First day of school!

Today is the first day of school for the kiddos. Bailee is in 8th grade this year and Zane is in 4th grade. Look out world! =)

Antelope Slot Canyon

Robyn and I went to Antelope Slot Canyon outside of Page, AZ on our way back to Montana from Sedona. It was truly a remarkable place that has to be seen through the eyes of your camera as well as in person. The colors and textures of the wall of this canyon just do not show up with the naked eye. There were 13 on our truck but there were so many more people there that day. Summer is famous for the "sunbeams". I was lucky enough to catch a couple with my camera.

I spent today in my classroom getting ready for my two Junior High classes. I then helped a friend get her room sort of put together. All of our "stuff" has been put in storage for the summer and has been moved into the new JH wing of our school for this year. Our Elementary will be in this new wing for this year while they tear our part of the building down to the studs and renovate. Zane and Bailee were a big help today too. They start school on Wednesday. Just two more days until the school year starts for them!

Chapel of the Holy Cross

When we were in Sedona, AZ this summer, the Chapel of the Holy Cross was one of my favorite things to see. It was built right out of the red rocks of Sedona by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is absolutely beautiful and must be seen in person to really appreciate the architecture.

This is "Madonna & Child" Rock!

I took a trip today to Learning is Fun in Spokane and think I now have almost everything I need to start school. Bailee went to a pool party today to have a last "hurrah" before school starts next week. Zane is spending today riding in the combine with dad.

It's been so beautiful here today. This evening is warm with a small breeze! Perfect August weather in my opinion.

A few more Dirty Dash photos...

I have a few more Dirty Dash photos. It was a fun day and we are looking forward to doing it again next year as a team!

I met with my teaching partner for 7th Grade Reading today and I'm excited about teaching that class this year. Tomorrow I meet with my teaching partner for 8th Grade English. This class will be fun to teach as well. I will finish each morning teaching 1st Grade Reading. My afternoons will be taking up with working in the Special Ed room teaching Reading and Math groups with K-3rd graders. It's going to be a fun year!

Rick is finally harvesting. Zane and Bailee spent the day at the county fair helping set up the hog barn!

The Old Farm Dog

Primo is 9 1/2 years old and is our farm dog. We got her as a puppy when Bailee was 3 years old and in Pre-School. She's a Golden Retriever and I just love her gorgeous coat color. She is a good and loyal dog and is a part of our family. Rick named her "Primo" after a black lab he had growing up! Primo was also his great-grandfather's name. We have two other dogs, both Labrador Retrievers. I will post pictures of Booty and Samantha another day.

Harvest FINALLY has started around our area. Rick starts harvesting on Wednesday. Everything is golden yellow and beautiful! School starts in less than two weeks. This has been a wonderful summer but I'm excited about getting back into the classroom and Zane and Bailee are too!

The Dirty Dash

Yesterday was the Dirty Dash Spokane 2011 - a 10K run and obstacle course. I was on a team with 7 other girls. We went through mud and up and down hills and I am proud to say I made it, although I'm a little sore the day after. I only have one picture of us before the race and I took a picture of my clothes after the race. None of the pictures I have so far show how dirty my face was. We were a muddy, mucky mess but it was great fun in spite of a few scrapes and bruises and a couple of blisters. Our team name was "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and we had an 80s theme going. We wore old clothes we didn't want to ruin but what you can't see in the photo is the 80s tube socks we all have that matched! Next year we will be more creative in our outfits and we also plan to wear knee pads. Those rocks we crawled on as we went through the big pipes were hard on our knees!

Ashley and Amber turn 20!

Ashley and Amber turned 20 years old yesterday. Ash is here for a few days and Amber hasn't started harvest yet so gets off early from the Grain Growers. We celebrated with their favorite dinner of steak, alfredo with shirmp and pasta and watermelon for dinner and ice cream cake for dessert. YUM Here are a few pictures of the birthday girls:

Silverwood

My sister and her family came over to visit for a few days. We were able to take both families to Silverwood for a day of fun! We spent the first part of the day going on rides. The last part of the day we spent in the Boulder Beach water park. The cousins were able to spend a lot of quality time together. We took all the photos at Silverwood with my little Canon PowerShot SX 210 IS camera. It is small and easy to throw in my pocket.

Today is Amber and Ashley's 20th Birthday. I will post pictures of today's celebration later this week.

This photo was taken just as we came in the gates!

Waiting in line for a ride.

Amy and I trying to take a photo of ourselves while we wait for the rest to get off of the Tilt-a-Whirl.

I was able to get both families riding the Tilt-a-Whirl.

Zane watching the log ride!

The lines were long and we did a lot of waiting.

I love Alyssa's pedicure. She decided my shoes were more fun to wear at Boulder Beach.

We didn't eat here but the kids just HAD to have their picture taken with this guy and his menu.

Rick enjoyed Boulder Beach by taking a nap.

The only ride I rode was this water ride. I kept my shirt dry by using my rain jacket but my pants were were so wet that they dripped. Thankfully we brought a change of clothes because getting wet is part of the fun.

We left Rick with all the gear and he took the pictures of us going down the river. A stranger took this picture of him. It made me think of the song "I'm Still a Guy" by Brad Paisley.

Harvest

Harvest has officially started south of us and soon it will start here! We are at least two weeks later than normal. Things are finally starting to turn from green to yellow. I had fun taking shots around our area that show what harvest means to me this week. My sister and family arrive tomorrow and will stay until Tuesday. We are hitting Silverwood on Monday. I'm excited to see them and so are the kiddos!

A day on the farm!

I took my camera outside the other evening and took a few photos around the farm while the kids were picking raspberries. It's been hot here and the grain is finally starting to ripen. Rick's been fishing on the St. Joe river in Idaho but will be back today. The kids and I have been enjoying the last days of summer break before school starts.

Our raspberries are finally coming on strong and we try to pick them daily. I freeze them immediately to make jam and other yummy things this fall and winter. Zane and Bailee get $2.00 for each gallon that they pick. I think they eat more than they pick, though so they aren't earning much $$!

Our old tractor is a dinosaur and, if fixed up, might make the antique tractor show at the Spokane Interstate Fair someday or at least the Mule Day's parade! ha ha

These farm coats that hang in the garage look abandoned so I had to take a picture of them.

My mother-in-law gave me family Hollyhock seeds that came all the way from North Dakota! Finally they have taken off and are growing. It's a little piece of family history in our garden!

This was my grandfather's brand. After finding it in one of the barns on the family homestead we decided to make it our brand. It's another piece of family history on the farm!

Learning to Babysit

Yesterday was Bailee's first real babysitting job. I went along to be there just in case she needed anything! She did a great job and I was able to sneak around with my camera.