Harvest Fest

The Lake Superior Harvest Festival was one of the most fun mornings I've spent with the kids recently. Animals, vegetables, and farmers ... can't help but be awesome, right?

The first thing the kids spotted was some adorable goats.

Right across from the goats, I stopped to introduce myself to a farmer who has ideas for using permaculture to treat storm water along City trails. A colleague had mentioned his ideas, so I knew I had to meet him. It turned out his booth was also handing out free apples. A huge hit for Alex, who insists on eating "papples" whole:

We wandered along. I saw so many friends, coworkers, acquaintances ... on the path, at booths, working at the event. My heart was bursting with the pleasure of the beautiful day, and this awesome earth-loving community. Gotta love Duluth!

At a weavers guild demonstration, Victoria got to try her hand at a loom. I was amazed at how quickly she picked up on this. She would be a good weaver!

After eating popcorn and cookies and iced coffee (the latter for mama only - from the Amish tent!), Victoria reminded me that I had promised to go to the bouncy houses. I held off because she has NEVER gone in one by herself. She has occasionally asked, then gets too shy of the other kids. I didn't want to wait in line only to have her change her mind. She PROMISED she would really go this time, and was so excited to jump around! My newly brave girl did it, too. She went in two different bouncy houses and absolutely loved them. Now she wants to have a bouncy house for her birthday party.

I then told the kids we should relax in the grass and eat kettle corn.

WAIT. KIDS RELAX? Hahahahahaha.

They instantly climbed up a little hill at Bayfront and proceeded to spend the entire time running and rolling down the hill. Boy, I loved sitting there watching them.

Here is a video clip:

And another ... (they can be so entertained without any toys or screens!)

A close-up of Alex trying to roll at the bottom of the hill.It was pretty cute how he tried to mimic Sister's rolling and just couldn't quite get it.

I *heart* my kids!

First Haircut

It's hard to pinpoint Victoria's first haircut; I've always cut hers at home, and I started by trimming when she was just over a year old, anything that was hanging in her eyes. Eventually it grew longer and I started cutting bangs.

With a boy? I'm clueless. I have no idea how to do boy haircuts. So as Alex's hair grew longer and longer over the summer, I accepted the fact that we had to take him to a professional.

I thought Sport Clips, with large screen tvs, would provide a perfect distraction. He loved bouncing around the waiting area, pointing to football on the tv. He grew a little nervous when we put him in the chair, although a sucker quickly calmed him.

As the sucker dwindled and she started trimming around the front of his head, he grew more nervous.

The last few minutes were a pure screaming fit. Thankfully, though, we preserved some of those beautiful curls as a memento of his first haircut.

Alex

A paint can makes a perfect stool!

My boy in a nutshell this past summer ... long blond curls, with tattoos and bare feet and covered in food and dirt from playing outside. He is indeed our Happy Camper.

When I look at this picture I am filled with an overwhelming love for you, my dear boy. And then the tears start. Because I know that one day I will look at this and long for these days again, when Mommy is your favorite person and a good snack can erase all tears. I can never convey to you how much it means to be your Mommy and how much fun and love and craziness you bring to our lives!

fashion

I have posted before about Victoria's creative fashion sense. I absolutely love seeing what she picks out - way more interesting than what I would pick! Here is a recent outfit ... polka dots, stripes, and tennis shoes on backwards. (I honestly can't remember what she is holding in her left hand.)

Alex hasn't started picking out his own clothes, but he is definitely into accessories. He mixes and matches in whatever way strikes him at the moment.

... and is particularly insistent on hats!

... and one of his latest faves, the frog rain boots.

Clothing options are never dull at the Moses house!

Sunday School

Our church has Sunday School starting at the preschool age. It's important to me that the kids have a spiritual education, and I was excited to enroll Victoria. As expected, she was very nervous. She liked the sound of "sunday school" at church, but asked a lot of questions about whether Alex would be with her, whether I would be there, etc. On the first Sunday, they held an opening session in the sanctuary, then asked parents to remain while kids went with their teachers. Well, there was no way Victoria was going to leave me. With the crowd in the sanctuary, she was already hanging on my arm and hiding her face. Thankfully, our wonderful children's minister quickly saw this and said, "I think preschoolers need parents to bring them to their room. I will meet you all there with the registration paperwork."

There are five preschool teachers who are team-teaching and rotating. I already knew a couple of them through work, and had met another at church, so I instantly felt it would be a wonderful experience. Thankfully V warmed up quickly too. The classroom/play area setting made her feel more comfortable than being in the large sanctuary, and things like story time, projects, and playing with kids are among her favorites. The above picture was taken on the first day, when they basically had a whole hour of free time to get used to their teachers and each other. As you can see, Alex is an unofficial honorary member of the class. Since V won't stay without Mommy there, that means Alex stays too! So far he loves wandering around and playing with their soccer ball, or grabbing crayons or chalk.

I'm hoping that soon I can drop V off at her classroom and walk across the hall to join other parents for discussion. Fingers crossed!

Our day at the state fair

Crazy crowds at the fair

It had been a couple years since we had gone to the state fair. And Alex hadn't been there yet. So we loaded up the kids and the big ol' double stroller.

