Apple Picking

Apple picking is by far the best day of the year.  My calendar revolves around this day.  Apple picking makes it really seem like Autumn.  And today the weather was wonderful.  You can't beat a good honey crisp apple either.

Emma enjoying some of the fruits of her labor. Ha!

After we get the apples each year we head to the next farm down the road where they have fresh apple cider donuts.  So delicious!  They also have yummy cheeses, sausages, brats, and some preserves, all locally made.  This day never disappoints!

I had to take this picture because the goats were further back, but the turkeys were right under
the sign making it appear as though they were the Nigerian Goats.  Weirdest goats I've ever seen. =)

Not All Instruments Are Created Equal

At least that's what Eric will tell you.  He's a horn player.  That's the french horn for those of you who have never heard it called anything else.  He went to school for horn performance (scholarship included), though he changed his degree before he was done.  He has kept it up (mostly) through the years.  Emma recently was trying to decide what instrument to learn since she wants to be in the band this year.  Eric was a very good boy and tried not to influence her.  He obviously wanted her to choose the horn, but she knew she was free to choose anything she wanted.  In the end though, she ended up choosing the horn, and Eric couldn't be happier.  I'm pretty pleased too.  This means she'll get some extra help at home on her instrument.  So these first pictures that were taken when Emma was only 9 months old, have now started to become a reality.  Why must she keep growing?

End of Summer and First Day of 5th Grade

I can't believe Emma is in 5th grade and her final year in elementary school!  I still don't like 6th grade being part of middle school (mostly because it's not what I'm used to), but it is what it is.  For now I'll enjoy her being little-ish.

Emma's first day of school this year was actually the school's 4th day in session.  She missed the first 3 days due to our trip for my dad's birthday.  It was an innocent mistake too.  The entire time we've lived here school has never started before Labor Day.  With Labor Day being so late this year, I even tried to look up the schedule to double check before booking our flights, but both the school and district servers were down, so I couldn't.  I figured I was okay and went ahead and booked.  A few days later I got an email from her school, and saw that school started on the 1st of September.  Oops!  Oh well.

We did pick up some work for her to do when we went to the school open house before we left.  There were a couple of art projects that I thought were a little weird to be having 5th graders do.  Oh well.  She did one that was supposed to be her, and she could decorate it any way she liked.  The other is a puzzle piece that has information about her on it.  She could decorate it any way she wanted as long as it included her name, 3 words that describe her, her favorite subject, favorite animal, favorite food, and something she liked doing in her spare time.

After only a half day at school, it was time for Labor Day weekend.  To celebrate what feels like the end of summer, Eric took Emma fishing out on a little boat.

Surprise Trip & Dad's 70th Birthday

My dad turned 70 this August!  To surprise him Emma and I flew out to celebrate with him.  Everyone had to keep it a secret for a month, which mostly entailed not telling any of the kids until just a day or two before.  Emma of course knew, but then she wasn't going to be seeing my dad and be able to spill the beans.  My mom and sister each told me they each almost said something, and I almost said something about doing something while we were in town, but luckily we all caught ourselves.  Emma survived her birthday phone call from my parents without saying anything either.  We were so excited!

We arrived in the evening, and my sister picked us up from the airport.  We hung out with her family that evening and stayed with them that night.  We went to a classic car show where the kids also got to sit in a medical helicopter and do various other activities.

Making fish faces before bedtime.

The next day I had lunch with some of my awesome friends who I don't get to see very often.  It was so great catching up with them.  Emma went with my sister and her oldest daughter up to Snowbird.  They rode the tram up and then hiked down.  Part of the hike down was a ride on the ski lift.  I was so happy Emma had a chance to go up into the mountains on this trip.  I didn't, and am always sad when I can't, but she got to go and had a great time.  Thanks Jilly!

Late that afternoon we went out to my brother's house where the party for my dad was being held.  We set up a bunch of balloons in the front yard and put up a poster the kids had decorated.  Emma added her note the night before.  Some of the youngest got a little crazy and drew over all of it - which I think makes it all the better!  Then Emma and I went inside to wait until my dad arrived.  After he arrived and greeted everyone else, they went around to the backyard.  That's when Emma and I ran out to see him.  Emma ran right up to him and gave him a hug and it was mid hug that my dad realized which grandchild it was, and the surprise of our visit really started to sink in.  There were tears, of course.  I can't believe we all actually kept it a secret!  The rest of the evening was spent eating and playing, with presents, a song from the grandkids, and a slideshow celebrating my dad's life thus far.  And all the grandkids were so cute in their matching shirts.  My dad likes to be called Papa, so we made him a shirt that says "Papa Snow" on it, and all the grandkids had shirts that said "Papa's Snowflakes" (Snow being my maiden name, if you didn't know that).  He really was overwhelmed - it was awesome!

I love the expression on my dad's face.  He's just realized it's Emma.

A few of us kids went in together and gave this book to my dad.  My sister put it together and ordered it.  It's full of pictures from his entire life so far.  It's a good size too - 11x14.  My dad loved it!

On Sunday we went to church with my sister and ate dinner at my brother's house.  It was fun to spend some time with his kids.  Emma has really missed her cousins.  She and her cousin Timothy are practically the same person based on their interests and likes.  They like the same toys, books, subjects, activities, etc.

The next day we went to the zoo with my mom and sister.  I've always loved Hogle Zoo.  It was fun to visit again.  We rode the train, carrousel, saw all the dinosaurs they have right now, and enjoyed some lunch.  Then my sister had to leave, but my sister-in-law Heather took her kids out of school after lunch and brought them up.  So we went around the zoo again with them.  Double the fun!

Had to take this one.  This is now, at 10 years old.

And just for fun, this is from 7 years ago when Emma was 3 years old.
I can't believe how big she is now!

That night my sister came over for dinner.  Emma just adores her girls (I do too).  And they love Emma.  They can't get enough of each other.  Whether they were drawing each other in chalk, eating popsicles, or watching a movie, they were right by each other.

Eliza posing next to the chalk drawing Emma did of her.  Not too shabby!

And Abby was too cute!  I think I could watch her eat a popsicle all day long.
She has the best cold faces and smily faces.

Tuesday we hung out with my sister again.  Can't get enough of that.  That night the entire family met at a park for dinner and to let all the grandkids play.  They had so much fun.  Late that night, about 10:00, I went over to my brother's house where I played games with my two brothers until 2:00am.  Because that's how we do. =)

Wednesday my dad spent the entire day with us.  We went to the U on the mountain (Go Utes!), Temple Square, had some lunch with my brother downtown, then went to the Capitol Building, the Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers Museum, the UofU campus, and the This is the Place Heritage Park to see the monument.

Suddenly she had her "game face" on.  Not sure why.

This wagon was used by Brigham Young when he entered the Salt Lake Valley.

On the west side of the This is the Place Monument, the two figures are Orson Pratt and
Erastus Snow, Erastus is the one standing (they were in a scouting party that entered the Salt
Lake Valley on July 21st, 3 days ahead of the main party of pioneers).  
Erastus Snow is my 3rd Great and Emma's 4th Great Grandfather.  

Our last day mostly entailed packing and having lunch with my parents and sister.  It always stinks saying goodbye.  Hopefully it won't be too long before we're able to visit again!