We went on our first field trip with our homeschool co-op to Bob's Amazing Corn Maze. We had a great time and we are looking forward to going again.

We got to take a hay ride over to the maize maze (he he).

We walked around the back of the maze to set our stuff down at the bonfire.

And we explored the maze

We made it out no problem. Going back through we hit a couple dead ends!

My little savenger!

The girls would pick up the ears of corn that had fallen on the ground.

Uncle John enjoying the corn, too!

We roasted hot dogs and had smores - they were so yummy!

I loved that this corn maze had no witches, goblins, or jack o lanterns!! We don't celebrate halloween so it was nice not to see that stuff!

This what we saw instead! C3 wanted a picture with the calf! Notice the corn in hand!

Me and Baby C - bonfire is behind us.

The Mills Fam - one of these days we will have a picture where everyone is looking!

On Monday we went on a field trip to Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue. Farmer Jane went over life in a log cabin, told stories, and the children got to play with things in the log cabin. The kids had a wonderful time.

"Laura"

C1 checking out the sheep - a couple years ago he would have freaked out being that close to a sheep!

"Laura" again

C2 grinding wheat

Grinding wheat, coffee and churning cream

Playing with bread dough

Baby "Carrie"

C1 practicing hammering nails

Teamwork

Thank you Leigh for organizing this, it was great!

Today we went with our Roots and Wings group to the salmon hatchery. We have been before, but never on an 'ohfishal' tour.

Here the children are feeding the rainbow trout

You can tell the difference between male and female salmon by their mouths, males have a more hooked mouth/nose.

Looking at a redd - salmon nest. Not a real one of course!

A seagull having lunch - yummy!

This is most likely a female guarding her nest, she will guard it until she dies.

C4 with her friend 'J'

Thank you Megan for organizing this! We had fun today.

Grandmom is here visiting! Yay! We ventured over to Bellevue Botanical Gardens today. We had a nice walk, a picnic lunch and went letterboxing. We also headed to a park, PCC, swim class and the farmer's market! A little too much activity for me for one day, but we had a good time!

On a bridge - C1 just had to find the bridges!

just a pretty shot

More pretty shots. I just loved these 'blue' pinecones.

I guess you have to have them do something silly for them all to look!

We found it!! woo hoo!

C3 with her journal

Counting 30 steps to find our second box.

I took the kids blueberry picking on Wednesday, August 1st. We picked almost 2 pounds of berries. We wanted to pick berries for Uncle J's arrival.

  The kids with their berry pails.

We took our berries home and made Blueberry Crumb Bars. They were so yummy!

We went to Farrel-McWhirter Park in Redmond with some friends today. The kids had a great time. They enjoyed looking at the animals ( turkeys, goats, pigs, horses, ducks, rabbits). There were also swallows near the entrance that must of had a nest close by so the kids were chasing the birds or maybe the birds were chasing the kids! The boys had a great time doing the chase! We also went for a walk in the woods, it was so beautiful there, we discovered some salmonberries and the kids took a taste, C2 did not care for his!

It was a beautiful park that we will definately visit again.

Going into the 'lookout'

Inside the 'lookout'

C2 tasting the salmonberry

On a tire swing

The group

C1, C2, C3 and our friends A and R

We have a salmon fish hatchery close to where we live, and right now the salmon are returning to spawn. I taught the children about the lifecycle of a salmon. They got to see the salmon jumping upstream, going up the ladders, being sorted based on gender and being boxed up for the food bank. The children had a great time.

We are part of a once a month group of 3 other families and we rotate who hosts the field trip.

It was great, slimy fun!

The salmon going upstream

The kids looking at them sort based on gender.

My three kiddos

Today we went to Minea Farm, we were able to see their 100 year old cider press at work and taste the yummy cider. C2 loved it but C1 did not want to sample it! I made him try some at home! We went with a couple of friends that are homeschooling as well. 

We watched a video they had on the process of making cider. Someone had also brought in some apples and pears to press and we got to taste the cider from that.

The press in action

Mrs. Minea getting us a sample of the cider. It was sooo delicious!

Group shot of the kids

The boys having fun running after the tour.

We had a great time at the farm, I can't wait to go back!