Party Time

Jessi & Zach as Olive Oyl & Popeye

George Bush & Mom
(J.T.)

Kooper the bull

Kooper the fire man??
Kooper couldn't decide so he changed halfway through

Trick-or-treating

Chase taking down the pinata

Hanna & Libby
The little devils

JoAnn & Vance
aka Mom & Dad

Heather
Check out those eyelashes

Heather & Libby
(Heather is the witch from Sleeping Beauty
I can't remember her name)

Titan holding Sophi & Amy holding Matty

Darrel & Laurie
The Blackfoot South Patients

Grandpa Elmer as Zoro

Morgan, Jessica & Larin

Back row: Kooper, Morgan, Jessica, Larin
Front row: Mattie, Katie & Makenna

Shay & Holli

Every year my family has a Halloween party with my Dad's side of the family. We all dress up, have lots of yummy food and just enjoy each others company. This year Heather brought a pinata for the kids, my aunt Laurie (Darrel's wife, I have three aunt Lauries) had a guess that star game for the adults and of coarse we always have a little trick-or-treat around the gym.

We had lots of fun and everyone had great costumes, Darrel and Laurie, Holli and Zach and I got best costumes. Heather was over it or I think she would have won, her costume was awesome. It was one that her Mother-inlaw Jane had made.

The Last Round Up

Zach and Gater
Zach has really been wanting to ride this horse

Mom and my horse Cactus (hee hee)
The only horse I'll ride is my Mom's horse Cactus
so I tease her she's going to give him to me

Haylee

Mom

Heather and Paintball

Heather and Larin (on Chex)

The stupid cow

Dad and Darrel

Grandpa in his Rhino

Zach and Freckles

Mattie, Hanna and Larin

Haylee, Heather, Zach and Larin

Last Monday Larin went up Lake Canyon to get the rest of the cows to bring them back to the meadow. Zach had the day off and Heather took it off so we all went out to help. Larin, Zach, Heather, Mom and Haylee rode horses, Grandpa, Darrel, Jerry and Johnathon all rode four-wheelers. Dad and I cruised around in the amigo (I don't know what it really is that's just what they call it). It went pretty good and all the cows are back now.

When Dad and I were opening gates we saw one stupid cow had gotten high centered on the feeder. Isn't that crazy, Dad had to go push it out. The horses got pretty tired so when they came back by the house Larin, Heather and Zach had to get three new horses before they could go the rest of the way and sort. Just in case you see pictures of them on two different horses. My mom is always the one taking the pictures so I made sure to take a couple of her this time : ).

Birthday Time

We've got lots of October birthdays in our family!
Happy birthday to:

• Wendy on the 2nd
• Hanna on the 5th
• Katie on the 9th
• Ethan on the 11th
• Grandpa Elmer on the 15th
• Kooper on the 17th
• Morgan on the 24th
• Grandma Evelyn on the 30th

Hanna & her birthday cake

Libby & her Grandma Jane made Hanna's cake

Larin made Katie's birthday cake

Katie with her locket

Mattie & Morgan thought playing with
the wrapping paper was as fun as any presents!

Kooper lost his tooth right before Katie's party!

Zach trying to get a peek at Ethan's present

Dad (Vance) and Ethan with his new cap gun

On Katie's birthday Zach, Heather, the kids and I were all out in Arbon for opening day of deer season so Jessica invited us all over for cake and ice cream. One embarrassing moment was the fact that Larin and I have the same camera. Well I walked into the kitchen and saw what I thought was my camera sitting on the counter behind Jessica so I reach behind her and grab it and start taking pictures. Jessica just smiled and said "okay, since Jessi is taking pictures I'll video and won't have to do two things at once." Then after Kit Kat blows out the candles I look and see Zach taking pictures, so the brat that I am says "Hello Zach that's Larin's camera don't you think you should ask before you just start taking pictures with it" he replies "no, this is ours, that's Larins" So not only do I look like a hag because I said that to Zach but hello, I all but grabbed the camera out of Jessicas hands and she didn't even say anything. I'm sure she thought, great my future sister in-law is going to take over my kids birthday parties. Jessica just laughed but I wanted to die.

