Our First Bike Ride!

Ok, it wasn't Fin's FIRST bike ride, but it was Kai's!

 

This past weekend, Matt took advantage of the good weather, put some air in the flat tires on our bikes and he and Fin took a short ride together. That was the first time Fin rode his bike on his own without the need for someone to help push from behind.

 

A few days ago, while Kai was napping, Fin and I used that time to finish the springtime bike tune ups. We oiled the chains, raised his training wheels a tad and tightened the breaks. Or, at least we tried to tighten the breaks. They appear to be working better for him.

 

Fin was VERY excited to go for a bike ride and he kept begging me all morning, but I told him we couldn't go till after Kai was awake and after we'd eaten lunch.

 

Finally... it was time. Thankfully the sunshine cooperated. Ready to roll!

 

Kai checking out Fin's rad helmet.

 

Fin checking out Kai's overall radness.

 

Can we go yet?! Ok, I'll give a half-hearted "cheese" for the picture.

One more selfie! (Ok, ok, no Kai does not have a helmet on, but in my defense... I tried to put one on and the poor kid was heaped over like a sack of potatoes. Secondly, I had no plans to leave our quiet dead end street.)

 

Our first ride together went great! Except for the fact that Fin stopped every two feet to point out ants, birds, poop, trash... etc. Stopping and getting going with the chunkster in the seat behind me is not easy. So there was a lot of "Come on Fin! Let's go Fin! Don't stop Fin! I'm beating you Fin! Hurry up Fin! FINNNNN!!!!"

 

Fin pointing out bird poop. I wish I was kidding.

It was a great little post-lunch, pre-nap ride... but we got home, and Kai had kicked off a shoe! DARN IT! So, off we went on a quick walk back to find it. Of course, it was all the way down towards the end of the street.

 

Fin retrieving the lost footwear.

 

PHEW! Got it mom!

 

Can't wait for good weather so we can do it again!

POTD "Picasso Time"

 

I FINALLY have Kai on somewhat of a schedule. Someone please knock on wood. I can count on him going down every morning some time around 9, so Fin and I use that time for fun "big boy" stuff.

 

The other day when Fin's friend was over, I pulled out his new brushes and "spill proof" cups. I use quotations only because I think they are grammatically correct, but they actually DO seem to be spill proof. :)

 

So, for a few day in a row now, we have been enjoying a little morning PiCaSso Time. I'm not going to lie, I've been having a little fun too.

POTD "There Goes Lunch"

Ahhhh. The Pacific Northwest. Where rain isn't the only thing that falls from the sky.

 

I was at the park with Finlay shortly after moving here, and he was enjoying chasing the seagulls around. Next thing you know, this lady starts dumping out a huge bag of bread crumbs she has for the birds. Awwww that's nice. She's feeding the birds. Well, it posed no problem for us until it started RAINING shells. The birds overhead, swarming in for the unexpected treat, were dropping whatever sh*t (let's be honest... they'll eat anything) they had in their mouths and making a MAD dash for the good stuff. You could hear the mussel shells hitting the ground all around us as the gulls realized that better, aka EASIER, food was to be had.

 

So yes. Seafood falling from the sky. On a completely different day in a completely different place, Fin and I were taking a stroll when I noticed something peculiar in the ditch. It looked like an octopus... but that couldn't be possible. Or could it? IT WAS. It was a squid or octopus or something of the sort, but whatever it was, it was not an organism one would typically find on the side of the road. I would have loved to take a closer look, but Fin was smaller at the time, so I actually did a small song and dance just to keep him from even noticing the dead (and potentially foul smelling) sea critter in the ditch. Still managed to snap a pic though. You're welcome. :)

 

 

My theory? Well, we weren't too far from the ocean (Ok, we live on an island so we are NEVER too far from the ocean.) and we were also close to an area that is a big eagle nesting spot. So I think an eagle picked this guy out of the water only to accidently drop it just before it's home. Whoopsies! There goes lunch! Either that or it went for the delicious salmon and discovered halfway home that it grabbed the octo instead. :) And then it was like "ew" and dropped it. The End.

POTD "Dead End Street"

Dead End. Something about that always sounded a bit eerie. There's only one way out! You could get trapped!!! When I was growing up, I was convinced that nothing good ever happened at the end of a dead-end street. I would see that ominous "DEAD END" sign and I immediately pictured ugly, hissing alley cats, dark corners and drug deals. 

How wrong I was! We live at the end of a dead end street here, and I absolutely love it. It's quiet, and safe, and friendly. (Somebody knock on some wood.) 

