Golden Autumn!

Fall! Fall! Fall! What a beautiful world!

On Monday, Benjamin reported that he had a great field trip to the American West Heritage Center (in the rain and mud, of course) and then David reported that he was going on one as well this week. Samuel, the resident home schoolee, decided that we needed a field trip as well. Of course, let's add that between canning, cleaning, soccer games, lessons, more cleaning, homework, scouts, practicing, blah, blah, blah, laundry, more cleaning, laundry, etc.... you get the idea, I'm sure I'm not alone! So I finally said, what the heck, jump in the car and let's drive up the canyon and take some pictures of the leaves. So after rounding up the home schoolee and resident post-toddler-house destroyer and beautiful baby we drove up about 1 mile from our home and hiked up the hill. I began in my usual way of 'let's get the picture and get back to work', but my little entourage escaped from my photography session and I had to climb higher to round them all up. When I turned around I was awestruck----what an incredible sight! I looked up at the gorgeous fall array, the beautiful sky and I was lifted beyond myself. I looked down the road to where our house was around the corner---could I have really just been there in my little rat maze, running at breakneck speed trying to get everything done that never stays done, so dissatisfied, so ungrateful, so exasperated and now I was here looking at this incredible scene. We just sat there and soaked it up for an hour (all the time we could spare) and marveled. Who could have known that such beauty existed only 1 mile away? I wonder if Heavenly Father isn't trying to whisper sometimes when things gets so crazy, "Just look up, look out and beyond your own little mess---there's so much more then what you're seeing right now!" Anyway, never fear, I got right back into the rat race at breakneck speed as soon as we drove in the driveway--(amazing how we can turn right back to the mundane after experiencing the sublime---but duty calls!)--but thank heavens for a few moments spent in this glorious creation that we call home. We thought we'd share a little with you!

Here we go entering the world of blogging! Thanks to Mary we are taking the plunge and hoping to create a funner way to keep up our own family journaling efforts plus keep in touch with our extended family better. Here we go!

We are now into our 3 rd week of being back to school. Joseph has entered the world of high school at Preston High as a 'mighty' Freshman! Of course, the most important part of entering Preston High School was trying out for the Soccer team. After a summer of tryouts and practices, BYU Soccer Camp and the constant thumping of the Soccer ball against the house, Joseph succeeded in making the JV team! We are so excited for him! His team had enjoyed an undefeated season until last Friday night! Of course, it was the coaches' own fault for not starting Joseph as he had done in the previous games---probably due to the fact that Joseph had played in the Varsity Game preceding the JV Game that night---that was pretty exciting! Although it's hard to get Joseph to think about anything other than soccer, he has been busy also with school, seminary, violin lessons, a pipe moving job and tormenting his younger brothers! Joseph also spent time this summer getting his Eagle Project going---Yey! Only 3 badges to finish up and he's on his way to his Eagle Court of Honor!

Samuel is trying to convince his Mom that 5th grade homeschool is a great idea for both of them! Samuel is willing and ready to do the work---Mom is just disorganized and frazzled. So far Mom is keeping up, but probably not for long. Samuel also is enjoying playing soccer (a 9-0 win last Friday!), taking Bass lessons (aha--this is why we have a Suburban!), and taking care of his bunnies. For his PE lessons everyday, Samuel enjoys riding his bike up and down the hills around our home every morning. Just look for the reflective vest and orange hunter hat--quite the fashion statement! Samuel also received his Arrow of Light and Compass Points as he left Webelos and began 11-year old Scouts this Fall. Way to go Sam!

Benjamin is loving 3rd grade! He says his teachers just keep getting better--what a lucky guy! Mrs. Peterson evidently will let you earn the right to drink soda pop, eat candy, listen to your Ipod and check out limitless books from the library---what bliss! He was quite astounded at this prospect and is anxiously working to see if she will really do as she says she will do! Benjamin is also playing Soccer and scored an amazing goal at the last game, although his team wasn't the winning team. He has also taken viola lessons this summer and thinks that perhaps the viola sounds a little better then the violin did. Benjamin also became a Bear in Scouts this Fall and is looking forward to learning new things with his den.

David seems to have adjusted to all-day-long 1st grade without a hitch! He is enjoying learning to read and is a stickler about getting his homework done right after school---that is, if Mom can find the crayons and sharpened pencils quick enough (I need to invent a self-sharpening pencil---I'm sure I would make big bucks!) David is great at finding ALL the zucchini in the garden and bringing it to the kitchen everyday. I think I've exhausted all of the recipe books and online resources in trying to find new and interesting ways to disguise the prolific squash so that the boys will continue to eat it. Much to David's chagrin, his beloved Banana squash was pretty slow growing this year and so he did not get to enter it in the Fair. He did get to enter his bunny though and won 1st place in her category. Thank Heavens! David is also taking violin lessons and let's just say that our little violin teacher definitely deserves every penny we pay her! David does enjoy playing soccer also and did a great job as goalie last week for his team!

Jonathan is hanging out with Mom at home. His current favorite activity is to sing all of the "Signing Time" songs that he knows at every opportunity. We've been watching the DVD's and listening to the CD's from this series to help all of us in learning sign language---but Jonathan has definitely taken ownership of this new skill and enjoys singing the songs at the top of his lungs and showing us his 'signs'! He is a fireball of energy and frequently gets frustrated with his Mom's inability to keep up with him. He rules the outdoors and loves his Grandpa's motorcycle, Dad's four wheeler and Papa Joe's tractor more than anything! If it moves---he's got to be on it!

Jacob is our sweet little bundle of huggable loveliness! Life doesn't get much better then having him nestle into your shoulder while he sucks on his fingers and thumb (much to Jeff's chagrin!) He is definitely developing his own little personality and has some funny little faces that he makes in his attempts to 'smile' and act very excited! He is starting to sit pretty well with the aid of his 'Bumbo chair' and loves to scrunch red mylar paper in his hands and other objects that Jonathan provides him with. He's starting to explore the world of cereal, vegetables and 'real food.' He's not really sold on it yet, but seems to enjoy the mess it makes!

Our garden, though it had a late start, is busy producing---of course, it all seems to come at once---school, soccer, harvesting and always, mowing! My mother-in-law, bless her heart, has already canned about 42 quarts of beans for us. The corn is about ready and the cucumbers and zucchini, of course, are out of control! If you need any---please ask--I think we would even deliver it to you if we could get rid of some of it. Hopefully, the weather will hold out and give the tomatoes a chance to ripen and the winter squash and pumpkins a chance to grow---we'll be lucky if they make it to Halloween! It looks like the pears will be ready soon and then the apples will be on. We'd like to have some kind of Fall Celebration in conjunction with apple picking--you're all invited to come pick and celebrate---we'll let you know soon when that will be.

We've enjoyed having Papa Joe as a frequent guest when he comes to work on his farm. He puts up with a lot (a lumpy sofa and sharing the dirty 'boy' bathroom) and is always willing to do dishes, vacuum or take errant boys with him to 'help' him at his place. We've also enjoyed having Grandmother come up and hang out with us---she's always fun and full of surprises! It's fun to have them home again!

Well, hopefully, this will pass for our first entrance into blogging! We love you all!

Love,
Farmer Boy, Opera Woman, boys, bunnies, chickens and dogs