Fall 2021 is Happening NOW

I feel like life keeps going faster and faster.  The whole saying, 'The days are long but the years are short' couldn't feel more true.  We didn't get to camp as much as we hoped over the summer, but snuck in 2 camping weekends this fall.  We decided we prefer Fall camping over Summer camping any day!  We love the crispness of the air, the crowning around the fire, sweatshirts and no need to bring ice!

However, fall does bring the mice. We've never had an issue with mice in the camper until our last trip.  

I noticed the turds earlier in the day, but hoped the mice had left since they had already eaten all the ketchup packets, coffee pods, and were resorting to the dish towels and carpet. 

However, arriving at our campsite, we discovered more evidence of mice pooping in the camper pantry.  We ended up at Bomgars for actual snap traps.  I'm beyond sick of the stupid sticky traps and poison bait.  We set a trap in the pantry and sat around the fire before bed.  

Sure enough when we walked into the camper, we had a dead mouse!  

Cheers, jumping and praises of hallelujah could be heard echoing from our camper walls.  Molly said it best, "no-one wanted to sleep in the camper with a rat!"

Poor Jay sleeps on the dinette with his pillow toward the pantry. He said it didn't bother him though.

But it didn't stop there.  We RESET the trap.  Once the camper was quiet and everyone was tucked in, we heard another snap.  

Mouse #2.

The trap was again, RESET.

I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard Mike say, "I knew it!"  

Sure enough, we caught 3 mice in the camper that night.  

He threw the first one in the fire- instant cremation. 

The second two he just tossed out the camper door.  This made for an interesting site as we woke and walked out of the camper in the morning.

It was chilly in the mornings and evenings which we loved.  We also noticed an "orb" seemed to be visiting us over the weekend?

The first night was just the 3 littles as Ross had to work and Mack wanted to go to the home football game.  The second brought the big boys, plus a friend.  This means we always reserve a tent spot, as well as an electric site.  Big family planning. 

Homework is in full swing and we are all in desperate need of some sort of fall break.  I wish we did trimesters, or 8 block, or just something less exhausting than what we do.  

But, nobody asks me.

Our 3rd round of the Great Plains Indians Biome in a shoebox happened this weekend.

She collected the grasses and leaves in her crocs.  

She's a little concerned the guy on the horse looks like he's shooting at the canoe- but I've assured her the trajectory is off and he is definitely going for the buffalo. 

Pumpkin carving happened before Jasper ate the pumpkins.  His nibble spots made the most perfect Jack-O-Lantern mouths ;)

Fall, I have a feeling you will be gone before we know it.  

It's been good.  

You are my favorite and I'll miss you.

Camera Practice

Dusting off my camera in hopes of capturing Mack's senior pictures this fall.  

I've forgotten so much, but it 's gradually coming back to me.  

So grateful I have cute and willing practice models to help me out!

Since School Started

Already feels like we've been in school since eternity however, we're packing and prepping for week 3.    

Maybe time goes slower when the classroom temperature is 92F?

Oh, bother.  

Meanwhile, Ross is officially 16.  

Sigh...

How lucky are we to get front-row seats to watch him grow into the man he is so quickly becoming.

Good news! 

 Molly has decided she isn't shy anymore.  

She brews a cup of coffee each morning and says it makes her chatty and not shy.  

I guess it must be kinda like going to a bar?

She's also recruited a few classmates (teacher kids) who arrive early to school to help work the Coffee shop.  

To clarify, this is not her normal face- it's her hyper-on coffee in the morning face.

She noticed the sunrise was beautiful on the way to school one morning and wanted to capture it.

We've begun breeding.  

Not us.. the goats. 

And Leo is NASTY.  Like, nastier than nasty, nasty.

According to Mike, our whole yard smells like goat cock.

We're actually in the process of selling him once we're done with him this fall.

He's just too gross for us.  (Not Mike, Leo)

Ross can't get enough of his little car.  

Can't say I blame him.

And I swear Molly picks up right where I leave off.  

She is busier than busy, LOVES 5th grade, loves her goats- maybe not the stinky one- and pretty much runs the household when I'm not home.

Maisie acts too cool for school and is growing up faster than I can blink.  

Yet I caught her watching Cinderella on Netflix TWICE today.  She's still my little SugarPlum.

End of Summer Dump

End of summer photo dump of all the things that make being a mom of 5 very different kids interesting.  For starters, there was this purchase.  Many would assume it was some sort of mid-life crisis purchase for Mike or I, but nope.  

It's Ross' dream car.  Only cause it's a stick shift and the headlights pop up when you turn them on.  

Kind of how I'm feeling about it. 

I don't know.

Back to school we went on August 23. 

It was hotter than a rats ass and working in a non-air conditioned school was challenging.  

Super pumped to get out early every day due to heat, but kind of embarrassing when the opposing high school volleyball team had girls being hauled off the court on stretchers due to heat exhaustion during games.  

Guess our girls had the advantage of being acclimated to the climate.

But before that happened, the dogs neutering stitches came apart while Mike and I were in Colorado?  Sounds like he'll be fine, but will be left with 'lips'

And I can't figure out why the dog will carry the goat buckets back to the house for Molly, but not me.

I did NOT get my nose pierced.  

Maisie wanted a fake nose ring and Claire's was doing the "Buy 3, Get 3" so I caved and let her pick one out.  

While shopping in TJ Maxx she got weird about wearing it and didn't want to carry it around or wear it.  Guess who got stuck with the stupid nose ring for safe keeping.

Molly got a bow and arrow for her birthday.

She already has quite the fan club.

These car photos just keep popping up, don't they.

I think we're officially ready for fall.

The Trip

We looked so forward to this trip, not knowing exactly what to expect, but hoping for the best.  

It didn't disappoint.  

There are few times in life you feel like a movie star.  This was one of them...

For starters, everyone kept referring to me as Jennifer Lawrence throughout the duration of the trip.  The head guy of Delta even asked me to take my mask down during business meeting introductions to show my face.  

I'm not mad about it. 

However, it was evident I have aged as I found myself taking photos of the food.  

I know.  Such a G'funk move.

And these are just the ones I remembered capture. 

Caesar Salad lunch at the Denver Airport heading out.

Paella with Beef, Chicken and Seafood

Eggs Benedict with Elk Sausage

Avocado Toast

Ham, Gazpacho, Roasted Vegetables, Blue Cheese Potatoes and Blueberry Vinaigrette and Salad

Ribs, BBQ Pork, Southwest Salad and Bread Pudding.  This was after the tuna tartar and elk tartar.  

Did you know tartar means raw?

There as also hiking to see the history of the rocks.

And without kids, there were naturally a lot of Mike and Heidi Photos.

The view from the deck of our room.

We had a delay in Grand Junction which meant we missed our flight out of Denver.  

What to do when you're stuck in an airport for 5-1/2 hours.

We found a couple spots to hang for a while.

And when I'm crazy-busy running around like a lunatic once school starts up Monday, I'll be able to close my eyes and remember there are moments, and places like 

THIS.