PUMPKINS

When we planted our garden in the spring I told Ryan I didn't care if ANYTHING grew except the pumpkins.  I told him I wanted ALOT of pumpkins.  I don't know why pumpkins make me so happy, but they do! :)

We were thrilled when our 7 little plants started to produce and when we could see little pumpkins growing.  We planted one giant pumpkin plant and you could see a big pumpkin growing almost immediately compared to the other plants. Then in August it rained and rained and rained for almost 2 weeks and we didn't even go out to the garden.  When it finally stopped raining I decided I better go check on things.  We found this....

 54 - that's right....FIFTY FOUR PUMPKINS (I took this picture after we gave 10 to the neighbor kids) and out of the 54 we had 7 giant size pumpkins.  The orange one in the right corner was our original giant pumpkin.....we were blown away when we found SEVERAL bigger than the giant!

There were SO MANY and they were SO HEAVY we had to drive the suburban over to the garden, load it up and drive the pumpkins to the garage.  We weighed the big ones as we unloaded.  The two largest ones weighed in at a whopping 41 pounds! The other giants were anywhere from 25-40 pounds.  We are going to have a GREAT HALLOWEEN and some amazing JACK-O-LANTERS! Can't wait!!!

Horse Riding Lessons

Dallin and Rhett needed something to do this fall and I really wanted to get them into something they would love.  I happened to find a place here close that does horse riding lessons.  They are 2 weeks into the 10 week course and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! They have already learned how to saddle/bridle, lead and ride these beautiful animals.  I told Ryan this is a life skill that they will always be able to use....plus it helps that they LOVE IT! There will be more pictures to follow as we get farther into it!

First Day of School

WHAT?!! Summer is over and we are back to school! Where did the summer go?? We were definitely NOT READY to go back....but ready or not.....HERE WE GO! 

Rhett 4th, Oakley 9th, Laiklie 2nd and Dallin 6th

And they are OFF!

They have had a great first few weeks of school with little homework and a lot of fun getting to be with friends again.  We are definitely getting back into the thick of things with volleyball games, dance lessons, scouts/mutual and horse riding lessons.  We are busy people and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Boys Day

After Girls Day we of course had to have Boys Day at the ranch.  These boys could have stayed there ALL DAY! They LOVED it all! They were much more entertained than the girls.  They hiked all over the hills, made a trip to the tree house and spent a few hours in the lake kayaking.

 Dallin, Nathan, Mark (Rhett's new friend that just moved into the ward....we seriously prayed this cute little boy here! He is such a great kid and just what Rhett needed!) and Rhett

 Dallin and Nathan loved jumping out and climbing in and jumping out and climbing in.  They loved chicken fighting too.  What a bunch of knuckleheads! :)

 Rhett and Mark were the brave ones who jumped in the cold water first.  They paddled all over the lake.  They both get a kick out of standing up on the kayaks to paddle.  What a fun, fun day!

Girls Day

The week before school started we decided to do a GIRLS DAY and a BOYS DAY at the ranch with friends.  The girls got to go first because Lauren and Ava were staying at our house while their parents were out of town.  It worked out great and was SO MUCH FUN!

Laiklie and Ava loved the loft in the cabin! of course!

 They also loved to kayak on the lake.

Oakley and Lauren liked the SUNSHINE! and lounging out in the kayaks.  It was a fun day and a great way to spend the last week of summer! 

Bear Award

 On August 27, Rhett earned his Bear Scout Award.  I am so proud of him.  He earned it a whole month before his birthday! Yay!

 

 It was also the night of the rain gutter regatta.  So fun! The boys love making boats and racing them!

Scout Campout

Dallin's 11 year old scout troop needed just one more campout this summer to pass off some requirements but it happened to fall on the rainiest week of the summer.  So they decided to pitch their tents in our tractor shed.  I wish I would have got pictures before they dropped the tents, but glad I got a few of the boys.

 Nathan, Bennett, Dallin, Tyler and O'Ryan

 These boys have an incredible scout leader who is a trooper to put up with them and their big personalities! :)

Ryan even got to be a part of the campout.  So grateful to have an involved dad! Dallin wasn't feeling well this day and he was not only grateful for an involved dad.....he was also grateful to be so close to home! The campout in the tractor shed is one I am sure these boys will always remember!