Jonesey went home to Wyoming for a few days, then came back! He had a few troubles with horses that he brought to a stable in Cave Creek and decided he needed to come back and make sure they were working out.

He took us with him to give the horses a work out. While we were getting them ready to go, Dallin was the photographer.


Adam in his cowboy hat.

The desert.


Adam helping curry a horse.

Some cowboy art.

The horse Dallin eventually got to ride, Zeke

Dallin really did a good job of taking pictures. He got a few really good ones of birds hanging around. I will spare you all 65 of them....



I was impressed he took such great pictures!

It was a really fun day. Thanks, Dad, for taking us! I know it was much more work than just going by yourself! We loved it!

Veteran's Day Parade

Jonesey was in town for a few days and we convinced him to come watch the parade with us.

It was great! I really do enjoy parades.

This year Dallin's scout troop walked in the parade and he loved it.

Three going on 13....

The mookster turned three this month. She's so big and opinionated!

We had her favorite...icing.

She doesn't eat the cupcake, just licks off the icing.


This girl is a GIRL! Tinkerbell was a must! Grandma Russell gave her one movie, we got her another movie and a Tinkerbell necklace. She was in heaven. She also got some MONEY from Grandpa Jonesey and Colleen...she's excited to use it to get ice cream!


Awww, ain't they cute?

Tri-Sprint #2!!

Amazing! Simply amazing that Adam would want to do another one of these!

Just yesterday he went to Casa Grande for the Desert Grande Duathalon/Triathalon.

(Running+biking+running=Duathalon, Swimming+biking+running=Triathalon)

First the swimming,


Then the biking,

finally the run!


He did better than he thought he would for his time and was really proud of accomplishing his goal!

I am amazed! Not only did he do it and do it well, he went straight from the race to work all day! On top of all of this he has been sick this week and really didn't feel up to doing anything. That is amazing mind over matter!

Adam, you rock!

The next thing on the agenda...Ragnar!

A hole in her head...

That's what Grandpa Jonesey would call it. He would also warn, "Be careful or all your brains will leak out..."




After many trips to the dentist and several months of x-rays it was decided the tooth had to come out.


She was so brave at the dentist. She sat on her own and it didn't seem to bother her a bit! It was afterward on the way home she kept asking; "Where is my tooth? Mom, we gotta go back and fix it!"

I explained that the tooth was sick and the dentist took it out so her big girl tooth could grow in healthy and strong. She got over it quickly.

The before picture:


and after.


It hasn't seemed to affect her speech much. The 's' sound is the only one I notice is even a little different. WHEW!

This is what happens when you don't have a Zombie Evacuation Plan.




Adam has warned us for years that something like this might happen...


it finally did.


I think it's an improvement!

Pumpkin Slaughter

The annual pumpkin dismemberment was much the same as it is every year.

I'm the only one who doesn't mind having the squishy guts on my hands, but they do it anyway at my insistance.

There is much groaning and gnashing of teeth.

The design part they DO like to do (yes, I have told them the story of the Little Red Hen).
This year Dallin chose his own design and Adam helped him carve it.




Maura and I created our own scary design

Very scary! The girl, not the pumpkin...


They turned out great!

They even survived Halloween night!

Cluck-cluck...scratch, scratch...cluck-cluck


"Maura, I think our neighbor has chickens, can you hear them?"

"That is serious, mom! Chickens are serious!"


hee hee hee haw haw haw