Oma's 2009

It's my favorite time of year! Fall - or should I say October break? I love the two weeks that we are off every October. We have so much fun doing whatever we want and the weather is always so perfect!

One of our traditions is to visit Oma's pumpkin patch with the Sippels. My kids LOVE that place soooo much. We usually go 2 or 3 times during their pumpkin patch days. They love the open space and to just run free and enjoy farm life for the day. There is so much to do there and they are always sad when it's time to leave.

This year the kids are at perfect ages. I did not have to worry about Dylan getting left behind, or falling, or being trampled by others. I did not have to follow him around and help him climb things, or worry about him being lost. The older kids kept an eye out for him and helped him if he needed help (which he didn't). They kids roamed free and the moms got to sit back and chat while they romped around and rolled in the cotton seed. It's so nice because the kids just frolicked in the country aroma and had a great time with each other while we chatted till our hearts were content. We were able to complete so many sentences without being interrupted!!!! They checked in when they were either thirsty or hungry and off they went when we satisfied their needs.

We all had a great time and the kids were giddy. I think the best thing about that day though was on the ride home. We had been discussing about how much cotton seed was going to fall out of their clothes when they undressed since they rolled around in it so much. Gavin said, "I think I even have cotton seed in my butt crack too." and Dylan replies with, "Yeah, I think I have cotton seed in my butt crash too." We all laughed so hard about Dylan's "butt crash"! He had no clue why we were in tears! Poor Dilly!

I'm going to miss it when the kids get to that age when they no longer want to go to Oma's to roll in their cotton seed and get it in their butt crash.

Quads

Dylan loves quads, dirt bikes, race cars, motorcycles and pretty much anything with wheels that will go fast. Many days at daycare he sits on Connie's quad in her garage and makes those boyish noises and has a great time.

Once Dylan discovered that the O'Bryan's had quads too he wanted to sit on those quads and pretend to drive them as well. So, Linda and Corey invited us over and took the kids for a ride on their terrain. They had such a blast! Even Mackenzie had so much fun. Those kids would have rode on those things all day if we would have let them.

Don't worry, I already told them that Santa would not be bringing real quads to the White household! Of course daddy replied, "Why not?"

Maybe because Daddy had as much fun as the kids?????

Train Day

Every year we are invited to Train Day at Rohr Park. It is a private party with the Chula Vista Steam Engines. They are a group of people who love trains and have made miniature trains. The track goes all around the park and people of all ages ride!


We have been going for the past couple of years and the kids really enjoy it! Their favorite is riding the train in the dark with their glow sticks. Thanks conductor Joel for taking us around the track every year!

What a Difference

Mackenzie and Dylan have been taking swim lessons from Kelly the entire summer and the kids are sad that it's coming to an end. Mackenzie is almost swimming on her own - more of a confidence issue in the deep end if anything. She has become so brave and has enjoyed every minute of her lesson. What a difference from 2 years ago when I enrolled her in private swim lessons. . . .

Two years ago this was a child who screamed - not cried - but SCREAMED the entire 30 minute session for 6 weeks straight! I had to bribe her with candy or ice cream to cry quietly and not wail at the top of her lungs! Poor child - poor me!

And now she loves the water, and is trying to do flips, handstands, diving for rings, you name it and she wants try it!

I am so glad that the kids love the water and will become good confident swimmers unlike their mother! Thank you so much Kelly for being patient, loving, and such a great swim teacher! The kids adore you, and you are teaching them a valuable life skill. You're the best!

Beach Time!

OK, for those of you who know me well, know that I have never been a big fan of the beach. I've been a handful of times in the last 10 years. Well, I'm a changed woman now! I've had soooo much fun at our last 2 outings at the beach. I'm not sure if it's because my kids are at such a great age and I enjoy seeing how happy they are when they get to just frolic at the beach for hours. Or, if I've finally become a native San Diegan who appreciates the beach?!? Regardless, Will and I decided it's cheap entertainment that we would like to do once a week during the summer! We are going to become beach bums!

Today we went to La Jolla shores and waded with at least 100 leopard sharks! It was SOOOO awesome! They just swam between our legs and brushed up against us. It was AMAZING. We saw sting rays and fish too. I was in awe! Why haven't I appreciated this beautiful place before?

I caved

For the last 2 Christmases, Mackenzie has asked Santa (and us) for a Power Wheel ride on vehicle. We always explained that it was too expensive and we could not afford one of these.

Last Friday we had a fun play date with Emily and she had a quad Power Wheel. Both kids got to ride it for a little while before the battery died and had a blast! So . . . I started looking on Craig's List and found this beauty for such a steal that I couldn't resist!


Now I have one major problem . . .Will is asking for one too. He'd like a real one! (Better start writin' to Santa!) Boys and their toys!

Slumber Party

Casey and Gavin came to spend the night at our house. My kids were SOOOO excited. The kids are all at such great ages and play so well together. The boys do their thing, the girls do their thing and then they all play together too.

We started the evening with dinner, then off outside to make a delicious dessert of "mud pie". Those kids can play in mud forever and have such a great time.

Then the kids took bubble baths and settled in for a movie and popcorn. The girls watched intently while the boys watched bits pieces between motorcycle racing, wrestling, and sword fighting.
Then off to bed . . . .well sort of. I let the kiddos stay up till 9:40 and then sent them off to bed. The girls were in their sweet dreams by 10pm without a hitch. Now the boys . . . .well, that's a whole other story. 10:30 - chattering away, 11:00 still chattering away, 11:30 STILL chattering away! Finally at 11:40 one of the boys probably couldn't take it anymore and fell asleep - thank goodness! Now one would think they would sleep in - NOT!!! Girls up at 7am, and the boys at 7:30 raring to go. Oh well, my kids had a great time and love it when those kids come spend the night.