Sunday, September 13, 2009
September 13, 2009 - Playtime after apple picking
After apple picking we headed to the picnic area. Once we'd eaten lunch the boys played, and played, and played.
September 13, 2009 - Gizdich Ranch
Today we went apple picking at Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville.
We got completely carried away and ended up picking 29lbs of apples!
We got completely carried away and ended up picking 29lbs of apples!
September 12, 2009 - The Joys of Boys
Leave 2 boys to entertain themselves for a few minutes and this is what happens - who needs toys when you can wrestle on the sofa....
Saturday, September 12, 2009
September 11, 2009
Today's was Ben's field trip, in a moment of madness I'd volunteered to be a driver/chaperone. I ended up with 5 very noisy boys in my car (and another Mom). The trip was to ride on CalTrain to Palo Alto, go to a park for lunch/play, then the train back to the station. The night before we did a search online to check where the station was located, I quickly glanced at the directions and was pretty sure where we had to go - big mistake. We ended up at the Santa Clara Station, when we should have been at San Jose. Ooooops. Turn the car around, head over to the right station, lots of parking spaces (good sign), where was the machine to pay for parking? I was told it was in the station - OK - no problem - every machine I tried was broken, panic is setting in, this is my first field trip, I can't miss it. I finally found a working machine, went outside to join the kids - no kids. I ran to a train, wrong train, it was going to Los Angeles. Then another Mom ran to me - quick Lucy - the train is leaving - follow me. Not a good start to the trip.
Once on the train you wouldn't believe the noise level, 2 classes of very excited 6 year-olds, already some of the parents looked frazzled.
Trying to take a photo of Ben was almost impossible, he thought when I put the camera to my eye it meant he had to hide, pull a goofy face - you name it, he did it. Out of the close to 100 photos I took, these are the only OK ones - and even those aren't great.
Once in Palo Alto we walked a couple of blocks to a beautiful park. There was a great climbing wall, which Ben (with help from a Dad) managed to climb up.
I was terrified one of my 5 kids would wander off, and I soon learned trying to watch them all was impossible. Time for lunch, we walked to the picnic area - the sound level decreased dramatically (even if it was only for about 5 minutes while the kids munched on lunch). Back to the play area for an hour. Then it was time to leave, but before we left we had to do a final bathroom break. You have no idea how much fun a public bathroom is - almost every boy came out soaked - washing hands meant throwing water at each other. Not to mention, herding the kids from the furthest area of the playground to the bathrooms meant they had to stop at each climbing frame/rocker/spinning bars - aaaggghhh.
Back at the station the teachers produce lollipops for all the kids - very smart - kept the little people busy for a few minutes. Of course, the train was running a little late and as one of the teacher's said, 5 minutes for a tired 6-year-old is like an hour. Oh, they did all find one area to entertain themselves. Between the 2 ticket machines each kid insisted on sniffing the disgusting smell where the homeless people pee.
Back at school, I didn't realize how tired I was until my kids were back with the teacher. I don't know how teachers do it.
Once on the train you wouldn't believe the noise level, 2 classes of very excited 6 year-olds, already some of the parents looked frazzled.
Trying to take a photo of Ben was almost impossible, he thought when I put the camera to my eye it meant he had to hide, pull a goofy face - you name it, he did it. Out of the close to 100 photos I took, these are the only OK ones - and even those aren't great.
Once in Palo Alto we walked a couple of blocks to a beautiful park. There was a great climbing wall, which Ben (with help from a Dad) managed to climb up.
I was terrified one of my 5 kids would wander off, and I soon learned trying to watch them all was impossible. Time for lunch, we walked to the picnic area - the sound level decreased dramatically (even if it was only for about 5 minutes while the kids munched on lunch). Back to the play area for an hour. Then it was time to leave, but before we left we had to do a final bathroom break. You have no idea how much fun a public bathroom is - almost every boy came out soaked - washing hands meant throwing water at each other. Not to mention, herding the kids from the furthest area of the playground to the bathrooms meant they had to stop at each climbing frame/rocker/spinning bars - aaaggghhh.
Back at the station the teachers produce lollipops for all the kids - very smart - kept the little people busy for a few minutes. Of course, the train was running a little late and as one of the teacher's said, 5 minutes for a tired 6-year-old is like an hour. Oh, they did all find one area to entertain themselves. Between the 2 ticket machines each kid insisted on sniffing the disgusting smell where the homeless people pee.
Back at school, I didn't realize how tired I was until my kids were back with the teacher. I don't know how teachers do it.
Monday, September 7, 2009
September 7, 2009
Today we went to Shoreline to the kite flying park. When we arrived we only saw one kite - and that was wrapped around a lamp-post - not a good sign. We attempted to get our kites in the air - and failed in our mission, so we decided to take a picnic lunch break then try again later. It worked. The wind picked up, we managed to get not 1, not 2, but 3 kites in the air!!!
Of course at one point there was only Bill and I flying the kites, Ben was laid on the blanket whining that he was too tired to stand up and fly a kite, and Jonathan refused to go anywhere near the kite. After threatening that the 2 of them could go to the car and sit by themselves they decided maybe they should start to have fun.
When the boys were stood next to each other I asked them to point and show me where the kites were....notice they're both pointing in completely different directions.
Of course at one point there was only Bill and I flying the kites, Ben was laid on the blanket whining that he was too tired to stand up and fly a kite, and Jonathan refused to go anywhere near the kite. After threatening that the 2 of them could go to the car and sit by themselves they decided maybe they should start to have fun.
When the boys were stood next to each other I asked them to point and show me where the kites were....notice they're both pointing in completely different directions.
September 6, 2009
Each morning this weekend we've taken the dogs to the reservoir, which is now almost completely dry. This is good news for the boys...there's lots of sticks and rocks to play with.
September 4, 2009
Jonathan agreed to help me wash my very dirty car - which he loved doing. He started off using a cloth, then decided it was more fun to cover his hands in bubbles and wipe them over the car.
Time to rinse he insisted on holding the hosepipe, yes, I also got soaked as he turned towards me (hosepipe in his hand) to say "look at me Mom".
This is what I got when I asked him to say "cheese" - next time I'll be more explicit in my request "say cheese with your eyes open"
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