Indiana and Ione

Three weeks ago I heard about the AHRMA race that was going to happen down south of Spokane and so I thought it was a great time to get the family out there and go see some cool old motorcycles running all over the hills.  They did have a little kid 50cc class that amazed James and he thought he really would have liked to do that.  I also got pretty jazzed about the vintage class and it looks like the kind of good old fun I would really enjoy.  The general age of the racers is middle aged and there are no jumps so it is a lot safer than motocross, but we will have to see.  I need more room if I want to buy another bike anytime soon.

 

James loved watching the races.  Cowboy boots, jeans and a tank top are standard attire for our boys.

Here is one of the starts of a race.

Matthew is a now an official biker.  He got his training wheels off a couple of weeks ago and is tearing around.  He still has trouble getting started, but he will go over the 4" jump I built without crashing so he has the whole riding thing down pat.

Classic fall picture that I don't get tired of taking.  The pumpkin this year is only about 170lbs, but still is a good one to have at the house. 

 

Last week we got back from a trip to Lafayette IN to see Brenda's sister and her family.  It was very relaxing to go out there and hang out.  The weather was pretty good and the temps allowed for hanging outside by the fire long into the night.  I loved just sitting out there and relaxing while the girls played with the boys.

Popsicle time is always a favorite

S'mores were also a hit and before we knew it, Matthew had four marshmallows down the hatch.  He did not want them warmed up at all.

I am so glad that chain on this swing did not break.  It looked about as good as bailing wire to me, but it held all of the kids hanging on it.

We also went to the local free zoo that is about 3 blocks from Dan and Sarah's.  There was a train there so we had to ride it.

One day we thought it would be fun to go out to Turkey Run SP and canoe down the Sugar Creek.  We had a blast.  The water was a little low, but we saw a bunch of fish and made it the whole way without getting out to drag the canoe over the rocks.

On the float you pass under 2 covered bridges and under a swinging bridge.

Arrr...the crew was getting restless.

Finally it was time to go home and we had an afternoon flight out of Chicago so we spent a couple hours at millennium park.  Perfect day in Chicago, but the price for parking nearly made me puke.

Classic Chicago picture.

Here is James just before the annual pumpkin weighing.

Proof that Matthew can and does go over the jump.

Brenda found these two carrots in the garden the other day.  When taking them apart, I only broke one. 

Finally it was once again time for the annual train ride to see the fall colors I Ione.  we were running a bit late this year and had to go about 80-90mph in the last 10 miles on curvy roads to make it just as the train was getting ready to pull away.  Very close call and I think if Jim and Jan K were not there to let the conductor know we were coming, we would have been left high and dry.

You have to get you picture with the engine...it is a must.

I had a photo similar to this last year with James so we thought we would recreate it with Matthew.

Finally, here is the kiddos with J&J.  James is posing in classic senior class photo form.