Olympic Game Farm

We went to the Olympic Game Farm which is near my mom's house. It's an animal sanctuary that you can drive thru and feed the animals bread or apples.It's pretty funny because the animals stick their heads into the car. I think the adults had more fun than the kids. Craig was cracking me up by posing with the animals.

Da Bears

This Bear knew tricks. He would wave and tick out his tongue for apples.

Pretty Aliya

Luke and Al in the front seat

Buffalo breath is the worst smelling thing ever! Luke and Al are trying to get away from it.

Gross!

We were grasshopper hunting in Nan's backyard

Watching the llamas

Luke was going to give the grasshopper a kiss but it jumped onto my face. I haven't realized that the grasshopper is on my face yet in this picture.

I love couponing

I got all this for $6.44

Worst shopping trip. Ever.

Ugh! Luke ran away from me this morning when we were grocery shopping. I had him in the cart but he was screaming and crying to walk next to me. I should have known better. He was good for about 2 minutes before he took off running. He's pretty fast. He turned the corner and was up the next aisle. I called for him to come back but it was just a game to him at that point. Mind you I have a huge cart with me (the type with the car in the front, that are impossible to maneuver). I decided to abandon the cart to chase after him.

At that point, I couldn't find him. I searched some more and called out his name. I was starting to freak out. I asked a cashier for help. She asked my name and said she'd page me if she found him, then went back to her lane and continued checking people out! She didn't call anyone! I asked the customer service lady for help and she paged "Luke, please come to the customer service counter". Seriously! I told her he was only two prior to the page. I was shocked that there wasn't some system for finding lost kids. I mean, it's a huge store. I'm sure this wasn't the first time a defiant toddler took off.

The total lack of urgency on behalf of the store employees was freaking me out even more. All of the "what if" scenarios were running through my head. I was crying and frantically running around trying to find him. I had to ask every employee that I came across to help me. Finally someone found him! I strapped him in tight to the cart and finished my shopping. When I checked out, the only cashier was the lady who blew me off initially. She had the nerve to say "Now, you keep him strapped in." As if I needed to be scolded, I already felt pretty crappy. I am emotionally drained.

Potty training: first attempt

Doesn't he look thrilled?

From my title you've probably figured out that I have given up. What a frustrating process. I'm finding myself hating the parents who say things like "my kid was potty trained in one day" or "one day he just decided he was ready". Whatever. Isn't it funny how much of your own self esteem is tied up in your child's successes and failures?

For months we have been gearing up for this. We bought him a potty, big boy underwear, read many books to him about kids who potty train, and have talked about all the steps to using the potty. At first he didn't want anything to do with it. But, I figured we would give it a try this week since it's my last week before school starts again (you know, when it's convenient for me).

We started on Monday morning and it is now Wednesday at mid morning and I'm giving up. Blah. I tried putting him on the potty every 30 minutes or so. I entertained him with books and tv. I even bribed him with m&m's. But as soon as he would get up and get some clean underwear on... Bam... wet again, within a matter of minutes. I didn't expect him to stay dry at night or really even poop in the potty yet. I was just hoping he would start to pee in the potty. He didn't do it once in 2 and 1/2 days! Perhaps I haven't given it enough time or maybe he's just not ready yet.

We did have a few positive things come out of this experience:

• Luke learned what it means to be wet or dry
• We was excited about wearing underwear
• He enjoyed flushing the toilet
• He was able to sit on the potty with very little to no resistance

I'm going to try again in December (my next break from school). I was hoping he could be potty trained in time for a cruise we are going on in January but, I'm not going to hold my breath. Luke is on his own schedule.

The Fair

It's that time of year again. I feel like I just wrote a post on the fair... time is flying by too fast. Every year Alan and I try one of the deep fried foods offered. Alan opted for the deep fried cookie dough and the immediately regretted it. I wanted to try the chocolate covered bacon but they were all out so I got an elephant ear. I assume they are available at every fair but you can't go wrong when it's covered in butter and sugar. We didn't try it but they had a crispy-creme-deep-fried-chicken sandwich (my stomach is churning just thinking about it).

My favorite wood carving this year... a very creepy Sasquatch.

Luke was tall enough to go on the Merry-go-round this year. He chose the Lion to ride on.

so serious

Riding the pony. Luke kept calling it a donkey.

Cheese

Luke and Nana

Moo! Luke knew all the names of the animals this year and was super excited when ever they made noise.

Feeding the goats

Luke got a lizard painted on his face. He sat very still and thought it was very "cool".

Alan got a bunch of cool shots of the rides.

Ah the zipper... I'm getting dizzy just looking at it.

Represent!

Jordan and ZZ

Marie's Visit

Here are a view pictures from when my niece, Marie, visited for a few days. She was in Washington for a couple of weeks with my mom. Marie is 8 now and in 3rd grade. I remember when she was a tiny (and I do mean tiny!) baby. Now she talks a million miles an hour, is very into fashion, and kicks my butt in computer games.

She wanted Lucy to sleep with her. Lucy tolerated Marie very well.

At the zoo with Jordan.

Marie with the Orangutan

Success!

DMV

I hate the DMV (aka DOL in wa). It is always a headache. It's crowded, smelly, fully of people who hate there jobs and customers who don't want to be there. Blah... well I had to go there because I lost my Driver's License when I was in California earlier this week (pictures to come). When I went in and waited 45 minutes for my number to be called they informed me that the fee would be $90! That's insane. $15 for the new license and $75 to reissue a suspended license. Apparentley my license has been clear (meaning not suspended) but invalid for the past 3 years!!!! Seriously?! I was never informed of this.

A little back story... 3 years ago I got a speeding ticket that was filed in two counties. One ticket listed two times. I paid one and was unaware of the the 2nd misfiled one. Fast forward 6 months, I was getting hired at toyota and needed to get them a driving history. To my surprise (and embarassment), my license was suspended. After lots of phone calls I figured out what had happened and they had suspended my license for "failure to pay". They didn't make me pay the second ticket but did require that I pay the county to reissue my license since I had paid the wrong ticket (AHHH! what is wrong with government employees?!).

Anywho... I paid the reissue fee (even though I don't think I should of) and now they have no record of it. To make matters worse, we have since changed banks (it's been 3 years!) and are trying to retrieve records from our old bank which is a nightmare itself. So... until we get those records I am drving without a valid license (and have been for 3 years!).

I. hate. the. DMV.