Now for a less embarrassing note, Jessica got to spend last week out in Arbon because the school she teaches at was out for spud harvest. I got to talk with Jessica and get to know her better. I'm so excited for Larin, she really is sweet and truly does care about Larin and his kids. Just an example of how sweet she is, for Katies birthday she got her a locket with a picture of Shawnta in it. For those of you who don't know Shawnta is one of my sister in-law who passed away. Though I want my siblings to be happy I always worry about my nieces and nephews. Jessica gave me so much comfort this week, just the way she talks about or to the kids you can tell she loves them and she already calls them hers (I love that). But the thing that impresses me the most is that she is so open about Shawnta and that she would be so sweet as to give that locket to Katie with a picture of Shawnta. She's so thoughtful to the situation and to the kids feelings.

What Happens When It Freezes

You have to click on this picture to make it bigger
this is the one that shows the bend in the pipes.

It pulled the tires out of the wheel wells

The other line of pivots didn't have as much
damage but it still pulled them out of their tracks

These are some pictures I took when I was with Larin (my brother)on Friday. This is what happens to pivots when they freeze. It pulled the wheels out of the wheel wells and you can see how when it snapped the pipe between one set of towers it yanked the other towers tires out of their tracks. The only good thing about it is that they didn't tip over. More proof that farming is really in natures hands.

Another Ward Bites The Dust!

The Ring

Tiffany is engaged!! Tiffany is my cousin, our Dad's run the farm together with my two brothers. Tiff is engaged to Albert Jones, they met in Rexburg while going to school. They are planning on a March wedding. I'm so excited for Tiff, she is a sweetheart and so much fun.

Hunting Season

Eric & Zach saddling up

Sizzle tying to get into the saddle room
(she was cold too)

Zach & Eric with their deer

Friday was opening day for Hunting Season so of coarse Zach was very happy!!! Deer season is a big thing with my family, all the guys go and the usually all ride horses. This year was a bit different. Dad (because he just had back surgery) went with Grandpa Elmer in the jeep, Cayleb (my brother Troys son) and Dwain (Wendy's dad) took four wheelers and Zach and Eric were the only ones who took horses. Troy, Shawn and Larin all had to work this year. It was so cold, I was worried they'd freeze.

Zach and Eric both got their deer, Zach's was actually pretty cool. However, when he got it home to skin it they realized it had been shot in the butt, like two weeks ago!!! Yes, that means someone was poaching!! This also means, all the meat was bad. Zach called the Fish and Game and they are having him take the deer in on Monday so they can check it out. It just stinks because we like deer jerky and salami.

My Little Buddies

Hanna & Jessi

Libby, helping babysit

Zach and the boys playing video games

For those of you who don't know I get to watch my sisters little girl Hanna. Heather quit for the summer and just this week went back part time. Well, I forgot how smart this little cutie is. Monday I went downstairs to do some laundry and saw a Hobo spider on the wall and yelled "there's a freaking huge spider down here" this happened about 10 a.m. so imagine my surprise when Zach gets home at 2 and is in the kitchen talking to me and all of a sudden Hanna sits straight up from her nap and yells "Zach there's a freaking huge spider down stairs, you need to kill it". Then she runs into the kitchen and tells Zach this elaborate story of how a spider bit her neck (just to clarify, nothing bit her).
Then on Tuesday Hanna was in the tub and decided after about two minutes she wanted out. So I tried to convince her she should at least play a few minutes with the froggies. She gave me a funny little look, opened her eyes really big and knocked on the side of the tub and said "someones at the door, you better get me out so we can get it". So I figured if she is that smart I should just let her get out of the tub : ).

Hanna telling her story

Hanna showing her "bite"

We got to watch my cousins three boys a day this week too, Garrett, Grason and Wade. Because school was out Thursday all four of Heathers kids were at our house too. Zach had the day off so it wasn't too bad at all. It was funny because I've got to watch these three boys a couple times but Grason won't ever talk to me (he's pretty shy) but he talked away to Zach. J.T. is so good with little kids he made Grason his buddy for the day and he kept him entertained. Chase and Garrett hit it off and played together all day, and Libby helped play with Hanna and the baby. So in all honesty, I think Heather's three oldest did the babysitting : ).