Friday, August 16, 2013

August Happenings

This summer has flown by SO FAST! Soooo fast! I honestly can't believe that Grace will be starting preschool in just a couple weeks (and not just because I can't believe I actually have a PRESCHOOLER now). So before September finally sneaks up on us, here's a quick recap of some of our happenings this month.

A few weeks ago, we headed out to a local farmers market that we'd heard good things about called White House Fruit Farm...and we fell quickly in love. What's not to love about farm fresh produce, baked goods, a wide variety of butters, syrups, and treats, and the most delicious donuts in the world (especially they're famous blueberry...mmm...). Anyways, other than the (yummy) donuts, we also picked up some corn, peaches, and zucchini and it's been SO neat to eat locally grown food!

Bethany is getting to the age where she's playing more and more with Grace and it's so rewarding to see them having fun together.
One thing they've done lately is have some bus races around the house. Silly girls.



They've tried on costumes (which makes me SO excited for Halloween):

They've had piggy-back-ride races around the house (one of their all-time favorite things).
Bethany's always my little buddy for them and she squeals and shakes with delight and laughter when we chase Travis and Grace.



And they've played with some new outdoor toys that our elderly neighbors were VERY generous to give them (now that their only grandchild is too big for them).
It's so cute to see them playing house together.

And squealing and laughing as they go down the slide again and again.
This is Grace "smiling" for me. ;)

You may be wondering why this is happening in August since Grace's birthday was back in May, but, long story short...My parents were very kind and offered to get Grace a bike for her birthday. I had searched various stores and Craigslist for a bike for her back in May, but although she SAID she wanted one, she never really showed enough interest in them. Finally we figured out that she was intimidated by a big girl bike but would love a tricycle. So, after hunting down the same kind that she rides at the park and loves (and some shipping drama that in the end meant getting it for a great price), she finally got her bike last week!

She was so excited to see the package arrive from FedEx and help dad put it together!

She even got out her own little toy tools to help. :)
Grace on her new ride:

One happy trike owner:


It's been a fun month so far and we're looking forward to some more fun adventures before school begins!

Family Garden Day

The stars aligned and Travis had this morning off, which was perfect timing to be able to hit up a fun activity that's been on my wish list, and visit the Family Garden Day at Fellows Riverside Garden. It was SUCH a neat place! The purpose of the (free!) event is to get kids moving (with a little nature walk), and teach them more about healthy food and bugs through activities in the garden. Cool, huh?! 
 
We missed the first portion of the activity, which was searching for grasshoppers (the "Bug of the Day"). Here the girls are looking at the caught grasshoppers.
 
But we did get there just in time for a story time about nighttime animals and fruit. The kids sat on these little log seats underneath a canopy. :)

After story time, most of the kids followed a guide to go explore another section of the gardens, but being the girls' first time there, they wanted to stay and explore the Family Gardens instead.
Bethany LOVED the digging portion of the gardens:

And I loved this adorable gazebo! With the vines climbing up the sides and strings of beads strung from the top, I thought it was magical.
 
 

I couldn't help but use this opportunity to take some nature shots too, and these busy bees were kind enough to oblige me. ;)



 


And with pigs being my favorite animal, I couldn't resist taking a picture of these cute little guys either. Aren't they fun?!

Grace and I recently learned about how bees collect nectar from flowers, so it was fun to have that in mind as I was taking these pictures.



They had several cute little windmills around the garden:

The garden not only has flowers but fruits and vegetables growing as well. Bethany, Grace, and I walked through here while I pointed out lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, purple beans, and more. It was SO neat to see them all growing on their plants!
 
Bethany was kind enough to pose for me on this little butterfly bench for a few pictures (even if she didn't LOVE the idea ;) ).


 




 
 The activity also involved making a craft. Today's crafts were making a foam cricket or grasshopper, or making a musical instrument. The girls' were immediately drawn to the paint, so making a musical instrument it was.
 
These are the little drums that you put beads on yarn through so they'll make noise when you rub the handle between your hands. They both turned out really cute.
 
While they were finishing up their projects I snuck over to take a few pictures of this guy:




 

 
 The last activity (that we were there for) was harvesting vegetables and herbs from the garden. All the kids helped the guide harvest, and then were allowed to take samples of everything home. So neat, huh?! The girls were pretty distracted by the water bucket, but Grace did help pick a yellow tomato and some basil, which we got to take home.

Taking a few last shots before we left:

How much fun would it be to have a little girl's tea party at this butterfly and flower table?!



It was a fun event and something we'll definitely bring the kids to do again!!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

6 Year Anniversary

Our anniversary fell on a Sunday this year, so we decided to do a low key celebration at home on the day of (a late appetizer dinner, looking through wedding albums, and reminiscing about the last 6 years)...
 
 then go out a week later to really celebrate. I thought it'd be neat to make our anniversary date a re-creation (of sorts) of our honeymoon to Vancouver Island, B.C., and it turned out to be a lot of fun!
 
On our honeymoon we had gone to this cute little restaurant on the water where I got a burger and fries and Travis got fish and chips. So, we started the date by going to one of our favorite new restaurants...

...and getting some delicious vegan burgers (I got the "hula" and Travis the "pizza" burger with fresh salsa). So yum!

We had gone beach combing at a couple different beaches on our honeymoon as well, so we went with the water theme and decided to go paddle boating on the nearby Lake Newport.
Being responsible life jacket wearers. :)

We'd never been paddle boating together, and it was so nice to lazily paddle and float along the peaceful lake.
 
 
Can't you see why I married this man?! :)
 

A view of the lake from above:

Our last stop was a nod to our visit to the famous Buchart Gardens in Victoria; today it was the Fellows Riverside Garden in Youngstown. 6 fingers for 6 wonderful years:

 
It was both amazing and touching to see how the donations of generous people could turn this space into a beautiful community gardens. It's definitely a place we want to come and explore again!

Buchart had a lovely rose garden and it was fun to travel back in time to that as we walked through Fellows' rose garden today.
 
My shirt says "Me & You", which I thought was very appropriate for our date. :)

We have a plaque in our home that says "All this because two people fell in love." The "all this" of the past 6 years has equaled: a Bachelors degree (for me), a Doctorate degree (for Travis), 2 big moves (1 cross country, 1 cross state), 2 kids with 2 more on the way, and a million tiny more accomplishments and memories. It's been a crazy and amazing 6 years, and I can't imagine being on the roller coaster of life with anyone else but you, Travis. Thanks for being my everything. I can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with you!