First Field Trip!

At the first of the month Preston was able to go on his FIRST School Bus ride. He could hardly wait. I don't even think he cared that they were going to Staheli Farms to see the animals all he cared about was riding the BUS! I asked him if he wanted me to go with him. At first he said "Yes!" Then a second later he said, "Well would you care if I just rode the bus alone?" I didn't mind! ;o) The week before he had a count down going and could hardly sleep the night before. The field trip was great and he loved the bus, except he said he didn't have time to have the nap that he was planning. Who know where that came from?! All I know is my little guy is growing up, and that is pretty exciting.

Football

It is Football Playoff week! Good Luck Chargers and Patriots, go pull those flags!! I can't believe I haven't even posted about Football or Wrestling and now both season's are almost over. I hope to get to it soon, but who knows at the rate I am going it might have to wait until after Thanksgiving! (Which I can NOT believe it NEXT week!) This picture will have to do for now, isn't it cute?!

Goodbye...

Today we had to say goodbye to our horse Chewy. He has been sick for a month now and finally passed on in the night last night. It has been a long month for all of us the horse included. He was a tough customer to have lived for a month with a stone the size of small bowling ball blocking his intestines.

Here he is in our Family Picture in 2004.

Gavin loved Chewy he could rope and gather cows on him, I couldn't even count the number of hours Gavin spent on him over the years.

Gavin roping on him in Flagstaff, AZ. 2004

Gavin bought Chewy from my Grandpa Bowler when he was 6. He and my Dad trained him to be a rope horse. He was a firecracker to ride, I guess that is why Gavin liked him so much. He definitely had a lot of heart and try.

A few weeks ago we took Chewy back to my Grandpa's place so he could watch him while we were gone on the Deer Hunt. He had been there ever since. We will forever be grateful to my Grandpa Bowler, Dad, Uncle John and Dr. Max Brinkerhoff for caring for Chewy these past weeks. He was given the best care a horse could ask for.

Now I like to think of him in that big pasture in the sky, chasing cows and eating tall grass. Goodbye old friend we'll miss you.

Halloween...

What a fun busy weekend. On Friday after the Parade and Class Party, Preston Addie and I headed to the ball fields for Landon's baseball tournament. He was so excited to miss school to play baseball that he didn't even care he was missing his class party. (I couldn't believe it.) Then after he played two games, he and Preston both had a wrestling match. It was a long, but great day!

Saturday morning Landon had another baseball game and then when most people in America were getting ready to Trick or Treat we were again at the ball fields for the final Championship game. It was a good game and even though we lost the boys were in good spirits because of course Trick or Treating!!
They had to wait through awards presentations, mom's taking team photo's and coaches pep talks. Then it was time to go knock on a few doors!
In all the rushing this is the only picture I took of Addie and I didn't even take one picture of my boys trick or treating with their friends. I can't believe it, I feel terrible. When we got to the Nowatzke's house they jumped out of the car and sort of heard us yell stay out of the road and don't leave your brother, then they were gone never to be seen from again... What a fun age they are at to Trick or Treat, they seem to have grown up a lot since last year.

We took Addie to a few houses, she caught on really quick and loved the candy! She was done as soon as she had enough to hold in both hands. She wasn't sure what would happen to it if she dropped it in her bucket!

Sunday afternoon I had everyone dress up again, so we could pretend it was Halloween and I could get some pictures! So, pretend this is what Landon wore trick or treating (he really just wore his baseball uniform, good thing I didn't buy him a costume this year!) and pretend that Addie is going up to someone's house to say "Trick or Treat!" (She can't really say that, she would just stick her hand in the bowl and grab as much as possible!) Hey, while we are at it pretend that those two boys in the bottom right hand picture are always as nice to each other as they look right there! Thanks, now I feel a lot better!

Tricks and Treats!

This week has been full of Tricks and Treats! Tricks in the fact that it has been a Trick to get everything accomplished and Treats meaning all the fun we have had! Here are few pictures of our Halloween Week...

School Halloween Parade.

Pumpkin Carve at Grandpa's.

Note the picture of Addie in the middle, this is how she has been a lot of the week. Her witch costume she will be wearing tonight is very fitting right now! Augh!!

Happy Halloween!

Deer Camp

Deer Camp was this last weekend, it was great. We stayed in a tent at Cougar pass and had loads of fun! Thankfully Addie stayed home with Grandma Gai (and Bradi too) and was treated like the Princess that she thinks she is! I missed her, but was glad she was where I knew she was clean. As for the rest of us clean was not even in our vocabulary this weekend!

Here are a few memories:

• The drive out was beautiful. I loved the all fall colors, the bright read oak and the golden Quaking Aspen were my favorite.
• Gavin and his A+ driving skills. He drove us to our camp without a hitch, even when it was narrow switchbacks with a cliff on one side. Augh! I just closed my eyes and prayed, then after I noticed my palms were sweating. I am not much for heights.
• We passed all this beautiful "Deer Country" as Dennis would call it. Only to camp in the middle of burned down Cedar Trees. Still wondering about that one....
• Our tent, it was great! First time we have used it since we purchased it 7 1/2 years ago. The little boys are already planing our next camping trip for the spring, it really was fun!
• Garrett's Dutch Oven Potatoes and the Squirrel Pi$* Sagebrush Steaks (excuse the language had to be completely accurate!) It is a long story but the pan to cook with was left home. We found a grate left from previous campers on the ground and used it. It's amazing what you'll eat when your hungry! They tasted pretty good too, Outback might want to check into this new idea, and put it on the menu!
• The wind on the first night was fierce. We didn't get to have a fire, so everyone was in their tents by 8:30. Because it was so early, Preston put on a little dance show complete with flashlight strobe lights! Have I ever said how much I love that kid?!
• The lack of Deer and the unbelievable amount of hunters.
• Dad, Ryon and Lex showing up! It made my day!
• Puzzles, books, pretzels, jerky and good visits with Aubrey.
• Jake and his Boy Scout fire building. Dennis and his throw fuel on it way to build a fire.
• Stories and marshmallows.
• Dr. Pepper
• Dirt in my nails.
• Ryon fixing the flat. Glad the mechanics showed up!
• Dad and his many stories, we decided he really loves to hunt and that alone made it so fun!
• Shooting the twenty two.
• And best of all, the shower I took when I got home!

Good Times, Good Times!

Dirt!

The dirt on this face shows just how much fun we had this weekend! More coming soon.