There are always neighbor kids riding their bikes up and down the street or drawing in it with chalk. Yesterday about 5 PM, we were waiting for Dad to get home, so we brought the stomp rocket out into the street to play. It was a big hit with the neighbors. We shot down the street and tried to catch it. Today's POTD is a mid-stomp shot of our neighbor Jasmine. Her brother, Jonah, and Finlay are waiting down the street in proper catching position. 

It was just such a beautiful Cinco de Mayo evening. I cracked open a beer and stayed outside playing with the kids as long as I possibly could. But, alas, I finally had to go in and cook dinner.

We had homemade margaritas, store-bought "fresh" salsa, and an Ortega taco kit. And you know what... it was delicious. There wasn't even a small part of me that wished I was out fighting for a seat at a Mexican restaurant. I was happy. Hope you had a great Cinco de Mayo as well. 

Kai watching the blast-offs. All those toys and he preferred the beer bottle. Boy after my own heart... :)

The Tulip Festival

Did our family make a whirlwind trip to Amsterdam this spring? A little vacation in the Netherlands? No, no my friends! These GORGEOUS views are found right here in Washington state! No where else in the entire United States can you find acres, upon acres, upon acres of blooming flowers like you can here. How many acres is acres upon acres? Well, RoozenGaarde (www.tulips.com) has over one THOUSAND acres of fields that explode with color every spring. Last year this time we were still a little busy getting settled, but this year, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was a MUST see.

There is only a small window of opportunity to see the tulips while they are in full bloom, so we had to make sure we hit the visit at just the right time. In fact, during our visit, we noticed that the fields of daffodils had already gone by and returned to their semi-boring, green-brown, off-season state. How you like those hyphens?

Ok back to the story. We packed up for the day and left early. The fields are only 45 minutes from us, but we like to time our "long" car trips around Kai's naptime. It just makes everyone happier. Trust me on that one.

We arranged to meet some of Matt's coworkers (our friends) at the fields, but we got to the area a bit early, so while Kai finished his snooze (we left Dad in the car too) Fin and I got in a little Micky D's play time! PS. This McDonalds Play Place is ridiculous. It's two stories tall. Even adventurous Fin was a tit bit nervous to venture into its steep, ominous tunnels. A little coaxing and I got him in.

 

 

 

After getting out a little energy, we made our way to RoozenGaarde. There were only a few cars in front of us waiting to enter the parking lot, but there were MANY workers in orange vests with flags, stop signs and whistles, flailing their arms around and shouting. It's just flowers people, I think we're taking this a little too seriously.

 



Come to find out, the orange clad flower folk know what's up. It was a beautiful Saturday, peak blossoming season. Thank GOD we got there when we did (early). Had we come a couple hours later, we would have been stuck in over two miles of traffic waiting to be flagged into the parking lots. It was swamped. As we left, we passed all these poor souls and I thanked my lucky stars I wasn't stuck in that line with two unhappy kiddos in the car. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go on a weekday. Yes, that was a travel tip for you.

RoozenGaarde has a three acre show garden with around three hundred THOUSAND flowering bulbs. There is a fee to enter (as there should be) but it is worth it. Yes, at no cost, you could take a relaxing drive around the perimeter fields and avoid some of the crowds and show garden. But, one, you risk getting stuck in traffic. And, two, you miss out on seeing over 100 different flower varieties, all labeled for your floral education. :)

 

You also miss out on this: A sweet Dutch Windmill.

Ok. I'm done writing. I think I gave you enough info. Now you can just sit back and enjoy the show.

I give you: The Tulip Festival

 

We told Fin he was only to look and not to touch. Sniffing became a compromise we had to make. Touching with the nose was ok. OH and there are more workers (no orange this time... I think they work undercover?) going around and monitoring to make SURE you aren't getting too frisky with the flowers. So keep your kids in line. 

Yep. Lots of sniffing.

 

 

 

I had my hands full with a hungry baby, so Matt played photographer for the day.

 

 

 

I adored this tree. If only there weren't all the people in the picture. Weekday, people. Weekday.

More sniffing.

The views were just beautiful.

I had NO idea how many types of tulips exist!~!!! And they have crazy names like "Raging Parrot" and "Big Red" and "Purple Dragon" and "Flaming Lips" and "Horny Tiger" ... Ok... I might have made that last one (or so) up.

Fin had so much fun with Matt's buddy Dave. But then again, Fin would tell you it is "HIS friend" Dave. :)

Seriously... These pics look professional. Such a beautiful place for photos.

 

Ummm is that a tulip in the tree??? Really?!

 

Matt snagged a pic of one of the orange workers. This guy is clearly afraid of the sun. His entire face was painted white. Poor guy. I think he needs to find a new profession. Preferably indoors?

 

We had such an amazing morning and we HIGHLY recommend you see the fields if you are ever in Washington in April. Just lovely.