Category: Out and About

This afternoon we headed to our local library to get Isabel her first library card. She’s been to the library before but this time was different because she can now read her own books and pick them out herself. She was excited to get inside…

Once inside she went up to a librarian (on her own!) and asked her if they had any “Judy Moody” book by Megan McDonald (her new favorite character). The library had about 6 or 7 books on the shelf. She picked out 1 and then we headed over to another section to get a “Sophie” book by Lara Bergen. We also discovered a section divided into holidays (Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentines, etc.), from this section, she picked out a Amelia Bedelia Christmas book as well.

After deciding to get 3 for now, we headed over to the information desk to get a card. I had to get an account first and then add Isabel under my account. She was so excited!!! After checking out her books, we headed home. She can keep her books for 3 weeks, but I think we’ll be heading back before then to get new ones!

She got to pick her own design of card. She chose a flower, while I chose the dragonfly. She can check out 100 books on her card, but I’m not going to tell her that!

The hunt for the right Christmas tree began after school today. We picked up Isabel, stopped and got some lunch before heading to our local Christmas tree farm.

The Christmas Tree Farm barn.

The Farm has 6 different species of Christmas trees available: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Grand Fir, Turkish Fir, Noble Fir and Norway Spruce. The first year, we didn’t get a tree but have gotten our Christmas tree from here for the past 2 years! Last year we got a Douglas Fir, very soft and full. This year, we decided to get something different. After speaking with the owner, we decided on getting a Grand Fir, which is the most fragrant of trees!

Which way should we go??? Norway this way. Fraser over there. Douglas that way. Norway back there. We got to find those Grand Firs!

What a gorgeous day to go hunting!

Heading back to see the Fraser firs. They are an O.K. looking tree, stiff branches for holding those heavy ornaments but not very smelly…

What a beauty! It would work… seriously!
It would just have to sit in the middle of the front room and it would take up the whole room!

Isabel found a “cross” laying on the ground.

O.K. this is more our size. This one looks good… or not.

We headed clear over to the other side of the lot (all those trees begin to look the same!) before stopping at the bathrooms and coming back to this first area again. Gino spotted a perfect tree but got there to late; another family was cutting it down! So we keep hunting…

We found it!

Getting down to work.

Trying to lift our tree.

Can you drag it back for us? Use some muscle!

Our fresh kill. Our hunt this year was a 7 1/2 ft. Grand Fir. It’s a beauty!

Getting a good shake and getting tips on how to make the most of our fragrant catch (pop the pimples!).

After payment and hauling it to the truck, we stopped by the beverage table in the barn for some delicious hot apple cider to warm us up! We enjoy this place and what a great way to build memories during this time of year! Let the decorating begin….

Tonight we headed to the Tacoma Dome for Winter Jam. We saw 10 artists all for the price of $10 at the door. Sweet!

Waiting patiently for the concerts to begin.
She did a great job tonight (listening and obeying), even staying up way past her bedtime!

As we walked into the Dome, we spotted Bob and Larry from VeggieTales and Isabel didn’t want to stop by and say hi and get a photo.

Winter Jam, created by Newsong, has been held along the east coast for the past 12 years. This is the first year the tour has been west, with 11 concerts/cities planned for the tour. We are lucky to live close enough to see the show!

The pre-jam show began with Patrick Ryan Clark (didn’t get a photo), followed by For King & Country, and Dara Maclean. Followed by speaker Tony Nolan (great speaker!) before the main show.

For King & Country.

Dara Maclean.

The main show featured artists KJ-52 (didn’t get a photo), Fireflight (didn’t get a photo), Matthew West, Newsong, Red, Kutless (got a photo but it was blurry!) and Newsboys.

Red. I didn’t like them the first time I saw them and still don’t like them. Gino likes them though. Isabel really liked their “show” with pyrotechnics.

Newsong.

Matthew West. I really liked his “show” and songs. We got his latest CD after the show.

The last group to perform was the Newsboys. Isabel really enjoyed their “show” and the spinning drummer and “flying” guitar and keyboard player!

After paying, we stop at the maze entrance to get instructions and then step into the maze…

Our map. Very cute and not scary! So glad for this.

Our map of the maze.

The blue lines are paths. We were told to find 6 mailboxes with hole punches. We had to match the hole punch with the symbol along the edge. Get the 6 punches and you get a secret word. Easy enough!

Before heading into the corn.

Heading down the path in the corn.

We ended up on a raised platform at one point and got to see the maze at a higher elevation. It was huge! There was another raised platform along the back of the maze but we never saw it again. There was also what looked to be a pyramid, never got to see that up close either! We had to have been in here an hour.

We found our first mailbox, with the pharaohs.

Isabel didn’t like this pharaoh but she at least stood by it for a picture.

Our first punch was a “staff”.

Onto the next one!… we never did find other mailbox. We ended up outside of the maze at one point and even got to see a large coiled burlap snake in a huge “wicker” basket. That was cool to see but no other mailboxes. I got so turned around after walking through one of many dark tunnels. Have to give the farm credit though, they have a great corn maze and the pumpkins are a fantastic price too!

Our dirty pumpkins need a bath!

Getting a good scrubbing.

Isabel with her pumpkin. I think she likes it.

Our pumpkins. We’ll carve them later in the week.

This morning after church we headed down to the valley and into a pumpkin patch. We didn’t realize how popular the place would be on a Sunday. However it didn’t seem at all busy as we looked around. The smells were wonderful, mixed with roasted corn, caramel apples, dirt, and crisp air. We took our time looking around at first and then headed into the corn maze to get lost! Enjoy!

 

We were lucky enough to get parking right along the driveway of the farm. We only had to walk through the gate and back to the entrance.

We headed under the covered area first to see all the different gourds and squash. So many varieties!

Chilacayote squash or fig-leaf gourd.

Heirloom French squash. Very knobby looking.

Cinderella pumpkins.

Sweet dumpling squash.

Didn’t see the name for this squash. Very different then the ones above.

Pink banana squash.

Knucklehead pumpkins.

We visit the pumpkin house and get a quick photo. Before moving on to the pumpkin patch. I should have had Gino take a picture of Isabel and I… oh well.

Heading out into the pumpkin patch, where giant spiders are waiting to greet us. The spiders were made from hay bales and PVC pipe.

Since this was such a big trip, I’ll break it up into 2 postings. We headed over to the tractor trike races and the rope maze. Neither one of these appealed to Isabel but she did want to go through the HUGE corn maze. So we headed over and got in line.

Today was our friend Makayla’s birthday and since her birthday was a week day her Mom celebrated with a little party with friends and family. Enjoy!

After having a bit of play time and chatting time for the adults, we started the party off with a game of Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and guess who won???…

Isabel was the one to put the tail on the donkey!

A quick hug before cupcakes! So cute together.

The party crowd before we sing Happy Birthday to Makayla!

All the kids enjoying their cupcakes before heading inside to open gifts.

The last gift to be opened was from Isabel who got her a Strawberry Stylin’ doll, hair accessories (clips and bows) for Makayla, a homemade flower, and a giant colored picture.