3 hours and 34 minutes with Mr. Fenton (technical version)

17:21
Subconscious post-meridiem polyphasic non-seasonal pseudo-hibernation
17:25
Structural integrity inspection of portable traveling vessel (port side)

17:27
Simultaneous dual structural integrity inspections complete;
preparation for travel commencement

17:46
Communal center arrival greeting rituals amongst familial relators

17:50
Dual-escort marker-packing security detail with complimentary pre-transit hand kiss

17:59
Leg-up nutritional sustenance exercises in horizontal celestial gravity reflector

18:06
Modified juvenile cobra pose in prone position (demonstrated in football blue)

18:13
Weblog editorial review session with full keyboard musical accompaniment

18:17
Vertical anti-gravitational rotating aerobic calorie combustion

18:29
Elder sibling sustenance preparation on sectionated colored solidified polymer sheets

18:35
Snack

18:43
Plush purple alien invader eradication via toothless mandible compression

18:44
Unconscious intermittent sibling nose picking during caloric loading session

18:54
Off-mat green plaid bear no-holds-barred wrestling smack-down

19:00
Temporary illusionary inverted head removal (with Jersey Shore fist pump)

19:03
Repetitive upward propellation (with downward reversal) upon maternal trocho-ginglymus joint

19:06
Semi-permanent vacuum seal on dextro-lateral maternal mandible (with residual lubrication deposit)

19:08
Temporary pre-travel elation with unsuccessful hand contact of photomographic contrivance

19:15
Semi-ritualistic nocturnal expedition to retrieve paternal member with dangling insect sacrifice

20:09
Traditional review and critique of glittery paparazzi-focused celebutante programming during pre-bottle evening transition

20:55
Maximum nocturnal repose in full space jammies after complete comestible consumption

Flu shots, flapping bats, and fire trucks

So last week when I was telling the kids "Guess what's on Friday?" I made a terrible faux pas. Apparently advanced notice of terrible, horrific, pain inducing events are not a "plus" in the kids' view. After reassuring them that yes, indeed they were going on a field trip on Friday, I notified them that they were also getting their flu shots. As the words slowly escaped from my mouth, I already knew the terrible mistake I made, echoed by Damon yelling from the other room "Why are you telling them NOW!" It was all part of my mental planning that I do. The more I repeat things to myself and out loud, the more likely I am to remember to do them. This was just another one of those things. Only the kids didn't see it as a friendly reminder. Quickly the subject was dropped and mental notes were made to never repeat it.

But anyway, I was quick to tell them that (thank goodness) this year's flu shot is an all-in-one deal. We suffered through the misery of getting the kids 3 shots last year (seasonal flu, h1n1, h1n1 booster) and hope to never go through that again. The county was giving free flu shots on Friday and I was determined to take the kids so we wouldn't have to pay for them this year. But, as luck would have it, it never worked out like that. The kids had their field trip that day and it was going to be too much of a hassle to drive over to get them, drive to the other side of town for the shot, drive them back to school, and then drive back to work. So I opted for the lesser chaotic choice and scheduled them for their shots at their doctor's office on Saturday morning at the same time as I had already scheduled them for a more innocuous, less inoculating activity.

The kids did pretty good getting their shots. Adelaide volunteered to go first and bravely sat through the shot, but cried when it was over. Kestian watched, and when it was his turn, quickly laughed it all off, asking what all the fuss was about. Oh, wait. No. Instead he panicked. Thank goodness Damon was there to hold him, because he was doing everything in his power to get out of shot range. (Mental note #2: Don't let the kids see the other one get a shot.) Several stickers and lollipops later and we were flying down to the car to get ourselves to something a bit more fun.

So yeah, now that the kids are older and can do more big-kid activities (at least 2 out of 3), I've been trying to find some free fun activities for them. I finally got around to finding one of those free workshops at the "fixing store." I saw that Lowe's was having a workshop and registered them (before knowing that the flu shots were at the same time...so double-booked we were!). So after rushing through the flu shots we made it to the workshop and the kids got to do something much more fun: make wooden flapping bats.

The kids suited up in aprons and goggles and went to task...

Stickers always make everything awesome!
Kestian took his time to perfect his bat...
Hooray!
Awesome bat! (You can take your goggles off now...)
Adelaide's bat was put together backwards, but we fixed it later...

If you are wondering why they are wearing fire hats, there was a fireman as well as a policeman there that the kids got to meet...

The trucks are a lot bigger than you think!

Lots of legroom - and a huge GPS!

The motorcycles are big too. The cop said it weighed 1,000 pounds!

