My Little Cook

Kenyon decided he was going to make dinner one night.  He made pancakes and they turned out great!  I was very impressed.

Cooking his pancakes.

Yummy!

Maycee enjoyed them.

The Fruit Loop

On October 8th, we headed out to do the Fruit Loop again.  We went last year with Pete's mom and had such a great time, we decided to have it be an annual trip.  We started our day with a yummy lunch along the Columbia river.  It was a little cool, but still fairly warm and it was a gorgeous day!  We first went to Pearl's Place and bought some pears and tried some of their free samples.  The peaches were so good.  We then went to Rassmussen farms and looked at their interesting pumpkin museum, played some pumpkin bowling, went through the corn maze that had a fairytale story you read along the way and ate some popcorn.  We then went to Packer Orchards and Bakery and got some yummy cookies.  I just love their cookies and enjoyed every bite!  We then went to Kiyokawa farms and had a great time playing in their fort, picking apples from their trees, and going on hay ride/tour.  We ended our day at the Draper Girls Farm stand.  We always get their unpasteurized apple cider and swing on their gigantic swing.  It was such a great day and I can't wait for next year!  I especially can't wait to eat some more of those cookies!

The Columia River

 

Rassmussen Farms

 

Kiyokawa Orchards and Farm

 

 

Draper Girls

  

 

 

Brandon's all about me

 For EXCEL, Brandon had to do a black and white picture project about himself.  He had so much fun taking pictures and putting this project together.  I helped him get it into video form and Pete put the music on for him, but other than that he did it all himself.  Click on his name below to see his video.

Brandon Phelon

Accident Prone

My Shaylee is the most accident prone of my children.  She is always falling, scraping her knees, falling off her bike, tripping, slipping... you name it, this girl does it.  She has had stitches in her head, fallen off the kitchen counter and hit the cupboard door with her legs straddled-the cupboard door broke and she had one sore private area for a few days, she goes to the nurses office regularly.  I get calls a few times every month from the school that all start with ... "Mrs. Phelon, this is so and so from the school, don't worry everyone is okay, we just wanted to let you know that Shaylee was playing and hit her head."  They then continue from there to tell me the details of how it happened.  Knocking heads with another child, falling off the monkey bars and so on.  They have to call anytime a child hits their head.  I have NEVER once gotten a call because Kenyon or Brandon hit their head.

I wish I had kept all of Shaylee's nurse notes from last year.  I bet there was close to 50.  Yes, I said 50!  She is on a first name basis with Michelle in the front office.  I am sure she will be the first of my kids to brake a bone.  It makes me laugh because with three brothers you would think it would be one of them who was always getting injured, but no it's my very girly, very active sweet little girl.  Here is a picture of her legs in September.  This was after she had crashed on her bike, then her scooter and for the cherry on top biffed it while running.  She is such a gentle, calm, demure, and graceful child!  NOT!!!! :)

Jaron's first day of preschool

On September 8th, Jaron had his first day of preschool.  I was so nervous for this day because Jaron is my little boy who just loves a routine and schedule.  He doesn't like anything new or change at all.  I knew it was going to be hard for him to be separated from his mommy.  He is also a big time mommy's boy.  He ADORES me and I return that adoration.  It was so hard for me to say goodbye to him and leave him at school that day.  He did such a good job and didn't cry at all.  He was very nervous, but he stayed and didn't cry.  I was so proud of him because I know it was so hard for him.  Now that he has been in school for over two months he is still loving it!  Yahoo!  But, I do miss him when he is gone.

 

Cheese!

The backpack is as big as him!

Oh my poor nervous boy in his classroom.

Labor Day Weekend at the beach

The Saturday of Labor Day weekend was gorgeous and so we headed to the beach!  We went to Pacific City where we spent the day basking in the sun and enjoying the warm weather plus no wind!  It is so rare to have a warm day with no wind on the coast.  It was such a great day.  We built sandcastles, climbed the big dune, ran in the surf and sunbathed.  It was so great.  We also met another family and enjoyed chatting with them.

Building a sand castle

Shaylee playing in the sand with her new friend

Buried in the sand

Oops! Moo fell face first in the sand

She is so adorable

The boys built a barrier for the waves that kept coming up and flooding our sunbathing area

Daddy and baby girl

Jaron

Cutie pie

Surfing on the sand!

Shaylee at the top of the big dune looking at the gorgeous scenery

Maycee with her shades

Nap time!  Too bad she just didn't want to nap

After we left Pacific City, we headed to Tillamook and ate some cheese samples, some ice cream samples and then indulged in our favorite ice cream.  It was such a great day and we had so much fun.  It was the best way to officially end our summer.

First Day of School

August 31st brought us the first day of school.  It happened so fast and I was not ready to have them gone from home all day so soon.  I do love having my kids home.  Brandon and Shaylee were super excited to start school, but Kenyon, not so much

Brandon is in 5th grade. His teacher is Mr. Nadal and Mrs. Tendler

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Kenyon is in 4th grade.  His teacher is Mr. Lamp and Mrs. Williams

Shaylee is in 1st grade. Her teacher is Mrs. McKee

Outside his classroom

In her classroom

Kenyon was mad at me, so a fake smile I get!  He didn't want to be dropped off last!

Happy Birthday, Pete!

Pete's birthday was on a Saturday this year, so we decided to do something fun and different for his birthday.  We headed to the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.  This is an old mill from the 1800's that makes fresh flour and is powered by a water wheel.  It is pretty cool.  The day we were there, the workers had all made corn bread and were giving out samples.  There were some good corn breads in there.  It was in a gorgeous area with some really pretty scenery.  We all had a good time except for Jaron who was nervous about the dog that was roaming around.

 

 

 

Everyone at the covered bridge

Jaron's gone missing!

He was too scared to stand by the bridge anymore.  He thought a car would run him over!

We went out to dinner at "On the Border"  for his birthday dinner.  It was the kids first time being there and they loved it!  My kids really like Mexican food.  Then we went home and opened up presents and had donuts and ice cream.

  

 

 

  

 

 

The next day I made him some Andes mint cupcakes and we had those with a few friends over.