Changes

I've had to take some time off recently, but this happened:

This is Rex, and he is RAD!!!

He was born 6/16/14. We had an amazing summer!!!

R&R farms

We love R&R farms. They don't have a website. They are on West Valley Highway at approx 26506 in Kent.

This incredible little farm stand is run by Rita and her husband (I think Richard). They used to own an delicious Italian restaurant in Kent so Rita knows her way around food.

They grow incredible produce and sell local honey, too. They bring in fruit from Eastern Washington.

Just a warning, they are hit and miss. Sometimes I drive by and there is nothing out there, sometimes there is a few things and you pay on the honor system, or sometimes the place is bustling and Rita is out there selling the best leeks and beets I have every purchased.

Rita has helped me become a better cook. If I'm not sure what to do with an ingredient (or have never seen it before) she gives me a quick and easy way to make something delicious for my family.

Because they know our family well, they even let us sit on the tractor sometimes....

This is a cash only, sometimes pay on your honor place, so bring your dollar bills.

R&R farms also shows up at the Kent Farmer's Market when it's in season.

Kent Library Sleepy Story Time

For the past 3 weeks we have been going to the Kent Library Tuesday Evening Story Time. It is every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00pm. Here is a link Kent Library.They have other activities/story times but since we are only available in the evening, this is the one we have been frequenting.

Ms. Lauren is amazing! She remembered me from when I used to bring our 12 year old as a toddler. We brought the 12 year old with us last week and she sat in the back and read her own book.

Here is a picture of Josey (age 2.5) getting ready to enjoy some story time.

See that red board in the background? Ms. Lauren gives the kids fabric characters related to the story she is reading to stick on that board. It's pretty awesome and gets the kids really into it. They also sing songs (Josey requests Wheels on the Bus every time) and do counting games. Then at the end, they grab a stuffed animal and sing it to sleep. Before they leave they get a tap from the sleepy wand and a sticker.

We've only taken Josey 3 times but she talks about it all the time. She LOVES it!!!

And it's FREE!!!

Another Nice Kent Lunch Spot...Quiet Alley in Kent Station

This is a quiet little spot at Kent Station. It is right in between William James Hair Salon and Gentle Dental off Ramsey Way. There are a few tables and some shady areas if it's sunny. If it rains, there are so many places to duck into at Kent station.

Kent Picnic Spot #1

There are so many nooks and crannies perfect for outdoor eating in Kent. Here is one that I think is so cool.

It is an empty space between 2 buildings on 1st Avenue in Kent. It's between Titus and Gowe streets. You can walk through it from 1st to get to the post office. Here is the Google street view: awesome picnic spot #1

There are 2 tables here, the other one is just out of view on the left. The best part are the rad murals painted on both walls. There is so much to look at!

Bring food from home (aka picnic) or grab something from Spiro's Greek Island which is right next door and has truly delicious Greek food. Their salad dressing is AMAZING!

Deck Forts

Papa and Jo enjoy the simple pleasure of making a deck fort out of laundry put out to dry, (and Pee-Wee Herman,) one of their favorite activities this summer. This is just one incarnation, there have been many.

Maybe we can move it indoors when the weather gets cold/rainy/dark.

Kiwanis Tot Lot #1

We visited Kiwanis Tot Lot #1 early one evening last week. We closed the place down/stayed until it was too dark to play anymore! This park was a big hit for both kiddos. The older one liked all the places to climb up and relax, the younger one LOVED the train theme.

The train play area on the south side of the park has a tunnel and slide and some fun things to play music on. That's one of the 2 sets of train tracks that run through Kent in the background. A train passed by just before we left and we got a wave from the conductor. Super exciting stuff for a 2 year old!

On the left of the photo, you can see a digger to dig in the sand. There are 2 of these and one seems like it is wheelchair accessible.

There was also this balanc-y teeter-totter thing that the 12 year old and I tried to bounce each other off of. Here she is standing on it.

 There are some swings and a north play area as well. It looks like this....

Can you spot the toddler climbing the "rock"

This park also has full court basketball. You can see it behind my girls swinging.

Behind them you can also see the large open field There was a port-o-potty here but it was locked. They may open it during the day. We also wondered what the small mobile workspace (looked like a small portable) is used for.

There is a picnic table here and a grill right next to the north play area. There is also a pretty rad, train themed "racetrack" suitable for tricycles or running on foot. 

Like I said, we didn't want to leave this park, just had to when it got too dark.  I had to promise we would go back, and we will.