Pumpkin Patch!

A new friend of mine, and pretty stellar-add-to-your-list-of-superwoman-types girl opened a pumpkin patch this year with her family. It is highly convenient as it is directly across the street from me. Beyond that, it is amazing! It is utterly kid friendly and I swear, they have thought of everything. We started in the sandbox filled with toys and CORN KERNELS! Genius! I swear! I don't know why I never thought of such a wonderful filler for sand boxes.... it doesn't leave the sandy residue and I only found two kernels in Xiana's bed that night... very easy to clean up!
I might say that Xiana was just playing with the disgruntled look on her face, but she was, in fact, disgruntled.... little pill!
They had saddles that the kids could try their hands at lasso-ing... or just play tug of war.
Or pretend they are cowgirls from the wild west.
In this massive, beautiful, every home should have one barn they set up a creative corner, a costume corner, and story time!!! They had hay stacks set out as seats and a cute girl reading a wonderful Halloween book from a cozy little rocking chair.
Some of the parts were even a little scary :)
They had a hay maze that was the perfect size for little tots. Xiana ran out at the end screaming with pride and sheer delight, " I did it all by myself!!!"
A hay ride driven and operated by, none other than the very housewife who ran the entire show... Natalie. Plus she was oh-so-adorable to boot!
For lunch we picnicked under that pavilion and just as I was about to freak out about all the crumbs we were leaving on their nice patio....
The family dog saved the day. Plus, Natalie brought over the slop bucket for our food waste with promises of feeding the pigs.
Each child got to pick one of the small pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch and Xiana didn't hesitate to pick the perfect one.
They fed chickens...
pigs.... (which they were enthralled with)
and goats!
Then they were all tuckered out so we pulled them in wagons back to the front where they got home made suckers and honey from the bees on the farm.

It was oh so impressive. If you happen to be in the neighborhood and see the signs for Andelin's farm.... stop! It's totally worth your time!

Before you go getting all PETA on me....

Please know two things: 1: We intend to eat this bird for dinner. It is healthier than chicken from the grocery store due to it being hormone free. 2: It is hard to actually shoot and kill a chukar... so instead of judging....think of it's cage-free quality of life.
We went out for the day and had a wonderful time. I must admit... it was pretty exciting when I got one! On the way home we found a rattle snake. So Brian and his dad do what boys do best.... got out and played with it.
By the time we were heading home... this is what the sky looked like.
The girls had a blast playing with their cousins and my m-i-l and s-i-l were so kind as to watch them for us. The last time we went wood cutting, the girls gathered lots of pine cones. So I brought them with us and got glue and glitter for them to make their own masterpieces.
And they did!
Especially Ekco.... she's older, but she's also naturally artistic!

Harley's Birthday

Harley turned one and we happened to be in Battle Mountain that weekend. Dawnette had a little party for her at the park and the cousins and friends loved playing with one another. I know I say this a lot, but I'm so grateful Xiana has cousins her age close by that she can love and grow with.
Dawnette is the creative genius that made Xiana's little tutu dress.... ridiculous!
They're practically all looking.
CAKE!!! Harley has never had a problem diving into people food. She is an eater through and through.
I was a little embarrassed that I didn't get to change... or get ready for that matter because we went out chukar hunting early that morning... more on that next post.
Ekco ran free with my camera for much of the party and she took some very clever shots.
And must have suckered someone else into taking a shot or two.
It is not a party unless Hunter goes home sopping wet.... seriously!

Wood cutting part tres

We're either getting much better or much worse at this wood cutting thing. We got by far the biggest load we've mustered up yet.... in much longer. Well, I guess not much longer. It just felt that way since when we arrived there were chain saws running as far as the eye could see and ear could hear. When we finished, it was raining and we were the only souls left. Certainly Brian is getting stronger :)
And Xiana is getting more adept at entertaining herself with sap and saw dust (not a good combo for the record).
My lunch packing skills are improving.
Brian's ability to make loud thunderous crashing sounds when he cuts trees down has improved.
Did I mention he's getting stronger? Or, maybe just wasting necessary energy showing off for the camera... seriously, those logs were HEAVY!!!!!

popsicles

For playgroup we went to the park and Lyndsey brought popsicles. The kids were pretty much thrilled! I am so grateful that I get to attend so many wonderful playgroups. When I left Vegas, that was REALLY hard for me to replace. I missed my friends, and ward, and play groups so much. Fortunately, I was able to start in my parent's ward and made lifelong friends. The other day a member of my new ward (and new playgroup) asked if it had been hard to move to our new ward. I assured her that it was wonderful, not only because I loved the ward, but also because I didn't have to give up the old one. It would be significantly harder if I had a replacement playgroup instead of an additional one. As it stands, it's wonderful! Xiana has so much fun and I couldn't live without them!

