A Perfect Fall Day for a ride.

Trucking out day with the sheep.  I always look forward to this day.  Sometimes it's bitter cold, but Saturday it was PERFECT!   The trees are changing colors and it was a beautiful drive up to the Uintahs.  We saw a lot of deer and even a cow and bull moose.  

 

We left early and hoped Tad would fall back to sleep in the truck.  He didn't.  He actually jabbered most of the way.   We start with Sour dough pancakes and then join the fun of loading sheep onto semi trucks.    Everyone helps in one way or another. Grandpa and Fred helped hold the canvas and gates, tackled sheep that jumped out.  I got the easy job of chatting with cousins and eventually recording numbers as they branded the sheep we were keeping (I got sunburned on one side because it warmed up so much.  Even after I jumped the fence to equal out my burn, it's just the one side of my neck!). 

We even taught Tad how to herd the sheep into the corral.  Later he got to help at the front of the line poking the sheep so they'll climb the ramp onto the trucks. 

Since he didn't get to Mutton Bust during the State Fair, we put him on a couple of sheep while we were there.  His smile was pretty big, he thought it was fun. 

My little cowpoke

 

Climbing the fence with Grandpa. 

Playing fetch with the dogs. 

 Tad was beyond tired after being up for 12 hours, but we let him ride a horse before we left.  He liked it until the horse moved.  I rode with him for a short ride and he bounced up and down "Yeehaw".   Another year and he'll be going by himself for sure. 

Within minutes of getting in the truck he was asleep, even on a bumpy dirt road.

We ended the day with a quick shower and off to join Fred's family for his dad's yummy turkey meatballs.  Now we're looking forward to next weekend and General Conference.  Did I mention Fall is the Perfect season?! 

September - month of the State Fair (& camping)

We took Tad camping for his first time in the camper over Labor Day weekend.  Whenever we're working on it he loves to climb the ladder up to the top bed.  He was more than happy to climb in and out all evening (without any accidents!). 

We cooked stew for dinner and tried to get Tad to roast marshmellows.  He didn't want anything but the chocolate!  For some reason, he kept crying during the night.  I got up a couple of times to make sure he was covered.  Finally, I put him in bed with Fred & I.  He slept, we didn't, he's a bit of a bed hog!  The next morning he was ready to play again.   Fred took him down by the river to throw rocks in while I sat peacefully by the fire and read my book!  We had planned to go tubing in the river, but it was too cold and windy.   

 The weekend before Labor Day the State fair starts, at least for those of us working!   I LOVE the State Fair, it's work, but I get to spend time with Lauralee, I get to compulsively organize,I get out of the house for a few weeks, and do a little playing.  And this year, I got a private quilting lesson!  (I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it.  Hopefully I'll have my first one to show you before the end of the year.) 
A day of set up, a day of entering exhibits, a very long day of judging exhibits (we were short judges and didn't have ribbons so we had to do double work).  After Labor Day weekend we have 2 1/2 days of setting up exhibits.  Then my reward for working- 3 days of rodeo and showing Tad the animals! 

He'll willingly pet them this year!

Farmland with Crystal

Of course the Butter Cow Sculpture!

Rodeo with Tad and.... Tad!
He was pretty confused for a little while as we tried to explain that both of their names were Tad. 

 



We got to hold the baby pigs this year. 

Tad was distracted by every tractor or trailer that he could climb on.  Oh, and he got his own cowboy hat so he'll leave daddy's alone! (This was another moment of confusion for him when he saw both he and dad had a hat.  He was looking at both trying to understand.  I love this 2 year old stage of figuring things out.)

We tried signing him up to Mutton Bust (ride the sheep during the rodeo- for you city slickers).  I'm guessing he wasn't picked because of his age.  When they weighed in to register, the 4 year old before him weighed 39 lbs.  Tad weighs 38 lbs at 2!  The only requirement to sign up is they had to weigh under 50 lbs.  He might not make it for next year!  (We're guessing he'll stop gaining weight and just get taller actually.)    

Grandpa and Fred were cheering at the rodeo.  Tad joined in.  Fred cups his mouth to yell, this is Tad's version.  :} 

After 3 days of fun it was back to work.  Ending with an evening at the hypnotist with my sisters.  When everyone else is done having their fun, we come in one last day and spent only 4 hours taking it all down. 

Tad had fun staying with Grandma and Grandpa.  He now requests often "Grandma, Grandpa house".  He's learned to say the last word of each page while reading books with Grandma. And, thankfully, Grandma worked on potty training.  He'll go for her, but when I try, he still won't.  Grandpa spoiled him by blowing bubbles on the front porch with him every day. 

This kid has become pretty fun lately.   He learns things so fast!   Like how to steal the beaters while I'm making a salad and lick them clean.    

And he can almost do up all of the buckles on his carseat.  Lucky Dolly, gets to go for a ride! 

My favorite is after Dolly is securely in the seat he says "Here go Dolly." 

Unfortunately, he's finally started saying "No" more often.  I'm grateful it's not a firm, defiant "NO".  It's a "No mom, No nap." :}  Sometimes when I ask if he wants a nap he says "Stop it, No, Shhhh."  But once he lays down, he always takes his naps without a fuss.