Time for a quick post from the dad:). Ethan doesn’t have too many words yet, but he mimics what we say pretty often. Well in the last three or four days he has started counting to 3. I don’t think he has an understanding that the numbers represent the quantity of something – I’m pretty sure he just knows that two comes after one, and three comes after two. Although I count with him when we pick up objects, I think this development is due to the nightly watching of Sesame Street before we go to bed. Here is a video of the counting, thanks to Grandma Herron, who was there with the camera.
The Influence of Sesame Street October 31, 2008
Halloween Festivities October 26, 2008
Today was all about Ethan and Halloween festivities. Earlier in the afternoon we made a trip to attend the Baby Loves Disco Halloween party and boy was that place hoppin. It was at a nightclub in Pioneer Square and that place was packed with parents and kids of all ages cutting a rug and having a great time. Ethan was a little overwhelmed when we first entered the building but then he started to get into it and even did a few dance moves. He seemed to be more interested in all of the other people, the balloons, and the bubble machines though. We saw some great costumes at this party. One family was dressed as the Simpson characters and another family was dressed from the characters of the movie Royal Tenembaums. We will definitely be going to another Baby Loves Disco event in the future.
After Baby Loves Disco we met up with my sister-in-law Mandy, her kids Kale, Ella, and Nichole, and Jeff’s mom Alison at the Woodland Park Zoo for their Pumpkin Prowl event. There were also a ton of parents and children that made it out to this event as well. Ethan was a little annoyed about wearing his dragon costume but he got a ton of compliments. He had a great time watching all of the kids but was wiped out from an afternoon of dancing to really enjoy it. We had a good time though and will most likely be going back next year.
Pumpkin Patch at Stocker Farms, Snohomish Washington October 20, 2008
Today Jeff, Ethan, and I went with our friends Courtney, Jeff, Wendy, and Aitana to pick out some pumpkins to carve at Stocker Farms in Snohomish Washington. The place was packed when we arrived but luckily we were able to find our pumpkins. At the Stocker Farms they had face painting for the kids, a corn maze, some bouncy blowup toys, and a barrel ride.
After we picked out our pumpkins we stopped for some burgers and then headed to Courtney and Jeff’s to carve our masterpieces. Ethan was really into the guts of the pumpkins and I carved his into a Pac Man scene. Mine was a haunted house and Jeff is still working on his masterpiece. Courtney even made her yummy pumpkin seed recipe which we got to take home with us so it was a great day and a great Halloween tradition with friends.
Children’s Museum, Seattle Center October 11, 2008
Today Jeff, Ethan, and I headed to the Seattle Center to visit the Children’s Museum. This was our first adventure to the museum and I thought it would be a great time to go since Ethan is getting pretty good at walking.
We got there right when it opened and boy did Ethan have a great time. I think Jeff and I even enjoyed being a kid for a few hours as well right along with him. Once you get into the museum there is a big whale that the kids can climb though. Ethan was a little hesitant at first but then crawled on through.
Then it was on to the mountain regions where you climbed up to the top of the mountain and then got to go down the slide. After this we headed to the area for kids ages 1 to 4. In this area there are a bunch of tubes that you can stick plastic golf balls into which travel through a tube obstacle course. Ethan paid more attention to what the other kids were doing than the golf balls.
After this section we headed to the story land area and then on to the area that had displays of different countries. We ventured into a Japanese super market, a house in Japan, and a house in Africa.
Then we moved on to the little kids area which had a lot of things to crawl on and also a river that Ethan loved to splash and play at. In the middle of this area was a little slide with stairs so we let Ethan climb up the stairs which is his favorite thing to do at home and then he went down the slide head first laughing the whole way down.
We had a great time and will definitely be back there again in the future.
Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodle Recipe from DozenFlours (Julia) October 9, 2008
For my birthday, my co-worker Julia who has a blog http://dozenflours.com/, made a yummy treat. I had to get the recipe from her since they were so delicious so that I could pass it along to all of you that are looking for a good fall recipe. Enjoy!
Photo credit: Julia (http://dozenflours.com/)
Pumpink Pie Snickerdoodle Bars
Snickerdoodle Layer
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Pumpkin Pie Layer
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch pan and lay a piece of parchment paper across the pan, so that it extends the pan slightly. The parchment paper is an optional step, but it will make it easier to get the bars out later
To make snickerdoodle layer:
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside. In large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan (mixture will be thick and cookiebatter-ish.)
In a mixer bowl (you can use the same one you used to make the snickerdoodle batter) with a paddle attachment, mix together all ingredients until well combined. This layer will be less thick and more pourable. Pour over the snickerdoodle layer, smoothing out the top.
Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.
Bake for 33-40 minutes (maybe more depending on your oven) or until a toothpick inserted into the *center* of the pan comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely (about an hour). They will deflate a bit and remain a bit pie-like on the top layer. The bars that are closer to the edges of the pan will be more firm, but are still equally as yummy.
After the bars are completely cool, place the chopped white chocolate into a bowl or zip-lock bag and melt on low power. When it’s completely melted, add the pumpkin pie spice and mix (or knead if using a zip lock bag). Use a spoon or cut a small corner off the bag and drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the bars and let it cool and harden.
Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into bars. Store in a covered container.
October Activities for Seattle Kids October 7, 2008
October is turning into a big month for things to do with kids in the Seattle area. We have signed up for two events so far this month that are sure to be fun.
The first event is Baby Loves Disco. This event is for people with kids ages 6 months to 7 years old to show your dance moves at a local nightclub which has been completely baby proofed and filled with lots of activities to keep your little one occupied. The hours are from 1 to 4 on Saturday October 25th. This is the Halloween Baby Loves Disco as well so you can dress up your little ones in their favorite costumes and head out and have a great time. I know that Ethan is going to have a blast at this since he is absolutely been practicing his dancing (stomping feet) moves.
The second event that we are going to is Pumpkin Prowl at Woodland Park Zoo. This is Woodland Park Zoo’s Halloween event filled with a ton of stuff to do for your little ones and they can trick-or-treat as well. This event is October 24th, 25th, and 26th and if you plan before-hand you can pick up your tickets at Bartell’s for a $2 discount ($7 adults and $5 children, two and under are free). There will also be live entertainment and lots of Halloween themed activities for all to enjoy.
Crush Restaurant, Seattle WA October 5, 2008
Yesterday for my birthday Jeff took me out to dinner at the restaurant Crush which is located in the Madison area in Seattle. The wind was against everyone yesterday so traffic was a pain. We drove across the bridge in the wind storm and the bridge was actually moving as you drove across it. The waves were also crashing up over the bridge on one side so it was a driving adventure. Once we got to the restaurant we were greeted to a very modern living room type atmosphere. This restaurant was built in a house.
For my birthday we got a complimentary glass of champaign to start the meal. I had a heirloom tomatoe salad which was to die for and Jeff had a corn and gueduck soup which was fantastic. For our entree I had scallops with rosotto and melon and Jeff had salmon and a crab cake. They had a somolei that paired a bottle of wine to all of our meal choices and he did a great job pairing. Each dish made the wine taste a little different.
For dessert Jeff had an apple pie type dish and I had huckleberry cheesecake.
It was a fantastic place for dinner and we will definitely be going there again.