The Other Weekends

Some weekends we are home. The other weekends, we are in Battle Mountain. It's wonderful to be together as a whole family. I just wish it didn't take so long to get there :)
Ekco's little brother had a birthday party and her mom was so kind as to invite Xiana to come too. So, we dropped the girls off and went out to dinner. It was great! When we picked them up Xiana screamed, "I listed to Ekco's mommy and daddy!" They had a great time.
The rest of the weekend was spent in the same fashion they usually are: hiking
singing songs
taking pictures
dancing
enjoying the beautiful outdoors

and hunting. Xiana idolizes Ekco and they have a wonderful time together. We cherish our other weekends.
But I don't know that the deer do!

Coloring

Xiana was proud of her picture and asked that I photograph her. I, of course, obliged. She has stopped coloring in books a whole lot and has moved onto "writing." She takes a pen and paper and makes lists, draws circles, and writes her name.... over and over and over. I am very proud. She is sooooo smart!

Life

There's this thing called life. Sometimes, you see it in the tiny flicker of a baby's eyelash; sometimes on the calloused hands of a teenage boy; sometimes in the creased corners of an elderly woman's mouth, just as her lips curl up into a smile. We witness life every day. We see it all around us; people laughing, crying, aching, rejoicing; people working, sleeping, fighting, making up; people typing, loving, hating, and giving. Sometimes, I take all those lives for granted. Sometimes, I forget how amazing this thing called life really is. Sometimes, I am ungrateful, feel picked on, angry, impatient. Sometimes, I forget.... how amazingly blessed I am with my life and the lives around me. Sometimes, people leave this life. And I am so comforted to know that they, in turn, enter a new life. One which will take imperfect me as well someday. One that was afforded by the blood of my eldest brother. One that, despite my irritability, has a place for me. I don't know why it's so easy to forget gratitude sometimes for me, but it is. I am going to try to be better. I look at the world around me, all that life, and I am reminded again how lucky I am. Sometimes I forget. I'm working on remembering.

Meat the butcher

When I was dating Brian, I had to really ask myself if I would be okay with him butchering an animal in my kitchen. My knee-jerk reaction was, "absolutely not!" Then, last year, he butchered his deer in his kitchen. I came over and hung out and discovered it didn't bother me all that much. So... this year, when he got his elk, needless to say I was cool with him taking care of his harvest in the dining room.
And in addition, *gasp* I discovered a sense of pride that I had not anticipated. I know it sounds strange, but for some reason, him taking care of the meat himself makes it that much better for me. Don't get me wrong, the gross factor certainly exists, but there's something so much more responsible, hands on, doing the right thing about it. I like that he doesn't just go out and shoot an animal and then be all, "cool, now someone else gets to do the dirty work. I had my fun!" I like that he actually uses ALL the meat and that we have a freezer full! I would like to say it's less expensive than the grocer, but let's get real, hunting is an expensive hobby. Still, I can say with certainty that it is hormone free, preservative free, disease free, and had quality of life prior to its demise. Unlike cattle and chickens that are raised solely for the slaughter, this animal got to run free and experience, (dare I say it?) joy. Taking hunter safety really changed my view on hunting. Most of all though, Brian's respect for the animal at all stages of its life is what has helped me to be totally fine with a butcher in my kitchen. So... meat the butcher: he is just under 6 feet tall, weighs (nevermind, the butcher would kill me), works at the city, tells stories to his little girls before they go to sleep, sleeps on his left side always because his right shoulder bugs him, is best friends with his siblings (after only his wife of course), is the least picky eater I have ever met, loves nothing more than to tease all he loves incessantly, and can fix, well, everything. He loves the gospel and is hard working, and I love him.
So much....
that I am now his assistant. And let me tell you... I make a mean hamburger!
Last night Brian fixed homemade spaghetti using tomatoes from our garden and burger from his elk. It was quite possibly the best thing I have ever tasted. It. was. scrumptious. It also had the added bonus of making me feel so good about the healthy things we are putting into our daughter's belly as she ate and ate and ate. Thanks babe!