Pumpkin Patch MOPS style

Today we went to the Silverbow Farm pumpkin patch with our MOPS group.  I really wanted to stay home, but I pulled myself up by my bootstraps (or Birkenstocks I should say) and got us there.

Ready for Action

 Note Lula's outfit. No boots. No jeans. No jacket. No arguments.

Heidi's First Retrieval

I automatically bring Genevieve wherever I go now. She is the only one fast enough to keep up with Heidi (Ian and Shane are good too, but you won't catch them at a MOPS gathering!)

First Stop: Visit the Pigs

Daniel fed the big pigs figs (after the electric fence was turned off).  He loved hearing people say that phrase.  Heidi had a first while looking at the pigs.  She has been saying cute little sentences like, "Where's Kai?" or "Want binkie."  Today, for the first time, she vocalized an observation about her surroundings.  "Ew! The pig pooped!"

We don't call her retrEVIE for nothing. Get it?

 Each kid got to pick out a pumpkin, of course.

This one is Lula's, but someone else took it home-I got her a new one

 I couldn't help propping Jason up by a pumpkin:

...but what I didn't realize was that I dropped my lens cover here.  Evie retrieved it for me.

Lula walking through the wet clover in her tights and new sparkly tennis shoes:

You'll see why this is relevant later...

 After we picked out our pumpkins, we walked up the road to the horse barn for snacks and climbing on tractors and old wagons.

It was a long walk.  Too long for moms with babies and toddlers.

But if you are Evie and there are horses, then the walk is no big deal

Climbing Fun

This is an awesome, yet dirty area where there were a lot of running, excited, wearing out toddlers/preschoolers/babies.  I'm not used to being around other people's screamers, so when I heard one start in, I would jump and look around.  It wasn't long before the MOPS coordinator called for snack time.

FOOD!

Now do you see why the wet clover picture was relevant? Yep, wet clover plus dirty wagon climbing equals ruined tights and shoes.  But no arguments.  And at this point of our trip, I was able to separate myself from moms with not enough exit strategy experience.  There comes a point when a toddler snaps during a fun playtime and you have to drag them kicking and screaming from the fun.  I knew already that I was 1) Far away from my van and 2) Needed Evie to carry Heidi and 3) Had an unpredictable Lula.  I saw my "Five Minutes to Snap" trigger and decided that even though there were 15 other vehicles trapping me in the parking lot, I was going to the safety of my van.  And all my children, besides Jason, ran all the way back to the van on their own.  Even Heidi used her own two feet.  My trick? I wouldn't let them have apple juice at the snack table and I had juice boxes in the van.  They were thirsty. And then we sat and waited for 15 or 20 minutes.  I knew the rest of the moms were near when I could hear the screaming and crying coming closer and closer.  Another 20 minutes and we were clear for exit without a single tear shed.  And that was one fourth of our activities for the day...

Woodland Park Zoo (Homeschool Day)

Yesterday, we met up with one of our favorite families for a day of fun in Seattle.  Woodland Park Zoo held their annual Homeschool Day with a special animal show and learning tables that align with state standards.  We've tried Homeschool Day twice before, once in 2009 and once in 2010.  Both times, my kids who were the appropriate ages were too advanced in science to learn anything.  This year, Fiona was just the right age!  The weather was perfect! It was sunny and pretty warm for October. 

This group of kids have known each other since there were only four of them, aged 3, 2, and 5 and 6 months old.  Now they are 13, 12, 11, 11, 9, 8, 6, 4, 2, 11 months, and 10 months.  One of the best things about having older kids (just one, because there are many) is being able to send the age 4 and up crowd into an auditorium to see an animal presentation and know that the older kids will take care of the younger kids.  Crystal Poppins and I stayed in the toddler room with the three babies (until Ian brought Daniel to us-then we had four babies)!

After the animal presentation, we took our zoo tour.  All the kids wanted to do was climb on the rocks and sit on the statues.  I'm pretty sure if there was a park with just rocks to climb on, they would have been perfectly happy.  Even Heidi wanted out of her stroller to climb on rocks.

The kids spent some time reacquainting themselves with each other and then they were as thick as thieves. 

Lula jumped in every puddle she saw.  She did pretty good keeping up on foot despite her two year old age. 

We told them to stay out of this cave because of the puddle.  They didn't care.  They had more fun with caves than they did with animals! Until lunch...

Then it was time to play and trade Pokemon cards.  These guys have been into Pokemon for years now.  They take breaks and get interested in other things, but Shane recently learned how to play the real game, so now he and Ian can be found battling past their bedtimes.  While the older six played, we took the younger group across to the baby/small child play area.  Fiona enjoyed climbing around and meeting other little girls to play with.  My other three were content in the outdoor area:

Playing in a sandbox with no pants on.  You mean, I traveled two hours (with traffic) and paid admission prices (discounted for Homeschool day) to watch my kids do what we do in our own backyard for free? 

 The penguins were really cute.  This green guy would follow fingers around and around!

