Pumpkin Patching

We went to two different patches this year: the same bounce house pumpkin patch that we went to last year for jumping fun, and then another patch to check out the pumpkins and fun rides.  This year we decided to check out Spina Farms in San Jose.

While we visited the patch because it offered train, pony and hay rides, Ethan only wanted to jump on the hale bales and navigate the wheelbarrow between the pumpkins. We all had a great time, and it was even better because Nai Nai was visiting and able to come with us.

 

Ethan turns 4!

Happy birthday to my little one!  We love you so much!  It's amazing how every day, even though we often do the same things, is always a little bit different.  We feel like the luckiest parents to be able to learn and grow and play along with you!

Silicon Valley Long Course Tri (SVLC)

 Bob ran his first half iron man!  Woot, go Bob!  =)  The SVLC was held at Lake Almaden in San Jose.

We were so excited to go cheer him on...only we got a bit distracted by all the geese (Ethan's favorite!).

 

In the brief time it went to go watch them wade into the Lake, we just missed Bob crossing the finish line.

 Boo. So here is to a reenactment: 

   

Completed finishing time?  5:50.  And yet he still looks spry.  

 And here is the whole team.  Congrats everyone!

Shower Fixer

This year Ethan has gone through many different phases...he started the year by claiming he was Quincy, his favorite character from the Little Einsteins.

At the start of the school year he even got all his teachers and new friends to call him Quincy...to the point where the teachers actually wanted to relabel his cubby and label all his artwork with his newfound name.  We even got him an afro and yellow and green shirt to wear for Halloween, but a week before the event rolled around he became Ethan again.

This was followed by a brief Mommy phase where he wanted to be me when he grew up because "Mommy's get to cook yummy food all the time" (which I don't actually think is a great blessing, but happy he thinks his meals are palatable).

Then, a HUGE obssession with Adele.  He heard one of her songs on the radio and fell in love.  He would sing all her songs ALL THE TIME, wear my cashmere coat around in the heat of summer (and to sleep) because she "wore black soft furs" in her music videos, helped create a spotlight (out of Bob's bicycle headlight and some plastic cups) to shine down on his couch platform, and claimed he wanted to be "a famous singer like Adele" when he grew up.  This lasted for months people, months.

And now a new phase is born. Yesterday, after school, we did something something crafty and decorated with foam stickers.  He put his name down all by himself - please welcome, Ethan, aka the 'shower fixer'.

We had a leak in our master shower and had some plumbers come investigate the problem.  Everyday Ethan now instead of going to school, goes to one of his "ten different workplaces" to help fix showers and save the day. 

Crabbing

 

A few weeks ago we went crabbing with some friends at the Municipal Pier (corner of Van Ness and McDowell) in SF.  Crabbing season this year was open from November to end of June, and only red rock crab over 4" are allowed to be kept if fished within SF bay.  The park ranger told us that the easiest way to tell apart the dungeness vs red rock crab was by looking at the pinchers - if the tip was black then that meant it was a red rock crab!   The views from the pier (open 24 hours) were beautiful...the only downside to this pier was that there were no close restrooms or eateries nearby.

 

View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the pier.

Setting up the crab nets.  We used chicken drumsticks as bait...

but the sea lions and seagulls attached them before the crabs could.  A nice fellow crabber gave us a metal cage to put the bait in which helped to eliminate that problem.

Snack time!

Pulling up the nets required lots of teamwork.

Our first crab!  We caught quite a bit of dungeness crabs which we threw back into the water.  We did end up with two adult red rock crabs and lots of baby ones (which were also let go).

Family pic!

Sungsim explaining the anatomy of the crab.

Ethan doing the yawn and around the shoulder move followed by a quick smooch.  J/k, that would give heart attack.  He is only three people!  They were whispering secrets into each others ear, which was pretty cute.

Excited to hold the crabs!

The Moskewiczs!

When asked if he had fun on the drive back, Ethan gave a resounding yes!  He talked a lot about his new friends on the way home...but had no qualms about eating them that night. Afterwards he said 'full of deliciousness' and claimed he only liked seafood for now on.