Do the Puyallup!

The Puyallup Fair is now called the Western Washington Fair.  However to me, it will always be the Puyallup Fair.  I love going to the fair and having kids has brought on a new dimension to loving it.

Sunday, Cannon and I spent the day at the fair.....just the two of us.

We had so much fun!
And we were so very tired by the time we left!

This year I bought a dizzy pass online for Cannon which meant he could ride as many rides as he wanted all day long.  This is the only way to go since it costs $3.50 or more per ride without the pass.  Cannon went on every single ride he wanted to, some more than once.  He went down the giant slide three times!  I loved being able to say, "Yes" whenever he said, "Can I go on that ride?"

We arrived shortly after the gates opened and both enjoyed a scone!  (You can't go to the fair without having one!)  Then we walked around the rides, checking out the ones Cannon really wanted to go on.  The rides opened at 10am and Cannon didn't have to wait hardly at all.  He rode the motorcycles first and then headed for the roller coaster.  I loved watching the smile on his face while on the rides.  You could tell he was having so much fun and that made me happy!

We ate corn dogs for lunch, bought some lemonade and shared a caramel apple for dessert.

Between rides, we went through the petting zoo and Cannon got to pet goats, sheep, a rabbit, a bird, a chicken and more.  We also stopped by and saw the mama pig with her 11 babies and saw the humongous cow, weighing in at almost 2500 pounds.

We also spent some time at Pioneer Farms where Cannon learned to wash clothes by hand, grind wheat and sift flour, cut carrots, churn butter, grate cinnamon and cut wood.

Another great activity Cannon participated in was a kid tractor pull. There were small peddle tractors that pulled a trailer with weight in the back.  Cannon made it through the first round with a "full pull" and got to 21 feet on his second try, pulling 100 pounds.  I was very proud of him for getting out there and trying.  He was nervous and even told me he changed his mind after we had signed up.  But he stuck it out and it was a great experience for him.

After hitting a few more rides, we headed out...but not before stopping for some yummy ice cream and getting a bag of scones to share with everyone at home.

I loved every minute of my time with Cannon.  Today was all about him and I enjoyed it so much!

Enjoying every moment!

Racing Around the Yard

We haven't had the three wheelers out all summer!
ALL SUMMER.....really?

Well, Cannon loved riding around the yard on the three wheeler and Colson couldn't wait to go for a ride! There were big smiles on everyone's faces.

Hopefully we'll get these out to "play" more often before the weather changes for good.

Enjoying every moment!

Hello First Day of School

Another first day of school.

Many, many, many, many for me. 

The third for Cannon.

This year Cannon started Kindergarten!  We are all very excited....with the excitement ranging in levels depending on which family member you ask.  :)  

Cannon was admittedly nervous the night before saying he didn't know his teacher very well and didn't know what he was going to do at school.  However he was great when I dropped him off at his classroom and again when I saw him at lunch.  After school he said the best part of the day was "triple recesses!"  (of course!)  He told me they "went to library", he ate all of his lunch, got "drenched" during the last recess, "rocked out" to Pete the Cat and "drew an apple with a worm."  He loved coming back to the room with me after school.  

Cannon and his teacher, Mrs. Webster

It's going to be a great year!

Enjoying every moment. 

Hike Up Mount Peak

A couple of weeks ago I hiked Mt. Peak in Enumclaw for the first time.  A group of us met to hike as a fundraiser for my teaching partner. She is walking in the 3-Day Walk for breast cancer in September.  

Taking the kids wasn't planned.  I knew Colson wouldn't be able to hike it and it would just be easier without kids.  However that didn't workout as planned.  So the boys came with me.  

Cannon was an awesome hiker!  He headed up with a couple of older boys (only a little older) and I barely saw him.  I was proud of him!  Colson walked about 1% of the time and I carried him the rest of the way.  I got one heck of a work out with an added 30 pounds!  

The way down the trail was much more difficult then I expected because it was steep.  Cannon fell a couple of times and I fell twice, both times carrying Colson.  Both times, my feet just slipped out from under me and I fell on my butt.  However the second time I sprained my right ankle pretty bad.  Thank goodness my friend Lex was with us.  She took Colson and two other people from our group came and helped me down the rest of the way.  I ended up at urgent care the following day with a walking boot and orders to stay off of it for two weeks.  :(  Boo!

The hike up was great!  The results at the end, not so much.  

Enjoying every moment.  

Random Shots

The final day of August has arrived.  There is always a lot that is happening around here.  There are always pictures taken that have stories behind them that I had hoped to tell. So here are a few random shots from August and a small story to go with each one.

I know I have a few of photos that are similar to this one.  Colson loves donuts and many times after church we will stop and get each boy a donut.  They always pick out the chocolate one with sprinkles. Colson LOVES donuts and usually won't share even one bite.  As you can see from the picture, he always has "leftovers" on his face.  So. Darn. Cute. 

We had an extra bike over for Karin to ride when she was here.  After she left, Cannon got to ride with Chris when he took the bike back to the neighbors house.  (This was the motorcycle she actually bought from Dan and Claire.)  

A little treat after swimming!  Every once in a while, we will stop and get an ice cream cone or a hot fudge sundae after swimming.  I remember how hot it was on this day and the ice cream tasted so very good! 

Colson has really enjoyed using scissors and cutting up paper into little pieces.  He has improved his cutting with how much practice he is getting!  lol!  

Enjoying every moment!

Ice Cream Social

Tonight was the annual Ice Cream Social at school where we get to meet all of our new students and Cannon gets to meet his new teacher!

Cannon was nervous this morning.  Nervous for the unknown.  But after meeting Mrs. Webster and spending some time in his room, his nervousness has turned to excitement for the new school year!  Cannon found his cubby, found his seat and saw some friends from last year!

I met 23 of my 25 students today and it's going to be a fabulous year!  I'm excited to have many students I taught in first grade!  I can't wait until Tuesday.

Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Anderson for being here to stay with Cannon after I had to leave to go back to my room.  They hung out in the classroom, got some ice cream, played on the playground and finally made it back to my room.  Thank goodness for them!

Great afternoon!

Cannon hanging out in his new classroom!

A bit blurry, but it's all we got for now....Cannon, Mrs. Webster and Colson!

Cannon showing off his skills on the rings!

Grandpa helping Cannon across the bars. 

Having ice cream in the gym.

Enjoying every moment.

Drawing

Cannon has loved drawing for a long time. 

Colson is just learning how exciting it can be. 

I love how creative each boy can get.

I love how proud they are of their drawings. 

I love how they like to share their pictures with us.  

Warms my heart to watch them.

Enjoying every moment.