Autumn Days

 Autumn day, autumn day,

 God gives richest gifts today.

 

Look on ev'ry side and see pleasant things 

for you and me.

Apples red and apples yellow, round and juicy, sweet and mellow.

Load the trees til they bend over and their branches touch the clover.

 

Child, be glad with all that lives, but forget not God who gives. 

*Song lyrics from The Children's Songbook, in case you don't know it and thought I was a poet.*

September in Cache Valley

September in Cache Valley means...

...picnics at Grandpa's Ranch...

...leaf gathering...

...and tree climbing.

September in Cache Valley means walks up dry creek beds...

 

...and field trips to see red Salmon fly...

...and morning trail runs.

But mostly, September in Cache Valley means a phone full of sunsets.

 

I kinda like September in Cache Valley.

High Creek

We spent a little time exploring the canyon just a hop and skip away from our new house.  It was delightful.  We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. 

 

 Daddy caught about 30 fish.

 

Mom found a rope swing we all got to try.

 

We practiced our best gymnastics moves.

And we all went home happy.

Pretty Bird

Oh Benny.  If you don't know my little Benny, you are really missing out.  He is just a big pile of fun and charm and adventure.

So the other day, I was in the laundry room when he came in and said, "Mom, I brought a bird in the house. Come see."  I followed him, not really knowing what he was talking about.  I gave quite a squeal when he pointed out this little fellow to me:

Sure enough, there was a real live bird in our house.  I figured he must have left the door open and it flew in.  After it was quickly determined that I would be unable to get the bird out of the house, I asked Ben how it got in.  He took me out to the porch and pointed to where the bird had been perched and then demonstrated how he ever so slowly crept up behind it and then quick as lightning reached out and grabbed it.  He brought it back inside at which point the bird escaped and found itself this lovely perch.

Well, Ben and I kept an eye on the bird all day.  After trying out a few different spots and flying around a bit, it just kinda hung out in this window.  It would flap around occasionally and fly into the window every few minutes.  Later that afternoon, Grandpa got out a tall ladder and carefully climbed up and scooped up the bird.  We were a little afraid it was hurt, but when he took it outside the bird flew away without any trouble.  

And then Ben climbed up the ladder to investigate the bird poop situation cause that's the kind of little fellow that he is.

Country life seems to agree with my little Ben.

Pioneers

 Nothing like blogging about something that happened almost two months ago.  Such is life these days...

So.  July 24th.  I've never dressed up like a pioneer or participated in any pioneer parades.  But.  Our bishopric planned a Pioneer Day activity for our ward and I was assigned (probably asked - I don't really remember) to be in charge of the children's parade.  So I busted out the sewing machine to whip up Annie and Molly some pioneer costumes.  The boys didn't need much but hats and bandanas (and guns, supplied by their father, of course).  They made darling pioneers and it was a fun little party. 

When the weekend rolled around, we headed north to celebrate the pioneers Newton style.  Cole and Annie ran the dam race this year with me.  They were dam fast.  

There was also a parade which Floyd had the honor of joining...

 

...lots of games, some food, some more races, an airplane ping-pong ball drop.  

And then there was mud.  Oh so very much mud.  

 It seems like Newton tried to honor the pioneers by dumping all the mud from the plains right onto my children. 

  

Luckily, the mud was followed by firemen hosing down all the children, so all is well, all is well.

Except their underwear.  It did not recover.

Midway

So, I've complained quite a bit about not having a very exciting summer, but looking back through pictures, it turns out we did do a few things besides clean and pack.  

Floyd's parents had a condo in Midway for a few days, so we went for a quick trip.  They got a new boat, so obviously we needed to take it out on the lake.  

 

Summer nights on the lake are one of my favorite things ever.  It was so pretty and peaceful and perfect out there. And sunset on the water is never a disappointment.  We had a good ride.

The next day, we headed back to the lake.  My boys (and Annie, but we didn't get her picture) were tube riding champs.  Cole is fearless on that thing. 

 

It's a good thing Grandpa's boat is big because I learned something new that day - Deer Creek Reservoir is a top contestant in the World's Worst Beach contest.  Seriously.  It was completely awful.  Tons of rocks.  Even more thistles and thorns.  Zero sand or shade.  If you don't have a boat, do not bother going to Deer Creek.  Although, it didn't really seem to stop half of Utah County from showing up...

...or this little darling from smiling.

We had a good time.  The End.

The Temple

Just before we moved, we went to the Ogden Temple Open House.  It was a little bit sad for me to be there.  I've been really excited for the temple to open back up and the kids, especially Ben, have had a fun time watching it progress the past few years.  It was sad to know we would move before we ever really had the chance for it to be "our" temple. 

But then I thought of the pioneers building temples and being forced to leave them, knowing they were leaving their sacrifices behind.  We only have to travel an hour if we want to visit - and we would pass two other temples on our way.  We are blessed, that is for sure.  The temple is lovely and peaceful and everything a temple should be.  We will miss checking its progress, but we are glad it is ready to be opened.