A Donkey & Some Apples

More pics from Fall Harvest Orchard

Pumpkins and Cows!

More pictures from Fall Harvest Orchard
Feeding corn to the cows.

Fall Harvest Orchard

This morning Parker had his hearing test and he passed. After that we decided to go to Fall Harvest Orchard since daddy had the day off. Parker was crabby 86% of the time we were there! He sat on tractors, fed animals, we went on a hay ride, picked some apples, and ran around. On the long drive home we stopped in Delano and ate lunch at McDonalds. Parker's favorite tractor!
They have big bins of corn that the kids can play in and roll around in and when you walk you would sink into the corn. Parker thought this was fun, especially after other kids joined him!
Parker and daddy feeding a goat.

Auntie Cathy

What a busy day we had today! We had our ECFE class this morning. Parker was a little out of sorts. I actually had to wake him up at 8:10 so we could get to class on time. During separation time he cried, but quickly recovered! Then Auntie Cathy came over and Grandma Jenny watched Parker so Cathy and I could go to the Mall of America. Parker just met Auntie Cathy yesterday for the first time, but today he was all interested in showing her every single truck and car he has. After we got home from the mall Auntie Candi and baby Paige came over and daddy took us all to the 10th Ave. Bridge to look at the 35W wreckage. Then we went to Broadway Pizza (the real reason Auntie Cathy flew 1800 miles to come to MN.) Anyway, Parker was all jacked up again today and wanted to be the center of Auntie Cathy's attention once we got back to the house. I think he really likes her!! Maybe by tomorrow he will have recovered from not getting a nap yesterday!

Family Reunion

Today we had our first ever Family Reunion! It was at my cousin's house in Fridley. The reunion was in honor of my 94 year old Grandma Marie (my mom's mom). There were about 50-60 people there and people came from Idaho, Washington, and Wisconsin. This was the first day that Parker did not have a nap, and I am here to tell you that it is the LAST day that Parker will go without a nap. He did pretty well at the reunion with only a few meltdowns, but at home, he was unbearable!This is Parker and his cousin Greta, she is 2 months younger than him. I think they are 2nd cousins, it's so confusing!
Here Parker is playing in Grandpa Duane's truck. I'm sure he messed up every button he could!
This is a picture of all of Grandma Marie's Great Grandchildren, and Candi is holding baby Paige who is a great, great grandchild!

Happy Birthday Grandma O

Today cousin Lee came over and spent the day with us. Parker kept asking for him all night last night and all morning. Maybe we shouldn't say things like "cousin Lee is coming over tomorrow" he just gets to excited. After dinner we went to Grandma & Grandpa O's to celebrate Grandma O's birthday. This is Grandma O and Parker playing with some toy trucks.

We had ice cream cake which Parker did really well with, but what he really wanted was Dibs, and he and Grandma kept putting them in the back of the dump truck.

N. Mississippi Park

Today while I was at work Parker and daddy went to Langton Lake Park in Roseville again. After dinner we all went to N. Mississippi Park in Minneapolis. I don't know what we are going to do once it gets to cold to go to Parks!!

Wild Rumpus

Today we went to Wild Rumpus bookstore in Minneapolis. Parker's friend Alex goes there a lot and that is how we heard of it. It is a children's bookstore and there are 3 cats and a chicken that just walk around the store. They also have some animals in cages, like chinchillas, ferrets, birds, frogs, lizards, tarantulas. They have some rats that live under the floor and there is an area that has plexi-glass over the floor and you can watch the rats. It was really cool! Parker pet the kitties and was very interested in the chicken until it pecked his hand. Then he didn't want anything to do with it! There are cool chairs all over the place to sit in and they have story time on Monday's. This is a HUGE Richard Scarry book that Parker loved. We wanted to get it for him but it was a little to expensive for an every day present!! Maybe for Christmas!
Here Parker found a book about cars and trucks and he sat down to "read" it. We ended up buying it.

After Wild Rumpus we went to Kylawn Park to play but it was to cold! Parker threw a fit because he didn't want to leave. After nap we picked up cousin Lee and Parker was soooooo happy to see him after 2 weeks.

Creekview Park

Tonight we went to Creekview Park in Minneapolis. Parker actually went down this huge slide by himself several times. We would always drive by this Park and tell Parker that we would someday stop there. It was pretty fun. They also have a skate park there and some kids were on skateboards and bikes and Parker thought that was pretty cool. Maybe he will fulfill my 20 year dream of having a little skater boy as a child!

Another Day, Another Park

We went to Timber Shores Park in Plymouth tonight after dinner. It was about 60 degrees out (just perfect if you ask us!) We tried taking several family photos, this is one of the better ones. We played on the equipment and threw rocks in the lake. It was lots of fun!

ECFE

Today we started our ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) class. It runs for 15 weeks every Monday for 90 minutes. It was a lot of fun! First we all play in a classroom for about 30 minutes, this includes free time where the kids can just run around and do whatever they want, there are lots of toys, paint, markers, cars, dolls. Then we sit in a circle and sing some songs. Then the parents leave the room for about 30 minutes while the kids play (there are 2 teachers in the room with them). We sit in a room next door and can see them through a 2-way mirror, in there we discuss parenting issues. After that we go back in the room with the kids and play again. The kids have a snack and play and have lots of fun!Parker's friend Alex is in our class and after class we played outside for a little over an hour. Parker and Alex were like best of friends, following each other around, screaming, laughing, copying each other. They had a blast!
When they finally got up Parker had a mouth full of rocks and Alex had rocks in his nose! Can't wait until next week! Of course Parker was on overdrive with all the new stimuli and other kids. Alex had a friend named Ivy there as well, and her and Parker got along great!! I think this will be really good for him, he isn't around other kids much.

Poked in the eye

Auntie Candi and Baby Paige came over today. Parker loves baby Paige. He loves to poke her in the eye. He kept kissing and hugging her. He was happy to see her. When they were getting ready to leave Parker had to see the truck, and sit in it. Man he is obsessed with cars and trucks!

Langton Lake Park

Tonight while I was at work Parker and daddy went to the Park and to Grandma & Grandpa O's.

Garbage Man

This is where you will find Parker on garbage pick-up day. He stands there almost all morning waiting for the various garbage trucks to go by. If he does leave his post, he will take off running to get back there if he hears a garbage truck driving by.

Water Baby

Went to Grandma Nan's tonight after dinner. It was a really warm day and they will be closing the pool for the summer next week. Park's is still not liking the big pool much. He prefers to stand at the side and throw things in the water. He loves watching daddy jump off the diving board though. We did get him to come in a few times, but he was very uncomfortable. He ate an ice cream sandwich, looked at the big truck in the yard, and got eaten by mosquitoes. What a great night! He even asked Grandma Nan if he could bring a rock home...she let him take 2. For those of you who don't know, he is obsessed with rocks and takes one from everywhere we go.

Happy Birthday Grandpa C

Today we went to Grandma & Grandpa C's again for lunch. It is Grandpa Duane's 71st Birthday! We went next door to the farm and then ran around the yard for a while. Then Parker asked Grandpa for a ride on the tractor, then he sat on the Harley, and Grandpa even started it up today. Park's was a little scared about how loud it was, but was very interested in it. Then we ate lunch and Parker got his favorite....corn on the cob! Parker and daddy feeding the cows
Sitting on the bobcat
Picking up sticks