Halloween on the Funny Farm!

The deviled egg, the cow, and the chicken.

Dax (18 months) with Isla (6 months)

Dax found a new toy...just like daddies.

Going right to work.

No stopping him...

Lucy the mouse (2-1/2), Briggs the ladybug (2-1/2), and Dax the cow (18 months)

Happy Halloweeeeeeennnnnn from the funny farm :)

18 Months and counting...

Dax is a year and a half!
It's amazing what a little person can become in that time.

A running machine.  Once I set him down he's off....

Our little mocking bird, that's right watch your language.  

Daddy's little helper in the garage.

He loves to jump high (in his mind) off of everything.  Which mostly looks like a squat with the progressive word- JUMP!- attached.

Hand washing is his favorite activity when he can reach.

A cowboy while riding Lucy to her dismay.

Everything is white, which is a change from our previous go to color of yellow.

A tractor driver, especially with Papa Nick.

He is counting one, two....skip a few...five!

Our little tractor driver

The love of our lives :)

Wood, Sheep, and Festivals

Wood Fairies or another name for the people in the Wood River Valley.  We held true to our moniker this weekend and loaded up the wood pile for the onset of winter.  Zach and Kat headed out Saturday with our Farm Boss chainsaw in tow.  Beautiful fall colors made their work environment seem worth it.

Dax and I checked out some of the Sheep Dog Trails that were happening out Quigley Canyon.  He was mostly excited to see the cowboys on their horses and continues to pretend to ride everything around our house which includes: Lucy, mommy, his trucks, toys, and anything that he can find a way to sit on.  We had to have a talk with him when he came home from school a few weeks ago and the teacher informed us that he was trying to ride the classrooms pet rabbit, Pepper.  

Dax admires the sheep and cowboys in the field.

 Later that day his school had a Harvest Festival where we enjoyed some home made goodies while Dax went round and round on the tin can train with daddy.

He is unhappy in this picture because he thinks he has to get off.

Sunday Dax hung out with Papa & Yaya (Zach's parents) so Zach and I could head out on one more day of wood hunting.  Exhausting work but always well worth it to have a warm fire to sit around in the winter.

Fries at Lefty's with Papa & Yaya what could be better!

Dax enjoyed the annual Trailing of the Sheep parade with his grandparents and didn't seem to miss us one bit.  Thanks Papa & Yaya!

Reno Shower

Zach, Dax, and I geared up Thursday evening for the two hour drive to Boise to get on a flight to Salt Lake City and then board another flight to Reno that night.  It was a mission but we were so glad we made it!

The cougar asleep on the plane.  Hallelujah!

 Gigi was so nice to pick us up after her long road trip from Oregon and an big evening out for Steve Kosach's (Nik's dad) retirement party.

Zach & Dax at Casa de Kosach.

Erin & Nik will be moving to Reno at the end of October and found a great little house to call home.  We were happy to visit and check out the new neighborhood after a great lunch with Bob & Sherri at the Brick House. 

We mostly came to celebrate the pending arrival of the Kosach's new baby girl that weekend by showering Erin with presents and treats at Gigi's house.  Ali & Mariah drove up from San Francisco and were awesome hostesses.  The party was only missing Addie.  But she sent some beautiful banners and decoration ideas so it felt like she was there in spirit.  

Shower festivities with Mariah and Gigi in the kitchen. 

Yummy cupcakes from Nothing But Bundt Cakes

Even decorated a few trees with Addie's pom-pom's.

After a great weekend it was time to head home to Idaho.  More planes and driving....  Dax was a trooper and thank goodness for iPhones with kids movies and games!

Are we home yet?

It all went by so quickly and before we knew it we were back home in Hailey.

Back to Idaho

We can't wait to visit again over Thanksgiving and welcome the newest baby to the family!

Fall And All

It happened again.  Another summer blew by us and fall has arrived.  Tonight the temperatures are going to drop below freezing and I said goodbye to my garden for the season.  So far fall has been beautiful with warm evenings, yellow, amber, and orange leaves, afternoon bike rides, home repairs, friends, and family.

We've been nesting up around our house getting ready for the inevitable winter approaching.  Zach has been checking off one house project after another on his list of to-do's.  Last weekend being the sheeting of the attic space above our garage.  A huge endeavor that he didn't shy away from.  I know most people didn't even know we had an attic and thanks to Zach we can finally utilize it's storage capabilities. 

Dax and I have been in and out of activities.  As of this past weekend he has been recovering from the fall crud.  He is all smiles despite it but we can tell he's not our 100% happy little guy.

