Hillsboro Holly Days

We found the BEST place to chat with Santa. Downtown Hillsboro had a festival with free cocoa & cookies, discounts at all the shops, and Santa stopped by the art gallery to take requests. It wasn't busy at all, so my boys got some quality time with the big guy. Bayley brought him a list of all the Thomas & Friends things he wanted so the elves wouldn't forget. Hayden kept it simple, asking for Thomas, Gordon, James & Percy.

Star Wars at OMSI

The last time we tried to take the boys to see the Star Wars exhibit, we forgot it was Veteran's Day and the lines at OMSI were atrocious. This time, we thought ahead! We got there early, and there wasn't a line in sight!





The boys got to explore the Star Wars universe, and were impressed by how things worked. The magnet cars, the hovercraft, building robots, the video games and robot theater were all hits. Seeing the memorabilla held little appeal.





And of course, we wound up in the Science Playground, where after soaking themselves thoroughly with the water tables, they decided to be eagles for a while. Eddie has decided he is a red race car, and so when the eagles invaded the squirrell den, the car drove through.

Turkey Bowling Train Ride

Since we didn't have to trek down to Gram-mo & Pop-Pop's for the holiday, we were able to use the time to do activities closer to home. We've been trying to take the boys on a train for a while now, and this was a great opportunity.








The boys are really interested in trains right now, so they loved exploring the station, moving from car to car while the train was running down the track, and getting popcorn and m&m's from the dining car.





We had seats in the caboose, so had a great view of the switchback, the cuppola (a loft seat so they could see over the train), and a front row seat for when the train buffered up for the return trip.





When we made it back to the station, we bowled with turkeys...and then had pizza & played games in the arcade where the boys 'won' train whistles!

Snow!!

Monday morning we woke up to a light dusting of snow. What an incentive for the boys to eat their breakfast quickly, so we coul play in it before it melted away. Bay liked 'skating' on the sidewalk, and Hayd thought snow was a special snack.

We had the best 'just stay home day'. We did two packs of phonics books (23!), did puzzles, karioke (digital cable rocks), and baked cookies! Chocolate chip, no nuts, of course.

Today they had school...and a nice combo if ice and snow on the ground. Bay's comment..."Not even enough to make a snowball." True, but plenty to make the trek to school trecherous. Saw 2 cars who had skidded off the road and had to be towed. How do people live in snowy areas? We can't manage it here.

Thanksgiving morning

I'm a bit under the weather, but still I managed to whip up some chocolate chip banana muffins for our holiday breakfast. Then, as we sit down to eat, Bayley suggests we practice being thankful. Is he sweet or what?

Jeff - I'm thankful for a healthy, loving family. (ah, that must be where Bay gets it).
Me - I'm thankful for a safe, warm house for us. (quite the storm outside!)
Hayden - I'm thankful for banana muffins. With chocolate chips! (Ain't he cute?)
Bayley - I'm thankful for the most important thing of all. Fresh, clean water to drink. (Think he is channelling Chris?)

Bayley's Chili

Bay was in a cooking mood on Thursday. We read a book about pumpkins....so he wanted to make pumpkin muffins. OK. No problemo. Then Hayden had a jones for cornbread. Perfecto. And then...Bayley wanted to make chili.

Does Bayley eat ANYTHING that goes in chili? No. but I figured, what the heck. It is FANTASTIC. He didn't eat a bite.

Bayley's chili

In 1 T olive oil, saute:
2 peppers (orange and yellow were our choices), chopped
2 cloves garlic, minces
2 onions, chopped

When softened, dump in:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained
2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 jar mild salsa
1 jar pasta sauce (garlic and onion was our option)
1T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 t salt
1t pepper

Oh man, this is GOOD! He tried one nibble. Ah, well.

Buy My Mom's Book

Aren't they cute?

Vivacious V

Very sad to report our valiant attempts to increase our V vernacular were in vain. Not that I truy expected the boys to taste test different vinegars, but it seemed like a good idea. As did the 'try a new vegetable' pledge I made them take. Vermicelli (thin spaghetti ) and vanilla pudding fared far better.

The world was trying to help, people putting up vampires everywhere we went to honor Halloween. We read about vultures and voles, but I also picked up some books about losing teeth since Bay has a loose one, and the boys prefered them.

On a trip to Costco we played with violins and violas and looked at books showing the vertabrae of snakes and dinosaurs. Ultimately, I think the boys were happiest to realize they had an excuse to watch videos.

Next year I'll schedule the veteranarian for the dog, and flu vaccinations for the rest of us. Ah well, at least we remembered to take our vitamins every day and Vote!

Pumpkin Patch

What kind of Halloween would it be without a jaunt to Lakeview Farms? Gram-mo & Pop Pop were in town, so they joined in the fun, along with the Tweeds, since Eddie cannot miss any opportunity to ride in a wheel barrow.




After riding a miniature train to the patch, then a barge across a lake complete with erupting Jaws replica, smoke breathing dragon, and pirates (Bay's fave), they boys were ready for more action!




Can you believe I let my boys ride in the catepillar train? This this is pulled by a tractor, and there are no safety devices whatsoever. Of course, all three of them declared this was the best part of the entire outing.

U

Ultimately, U wasn't the best for us. The boys flat out refused to try Udon noodles, or even take a trip to Uwijamaya (Asian grocery store). I offered to make an Upside Down Cake, but one look at the picture and they balked. Ugli fruit met a similar fate. They've lost their usual enthusiasm for unique letter releated experiences.

We did buy umbrellas for everyone, read the Ugly Duckling, do a puzzle of the United States and study the Universe, especially Uranus.