Upper Palisades Hike

On August 23rd, trying to squeeze as much into the last few days of summer as we could, we decided to hike to Upper Palisades. It is a LONG hike to do there and back in a day, but SERIOUSLY SO GORGEOUS! The kids were incredible hikers. The trail gets a little sketchy the closer you get to the upper lake and we about gave up not wanting to get lost, but we pushed on "hoping" we were going in the right direction and it paid off! The water with its turquoise spots is absolutely incredible. AND....it felt SO GOOD to put our hurting feet in to soak for a few minutes. 

Filthy feet (no I didn't hike in flip flops. I take them along to put on as soon as we get back to the car.) and just over fifteen miles! What a great day! 

Combine Header

On the morning of August 22nd I got a call from Ryan that they were short one driver and needed me to come pull a combine header from Dale's dry farm up to Bone. Yikes! I had just read an article that morning about two little girls that were swimming. The one was trying to talk the other into diving but she kept saying she was too afraid. An older lady watching them finally swam over after listening to the little girl say she was too afraid over and over again and told the little girl it wasn't about being unafraid, it was about being afraid and doing it anyway! SO.....with that story fresh on my mind and a little fear in my heart I left to go help. I watched as they loaded the header on the trailer behind the flatbed with my fear increasing. A combine header is a very LONG load! I made JD (17 yrs old...but way more experience than me, lol!) who was pulling the other header go infront of me so I could follow exactly where he drove and I made Dallin (16 yr old....and I know forever and always he's got his mama's back!) go behind me in the grain truck so that if at any point I needed to abandon the mission he could jump in and take over and we headed out. I knew that we had to go down high bridge road which has a 1 lane S shaped bridge and then a sharp steep swithback just after. The closer we got the more nervous I was, but with ALOT of prayers I DID IT! I was so proud of myself! It's not about being unafraid, it's about being afraid and doing it anyway!! 

Summer Night Bike Rides

Bike rides with these 2 are my favorite!

Fishing

The kids and I were dying to go fishing so we loaded up the suburban, stopped for some worms and headed to the ranch. The lake was super low because Stan and Dale had been working on fixing the dam, so the moss was even worse than usual. We had our poles though and a gorgeous evening so we just rolled with it. It was fun until we realized if we caught something we didn't even have a knife to gut it. 😂 Lucky for us we didn't catch anything! Infact....we lost something! During one of Oakley's casts we heard a loud splash and when we looked over at her she was in a tangled mess....her reel had come off the pole and got thrown into the lake! We tried and tried to fish it out with the net, but with no luck. Such a bummer. Good thing we still had fun just being together! 

Summer Sunsets

There is nothing better than a warm summer night and a gorgeous sunset! 

Harvest Fire

Each year during harvest we live with a little fear in our guts of fire. We have seen first hand the damage a fire in a grain field can do and understand the reality of it. We keep a disc hooked up and close at all times and Stan has his fire truck full and ready to head out at a moments notice as well.  On August 15th I sat on my front step and watched the smoke billow up from our neighbors field seriously sick to my stomach. Not only is a field fire extremely dangerous, but that field is their lively hood and what pays the bills.  It was just sickening. Thanks to great neighbors who are willing to shut down their own harvest and jump in at the first signs of smoke this one was put out almost as quickly as it started. We jump in to help the neighbors knowing that at any point it could be us that needs the help. What a blessing good people are! I am so thankful to live in a community full of them.

Jr High Shots

Laiklie had to be brave and get her Jr High shots this summer! It's never fun, but has to be done! I can't believe my baby is headed to the Jr High!