the car!