Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday my dear son. I can't believe it's been two years since you were born. It's gone so fast! You've had quite a year. You amaze me with your ability to just roll with whatever mom and dad do. You travel and go new places so well. 

You've recently discovered trucks and love them all. Right now firetrucks and garbage trucks are your favorite. But you'll happily play with anything with wheels. You like to learn new things and to help mom and dad with whatever they are doing. 

You are very caring and empathic. You are very concerned about your friends new siblings. You always say hi to them and check on them while we play. If they cry, you are very concerned and make sure that the adults hear them. You like to feed your animals and you so a great job of sharing your blanket and binky with them and helping them go night night. 

I love watching you play when you are doing things that require small movements and concentration. You have gotten good at puzzles and always want to know how things work. My little engineer. 

You love to be active too. You are getting so good at gymnastics class. You jump so high! You've conquered your fear of the ring over the foam pit and swing on it now. You can almost do a foreward roll on the wedge by yourself. You still aren't a huge fan of the balance beam, but that's ok. 

You still like to sign, but you love to talk too. You work hard to learn how to saw things you are interested in. You know some complex words! You can generally put two words together and sometimes three. 

I know you have no clue yet about what a birthday is, but daddy and mommy will make sure you have an amazing day today. We love you so much sweet boy!!!

July 4th!

Happy Independence Day! Hopefully everyone had fun and safe celebrations. We are dressed quite patriotic here today. Hoping to go see the fireworks tonight but in true Seattle fashion we've gone from record breaking high temps to cold and rainy. We might have to settle for the televised version

Remlinger Video

Feeding the goats at Remlinger.

As usual, the video may or may not play on your iPad, iPhone, tablet, and so forth. If it doesn't work, try a computer. If it still doesn't work, let me know!

Remlinger Farms

There is a neat farm in Carnation called Remlinger Farms. They have u pick fruits, a huge fall harvest event, and really good produce and awesome handmade pies. I discovered that they also have a little theme park. Saturday seemed like the perfect day to check it out, as there was a slight threat of rain and no sun. We had gone the previous day to meet my friend's horse, so we really thought he'd enjoy the horse ride.

It rained a bit during our drive, but stopped once we got there. Our thought of going due to the weather was a great one! There was hardly anyone there for a weekend. Our first stop was horseback riding. I wasn't sure if he'd actually do it or if he'd be scared. He got right on, held on and loved his ride! I only had to correct his balance a few times as we went around corners. They have a neat little path through hedge fences that the kids get led instead of just in a circle. Of course one of us went with him!

Next we walked around and then found some antique cars to drive (really you just ride them on a track, but there was a steering wheel, so he thought he was driving). The cars are replica Model Ts that were actually built for the World's Fair in Seattle back in the 60s.

We rode on a cool steam railway. The engine is halfsize, but is a working steam engine. Lots of smoke and puffing, and an awesome whistle! There were goats and sheep to feed, other rides to go on, and an old school bus and firetruck to climb on. He really wanted to ride the rollerscoaster, but he was to short. There was also a hay maze and a bounce house, but we didn't make it there.

We checked out the shop before we left and got a yummy frozen pie to cook at home. It was fantastic!

The lack of crowds let us do all his favorite things a few times. He was so tired when we left he passed out in the car instantly. They are open all summer and I'm pretty sure we will head back again!

He looks very serious in most of the pictures, but I assure you, he is having a great time. When he is watching things or trying to figure out how it all works, he is very serious. Trains and cars are important serious business!

So happy

Looking for the train after hearing the whistle

Driving the car

Watching the roller coaster while waiting for the ride to start

No fear

Tractor!

On the school bus

Waiting for the train to move

Watching intently

Checking out the steam

Driving the firetruck. You can just see his head

Big steering wheel

Another horse ride

Here I go!

Coming back

I don't want to get off

Another train ride, front and center so we can watch how it all works

Saying choo choo

Hungry Sheep!

Touch a Truck Part 2

After he loved the first touch a truck event so much we decided to do it again. I read that a school in Monroe had an event the following weekend as a fundraiser. Instead of taking donations, they just charged admission. They had fewer trucks, but there was some different stuff than the event in Seattle. Jeff had plans for the day, so the Bean and I set out.

We arrived about midway through, but it was way less crowded. We got to play on all the trucks and cars multiple times. We got to sit in a firetruck, a garbage truck, a police car (and make the siren go!), a special Seahawks bus, some race cars, a backhoe, and a large riding lawnmower. There was also a horse and a pony. We wandered between all the different trucks and made it to the end of the event!

One of my friends lives near there and has three girls, the youngest being a little younger than the Bean. They happened to be home, so we got to pop by and say hi before heading back home. The Bean thought the whole day was great. We will have to watch for the events again next year.

In the back of a firetruck, with lots of other kids

Driving the garbage truck

In a drag racing car, he wanted me to get in with him

In a stock racing car

The riding lawnmower, a favorite!

Back of an army truck

On the lawnmower again

Backhoe

Sitting in the firetruck (he has acquired a sucker, hence the hand in his face)

Again, the sucker is to good to let go of for a picture

On the trampoline at my friend's house

Horses

A very good friend of mine has a horse and keeps her at a barn a little North of us. The Bean has been curious about these large animals, so we arranged to meet so he could check them out. Hes met a few horses before, but its always been at events and there have been lots of other kids wanting to meet the horses too.

We got to wander around the grounds of the barn and side on tractors and quad bikes as well as meet and give treats to lots of different horses. He loved all of them! We watched a little girl taking some riding lessons in the arena and he signed he wanted to ride next. We decided that might be a bit much for today, but after her lesson was done, Sadie, our friend's horse, got a turn to run in the arena. Watching her run was not what the Bean had in mind! He needed to be involved! Leanna put Sadie's harness back on and let the Bean help lead her around. He was so excited! This was big stuff, walking a horse! Sadie leaned over and gave him a good sniffing, which the Bean thought was funny. We walked and walked till his legs got to tired.

He did so well, next time we will have to let him ride her!

Touch a Truck Part 1

I heard about an awesome event called Touch a Truck. Its an event where lots of cool large trucks are parked at the kids get to look at them, touch them, and sit in the driver's seat. We figured there would be large crowds, but the thrill factor for the Bean would be worth it, so we set out. All the nearby parking was full, so we parked in the far away lot. The benefit to this, is that we got to ride on a cool trolley to the event.

As we figured, it was packed with kids. We arrived kinda in the middle of the event. Next year, assuming the Bean is still on his late schedule, we will show up later! With two of us, one of us could wait in the very long line to sit in something cool, and the other could wander with the Bean and check out other stuff. He is obsessed with garbage trucks when they come to get our garbage, so we started there. We didn't make it through all the vehicles, there were just to many and the lines were to long, but he had an awesome time. He got to sit in a garbage truck, a bus, a police car, meet a K-9 dog, a police horse, sit in a dump truck, and some other stuff. And ride a trolley both ways to the parking lot! We left about an hour before it ended and it was really emptying out. We learned the tricks for next year though!

Dressed for success! Tow truck on our shirt and our trucks diaper on! Of course it all has to match

The long line for the garbage truck

Driving the garbage truck

Daddy showing him stuff

In a dump truck

Dad helping

So happy!

Watching the trolley driver on the way back to the car. You can see his cool tattoo