Supermoon

Once in a lifetime astronomical events always get me excited, so you can be that when they announced this month's supermoon is that largest one in 70+ years that we were going to be watching it. Last night, we watched it rise and it was pretty neat, but this morning when I got Cole up for school, it was breathtaking. 

There is a pond west of the highway near our house (a sewer pond I'm sure) and the moon just happened to be reflected in it right when I looked out the window. I quickly grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures. It was only reflected in it for about two minutes, so I felt pretty fortunate to have seen it. 

The sky always fills me with awe. 

Halloween

It's a little bittersweet to go to the Madsen Halloween party without Maxine, but I am glad her girls have continued the tradition. It is always so good to get together with my cousins. We had such a fun childhood playing together.

We sent balloon messages to heaven, which is probably a kind of strange Halloween activity, but we just miss her.

We also ate lots of yummy food and then kicked back (Ben) for some pumpkin decorating and crafting.

Halloween was on a Monday night this year, which is such a mean thing to do to teachers. They should all get subs for November 1st. Ben wanted to be a stormtrooper again this year, which made me want to do a happy dance. Halloween costumes for four kids can take a lot of work.

Annie was a pirate, and a pretty cute one at that. I hope she didn't want to be a super scary pirate.

Cole decided very last minute to be a mad scientist, but luckily, that was an easy costume to put together last minute. 

And sweet Molly wanted to be everything this year. A ghost. A cowgirl. A pirate. A princess. Really, everything. We sent her as a witch and she told people she was a bad witch. I don't think they believed her.

Since it was a Monday night, it seemed like the trick-or-treating ended pretty early and everyone went to bed. Except the Griffiths because we don't like sleep around here. Apparently. 

The Springs

They have been working on the springs out by the ranch that provide most of the water for Newton, Clarkston and Trenton. Grandpa Clair mentioned that it would be a fun Sunday drive, so we took his advice and headed out one Sunday. It was pretty neat to see it and Ben had the time of his life hiking around in his "piping" boots. 

His boots got a little full, so Kaden helped him out and yanked them off. Had I managed to get a video of this moment, we could be a YouTube sensation because as you might guess, Ben got yanked right into the water too and it was pretty hilarious. Especially to Ben who could not stop laughing.

If things go as plan, none of us are likely to see these springs again in our lifetime, so it was fun to go see them. We didn't get brave enough to try out the water, though. Ben's escapades quickly made it look less than pristine.

Temple Fork

 One Sunday in September (I think...maybe October), we decided to go for a Sunday drive to Old Ephraim's grave. Unfortunately, when we got to the Temple Fork turn-off, Floyd realized we were nearly out of gas. We decided we better not chance our luck, so we just had a little picnic up Temple Fork and then hiked around looking at the Beaver Ponds. The kids were pretty disappointed, but it turned out to be a really fun afternoon and hopefully a little bit of a lesson in that sometimes the plans you make don't work out, but life is still good. 

 

 And good news - when we decide to go again, I think all the kids will be super excited. Sometimes the anticipation makes something seem even better.

First Days

I don't think it could be more cliche, but how did she get so big? This little lady is our tiny darling and we are not ready to send her off. 

But she is.

Molly started dance and school this fall and she adores both of them. 

She never even hesitated when Floyd and I dropped her off at school the first day and now Tuesdays are her favorite day of the week.

Chase is in her class and it sure is fun to have a buddy. They really like each other.

Dance nearly broke my heart. She was so sweet and so diligent in following all the directions her teachers gave her. 

I mean, look at this girl? Pretty dang cute, isn't she?

My favorite part of the class was when they had the girls stick their feet together like this. They told them to get their glue and then reached behind to pretend to get some. Sweet Molly was looking all around for her glue and I just love this little angel. 

 But seriously. Just stay little, Tiny Darling!

Football

All summer long, Molly kept asking when it was going to be time for "a Aggie game." When we told her it was time, she tore her room apart to find her Aggie shirt. She was just a little excited.

Grandpa Clair spoils us and we always have a good time going to the games.

Probably the most memorable game of the year for our family was when they played San Diego State. It was raining pretty hard that day and nobody was really feeling up to sitting in the rain, but Molly heard there was a game and started campaigning to go. Somehow, she won (she always does) and all six of us ended up in the pouring rain. We made it to the end of the 3rd quarter, but by then, Molly was soaked through because she wouldn't sit down to watch. If the Aggies had been winning, we might have stuck it out, but they haven't had the best season this year. 

There's always next year.

Island Park

Labor Day weekend found us in Island Park again. We try to get up there when the cabin is available. I love the memories my kids make there. 

Everyone got a chance to go fishing this time. We went to the reservoir and had pretty good luck. That or else a pretty good fisherman was helping them out {a pretty handsome one too}.

It was a little chilly, so those of us who are not actually polar bears bundled up.

I guess Molly got her Daddy's polar bear genes.

Their daddy is trying hard, but these girls might be fisherman like their mom - the kind who like to sit on a bank and read a book or watch nature. 

Ben was all-smiles when he reeled his fish in. He was usually nowhere near his pole when the fish bit, but he'd make it back by the end of reeling it in.

We drove up Sawtelle Peak. It's incredible to be there and feel like you are on top of the world.

Floyd spotted a bear somewhere in the middle of this wilderness on the drive down the mountain and we watched it through his spotting scope for a bit. At one point, the bear climbed to the top of a very tall pine. It was fun to watch.

We made it into the park on Sunday. It was awfully chilly, but we braved the cold for a bit.

We had such a great trip! We've been there lots and lots of times, but we are always glad we take the time to go again.