The unsocialized homeschooling Boy Scouts loved climbing all the rocks.  I heard frequently, "That [animal] is blocking that rock display!"

More cave squishing (nevermind the wolves were being fed right across the path-the cave was much more fun!)

 They can barely squish seven in still...but there was a kid or two that wasn't part of our group.

 Cute Baby #1!

Cute Baby #2!  (Cute Baby #3 doesn't get to have her picture posted because she is a foster baby.)

Really? They needed a sign?  It should have said, "If you love your physical well being, please do not inhale the porcupine's natural perfume. They really really stink!  Like armpits! Really stinky armpits!"  Ian said, "I don't smell anything. It just smells like my room." He was joking. Like always. I hope.

We got to the bear display just as they were being fed!  The bears were pacing back and forth because they knew the food was coming soon.  I was expecting salmon carcasses to be thrown down for them and was disappointed to see a head of cabbage and some Bear Chow nibbles.

By this time, the kids were done with animals and at every stop they pulled out their cards.  So we trekked to the exit and promised extra card time in the parking lot.

 Lula was ready for a nap in traffic and was ready to shed her soaking wet pants and shoes.

After more trading and one more trip into the closed zoo for a bathroom break, the moms and babies were in a hurry to hit the road and go sit in traffic.  For us southbounders, the traffic wasn't too bad and we made it home in two hours.  We are excited to get together again in another Seattle location.  I wonder if there is somewhere indoors that doesn't cost any money that just has tables, chairs, a bathroom, and some space to run?

Going to the Zoo

I took the kids to the zoo yesterday.  The day before that, I started singing "Goin' to the Zoo" and here is our trip (along with some modified lyrics)!

Daddy Mommy’s taking us to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow,
daddy Mommy’s taking us to the zoo tomorrow, and we can stay all day.

(Chorus)
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you, you,
you can come too, too, too, we’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo.

The elephant that never looks at us.

See the elephant with the long trunk tail swingin',
great big ears and a long trunk tail swingin'

Snuffin' up peanuts with a long trunk swingin',
and we can stay all day! (Chorus)

Snack break for little monkeys!

See all the monkeys they're scritch-scritch scratchin'
jumpin' around and scritch-scritch scratchin'

Hangin' by the long-tail (huff huff huff),
and we can stay all day! (Chorus)

The Downen Kids and Cousin Carson

There's a big black POLAR bear he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'
His coat's too heavy he's a huff-puff-a-puffin'

We've never seen the polar bear! It was the best part of the day!

Don't get too near the huff-puff-a-puffin',
or you won't stay all day! (Chorus)

Daniel sees the big walrus!

Well the seals walrus in the pool all honk-honk-honkin bubble-bubble-bubblin',
catchin' the fish and honk-honk-honkin bubble-bubble-bubblin'

This walrus has been around since I was a little girl!

Little tiny seals Big Giant Walrus all honk-honk-honkin bubble-bubble-bubblin',
and we can stay all day! (Chorus)

Taking time to roll down the hill-we are on no time restriction and can enjoy the day anyway we want!

Well we stayed all day and I'm gettin' sleepy, sittin' in the car gettin' sleep sleep sleepy
Home already gettin' sleep sleep sleepy, 'cause we have stayed all day.

Napping in the Ergo

We been to the zoo zoo zoo, so have you you you
You came too too too, we been to the zoo zoo zoo

Cousin Carson joined us today!

MOMMY'S TAKIN' US TO THE ZOO  BEACH TOMORROW!

Jaws

Zoo BEACH tomorrow, zoo BEACH tomorrow!
Mommy's takin' us to the zoo BEACH tomorrow, and we can stay all day!

And it's true.  We are going to the beach today!

Tut's Treasures vs. The Terrible Twos

We finally went to the Pacific Science Center to see Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs.  Here is the story of how a regular two year old managed to ruin his mother's only chance to see the artifacts that are on display for the last time in North America.

It all started on the way to Seattle, when Daniel decided to join the car sick club (we're up to four members!).  It seems that every time we need to go somewhere in the morning, someone has to throw up in the car.  They usually outgrow it by the time they are 8 years old.  But they are the reason I don't like to travel without Ziploc bags.  And it's always oatmeal.

Shane and Fiona

We got to the science center on time, but we were told they made a mistake and we had to wait 30 minutes to get our tickets.  This gave me time to hand wash Daniel's shirt in the bathroom and try to dry it with paper towels.  I brought extra pants for him, but not an extra shirt.  I was amazed that he had managed to throw up down the inside of his shirt, even with his seat belt on. 

Ian and Lula

Then it was time to enter the exhibit.  I was pleased to see that we were in the first of three groups to go in.  We went through the three security checkpoints (no photography or video, food or drink) and were brought into a room where they shut the doors.  The guard explained that once we were in the exhibit, there was no exit.  Once you exit, you don't get back in.  At this point, Daniel started acting up.  I had an emergency exit plan in place.  I would take the three youngers out while Mark stayed in with the school aged kids.  But we hadn't even gone in yet and I already had a problem.  Mark gave me that look and hissed, "There is something seriously wrong with this kid.  He must be really sick!"  I hissed back, "If he is sick, there is no way I'm going to Ferndale to help Ami!"  He put Daniel down and I saw at once what his problem was.  I took him to the guard at the door and said, "We technically haven't entered the exhibit yet and my two year old needs to pee.  Can we come back with the next group?" He looked at me and looked at Daniel and hemmed and hawed and Daniel started to really dance...so he agreed and let us out.  Problem solved, right?

