Our "santa" picture

Yesterday we set out to get our Christmas tree. We started with our traditional breakfast & treats at Starbucks. Our kids won the "make-the-biggest-mess" award and then headed out to find a tree.

Usually we go to a favorite Christmas Tree Farm, but on a whim we decided to check out the Adopt a Stream foundation near our house because we saw a sign that said "Live Christmas Tree Rentals."  We headed there and found a crowd of people scouting out there picks for the perfect tree - one that is potted and can be returned or planted in your own yard.  The official shopping didn't start till 10 am so we had a few minutes to check out the trees. There were several small ones, and about 30 tall spruce trees which everyone was eyeing.  

We decided we were going to get in line (the 2nd people in line!) and wait for the big go.  While standing in line, I plotted with Jason how to get the kids quickly to our tree and decided I would carry Emerson and Jay would walk quickly with Elliott.

 Finally, at 10 am, they released us with our tags to basically run to your desired tree and tag it for yourself. Although we were 2nd in line, other people took off toward the trees (it was not nearly as orderly as I had imagined), and so Elliott and Jason picked up the pace a bit. 

Jay guided Elliott and told him to pick whatever tree he wanted. As soon as Jay said that, Elliott immediately stopped and said "this one". We were like, are you sure?  Yep, he was. He was totally happy. We tagged our tree, then went inside for coffee, cider, candy canes and of course to meet Sammy the Christmas Salmon.

Emerson wasn't so sure about Sammy. 

 We didn't have far to go home (maybe 2 minutes), so we just plopped our tree in the van and took off.

Now the trick is keeping our little tree alive for the next couple weeks!  We accidentally watered it like you would water a regular cut tree and pretty much drowned it. But we have adjusted and are learning how to take care of our little tree. I think we should plant it and dig it up to use again next year! How frugal is that?! Jay suggested getting a tree every year there and then planting them behind our deck and gradually increasing our privacy barrier over the years....it would be so slow and subtle the HOA probably wouldn't notice....

First rain

After the first rain of the fall, we found our rain boots and went to make sure our puddle was still there.  

This summer, our roads were recovered with asphalt and I was really tempted to call the company and beg them not to take away our puddle. For two days, our complex was blocked off in random ways which resulted in us being unexpectedly trapped at home one day as they repaved. It looked like they were just laying a coating on top of our asphalt and not fixing any of the bumps, cracks or sunken areas (really, what was the point of "repaving" our roads I wondered?). 

So when it finally rain after such a dry summer, we went make sure our puddle was okay. 

And it was!

Within minutes, both boys fell into the puddle. Same body language, very different reactions!

And we played and played and played. And in-between pictures taking and Emerson screaming "car coming!),  I read my kindle (boy I love that thing).

Pumpkin Time!

It is truly fall when we get to bundle up, drive way far out into the country (you know, Snohomish) and then play at a real farm!  On Saturday morning, we meandered out to Bailey's Farm with our good friends and enjoyed a hay ride, a hay maze, kettle corn, toy tractors and of course, searching for pumpkins.  

Clearly the adults in the pic above know how to follow instructions. They are all looking at the camera.

Running on the hay bales. Brave (Elliott) and fearless (Emerson) boys!

Eco Spaceship

Elliott built an eco-spaceship this evening.  His explanation:  "the trees grow grow grow and control the ship and the lights turn on when its dark at night and and and and also um and also and the walkie talking can talk if there are any bad guys in trouble."

  

First Day of Preschool

Today was Elliott's first day of preschool. He appeared by my bed at 7 am already dressed and ready to go.

Emerson was really excited for preschool too...he didn't quite realize that only Elliott got to go.

He went right in, hung up his bookbag, sat on the carpet and told me it was time for me to go.

The only tears were from Emerson (although I did get a little choked up).  He was not happy at all to discover that he didn't get to go to preschool yet.

Budding Artists

We've been painting a lot around here ever since Emerson got some more paint for his birthday and Elliott had an official painting lesson from Aunt Kristi. Here Elliott is practicing mixing colors...and I guess Emerson is too in his own way.

In the next pic, Elliott just said something like, "hey, Emerson, did you know you have paint on your hands?" 

