Sunday at Spooner Farms

Kaeli and MaMa spent Sunday at Spooner Farm in Orting, which has a large pumpkin patch and an even LARGER corn maze. This year's theme was The Chronicles of Narnia. We met quite a few friends there from the Tacoma Families with Children from Asia (TacFCA) group that we are members of.


An overhead photo of the corn maze, with the outline of Aslan and Prince Caspian drawn by the paths. The red area to the right of the maze is the "pumpkin patch" with the hay bale spiders. They also had barns with animals to see, activities, roasted corn and corn dogs and fudge, and other fun things to do.



After going through a "wardrobe" at the entrance to the maze, you enter a winter wonderland of corn.

One of the interesting places in the maze. Notice Kaeli is already "strolling leisurely" on her way to the next area to explore. We spent almost an hour in the maze and only found two of the six mailboxes. Kaeli was getting concerned and wanted "out", so MaMa took the group in hand (Olivia and her parents Bruce and Pam, and Lia and Maya and their mother, Nancy) after we found a bridge and got our bearings, and got us out of the maze pretty quickly. It was a wonderful, well-done maze, that measured 2.1 miles in total path length!

Narnia Corn Maze

Standing on a bridge, looking out at the "never-ending" corn maze, and seeing another lost soul on another bridge in the distance.

Inside the Beavers' house

The entrance to the Beavers' house

The Spooner Farm Corn Maze

(From left) Nancy, Kaeli, Lia, Olivia and Pam using the paper punch to prove we found one of the six mailboxes hidden in the maze.

The mighty lion Aslan

A centaur

Kaeli with new friends Lia and Maya

Kaeli and Olivia at Spooner Farms

Kaeli and Olivia got to share a ride in a wheelbarrow with Olivia's Halloween pumpkin.

Comparing unicorns.

More Spooner Farm Fun

Kaeli (left) and Olivia riding hay bale horses.

Showing off her "face-painting" unicorn on her arm (so it will be allowed at school under her uniform!)

A hay bale spider (one of at least 10) in the large area to pick out pumpkins.

Taking NaiNai to the Train

Kaeli called YeYe to tell him NaiNai was soon going to be on her way home to Portland. NaiNai had spent a week with us while Kaeli had two days off from school and three half-days. She and NaiNai read a LOT of books and took walks and worked in the garden together and played restaurant and "cooker".

NaiNai, Sog and Kaeli having a hug goodbye.

Kaeli's First Lost Tooth!

Kaeli lost her FIRST tooth this past weekend! She has another wiggly one next to the hole, but we're hoping that one will last a little longer this time.

Kaeli's VIP Day at School

All Kaeli's classmates are scheduled to be VIP on specific days. Here Kaeli is waiting in line in the playground, ready to go into class with her snack (grapes) and drink. Later, YeYe visited to do a science project and Kaeli read a book to the class.

Portland Chinese Garden

YeYe, JioJio, Kaeli and NaiNai enjoying a sunny day at the Portland Chinese Garden. JioJio flew into Portland for a two week visit in August.

First Day of Kindergarten!

Kaeli was VERY excited about her first day of kindergarten!


Tacoma schools require uniforms - khaki, red, navy blue, white or black shirts, pants, skirts and dresses. It is a challenge for a clothes horse like Kaeli! But she is coping. Fridays she gets to wear anything she likes, which she really enjoys!

Kaeli was very disappointed when she found out that she couldn't go to school on Saturdays and Sundays. But Chinese school on Saturdays now helps fill the time.

Curran Apple Orchard Concert

There is a wonderful city park in University Place, just south of Tacoma, that is a former apple orchard. There is a gentle sloping hillside with a stage building at the bottom of the hill, with apple trees all around. We went to several of the free weekly concerts held there this summer, and Kaeli really enjoyed the music and playing in the sunshine. Below Elena (in the checked dress, Kaeli, Fiona (in the blue shirt) and a new small friend dance to the music.





Kaeli and Elena in a fairly still moment

Kaeli and Elena paused in a hug

Kaeli's Tacoma 5th Birthday Party

Kaeli had a wonderful birthday party in Tacoma in August with friends. We had the party at the Tacoma Nature Center at Snake Lake. The kids made snakes out of paper plates, took a SHORT walk in the rain, and had a turtle visit them in the classroom. We had cake and ice cream and a really good time!

Above, Kaeli and friends are decorating their paper plates before cutting out the snakes.

Elena, Kaeli and Oliva waiting for the turtle to come their way.

Ready to head out for the walk to the lake. But then we discovered it was raining really hard - for the Pacific Northwest! So the walk was cut short and everyone came back into the classroom for the rest of the party.