Gracie's new love!!!

Sorry that these photos are not very clear, but I still needed to capture these photos of Gracie's riding lesson.

This is one of Gracie's favorite places to be, as she has finally found a place to ride horses. We are not sure where her love of horses as come from, but I can safely say she loves to ride and just be with the horses.

This riding arena is at the Hoffman Ranch not too far away from home.

She has set up with the owner Jack and his son Clinton, that she can come out to ride whenever she gives them the heads up that she is coming. Trust me she would go everyday if we could get out there. These guys could not get any better to her.

Here she is with Jack. He is a great teacher for her, so patient and kind. I think he loves her being out there almost as much as she does. They really click.

She rode for close to an hour before I could finally get this picture and her new friend, Sugar Baby. This horse is amazing and as patient as her owner. Jack told us he has been offered lots of money for her, but he says that he wouldn't sell her for anything because she is such an amazing horse. Gracie feels pretty honored to be able to ride her with them.

and the

dismount, not too shabby Gracie Rae.

After getting off Sugar Baby Clinton thought she should try to do this horse riding thing bareback. Now I was not too sure about this, but as I watched the way they taught her I knew that she was in good hands. Getting on this way was a much harder chore.

After a few great lessons, she was again riding around the arena, sitting proud and tall.

Thank you Clinton and Jack for an amazing afternoon. We can not wait until the next time we get to spend some time with you and our new friends.

Homecoming Week!!!!!!!

It is Homecoming Week!!!!! Back in the day, I remember this week being a time of fun dress up days, pep rallies, laughs, and smiles, powder puff football and an awesome Friday night that ended with a win at the football game and the Homecoming Dance. Now days it is just a bit different. This is what we woke up to this morning.....

toilet papered trees and bushes,

a maple syrup and floured driveway,

(When we walked out of our front door and unto the steps it smelled as if someone made pancakes for breakfast and it was being delivered. The smell of maple syrup (and the bottle left in our yard) hung in the air.

more toilet paper,

and silly string everywhere!

At our school it is a tradition that the junior and senior classes prank each other and their houses during homecoming week. They hit people that they know, teachers, classmates, and other people that may play a role in their lives. Thank goodness John has good friends that he hasn't ticked off too badly, because our house was done in harmless, pranking fun, which made us smile and breathe a sigh of relief, but some kids have gotten carried away and moved over into the vandalism and theft areas of "pranking". Unfortunately all extra homecoming activities have been cancelled; including powderpuff football and muscle volleyball two things that many kids look forward to each year. IT is too bad that there always has to be a group that ruins it for everyone.

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Even though we had quite a busy Sunday, mom wanted to take us to the Pumpkin Patch, so that is just what we did. John and Jerrin thought they were to big to join us, but we still had fun together. Daddy even joined us for the afternoon, along with our friend Jada.

This Pumpkin Patch is owned and operated by the Dakota Carriage Company. Mom, along with her teaching partners and all of their kindergarten students have visited this patch the past couple of years, but this year it will be a bit more special, because one of mom's student's family operates the Pumpkin Patch. The pumpkin patch has something to offer just about anyone. Your admission will include:

pony rides,

the chance to milk a cow,

fun photo opportunities,

a straw bale maze,

an old fashioned teeter totter,

a train ride that resembled a bull, many oversized games,

and a 3 acre corn maze.

Daddy and Jaylen really looked as though they were pretty comfortable walking through the cornfield. Mom really loves these photos.

This team of horses brought us out to the corn maze and where we would pick up our pumpkins. The horses names were Tequila and Buck.

We each got to pick out our own pumpkins too.

It was a great afternoon to spend together!

Check out their website to see all that this Company and family has to offer.

www.dakotacarriagecompany.com

Baking with Mom!

Today we decided to bake some goodies for our fall dinner at our church. Gracie wanted to make cupcakes, while Jay found a fun pumpkin pan at the grocery store so that is what he wanted to make.

I love to be in the kitchen with these two

and I think they really love it too.

We have so much fun and they

do a wonderful job.

Here are Gracie's pretty cupcakes that she mixed, baked, and decorated all by herself. I only helped her scoop the batter into the cups since she was dripping batter everywhere.

Finally Jaylen's pumpkin cake that he dumped the mix, cracked the eggs, mixed up, and poured the batter for. Mommy helped with the frosting.

Great job guys the cakes look great. I wonder if you will win them back later at the cake walk.

Boy Scouts 2010

Here is to another great year of Scouting. Jerrin will be a Webelo this year.

During the first meeting of the year, Jerrin was one of the boys who presented the colors.

Here are some other scouts who helped Jerrin with the flags.

This summer Jerrin was able to go to Camp Wilderness where they worked on Achievements and earned a few different patches. At this meeting they were given the Duty to God patch that they earned while at camp and a patch the shows they attended camp this past summer.

Way to go Jerrin. Dad and mom are very proud of you. Keep working on your goals and you will achieve great things.

(Thank you Tanya for catching these great photos for us.)

Our baby is in Preschool!

Meet my teachers Nichole and Kelly! Even though I am a bit reluctant to go to school everyday, these two reassure my mom that I really do love it once I get there. I am going to have a lot of fun and learn so much with these girls.

September 14th, 2010 my first day of preschool!

Here I am complete with my backpack, favorite blankie and my stuffed buddy.

Daddy dropped me off and got these pictures for mommy. She was a little sad that she did not get to drop me off, since she has never missed any of our first days. She can not believe that I am already big enough to start school. I think she didn't drop me off because she knew that she would start crying or something.

Last week we learned about the Letter Aa.

Even though mommy did not believe my teacher, I really made some of these A's. She was a little frustrated that I really could do it, because I never want to write at home. Look closely at the fourth letter on each line, it really does look like an Aa.

Here is my very first art project from preschool. My apple tree has all of my family on it. I painted the blue paper and glued all of the pieces on by myself.

Mommy and daddy think I did a great job.