I can smell wood cutting in our near future and am appreciating our final warm days until we will be scrambling around the wood stove.  Yet, that will feel so nice when it arrives I'm sure.

Bike caravan with the ladies.

Dax, Thijs, and Henry have a play date at our house.

Morning view of Baldy before the snow flies.

Dirt

It's just good when your a boy.

Thijs & Dax play with dirt and a duck

Why wouldn't it go in your mouth?

East Fork 2012

Another great adventure weekend accomplished at the East Fork of the Salmon River at the Heiner's White Cloud ranch!  A group of 24 adults and kids biked or drove the backcountry to enjoy a few days of hot tubbing, camping, mountain biking, and good timing.

Justin, Ian, Eric, Matt, and Zach pedal over on Friday. 

I was told this is where the fairies live.

Willie & Jenna enjoy a morning cup o' joe.

Megan, Briggs, and Dax test the hot tub.

Sarah and Isla.  Happy Campers!

Somebody thinks they are an indian.

Dax, Jenna, and I outside an old cabin on the ranch.

A view of the backside of the White Cloud Mountains.

Saturday crew of bikers.

The field of plenty.

Tucker likes his chocolate milk.

Entrance to Heiners White Cloud Ranch

A few ponies Jenna and I wrangled to behave.

Looking forward to next year!

First Day

It's not officially school but WOW did it feel like it this morning when I dropped Dax off for his first day of Pre-Primary school.  We had visited once before for 30 minutes and Dax only complained when I pulled him away from all the miniature farm animals.  Today was no different.  As soon as I set him down he toddled off to find the classroom pet rabbit named, Pepper.  I went to find him to give him a kiss and say goodbye.  While other kids were crying for their parents I was fighting back tears as I watched my baby frolic happily around the room.  I can't believe how quickly he has grown!  How do I stop it?

Dax feeding Pepper.

Ugh, guess I better get use to it because he's only getting older from this point on.

Caught with farm animals in hand.  

When I picked him up this afternoon he was on his third outfit for the day.  Apparently, he really enjoyed the new water in the glass offered to him at meals.  Why wouldn't you dump it on your head?  Phew!  My baby is still with me :)  I scooped him up and kissed him all over.  He thought that was hilarious.

Labor Day Weekend

Papa Bob & Sherri came for a visit over Labor Day weekend and we are so glad they did!

I think we managed to give them just the right amount of activities so they went to bed exhausted each night.  First, we rode our bikes from Hailey to Ketchum to watch the annual Wagon Days parade.  Just what it sounds like, wagons, horses, a camel, and a baby bison all strolled by in various arrangement.

The boys watching the parade plus cute Isla :)

The main attraction, the Big Hitch.

  A little rain shower and a flat tire didn't stop our bike posse from riding back home to Hailey.  That evening Jean cooked up a delicious meal of grouse hunted by Nick earlier that morning.

Dax with his two favorite Papa's.

Day 2 we headed out to Redfish Lake where we managed to escape the smoke from neighboring forest fires.  A picnic on the beach and lounging in the sun was a great way to spend the day.

Throwing stones in the water had never been more fun.

Zach and Dax yuck it up on the beach.

Day 3 was golf for Bob &Sherri, biking for Zach, shopping for the girls, and fishing for the guys.  Dax was battling a cold so he was lucky to stay with Papa Nick & Ya-ya (Jean) for the afternoon.

That morning Dax and I got in a little antique browsing when we happened upon some old toy cars.  Before I could stop him he had jumped in.   One sales lady had to ask me to remove my child from the car.  After I looked at the $500 price tag I understood why!

He literally climbed in before I could say "no, don't touch".  

 Another antique dealer was nice enough to allow Dax to climb on this miniature tractor.  Thank goodness because I was tired of tearing my child away from everything with wheels.

Just like Papa Nick's!

Loved seeing you Papa Bob & Sherri.  Come again!

Alturas Lake Afternoon

A little slow on getting this post up but better late then never...
We spent last Saturday afternoon at Alturas Lake with friends and despite the smoke that socked us in from the Trinity fire we had an excellent time.  Zach and Dax had their first tubing experience thanks to the Sundbys.  And Zach and Dax both stayed in despite my many exits.

Don't worry GiGi, Dax got in the boat shortly after this.

Nope, despite his big smile Zach is not having fun.

Dax learned that he could usually get a toy on the beach
 if he surprised other kids in his birthday suit.