Drew Takes Swim Lessons

Drew had only one short week (4 – 30 minute classes) of swim lessons this past summer.  They were his first lessons ever and he wasn’t entirely cooperative (even though he loved it).  I decided to sign him up for the first fall session and he was thrilled – he had lessons twice a week for five weeks and improved so much.

He did so well that he actually passed the P1 level which I didn’t really expect.  We’ll definitely need to sign up for another session this spring.

Preschool Field Trip to Remlinger Farms {Oct 5}

Oh, Remlinger!  Back when the girls were little we used to camp with friends each Memorial Weekend in Carnation and visit Remlinger Farms.  We’ve been back just once since moving here, but this was Drew’s first time.  How fun to go with his preschool buddies!

First up was the barn.  Drew was pretty reluctant to feed the goats.

Drew loved the hay maze.

He and Grey ran around in that thing for much longer than I’d have preferred.  Drew was good at hiding from Grey.

The pumpkin ride is a classic.

Drew and Grey were both very disappointed to have to share the controls when the boys went together.

And the mini ferris wheel, merry-go-round

Drew loved twirling in the barrels – so much so that he rode alone after his buddies were done.

Taking a little train ride around the property is a must.  We were lucky to sit next to Drew’s teacher, Mrs. Hammer.

There were a couple new rides in a little covered area.

The highlight of the day had to be the little Mine Twister roller coaster ride.  Drew and I went a few time together, but that was enough jerking around for me.  He and his buddies Beckett and Grey went over and over and over.  Drew sat in the front of the train without hesitation and grinned the entire time. 

We stayed the until basically the place shut down.  Such a fun-filled day with my boy!

September (Non-Sports) Wrap-Up

Fall is heavy on the sports in our house.  Even without Abigail being able to play anything this year it still keeps us busy, busy.  Aside from sports – here’s our September recap…

Sept 6 – MOD Pizza opened near Justin’s work and offered 50% off pizzas during their soft opening.  Of course we had to take advantage. 

Just a few weeks ago (Nov 17) we had our very own MOD Pizza open in Snoqualmie Ridge.  You better believe we took advantage of the discounted soft opening days and will happily support it even at full price.  Yum!

Sept 9 – Our annual ROA meeting didn’t land on the best weather day, but we can’t pass up a party that includes a free BBQ dinner, balloon hats, and all you can eat ice cream from the Schwan’s ice cream truck.  It was fun to have Abigail’s friend Megan with us.

Sept 14 – Since Abigail maxed out our insurance this year with her knee I was all about getting everything taken care of we possibly could – physical therapist, dermatologist, allergist, and any other –ist I can think of.  Today we hit up the allergist to check in on her food allergies.  While we waited there was a fun little toy Abigail and Drew played with.

They performed a blood test that came back positive to peanut, peas, walnut, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, cashew, macadamia, almond, brazil nut, shrimp, crab, lobster.  With a low reaction to egg, mollusks (clam), coconut and pine nuts.  They advised us that we could consider an oral challenge to the items she tested low on to see if she could integrate them into her diet.  I thought it would be great if we could try to get the egg off of her long list of allergies.

So we returned on Nov 17 for her egg eating challenge.  Abigail wasn’t thrilled about the whole having to eat straight up eggs, in small doses, spread over several hours.  We actually misunderstood just how long the process would take and both depleted our phones over the four hour long process.  It was worth it in the end because Abigail passed.  Bring on the eggs!

Sept 18 – Drew often comes downstairs wearing the craziest outfits.  Today it was feetie jammies underneath a otherwise normal outfit.

One day last week he came down in an old pair of Jason’s corduroy pants – backwards, with a glow in the dark, too small skeleton pajamas shirt (in December!)  I pointed out that his pants were backwards but Drew didn’t care.  He wore it all day even to the YMCA.  I figure if and outfit is that bizarre it must be obvious that he child self-dressed, right?

Sept 26 – Today would have been my Dad’s 88th Birthday and marks 19 years since his funeral.  Perfect excuse to enjoy some delicious peach pie in his memory.  Oh how I miss him!

Sept 28 – We had a gorgeous fall this year with unseasonably warm (and dry) temperatures.

Drew and his little friend Grey love playing outside when the weather is nice.

I truly love where I live!

Sept 30 – As we turned onto our street on the way home from soccer games today we spotted something running across the street.  When it stopped I was shocked to see a bobcat prowling along a neighbors porch.  I had my camera with me so I quickly took it out and had Justin roll down his window so I could take a picture. 

I posted it on our neighborhood facebook page and it quickly spread to a community wildlife page.  Pretty awesome / scary.  He did not look friendly at all.

Emerald Downs Date

When T-Mobile had free $10 Groupons in the app back in May we decided to redeem it for admission to Emerald Downs – a horse racing track down in Auburn.  We’d lived in Auburn for 10 years and never went so it sounded like something fun.  We thought it would be easy to find a time to go during the summer, but we couldn’t fit it in until the end of September.

It was fun to see horse racing in action, but to be honest we weren’t entirely captivated.  We stayed for three or four races and then called it good.  For fun we each chose a horse to win each race that we watched and Justin was pretty close to picking the last in each and every one.  Good thing he’s not a gambling man.

And they’re off! 

   

Our tickets also included $10 worth of food.  Let’s just say the facility is all around a little unimpressive – food included.

I thought the trumpeter was between races was pretty awesome.

After the racing track we somehow found ourselves at the Mercedes dealership in Fife.  This isn’t the first time we’d been there and it wouldn’t be Justin’s last either.  We started looking at cars back in April and Justin discovered the Mercedes GLC 300 while we were out looking at the Mercedes GLE 350 that I liked.  He much preferred the 300 over the 350 and felt like it was a car that fit his tall self wonderfully.  I called it ‘the bean’ cause it had a much rounder, car like look than the 350.  Problem is that it’s a Mercedes – which is expensive, but also it’s a Mercedes.  We are not Mercedes people and neither of us could quite get comfortable with the idea of driving a car around with that big ole emblem on the front of the car.  That certainly didn’t stop Justin from looking though, especially when this used version was on the lot for several months.

Rarely will be head south without hitting up some less expensive shopping options.  We  conquered Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club AND Winco – Score!