Football

All summer long, Molly kept asking when it was going to be time for "a Aggie game." When we told her it was time, she tore her room apart to find her Aggie shirt. She was just a little excited.

Grandpa Clair spoils us and we always have a good time going to the games.

Probably the most memorable game of the year for our family was when they played San Diego State. It was raining pretty hard that day and nobody was really feeling up to sitting in the rain, but Molly heard there was a game and started campaigning to go. Somehow, she won (she always does) and all six of us ended up in the pouring rain. We made it to the end of the 3rd quarter, but by then, Molly was soaked through because she wouldn't sit down to watch. If the Aggies had been winning, we might have stuck it out, but they haven't had the best season this year. 

There's always next year.

Island Park

Labor Day weekend found us in Island Park again. We try to get up there when the cabin is available. I love the memories my kids make there. 

Everyone got a chance to go fishing this time. We went to the reservoir and had pretty good luck. That or else a pretty good fisherman was helping them out {a pretty handsome one too}.

It was a little chilly, so those of us who are not actually polar bears bundled up.

I guess Molly got her Daddy's polar bear genes.

Their daddy is trying hard, but these girls might be fisherman like their mom - the kind who like to sit on a bank and read a book or watch nature. 

Ben was all-smiles when he reeled his fish in. He was usually nowhere near his pole when the fish bit, but he'd make it back by the end of reeling it in.

We drove up Sawtelle Peak. It's incredible to be there and feel like you are on top of the world.

Floyd spotted a bear somewhere in the middle of this wilderness on the drive down the mountain and we watched it through his spotting scope for a bit. At one point, the bear climbed to the top of a very tall pine. It was fun to watch.

We made it into the park on Sunday. It was awfully chilly, but we braved the cold for a bit.

We had such a great trip! We've been there lots and lots of times, but we are always glad we take the time to go again.

Back to School

The day school got out, we headed up High Creek, so we decided to go there the last day of summer vacation too.

Our favorite spot to go is one of the last camp sites where you can cross to the group site with the rope swing. The kids love to play in the river there and swing on the swing.

 

We played and played and then the next day, we woke up and sent kids off to school. Cole started White Pine this year, so he was up bright and early and off to middle school. He didn't have too much trouble with his locker and he got to see Josh, so it was a good start to the year.

Ben is in first grade this year. His teacher is Mrs. Boling. He has some good friends in his class this year, which is probably bad news for Mrs. Boling, but has been great for Benny. I was worried about how he would adjust to all-day school. He complained a bit at the first, but he seems to have adjusted okay.

Annie is in 4th grade and has Mr. Downs. She has a huge class this year and I feel bad for her teacher, but she has a lot of friends in her class too.

We hope they all have a great school year!

August on the Farm

We didn't spend the entire month of August on the lake, although one of these years I wouldn't mind trying that. We had time to squeeze in a little farming fun too. 

Ben helped with harvest, thank goodness, or I would probably hear about how he didn't get to help until next August.

Molly got a couple of rides in too. She's always ready for a party, sometimes whilst wearing her big sister's swimsuit.

Annie and I had a 4-H group with some of her friends this summer. She won blue ribbons for her fudge, muffins, and cookies and a red ribbon for her photography. Good job, Annie!

Uncle Jake wanted to make a redneck waterslide this year, so he pulled some hay tarps and barrels up to Eva's and set one up. He needed some riders, so we came out to party. It was a blast...until the water ran dry! Next year, we better try it in June when there's still water in the dam.

Ben laughed hysterically the entire time, which is fun for everyone because Ben has the world's best laugh. It really can't be beat.

And Grandma Rose brought donuts, so she was pretty popular too. She's always pretty popular with those grandkids.