Hiking, Gathering, Work, and Home

When Fall hits, I have a hard time enjoying it at first. All I can think about is how I didn't get enough HEAT! After a few weeks I settle into the beauty of fall and try not to think about how short it lasts and how soon winter will come.  It sort of brings out a panic inside me to make sure and be outside as much as possible.  It is sort of my last chance for outdoor fun....at least outdoor fun that doesn't require the tugging, pulling, pilling, whining, and sweating of getting everyone's snow stuff on to play outside in the winter.  So, in the sprit of Fall Fun, we tried out a little hike we'd been wanting to do.  We didn't leave till late afternoon, so time was short, but we had fun taking it easy seeing what this place was all about.  

The backpack is a total WIN.  We found one that holds more weight that the normal kid pack and its been great. I mean....its still a 40 something pound kid on your back, but it beats the heck out of carrying him! He hums with the rhythm of my steps and plays with my hair.  

Kid hoods make me laugh.  

Quinn the Indian.  

June's baby was hungry.  

After I took his picture, the Mommy life continued for her.  She brought me a blanket to tie her baby to her back. She took her baby on the swing and even the trampoline.  She's a good, attentive Mommy.  Obviously on the side of attached parenting.  

At the end of September, it was time to bring the cows out of the summer pasture.  It is up in the mountains, so its a day of gathering for the guys.  I was doing the mom/school thing all day, but Kory sent me some beautiful pictures. He was riding our new horse Howdy. It was her first big ride, so that was good.  

I always love pictures where I can see all the black dots (cows) sprinkled out across the hill. 

Beautiful fall Aspens. 

The cows were lined up and headed somewhere together.  Which is usually a good thing.  

Late afternoon, Susan, Rachael, and I went up to meet the gang and (of course) bring food! 

Chief was already down so he let Cash give the granddaughters a ride! 

The kids ate while they watched the cows come on down into the corrals.  

Chief, Cash, and The grandkids (minus tiny Baby Jona who was sleeping/crying in the car). 

Kiddos having supper 

Tyler bringing a group into the rock canyon corral.  

The next day is a FULL day for the men getting the cows shipped back down to the ranch, and a bunch of other stuff I don't know about.  Kanyon was at school, but we had fun with Sayler and Hayven out at the ranch.  They get to skip school on big ranch days! 

I got this awesome picture and almost fell over with an exploded heart.  Clay and Maurine were out at Camp  for a retreat and they spent the night in Jayde's cabin. It is the cabin that we raised money for and built in her honor.  If you donated to it, know that nights like this happen for our family that mean the world to me.  So, 2 years later, and many more years to come, we say THANK YOU! 

Miss Mommy had her cat paws on and was taking her baby for a ride.  

Quinn played soccer this fall! It started off a little rough. (crying the first game and a half).  But he ended up having a great time.  I think he was a little unsure about the whole "other team" thing and that they were trying to get the ball away from them and stuff.  It was an interesting start, but we're glad he ended up playing and liking it.  We will continue to work on his "killer instinct"/aggression.  So far it hasn't shown up yet, but we've got plenty of time! ha! 

Quinn and Lorado celebrating a goal! 

Serious about saving the world!  

We started a small group with our church about this time last year. Our first meeting was a pumpkin carving party, so this was our 2nd annual! We have had a great time with these people and have enjoyed building these relationships and encouraging each other. 

Kanyon's 2nd grade school pic.  Doing what school pics seem seem to do.....add 10 years to their age!

 Jaylie and Ellie face timing on Ellie's birthday! 

Quinn did a little work with Kory one afternoon and it ended with an impromptu riding lesson with Chief on Cash.  

I guess it got cool and Daddy gave him his sweatshirt.  

We went back to that trail that we hiked a few weeks earlier. We wanted to make it all the way to the top where it overlooks the whole town/valley.  It was longer than we expected and we were cutting it close with daylight hours, but it was fun!  

Towards the end of our climb up, we got a little desperate for speed and somehow Kory ended up carrying Jaylie while Kanyon was on his bike.  Q couldn't be left out, so he was hanging on to the back of the backpack.  I guess he didn't think Daddy had enough weight to carry.  haha.  I helped out, but I couldn't help but snap a picture of how brutal kids can be sometimes! 

We made it to the top and I'm so glad! It was beautiful! The sunset was pretty and BRIGHT. We decided we might advise people to do it in the morning because the sun was so bring it sort of blocked half of our view.  

We had a quick snack and headed down to get to the car before dark. 

I die laughing when i look at this picture.  It looks like a picture you see in People magazine where they put pictures of movie stars they catch coming out of starbucks or the yoga studio.  Haha! We were just drinking smoothies on our way to the Homecoming parade. 

It's no secret that Kanyon's aide is beyond amazing.  She and the PE teacher got Kanyon this basketball goal to play with outside. He was SO PUMPED!  She took this picture the first day the goal was out there.  He attracted quite the crowd with his skills!  

Nolan and Q Face Timing.  Nolan was showing us how loose his tooth was.  I was about to pass out watching.  UGH.  I don't like wiggly teeth.  

Juney girl's morning GLAM.  

She wanted to be her baby cousin Colbie in the swing.  I guess this is the face she thinks Colbie makes.  

Kory was fencing one day and we took him lunch.  J begged to stay, so when her daddy said YES she was as proud as I've ever seen her.  

This picture melts me.  Her arm wrapped around her Daddy so pleased and proud.  

she bounded off to the 4 wheeler SO EXCITED! 

 I got this picture a couple of  hours later...A lovely deer.  

 

 A pretty shot Kory took while riding Howdy one day.  I think this might've actually been his first ride with her.  

 

When Kanyon has therapy, Daddy gets "help" farming! And the kids get dirty faces.  

K had a blast with the water hose while they cleaned out trailers.  

This girl loves Murphy dog! 

Our first dusting of snow. October 4.  

The vest is a preview to her Halloween costume.  She wanted to be Murphy (Chief's dog...pictured above) and when I suggested a brown shirt and brown pants she thought that was crazy because dogs have FUR! So when I saw this vest at the thrift store, I knew it was the perfect FUR for the costume.  She wore it every single day.  Over her PJ's even!