And Emerson was apparently shocked. And even more shocked to find out he had it on his stomach, legs and face. (not sure why he was so shocked as it happens every.single.time)

Klamath Falls

Fun from our trip to Klamath Falls

Rebellion

This is what you do when you're really exhausted but don't want to give the impression that you are obeying:

After we tuck the boys in to bed, Emerson gets up about a million times. Sometimes he's got that "I know I'm being naughty grin" and other times he is just wild.  Sometimes we'll send him back to bed and he'll give a dramatic "you're ruining all my fun" groan. Really, he's got that groan down pat. All he needs is an eye roll and he's an instant teenager.

The last few nights after we've sent him back to bed (again), we've checked on the boys once it got quiet  upstairs. Each time, we've found Emerson laying awake on the floor after wearing himself out...yet refusing to actually get in the bed.

3 Part Shower

This handsome boy had a big night tonight. So big, that I had to take a photo to remember his first big-kid night out. He's been talking about Star Wars for months....and Jay & I have been chatting a lot about whether he was ready to watch the first one, Episode 4.  Elliott's been doing his best to convince us that he is ready and understands that Star Wars people aren't real, that fighting isn't what we do in the real world, etc....We finally decided to introduce him to the Star Wars world.

So tonight was the night. And he was over the moon excited. To top it off, he's going to Jason's friend's house to watch it with two slightly older boys. And they all have Game Boys which Elliott has recently learned to use. He begged us to let him bring the game boy so he could sit with the big kids and play. Like one of them. A BIG KID.

So off they went and left me home with this other handsome boy. We played legos, had a snack, read some books and started to wind down for bedtime.  I thought I'd take a quick shower while he was distracted playing.

Shower Part 1

He soon joined me in the bathroom.  And proceeded to go through my necklace box which results in a big tangled mess. So I interrupted my shower and dealt with that. 

Shower Part 2

Minutes later he had taken off his diaper and was trying to us the potty. He didn't go, instead decided he needed  a drink of water from the bathroom faucet. While he was up there, he peed. All over the counter. And perilously squatted near the edge of the counter in a large puddle of pee, ready to slip off. So I stopped the shower again and wiped up the whole mess.

Shower part 3

I finished showering, finally. Got out. And that's when I realized I had wiped up Emerson's mess with my last clean towel.

Dream Come True

On Saturday, Elliott's buddy, Asher, invited us to go visit his paramedic dad's firestation.  You can see by the look on Elliott's face that he enjoyed the day very much!  Thank you Asher (and Scott)!

Emerson also had a great time. He loved climbing in and out of the trucks BY HIMSELF.  

We got to eat in their kitchen, see where they sleep and workout and even got to watch Scott and his partner go out on a real live call!  Elliott totally enjoyed the whole experience and proudly told a firefighter that he was going to be a firefighter when he grows up....maybe he will. He looked very much at home at the firestation.

Shop Till You Drop

Sometimes you're just too tired to keep going....Emerson decided to take a snooze while we were shopping for some very important movie candy and pizza. Of course he woke up in time to take part in movie night festivities. And then stayed up till 10 pm.

Developing a Love of Reading

I checked on the boys the other night before heading off to bed and this is what I discovered.

Elliott wanted to make sure Emerson had some reading material at bedtime.

Notice how neatly Elliott has stacked his books next to his pillow.

Eat Your Vegetables

It doesn't matter how you get the vegetables in, as long as they eat them.

Honey, what's this from?

This morning Jay found a knob or handle of some sort and asked me what it came from. 

I found it a few days ago and was wondering the same thing.

That's when Elliott piped up and explained that he removed it from our computer chair.

Actually, we discovered he removed the knobs from both sides of the chair. We're not exactly sure how...you need a screwdriver to remove them.

Clearly Elliott needs something to do with his time.  Jason bought Elliott his first DS game today: a hotwheels racing game. He's very entertained so hopefully the rest of our furniture stays intact.

Snip, snip

About a month ago, Elliott and Emerson had their first real hair cut from my mom's stylist (thanks, Debbie! You did an amazing job!)  I've been cutting their hair myself since a couple months old when I couldn't stand the long hair that grew down their necks under that inevitable bald spot that babies get. But I'm not a professional and the boys were way overdue for an official haircut.

Suckers provided a nice distraction and Emerson barely noticed the haircut:

Elliott didn't like the cutting around his ears too much but he did really well sitting still too:

 Handsome boys!