Fun Free Tuesday!

Okay, so judgement free open minds are required when you read this...my kids skipped the last 2 days of school. We were on vacation! Yep, that's right - we vaca'd at home and enjoyin' each other. I've been noticing the kids' behavior change since we started a new school, soccer and adjusting to a new time schedule (they used to start school at 8am and now it's 9:20am which means they don't get home from the bus until 4:30pm-then soccer). They haven't been incredibly naughty or anything just a bit tired and worn out.

They love their new school. They love soccer but I'm guessing the adjustment to the time has been a big factor. My kids used to be snugged in their comfy clothes at 4:30pm getting ready to eat dinner - everything is pushed up by almost 2 hours. Even my little ones had issues adjusting. So, with the fall back time change and soccer slowing down I decided to they needed mental health days. They had last Friday off, the weekend, Monday, today and tomorrow - we've had a blast just chillin'. You know our weekend was semi-busy but Monday was Pajama Day! I didn't post any pictures because you've seen us plenty in our pjs. We just watched movies, colored and did nothing. My kind of Monday - I let them chill and I got laundry and all my Tuesday chores (bathrooms - more laundry and dusting) so we can have our Fun Free Tuesday!

My original plan of going to the Burke Museum was a FAIL. A.) the parking lot is under construction and I didn't want to hoof 4 kids across campus lots and walk all over in the rain. B.) We got there at 11am and all the students were just getting out - it was chaos. So, we opted to do another Museum later.

We hit up the Arboretum trail. One of my most favorite places and I'm sad we don't come here often enough. It was Madi's first time and Dev's 2nd time since he was born. The girls went a ton when I went to school there because it is literally one of the most relaxing places (despite 520 overhead). If you haven't gone or it's been forever - GO! The colors are so beautiful right now.

The first friends we saw were ducks. The kids had an awesome story how this was Mommy duck. She was just floatin' along enjoying the scenery (is that what I do because I see myself as the opposite?) and hangin' out with the Daddy.

Dev was pretty sure this was the Daddy duck because Daddy ducks get the food. They work really hard and get food for the Mommy (and the invisible ducklings). I see that as a great comparison to our Daddy.

SUPER! They're all looking at the camera at once! Woot! Woot!

She loves nature walks. She is so much fun to walk around with now. She is super curious and she was saying "dat!" (that) a lot of babbling and sound effects but the words were there. I also heard "Ohhh, dere!" (ooh, there!) - I love her excitement!

We tried to get everyone in...FAIL. But hey, me, Nana and Isa are in! Dev and Madi are somewhere below.

Dev asked me to take this picture. Don't eat the fish, ya'll!

Dev was certain to study this so we knew our way back to our van.

There are literally trees all around and above you. It is beautiful and the kids love to guess what's in the woods - a family of rabbits, vampires or squirrels. Do we look wet? Yeah, it drizzled semi-hard on our walk. No complaints though!

She wanted to be carried over the mushy, barky, muddy, sinky ground. She was not a happy toddler when her foot sunk into the dirt. Walking = great. Dirty + Mushy Ground = not great.

They have markers up to 25 and we counted up to 25 and down to 1. Dev's in love with math and running up to be the first to read the number.

Highlight of the day. Montlake draw bridge going up and a tow-boat towing a tugboat = total elation by my 2 year old. She was beyond excited "OOHmgoshh!" - it was clear as day. The girls were laughing so hard and begged her over and over to say it again, of course she didn't. We had to stay and watch the boat go all the way under until it was out of our sight.

The girls never were interested in this. But, oh man - Dev was all over this. He had to see the missile/cannon-shooter thingy. Isa read that it's over 3 centuries old. He had to walk over and touch it. Boys.

We drove down to Whole Foods off 65th and ate lunch there (the kids get free pizza) and I picked a few essentials that didn't need to be refrigerated. I took them to lunch without paying that is what I call awesome! Then, as promised we went to a museum. We're members so it was free here too. The Imagine Museum (Dev, Ian and I went to last week). It was empty. Not a whole lot of folks (mental note to self; go there after nap!) there and we were lovin' it. We hung out at each exhibit for as long as we wanted. So awesome!!

He wore this all day. Well, he wears it every day all day but the walk and the museum he had to rock it on his hip. No swaying him otherwise.

Madi cookin' me a pizza pie!

They served each other. They served me - no other kids to be found. We had a blast.

Madi taking care of the sick animals at the Vet Hospital.

She wants a dog so badly. After being around the Husky 'hood she had to cuddle up with this (probably covered in germs) husky at the museum.

Isa aspires to help animals. She isn't sure she wants to be a vet because she cries at the sight of roadkill but you know, maybe she'll toughin' up and know she's helping them more often than not. We shall see what the future holds.

She loves driving the bus there. LOVES. LOVES. IT. And, no one kicked her off for their turn!

Glow Zone - another Madi favorite.

They're looking up on the monitor ahead at themselves performing. I love that even Dev got up there and let it loose. Families were walking by and crackin' up at them because they were so in their own world up there. Madi was working the spotlights and sound effects.

For your pleasure - the girls performing Taylor Swift's - You Belong With Me. Dev was workin' the spotlights and sound effects this time.

I love them and had the best time spending the Fun Free Tuesday with them. We came home and made recycled art - they are showering. We'll eat dinner and watch a movie then bed. What a great day!!