Oh - just in case you were wondering: the kids can run 8 miles per hour. That's according to the cop's radar gun. Awesome!

Fall festival

I've written about this before...about how the kids going to kindergarten means they are no longer at their daycare. And while we are all happy that the kids get to big-kid school, there is this sense of loss, of disconnect, from something that we have all shared in for years. From the daycare staff, from the kids' classmates, from the other parents. So when the kids' daycare announced that they were having their Fall Festival, I was so excited to tell the kids.

Strangely, the kids weren't as excited as I thought they would be - or as excited as I was, anyway. They've been back to visit the center a few times since school started and were happy to see everyone, but their teachers are gone, a lot of their classmates are gone (also in kindergarten), and so I could tell it just wasn't the same for them anymore. Sigh.... I guess that's how change goes.

Still, come the Fall Festival, they were happy to dress up, go to the school, and see everyone who was there. I also was happy to chat with parents that I've made friends with and see all the kids playing. Bittersweet it may have been, but it was a fun evening...

Corn maze craze

Every October we try to get out to at least one of the local pumpkin patches. We've done Bi-Water Farm, Evan's Orchard, Boyd's Orchard, and even Double Stink back before they sold the farm. But this year, the kids were going to Bi-Water for a class field trip - so that was kinda out. Double Stink closed down years ago. We've done Evan's a few times, and, well...I'm not sure when we did Boyd's...but surely we have...I guess...maybe...

Anyway, all of these places are certainly out to get into your pocketbook. Each charges some sort of admission to do the basic stuff like pumpkin patch, hay ride, corn maze, kid's playground, etc. It can cost an average of $10 per person (including adults), but I get that they are trying to round out their books at the end of the year, and I like to support the local businesses every now and then. Since we've been to so many of these places, and since October is busy enough, it seemed fitting to just pick one this year. And this year it was time for something new. So we tried out Kelley Farms and their big corn maze.

I guess every year the farm creates these elaborate mazes that you can see from a plane, such as this year's (in honor of the World Equestrian Games that were held in Lexington last month)...


We got there, got our "map"...

which wasn't all that helpful actually. But that's fine. So after Kestian and Damon went back to the car so Kestian could recompose himself from his exasperated disappointment from the fact that we were going to do the corn maze before the hay ride, we climbed the huge hay stack thing, of which Adelaide was fearless...


and Kestian needed a little support...


Then we headed to the corn maze. Now let me just say that they actually have it set up to do the corn maze at night, in the dark, which I think would be totally awesome...but, you know, we have kids... So we ventured into maze #1 (of 2)...


It actually didn't take us long to find our way through it, but I'm sure we didn't do it justice. We may have back-tracked, cut-through, or just totally missed some turns, but it was neat to go through.

Then we did the hay ride, where we were treated to beautiful views of the farm and the pumpkin patch...


And then went back in to do the 2nd, and much larger, maze. This one was supposed to be nearly impossible to "complete" - whatever complete means. I'm sure we did this one wrong too because we made it out in about 15 minutes and only seemed to go around the lower right corner of it...


Ah well. The kids enjoyed the treat and had fun on the various pumpkin patch accoutrements.


Soon it was time to head home, pick up some yummy pizza, and gather around to watch the "Italian cooking show." A satisfying Saturday.

Raven run

Alright! Busy busy busy. These next few posts are mostly to update our WONDERFUL readers about the Orsetti household. I'm not getting all philosophical or theoretical today. Just straight photo fun!!!

Let's start things off right: Recently we ventured out on a beautiful fall afternoon and went hiking at Raven Run. We used to go fairly regularly pre-kids, but...well, you know...we had kids. But now that Kestian and Adelaide are a bit older (and Fenton is so portable), we can do more and more of these things. And I guess it's been a while since we've been there (well, I guess about a year or so) and they now have a very nice nature center...


But, honestly, I liked the rustic charm of the old center by an old barn. It was so outdoorsy. But whatever....

So after a picnic lunch at the center...


the kids were anxious to hit the trail...


So we headed out, with the kids alternating who lead as I tried to keep up while wearing Fenton on my front and a diaper bag on my back...


Eventually, we made it to the overlook...


The view was awesome, although I couldn't stop thinking about the drop and trying to make sure the kids went nowhere near the edge.

All in all, it was a fairly decent hike. The kids were mostly pleasant and we even made it back for most of the kids' favorite "Italian cooking show" (i.e. Lidia's Italy). Looking at the map, I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by what we covered or by how much more there is...


Next time...