Meanwhile, back in Greenacres, life continues as normal. Normal consists of working long hours and then arriving home to kids who yell "lets wrestle" and a wife who is tired of running around with these mighty fractious children.
James and Matthew hate to be outdone in the battle of the bellies. Brenda blows them out of the water though and still has a long way to go.
The frost is starting to threaten and although some of the carrots may be ok, I thought it was time to get out there and harvest the carrots. I guess I waited a bit too long on a few of them. James loves to go out in the garden and help dig. I hope he never tires of his willingness to help with even the most mundane tasks.
After a hour or so of digging I had these jewels. Some of the smaller ones are so sweet while the big ones are still pretty good. Who would have thought that fresh carrots taste so much better than the store bought ones. Tomatoes are always better from the garden, but who would have thought that carrots are the same?
Sunday we headed down to Soda Springs ID where I had a couple days of work to complete and then I planned on taking the rest of the week off. For the time off we planned on heading up to my parents place for some good grandparents time.
On the way from Soda to my parents house we took a detour through the Tetons and Yellowstone. This is the last week that you can drive the roads in the park and a good time to visit. There were very few people there and we had a blast.
Matthew thought stopping by the bison next to the trail was a good idea. I tried to move them along, but Matthew just wanted to stand there and point at him. After a few grunts of the bison, I finally got Matthew to move along.
Old faithful blowing off right on schedule.
There were only about 30 people watching it so it was a good time to be at the park. If you see Old Faithful in the summer, you can plan on seeing about 1000 people snapping the most ridiculous pictures and general tomfoolery all over the area....which is anything but majestic.
What the first explorers must have seen while coming through this area must have been an absolute amazement. I wish I could have been on Jim Bridger's expedition to the west and seen all the sights, but hanging out with my family is way better.
The boys were pretty good hiking around the paint pots. Snow did not deter them.
The grand canyon of the Yellowstone and the two delinquents. They did pretty good on the trip, but we did need to make a few stops to "adjust" some attitudes.
Matthew showing of his riding skills and James in the background is driving the remote control tractor Grandpa gave him. Just the other week James was asking for a remote control monster truck and then he got one from my dad. I had to let him know that "when I was a kid" I had to work and buy a remote control car with my own money. I think my story fell on deaf ears. At least Brenda can sympathize.
James ran behind the tractor all day...until the battery ran out.
My mom loves sewing shows and James sat down to watch some TV with her. He even mimicked her propping up of her head with her hand. Sometimes he is just so darn cute.
We did not plan on Trick or treating as we are generally indifferent or even against Halloween, but the nursing home next door had a trick or treating night and we thought we could make an exception. Matthew got a hat and bandanna from grandma and James got grandpas old tool belt and his hard hat.
I agree it will be hard to see them this happy and not have them trick or treat every year, but when we are in Spokane our church has something to celebrate reformation day so we will participate in that. All in all it was a great time piggybacking some family time in with some work. You can't get any better than that.
