So that's a cow train

We had never been to Critz Farm before and decided to check it out on Columbus Day.  Thought we'd be there a couple hours tops and ended up staying twice as long.  The place is huge with lots of things to do and room for Helaina to run free and wild.  I was most interested in the cow train - couldn't imagine what it was.  Then when I saw it I couldn't stop laughing.  Helaina waited impatiently in line then sprinted for the first cow when it was her turn.  Clever idea, that cow train.

The tractor pulled the train around a big open lot.  Helaina wanted to immediately ride again, of course.

She rode in Bessie.

Feeding the alpaca it's kibble.

There was a giant mountain that had several different slides going down each side of it.

Hay bales to climb on and jump from.  Love this pic of our happy gal in mid-air.

We rode the tractor to the pumpkin patch and picked out a few.

There was a huge enclosed play area that had several play structures that Helaina could have spent the entire day on.  Jim and I pulled a few lawn chairs under a shady tree and relaxed while Helaina ran, climbed and jumped until sweat was dripping down her face.  Still obsessed with monkey bars and rings and her calloused palms prove it.  She's got amazing upper body strength. 

Hanging from something ... an absolute favorite thing to do.

The white bin held apples that the kids could toss into the green bin which sent the apples down a conveyor belt to be made into cider.  You could watch them get washed then go the the pressing machine that pulverized the heck out of them.  I think Helaina would have stood there all day tossing apples into the washing bin.

The trip was a success.  We ended up having lunch there because there was so much to do.  They have a corn maze and a small kid-friendly haunted house that Helaina went through at least 6 times.  We had some yummy teeny tiney apple cider donuts.  Jim and I had a hard cider tasting.  I wanted to pick apples too but after nearly 4 hours we were too beat.  Critz Farm gets 6 thumbs up from us all.

Columbus Day Weekend - Sunday

With temperatures in the 80's on Columbus Day weekend, attending the Apple Festival seemed like a summer event instead of a Fall event.  We go to the festival every year and have encountered all sorts of weather (rain, cold, knee-deep mud, occasional pleasentness), but never have we gone when we wore shorts and were sweating.  Helaina suffered being dragged through the craft tents where I start my holiday shopping - her reward being an apple pony ride, numerous overpriced kiddie rides and ice cream.

Helaina climbed in and on everything she could at the festival.  She's into climbing lately.  I think a small rock climbing wall will be next Spring's additon to her playground.

She couldn't wait to climb up into this enormous tractor.

One of her favorite activities, the apple ponies.  I think this was Herschey, or was it Brownie?

Mini-hymalaya type ride.  She went on this twice and squealed with delight both times.  It whipped around the corners so fast that her braids were flying in the air.

Arms up (always) on the caterpillar roller coaster.

The leaves are late turning colors this year, "they" say.  Still pretty though.

Final soccer game

On Columbus Day weekend Helaina played her final soccer game of the year.  Thankfully it was a beautiful sunny day.  Helaina ran her little butt off trying to get a goal but was unfortunately unsuccessful.  She really didn't care though - better luck next year.  After the game her coaches presented the kids with their trophys.  Helaina was absolutely thrilled to get her first trophy.

In hot pursuit of the blue team.

Get to that ball no matter what!

I think the theme from "Rocky" should be playing in the background with this picture.

Presented with her trophy.

It's actually really cute - appropriate for the 6 and under teams.

Green, green, green, green plus green equals ... candy!

All those green days in a row at school means only one thing on Friday:  Skittles!  Helaina had such a good week at school that her teacher called to let me know.  Miss S said that Helaina had been great all week, polite, helpful, mindful of the rules, walking and not running, keeping her hands to herself (which is tough for Helaina because she loves to hug and hold hands with her friends).  She even said that Helaina caught herself a few times doing something she's not supposed to do and corrected herself. 

Helaina got off the bus today beaming and yelling "Mom, I had another green day so I got SKITTLES!!!"  I told her that her teacher already called me with a "happy face" phone call and told me all about her great week.

Helaina's "kiki" skirt outfit she wore to school today.  The girl's got a style all her own.  She wore hearts on the skirt, heart earrings, heart piggy-tail ties and her favorite Belle t-shirt.

Last weekend we headed out to the country to celebrate a trio of family birthdays.  Uncle Gerd had the tractor all set up for rides around the acres of land looking for deer and turkeys.

Helaina and Anna were both looking down for this picture.  Must have been a bug in the trailor that they were keeping their eyes on.

Oh this face, this adorable amazing little face.  Sweet Sophia smiled so big when Helania bent down to say hi.  Helaina was just thrilled with Sophia's reaction to her.