WRONG!

This is when Daniel and I played tug-o-war all the way to the bathroom.  "I want to stay with Daddy! I want to stay with Daddy!" he screamed while I argued, "No, you have to go potty!" while everyone in line stared at us.  In the bathroom we argued some more.  He told me to leave.  I left.  I asked if he was finished, he yelled, "NO!"  He missed his target and hit my skirt, the wall, and the floor and cried.  I tried to persuade him to go see Daddy again.  Nope.  He was in serious two year old stubborn denial.  And I was missing my field trip.

Evie and Daniel

We finally finished his business and got back into the exhibit.  I met Mark and the kids in the second of ten galleries.  Gallery sounds big and intimidating, but they were really just little rooms with dramatic lighting.  Daniel was happy to see his Daddy and behaved...for about three minutes.  Then he refused to move.  He didn't want to walk and he didn't want to be carried.  He wanted us to leave and he wanted to stay.  We managed to get him into a hallway between two galleries and then he flat out refused to budge.  Mark and I turned the corner and had a quick argument about hauling him kicking and screaming out of the exhibit.  We decided to send Mark on with the four older kids and I would stay hidden and watching until Daniel decided he wanted to join his family.  Normally in a store I walk away and expect them to make the right choice.  I don't beg, bribe, discuss, or reason.  I walk away.  But I couldn't do that there.  I would peek around the corner every few seconds and Daniel would be looking forlornly at the floor like a lost child.  Every few minutes, a concerned mother would look alarmed and mention something about calling security.  I was forced to peep around and admit that he was mine, which would give up my position to Daniel-and he dug his heels in deeper.  We were getting nowhere with this, so I went back to him and asked, "Do you want to go see dinosaurs or butterflies?"  (Remember, with two year olds you need to give them a choice, not a yes/no question...and anyone with a two year old can attest that any question can be answered with a NO!)  Daniel answers butterflies and we are on our way...for ten feet.  A gentle reminder about butterflies gets him going again and even all the way up the ramp to the important display.

Parents of the Year 2012

At this point we need to pass a security guard.  Daniel quits walking again and I leave him...again.  I tell the security guard that I'm leaving Daniel there until he can decide to walk with me and don't worry, I'm going to hide in the shadows behind him and not really leave.  The security guard, bless his heart, tries to play bad cop with a shiny badge with Daniel.  But Daniel doesn't have any knowledge or experience with cops with shiny badges and doesn't believe he needs to do what he says.  It was kinda fun watching this guy try to reason with a two year old.  Daniel totally won.

Next gallery, Daniel held my hand and walked five paces before he stopped walking and made me drag him for a few paces.  "You can't drag a child by his arm in public!" my husband scolded me.  "I can't spank him either! Come on, let me drag him kicking and screaming out of here! This is no fun! He has pushed me to the outer limits of my patience.  I have never been this far!!!"  Mark scoops him up and manages his wiggling and complaining while we make it through the last two rooms and leave.

Guess what Lula was doing this whole time? Sleeping peacefully and sweetly in the Ergo (thanks, Tracey).

Mark totally earned that candy bar!

We had some time to kill before our IMAX movie, so we headed to see the dinosaurs and butterflies.  In the lobby was a display of:

Guess what? We so totally have some of that stuff from when Mark came and saw the exhibit in 1978!  We have the book and a bunch of postcards, but the necklace is lost.

 Before we got to the dinosaurs (I remember when they were new in the 1980's), I warned Daniel.  "Watch out, Daniel. The dinosaurs are going to eat you!"  He saw one move and hopped right out of the stroller to run away.  Mark scolded me, but I said, "He totally deserved it."  A few seconds later he was saying hi to each dinosaur and introducing them to his Daddy and sister "Nina."

The Good Kids

After dinosaurs, I took Fiona and Daniel to the little kids area while Mark took the older kids to see the other exhibits.  Daniel was acting normal again and I watched him, trying and trying to refill my patience pitcher.

The last fun thing happened when the seagull tried to eat his sandwich and he screamed.  That seagull was persistent! Mark had to protect the little ones until lunch was over.  At this point we argued whether or not we would go to the IMAX movie.  I wanted to go, Mark didn't.  He didn't want to have to leave with Daniel in the middle of the movie or have him make a bunch of noise.  I didn't want to waste the money we paid for the tickets.  He won when he pointed out the movie started ten minutes ago and they don't admit late attenders.  At this point, we parted ways and I went to Ferndale and he went home...

I'm not going to take Daniel into public for a very long time.  Except for Zoo Lights.  And to see Santa.