First Snow

Our first snow of the year was last Saturday and it was just a skiff. We've appreciated the 'long' transition from summer to winter, compared to last year when the green leaves froze to the trees one day and all fell to the ground in 24hrs...

Naturally, the kids wanted to go out and play in the snow. It was also their idea to play football - and why not; everyone in our house recognizes Saturday as a day of football.

I probably should've taken the plastic wrapping off the Poof football, but it was pretty funny to watch.

All's well that ends well.

Halloween video...

Here's the short movie I shot of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and Bumblebee trick or treating...

Emmett's First Deer Hunt

Since Emmett's 4th birthday he's been waiting for fall to role around so he could go deer hunting like Gracie. Last week we got all of the gear together we've been practicing with (binoculars and gun) and headed out to the Missouri River for a white-tail doe hunt.

We got there early and sat around in the truck eating snacks, drinking gatorade, and watching a few early deer mill around in the distance until 30 minutes before dark. After a short 5 minute walk we laid down next to a creek where the deer come out of the thickets at a distance of 50 to 200 yards. I think he had a good time.

Buckets of Candy!

This is probably the first and last year the kids will have "themed" costumes....The girls and I thought it was great, but Emmett was NOT a fan! As you'll see in the video (when I get it to upload...), he changed out of the lion costume and into a Bumblebee (transformer) right after this picture - and was a much happier trick-or-treater!

Yep. My old standby costume - a logger...just missing chest hair and oil stains - always a work in progress! :-)
I'm with my friends Amber (the bookworm), and Kelly (the construction worker with a "baby bump").

Homecoming and Birthday Cake...

Mom and I celebrated our birthdays together this year (they're one day apart), by meeting in Pullman for a fun-filled weekend of football, shopping, birthday cake and lots of friends and family. I think we should make this an annual tradition (except next year we need a football WIN!!).

These two (Emmett and Cal) were pretty equally matched and with Pa egging them on, they took turns tackling each other for the football.

Gracie with friend Peyton.

The girls were not left out of the pre-func football action...

Bennett trying to get away from the "big" girls who wanted to carrying him around.

Our awesome friends from Great Falls wanted to come to Pullman for the weekend. They are not WSU alums, but they were great fans and can come back with us anytime!

Checking out the raptor club....

Heading to Ferdinand's for some pre-game ice cream cones.
It wouldn't be a pre-game party without homemade sausage on the grill!Touring campus...the "tip of the iceburg"...a fancy skylight for the library. I think Cal was afraid of heights :)

Taking a break in the new CUB

Now, on to the birthday party...

Gracie's Antelope Expedition

Gracie has always been a great walker and can go and go and go without complaint. I've always had good luck getting an antelope opening morning but I walk-in about 2 miles. Well, this year I decided to ask Gracie if she'd like to come. I've gathered over the last couple of years that taking your kids out hunting is less about the hunt and more about the scenery. With that said, I told Gracie what we were in for and made sure I had everything ready to go the night before. We even went out Friday after school and got her a new pair of 'hunting' overalls.

It had been raining for 2 or 3 days before and Saturday (opening morning) was supposed to be clear and warm... I didn't realize just how wet she got from walking through the grass until later in the day. Oh, yeah, I forgot her fleece coat on the kitchen counter...
We saw around 40 deer and 1 small group of antelope. We got lucky.
It rained a little and I'd remembered to bring her rain coat :)
Whew, she had a good time and was probably more excited about the antelope than I was... antelope aren't that heavy, but they're heavy.

Mini Bolts Soccer

Today was Emmett's last soccer game of the season. He played on a 4-5yr old team and picked it up pretty quick... he can't wait to play again... maybe this spring if we get up the nerve to do it in the cold and wind :)

Coug Game vs. Idaho State

Here's a few photos of our trip to Pullman to watch the season opener against Idaho State. A Cougar win is always fun to watch!

Wilderness Hunt

In mid-September a hunting buddy and I hiked 7-miles back into the Bob Marshall Wilderness for a 5-day elk hunt. We ended up with outfitters in the same area so there were lots of people, which I didn't expect. No elk in the freezer this time but here's a few photos of the expedition.

This area burned over 20 years ago and it still looks like this, kinda park-like.

So opening morning rolls around and I drop Mike off at a nice watering hole, and I slowly head towards a different area that looked promising. A few hours later Mike reaches me on the radio with happy news... it was his 1st-ever white-tail.
Aaah, and the not so happy news...
But the deal is we share the load :)
I'd been exercising with a heavy pack for about 2-months so my feet and back weren't in too bad a shape, but Mike felt it. He ended up with blisters on the 'bottom' of both of his feet.
Somehow, we both made it out in the end with smiles on our faces.
We did see a few elk but nothing we could legally take. I might try this again but will try to find a place out in the middle of nowhere with fewer people.

Fall is Here: Part 2

First bird hunt of the season. Emmett went dove hunting with Jason last Thursday morning before school.

First corn (mine didn't ripen until Halloween last year!) and freshly earthed spuds.

First Coug game in Pullman.

First soccer game of the season.

Gracie giving Emmett a little soccer advice/pep talk (even though she's never played :-)

Last summer project. Covering the sun room's 1960s acoustic ceiling tiles with faux tin tiles. (It's a summer project because we have to leave all the windows in the house open to accommodate the rubber cement fumes.) We still have to do the foyer ceiling...but I love how this turned out!

Next up, the full-length window seat that Jason's going to build (I already bought the cushions!), crown moulding, a light fixture, and window treatments...I hope we're done before spring!