We met up with Uncle Adam and Auntie Megan. First must see: the animal barns!

Alex's first glimpse of a horse

As we kept walking, we looked for food. Of course, the fair isn't known for its healthy options, so Matt opted for one of the easiest finger foods for the kids: french fries!

They munched on these while Mommy headed for cheese curds. Truth be told, by this point the crowds, long lines, and lack of food had really gotten to me. When I got to the front of the cheese curd line only to realize I didn't have cash, I walked back to the group nearly in tears. My dear husband rescued me by going back to get me cheese curds. Awww ...

Hanging out while the kiddos fill their tummies

Next up: one of the things Victoria wanted to do the last time she was at the fair, and still was asking for ...

Riding with Uncle Adam on the skyride. Mommy, Megan, and Alex are behind them!

She said later it was her favorite thing at the fair.

I'm scared of heights. Poor Alex ... about thirty seconds in the ride he squirmed and cried to let me know I was hanging on to him too tightly!

Probably my favorite thing for kids is the Little Farm Hands Exhibit.

Alex took his job very seriously and was diligent about carrying his bucket around.

He chose an apple to take with him and loved munching on it in the stroller.

We started heading to Kidway for the kids rides, and on the way we heard and saw the parade approaching. We pulled up spots on the curb.

Alex's curious watching ...

... turned to intent stares when he looked down the street and saw ...

... big tractors! and excavators! with flashing lights, doing circles in the road!

His jaw remained open the entire time they were in front of us. This one moment in and of itself was worth the drive to Minneapolis.

When the parade was over, we finally did make it to Kidway for some rides.

Victoria said she wanted to ride in the big trucks with Auntie Megan

After Kidway (i.e. after our wallets were empty because of a mere 4 rides), Adam and Megan left, and we met up briefly with our friends Barb and Ben. Matt took Alex and walked with them to the Fine Arts Building (V had to go potty, so we stood in the long line at the bathrooms, then treated ourselves to slushies). While waiting for Daddy, V found this cool seat ...

When the rest of our gang emerged from the Fine Arts Building, we found this guy fast asleep. This is the first time he has ever fallen asleep in a stroller!

Looking at the time, and the approaching storm clouds, we said a quick good-bye to Barb and Ben and headed for the shuttle bus, telling ourselves there was one final stop we absolutely HAD to make: Sweet Martha's Cookies (right folks?). We navigated to their booth, and followed the line back and back and back and ... well, eventually we realized the line at the cookie place was longer than we had ever seen. I asked Matt, "How long do you think the wait would be? 45 minutes?" He said - "at least that." I know that I am an adult and that leaving without cookies should not constitute a state of emergency. But I couldn't help myself. The one thing I had looked forward to the entire day was my big bucket of cookies! Thankfully my sis-in-law came to my rescue and told me that they had gotten cookies, and that there would be some waiting for my at my parents' house when we came through Cloquet.

It was a whirlwind day, and with the crowds and long lines, we didn't get to see near as much as we wanted. Hopefully in a couple years we can go again, this time on a weekday, and pack in even more fun.

Wednesday Night at the Races

I had been meaning to do this all summer. And then of course, as it always happens, it was the end of August and I was reflecting back on my summer bucket list, realizing how little time I had left to make it happen. "It" in this case is Wednesday Night at the Races, a series of awesome kids races to encourage kids to be active and enjoy running ... and it's free! 

There was one more night of racing left in the summer, on August 27. I made plans to attend and asked my sister-in-law's sister Laura if her kids might be interested. They were!

Here is Laura with her three kiddos, Clara, Eli, and Ana. Cute, wonderful kids!

We got there early (the last night is a big event), registered the kids, and changed them into their new t-shirts.

We had awhile to wait before the races.

 

And warm up before the run.

 

And drink water while hanging with Mommy.

I just love that picture of me and my boy. Curls and a baseball cap and Mommy ... some days, that's all this boy needs <3 .="" p="">

Finally, it was time for Victoria and Clara's division. As expected, V was too scared to run on her own. Daddy ran with her. Here she is at the finish line, running with Clara.

I was so proud of her! She and Clara met Daddy and Laura at the finish line and walked back to the rest of us, beaming with pride, and holding hands like best of friends:

They hung out together while waiting for Ana's race.

 Clara demonstrated her strength by picking up Victoria. V thought that was fun!

The kids sat with me at the finish line while Laura brought Eli for his race. They were all so good!

After Eli's race, it was time for Ana!

Not only was the race (and t-shirts and backpacks) free, but they provided a free dinner for everyone afterwards. What a great evening to hang out at Park Point.

Victoria and Alex loved hanging out with the other kids, and when all the kids started holding hands walking back to the car, this impromptu chain was formed ...

Alex didn't get to play too much of a starring role in the races themselves, so he pulled out a performance on the ride home. First, there was the incredible feat of taking off his shoes. He decided it would be hilarious to loop his baseball cap over his ankle...

Then he grabbed sister's hat for his other foot, and laughed gleefully over his inventiveness!

I love taking the kids to events like these, and am so glad we could have such wonderful company!