Fall in Sanpete

Fall is my very favorite time of year.  Sunday afternoon we took a drive up Mayfield Canyon to see the colors.   It was pretty cold, but beautiful.  We even did a little fishing -- we didn't catch anything, but it was fun anyway! 

 I love this picture!  What cute kids!  (and dog)

 A man and his truck.   and dog.  and little girl.  

 First fishing experience, and no fish!  bummer.

What a handsome angel.

Homecoming

Homecoming is such a unique American tradition!  Several of the host parents decided to help our students experience a homecoming date.  some of them were on dates, others just went as friends, but I think everyone had a good time.  They aren't allowed to drive, so another mom and I drove 8 of them around all night.  We did a progressive dinner and smores around a campfire after the dance.  It was quite a night!

 One of the host moms has a salon in her house.  She beautified all the girls and wouldn't accept a penny of payment.  She is a good lady.

 Eni getting her first brow wax.   Nervous.......

 Ouch!!!

 The progressive dinner started with appetizers at Alexaenny's house.  notice one boy asked an american girl.  she was the only american on the date.  She said it was very different, and very fun!

 Next came salads at our house.  I made frog eye and a green salad.  Noone like either one very much... but they loved the M&M scavenger hunt.  They really didn't understand twister.

 Next to our coordinators house for traditional brazilian food.  Eliane is also from Brazil and has become another mom for all these kids.  She made Feijuada (pork and bean soup) with all the trimmings

 Aren't these girls beautiful?!  from left to right:  Enikele, Eduarda (Duda), and Alexaenny.

Provo Canyon

Having Enikele here has been so good for our family!  All of the sudden we want to show her everything cool in our area, and we are seeing with a fresh perspective just how neat Utah really is.  last week we took a day trip around the Alpine loop in Provo and American Fork Canyons.  We stopped at Squaw Peak, Bridal Veil Falls, and Cascade Springs.  The cave was sold out, so we couldn't do that.  :(  These canyons are so beautiful!

\

Mike and Peter at Squaw Peak

 "The fam"

 The boys at Bridal Veil

 Like father, like son!  Josh and Mike couldn't resist the ice cold mountain water on their feet.

 Eni loves pictures.  So I think I will have to blog more frequently while she is here, because there are 10 times as many pictures to post.

 Sisters :)

 Queen Caitlin with her Cattail scepter.

Welcome, Enikele DaSilva Oliveira!

this is our international student, Enikele, from Recife Brazil.  She is so wonderful!  She has been with us for three weeks now, and is fitting right in.  It has been a tough adjustment for her to get used to the United States-- a whole new language, culture, family, school, etc.  But she is tough and brave and very responsible.  The only downside to having her is that we have to send her home in January. :(

New Van

We sold our Mazda 5 on KSL classifieds a few weeks back, and then picked up a 2003 Honda Odyssey to take it's place.  It is three years older than our Mazda, and has 50k more miles on it, but we needed 7 seats and some cargo room!  We were beginning to feel like a family of sardines!  We were able to pay with cash which is so nice because we really got used to not having a car payment.  So now we are riding in style -- leather seats, huge dvd system, automatic doors, and all the other goodies that come with a mini van.  It's official world: we are a Utah mini van family!

Dracula Baby

I hope he doesn't cut those front teeth until after Halloween -- wouldn't it be cute to dress him up like Dracula?!  I love my little Guy.  He may have goofy teeth, but he is the sunshine of my life.

County Fair

We went to the Sanpete County fair and saw the animals and crafts and rode the Ferris wheel.  I love this picture because it reminds me of the song that goes "watch my crops and children grow".  It's great to live in the country!

Girl Toes

Every once in a while I have to show the world that Jeri really is a girl.  it's easier now because Caitlin likes to help out.  Jeri is such a good sport!

Maple Canyon

Sanpete has some amazing places to visit.  We took a Barlow extended family trip to Maple canyon on the West side of the valley three weeks ago.  It is such an amazing place!  It is full of conglomerate rock and slot canyons, spires, and caves.  We found some Indian rock art as well.  Our family camped over and everyone joined us for a great dinner and hike up box canyon.

box canyon with the boys and Jeri

Mike and Tin

Dusty

Dusty the Crop Duster made an appearance at our local theater just in time for the showing of "Planes".

Boating

Our friend the Sorensens took us boating on Yuba Lake.  It was a beautiful day filled with fun!

Sand and Water = muddy fun

Joshua knee boarding.  I gave it a shot too.

Holly Mitchell and Spencer keeping watch

Andrew and Lincoln in the front

Letter Hike - "S" for Sterling

On our way home from Golf camp this summer we took an impromptu run up to the "S" in Sterling.  We had the Overly boys with us.  We also had blue airheads, and thus the blue teeth and lips!

Yellowstone

We love Yellowstone National Park!  We spent two days at Yellowstone, one with Joe, and one with just our family.  Both days were amazing.  We say tons of wildlife, and geysers erupting.  The boys both became junior rangers as well.  We played the license plate game and found every state except Hawaii.  Awesome memories.

This is Yellowstone Falls from the Uncle Tom's Cabin trail.  The trail has many stairs and is quite dizzying -- but the view from the end is breathtaking.  If you are scared of heights, this is a great therapy trail.

Peter and me on our way back up.

Caitlin moping.  She has been going through a mopey phase.  I have so many pictures lately of her like this!  I am sure she will grow out of it, so it gives me the giggles every time she does "the mope".  I think this time Joe said he wouldn't carry her anymore.

Petrified tree

Look closely in the background -- that's right, its a Grizzly Bear!  The boys were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.

He was just too cute to not take  a picture!

Caitlin had a close encounter with a buffalo walking down the road...

Geysers!

Geysers!....and more moping.