Dedicated (and cold and wet) soccer parents

Last weekend's soccer session felt like a winter game instead of a Fall game.  It started out Friday night sitting through a very cold, dark, windy practice.  Saturday morning we awoke to more cold, grey skies with drizzling rain.  We layered Helaina in long clothing underneath her uniform, which she hates.  "Why can't I just wear my uniform?"  Because you'll be blue like a smurf from the frigid weather, that's why.  We layered ourselves too.  We got to the field carrying the usual stuff we drag with us (chairs, drinks, snacks, etc) and a few extras (blankets, umbrellas, heavy jackets, towels for rain and mud clean up - should have brought gloves too).

We've been very happy with Helaina's 2 coaches.  They set up a tarp and brought blankets so that the kids could stay out of the rain while waiting for the game to begin.  They've been great  - very encouraging with the kids, not at all negative with the many mishaps, mistakes or distractions that the team puts them through!

Umbrella, blanket, boots for wet and muddy fields, plastic bag to keep things dry.  Ugh.  And to think that this weekend the weathermen have predicted temperatures in the high 70's or even low 80's.  Yup,
Central New York at it's Fall finest.  Freeze one weekend, sweat the next.

Waterproof apparel is a must.

A break-away from the pack.  Still no goal yet this year for Helaina, but there's always next year.

Sometimes Helaina's favorite part:  after the game kicking her soccer ball back to us while holding her team snack and drink.  Juice box and rice krispie bar this time.

Good thing we started off the morning with a good breakfast.  Helaina's school had it's first PTO fundraiser - a pancake breakfast at Applebee's.  Helaina was a little social butterfly at the breakfast.  Lots of her friends and classmates were there, along with her teacher who she promptly ran up to and gave a big hug.  Pancakes, bacon, juice, milk and coffee served by volunteer parents and students.  It was fun.  Believe me, we needed a hearty breakfast to get us through the cold chilly morning outside.  One more game to go, along with a trophy.  Squeal!  Her first trophy!!!

Sentence writing

Helaina continues to learn new things on a daily basis at school.  I'm amazed at what she's learned in such a short amount of time.  Fortunately her teacher is very organized and crams lots of learning into less than 3 hours per day.  Her school actually cut out Kindergarten snack time last year because it would take too much time out of their already-short day.  I think that's the hardest thing Helaina has had to deal with in school - no mid-morning snack!  She comes home RAVENOUS every day, ready to take a bite out of the door if lunch isn't ready and waiting.  They get 2 new sight words every week to practice.  Last week's words were "I" and "am", hence the sentence "I am Helaina."  Cute, but this child definately needs a line to write on or her sentences take on a downward slant.  She said that the picture is of her, the blue blob is the sky and the grey is rain.  I love the way she draws fingers and toes at this point in time - as many as she fit on the hand or foot, usually in a circular pattern.

Helaina floored Jim and I one evening last week when she suddenly put her right hand across her chest (and up around her neck!) then started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  WISH I had the video camera handy but she caught us offguard with her recitation.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  Here are the words that came out of our little darling's mouth:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, and one dalmation, invisible, and thank you God.  Amen."

She was so serious too.  Talk about laughing til you cry.  With more practice recently she's got it down correctly almost to the end - our patriotic little gal.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, or our Kite Festival

Last weekend we headed to Fair Haven Beach to celebrate the Chinese holiday of the Harvest Moon Festival with our Families with Children from China friends.  It's a holiday that honors the female goddess of the moon and is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month (which is September by the Chinese New Year calendar) when the moon appears its brightest and is said to be the most round.  We celebrated with home-made mooncakes, a picnic barbeque and kite flying on the beach.  I think it's Helaina's favorite event because she loves the beach and the water. 

Flying the kite she decorated on the windy beach at Fair Haven.

The kite amused her for a while then she got down to what she really came here for.

A romp in the water.  It was cool with a brisk wind but thankfully the sun came out later in the afternoon for the brave kids who wanted to frolick in the cold water.

Writing her name in the sand with a stick.

With her buddy Maddie.

Splish splash.

Thank goodness the playground had monkey bars.  Helaina loved these ring-style "bars" because she had to get momentum and swing from handle to handle.  She made it across many times like a pro.

Tunnel of fun.

How many little princesses can one tire swing hold?  Apparently four.

Home-made mooncakes (made by some of the FCC families).  They were quite yummy.  Maybe next year I'll get adventurous and order some mooncake molds and try making on our own cakes.  From what we understand, though, it's rare that people in China make the cakes themselves.  They are mostly purchased from bakeries for the celebration.