Field Trip, cont'd

After we saw the processing, we went backward in the process to the orchards where Lloyd VanDyken took the kids for a ride in the "shaker". It was quite amazing! Before this crazy looking machine was invented they would take tarps, lay them out under the trees, and hit them with mallets to make the nuts fall.

Anika really wanted to pick a nut from the tree.Andrew is trying REALLY hard to be an obedient little boy and NOT kick the dirt.

Field Trip

The Wickers took a field trip today to see how almonds are harvested. (We've always heard that they "shake the 'L' out of them" which explains the strange Ripon pronunciation of "a-mond")

First we went to the huller where Doug VanDyken explained how the nuts are hulled and sorted.

This huge pile of hulls is sold to the dairy farmers who feed it to their cows. (We were told that the almond is in the plum family and the hulls are apparently quite sweet.)

Anika's Gymnastics Class

We're building on Anika's olympic fever; I saw an ad in the paper for an 8-week trial gymnastics class through our local Parks & Rec Dept. It is held at a gym in nearby Manteca, so Anika is ecstatic. Friday's used to be "Daddy's Day Off" now they are "My Special Day", according to Anika. She is loving it!


Stretching:Balance Beam station:
Cartwheel station:
Backward somersault station:
Rings station: (This one is a little bit dark but Anika has been waiting to try these out! She is doing a straddle swing.)

Baby Kat

Kathryn Smiling

Poor Kathryn is struggling with a cold this week but she still smiles. What a trooper! I still wish I could catch a full smile but here is the best I could do. . .

RIDING A BIKE

Yes, in one week, Anika is riding a two-wheel bike by herself. Once we replaced the tube on this 16in. bike, she was off and going. She is still working on taking off and stopping but, boy, is she excited. (So is her mother, who was chasing around after her bigger 20 in bike in triple digit heat this week. This 16 in. bike is a God-send.)

Still learning to stop.

Learning to Ride

Anika is learning to ride a bike!!!! We've had some wonderful neighbors bring over some bikes (3 different sizes!) Our neighbors, the Heckmans, have a new method of teaching bike riding. They brought us a 12 in. bike that their 3 yr. old son, Trent, just used to learn on. The pedals and chains are gone so kids focus on balance/steering/turning/etc. Anika has been on it since last Sat. when they brought it over.

Andrew desperately wants to learn, too. Here's Anika keeping her feet up as she coasts along the sidewalk; she especially liked our slanted driveway where she could get us some speed.

My Three-ums

Anika takes her role as big sister very seriously. She loves to hold and care for Kathryn and she is a great source of translation for those moments when I simply can't make out what Andrew is saying.
The vestiges of face paint are from the MOPs & POPs carnival/kick-off that we went to (MOPs is Mothers of Pre-schoolers). What fun - bounce houses, face painting, crafts, cotton candy, popcorn, and more!

Kathryn 3 months

Although she is my most responsive, happy, giggly baby, I can't seem to capture it with the camera. Here is a sober Kathryn Grace:

Kathryn Grace rolling over???

Well the jury may be out on this one but Kathryn is pretty close to rolling over. Just what to do with that arm in the way. . .

Olympic Fever, part 3

We moved the running events indoors since the heat was a bit overwhelming! (Anika is wearing a "Jesus is Alive" sign as her participant #.)

Here is Anika's running ensemble:

Olympic Fever, part 2

Here are our diving events:

Yes, Anika is diving not doing balance beam;-)

Olympic Fever

Although the Olympics are long over in Beijing, they are alive and well in the Wicker household. Anika was fascinated by the diving, gymnastics, synchronized swimming, etc. So she has been performing in all events. Here is a sampling of our gymnastics (I put a mat down in our garage to get some shade in the triple digit heat we've been experiencing):

Dad & His Kids

I was able to catch a sweet moment of Lloyd and his kids. Down time is pretty limited when you have a 4 yr, 2 yr, and 3 mo. old:-)