Family Pictures 2014

In the early Fall when the weather was still spectacular here. My Dad came with me and this little family of mine to take some pictures at the park. I just wanted something to document how much the kids have grown since last year and some new pictures to update the wall. Here are our favorites. They came out pretty good for chasing around a 16 month old and a 2 & 4 year old! I'd like to attribute any smiles or Kaisa looking at the camera to Skittles!

Our kids all LOVE wearing sunglasses, so i thought it would be fun and try to get one with them in sunglasses, however, they were not digging it. But we still got one. 

The kids all loved just being able to run and race around the park. After this there was no turning back to try and get them to stop for more family pictures! 

Owen's First Day of Preschool 2014

Owen went to preschool for the first time beginning in January 2014. However, it was a preschool run out of a friend's home, and he loved it. Sadly, she decided that it was time for her to move forward and do something else in the fall. I knew that preschool would be good for Owen, and I wanted something a little more structured then a co-op or preschool with church friends. I found a program through the local school district called the Peer Model Preschool program. 4 days a week for 2.5 hours. It seemed perfect! It was at the elementary school that Owen would be attending next year, so I really wanted to use this year a trail run for kindergarten next year! 

Owen started the school year a little later, because he missed the first two weeks due to his trip with Grandma. But it worked out. Owen has a great teacher, Ms. Maki. And he really seems to like her. The class has been good for him to meet other kids his age, new friends and go outside his comfort zone. It is also good for me to know that he is learning how to follow instructions and listen to other adults. The teachers also seem to love him there! He's just so smart, who wouldn't!? 

Owen's first day in Ms. Maki's class: September 23, 2014. Isn't he just the cutest little preschooler around!? ;) 

I'm still battling with the idea of homeschooling next year. All day kindergarten is daunting to me. And although Owen does well at preschool, he asks me everyday NOT to go. (Even though once he's there, he is fine.) But I really feel like Owen would excel with homeschooling, at least for a year or two. This year's preschool has been a very good trial run at public elementary school, and has given me a clearer idea of what I'd like to do next year. I cannot believe I am already making these sorts of decisions! They seemed so far off, and now here we are! Wow. 

Labor Day Weekend

Before Owen left on his Grandma trip to Michigan in September, we had a couple of fun family outings together. Over labor day weekend we fit in two major fun family things that we had been wanting to together for a long time.

The frist event was the Mt. Rainier scenic train ride. We bought tickets a few weeks in advance and my parents knew they wanted to experience this with the kids. Owen has such a cute love of trains; it's hard to resist fun outings like this.

The Mt. Rainier train is a huge black steam engine train, one of the few left in the U.S., and Washington State owns the most out of any other state. Perfect for us! The train takes a slow ride around the Snoqualmie area near Mt. Rainier. It goes extremely slow, and its very loud, plus you don't get any major majestic views of the mountain. But the boys thought it was great all the same. It stops at a train museum for a quick half hour, and then takes you back. Not very overwhelming, and probably not something we will do again any time soon. But I am glad we went. And its always fun to make family memories like this together.

Waiting for the train to arrive... 

On the train... This little girl LOVES her grandpa! 

Me with my cuties! 

Stopped at the Train Museum. Don't be fooled by Owen's face, he really did enjoy it. He is just really sensitive to loud noises. 

Nathan exploring the museum with Grandpa. 

Owen was eager to get back onboard... 

Our second outing over the long weekend was Remlinger Farms out in Carnation. Our good friends from law school had told us about it, and they loved going there. We all found a great deal on Groupon and decided to head over there together! Its the cutest little place, and a perfect little amusement park for the littlest of littles. 

I was terrible at taking pictures on this outing. I didn't even get any of our friends! Bad. But it basically had a bunch of fun rides, roller coasters, hay maze, pony rides, and play structures for the kids the play on. Owen is not a huge "Thrill Seeker," and didn't love the roller coster, but I was proud of him for going on it! But he did enjoy some of the slow more mellow rides. And, of course, the train ride. 

The boys loved this boat ride, they rode on it a few times. Just mellow enough for my Owen. ;) 

They also had real school buses and other tractors and trucks that the boys loved exploring and climbing on. 

 I think the boys also rode on this a couple of times. Owen liked it, but it was a little loud for him. Funny boy. 

 Kaisa was too little for most of the rides, but she was still a pleasant little girl the entire time. 

 It was a WARM day out. 

The main event was the train ride that circled the outside of the park. The boys loves it, and it was nice and cool on the train. 

These train loving cuties are so fun. They are already starting to outgrow their love for trains. So I am glad we went on these fun outings together, while it was still so magical for them! And now we have these sweet memories of our little boys and their trains. 

I love this little family of mine, and making memories together as a family! I am so ready for spring and summer again when we can get out of sick hibernation and go on more adventures!