Fall Fun

  We went to Bill's Berry Farm today. It's about 45 minutes from the tri-cities area. It was a little cold and rainy but we weren't going to let that stop us from having some fun. This farm had a little of everything. We went through a corn maze, made our own apple cider, did an apple sling shot, sat by a fire, and went on a hay ride.

We went through there corn maze. It wasn't the typical corn maze where you have to find the exit but you have to figure out a mystery by finding all the clues. There was 6 clues altogether.

Some of the corn stalks were REALLY tall.

Ellie leading the way.

Jared was checking out the corn to see if it was still good.

We found a clue!

Daddy and Rachel looking out the clues. We found all the clues and made it out in about an hour.

This was a lot of fun...making our OWN apple cider. We had to start off by picking just the right apples. 20 pounds of golden delicious apples.

10 pounds of red apples and 10 pounds of granny smith apples.

Then we had to rinse all of the apples

Then we pulverized the apples. haha

Rachel feeding the machine

Ellie taking a turn

Taking the apple mush and putting it into a mesh bag.

Filling the press with the apple mush.

Jared turning the press. Ellie checking out all the yummy juice coming out the spout.

Rachel taking her turn. Look the bucket is almost full!

Ellie is still a little too short but had some help from daddy.

We filled 3 gallons and had still had some extra juice, so we sat and drank it right there on the spot! So YUMMY! The fresh apple juice was delicious!

Oh look...it's me!

The finished product.

Cute picture of me and the kiddos

What a good pic of the kids.

Oh man, I think they need to cut back on the apple cider.

Rachel took this for us. I want to remind you it was cold and rainy!!

The only picture of all of us together!

The apple sling shot was one of the favorites with everyone. Rachel hit a couple targets. Jared launched it the farthest. Bill had fun helping Elle.

What a fun Fall day!!

Just a little Update

• Bill is still on the job hunt. We are waiting to hear back from two decent job opportunities. One is in Utah and the other one is here in Washington. It is so hard to be patient. We are praying that one of these jobs will work out for our family. He got on as a volunteer at the local fire station, they are requiring him to go through a fire academy. So he's gone 2 nights a week and every other Saturday. He can't start running with them until he's completed it which is right before Thanksgiving. He's eager to start running calls again.
• Rachel is really enjoying Middle school. She is doing really well in her classes and starting to make friends. She had a boy pass out in her Orchestra class and he landed on her. If you run into her, you should ask her to tell the story. It is pretty funny. 
• Jared is now in 4th grade. He is playing flag football with his cousins and has fun at the games. I'm hoping I remember the camera this week to take some pictures, especially since Saturday is his last game of the season. 
• Ellie had a hard time adjusting to the move and to 1st grade but really likes school now. She is learning to be a confident reader and is sounding out and trying to spell everything. Ellie also has her first loose tooth, actually 2 of them. She's pretty excited and is working hard a wiggling them. I'm sure I will be posting pics soon.
• The girls love to help cook or bake goodies. I love that the holidays are just around the corner. We've had fun making caramel apples, cookies, and cake so far. 
• My sister is back in town after a long visit to California, we are going to start walking together on a regular basis. Hopefully, I can keep from gaining weight from all the yummy treats!

Cove Fort

 On our way down to California we stopped at Cove Fort. We've passed it many times traveling back and forth and never have stopped. I'm glad we finally did. It was really interesting and the kids thought it was cool looking at things from the past. They had a picture of Brigham Young and his apostles. I didn't know but Bill's and Jared's middle name is Rich after Bill's mom whose maiden name was Rich. Well, Charles C. Rich was one of Brigham Young's apostles who is a great great great? Grandpa. Charles C. Rich settled the San Bernardino area in California. Pretty cool legacy, huh?

Outside the walls of Fort Cove

Inside one of the rooms

One of the lookouts

On top of the wall.

My dad and the sister missionary that took us around

Family Reunion Picnic

Our summer started off with a Memorial Family Reunion Picnic. I got to see a lot of my cousins I hadn't seen in a while and meet family on my moms side I haven't met before. It was great to see everyone. We also celebrated my grandpa's 85th birthday while we were all together.

Having fun at the park.

Gratton was growling. It was pretty cute.

Aunt Kirstie and Gratton having fun on the swings!

David took these pics of Jared on the swing, I thought they were pretty cool.

Family swing time!

My Grandpa Crook, his sister and ...???

Grub time!

Great Grandpa Crook and Jared. I love this picture. I hope Jared will appreciate this picture later in life.

Surprising my grandpa by celebrating his birthday early

My Aunt Sandy put together a book of all his posterity. Each family has a page with pictures and memories with him.

This a picture of the cake. It was taken from a plaque that hangs on the wall in his house of his service in WWII.

Playing ancestor Bingo...Good Times!!

Family pic

My mom and her sister Sharon

My family with Grandpa Crook

Kyle and Alysa with Grandpa

I don't know why this picture wouldn't flip. But I thought it was a cute picture.

My mom and her sisters.

At the end of the day. I had to say goodbye to both my brothers, Alysa, Sonja, and Gratton. We had already packed everything up in Rexburg. The kids and I headed to California to extend our vacation and Bill headed to Washington to get things going with finding a job. It's still hard being away from them.