The South Hills

Every fall after it cools down (it gets really hot here), we take a family trip into the South Hills (which are really mountains). We park at a campground and explore the easy trails (and I mean easy. Look at our hiking attire and Iam carrying Avery) in the area. It is

so fun to have a family of girls. After Thanksgiving we go back and cut ourselfs a Christmas tree.

The fruits of our labor

Last summer we planted 3 fruit trees. An apple, plum, and pear. We collected fruit this year from all three. The girls were so excited to see the blossoms and the watch the fruit develop. We also planted a hefty garden of sunflowers to share with neighbors, 2 tomato plants (which took over the garden), pumpkins, carrots, peas, and gourds. We also enjoyed enough raspberries to make some jam and to eat on hot summer afternoons.

Fishing

We took the boat out almost everyweekend for a fishing or boating trip this summer. Finally by the end of the season Avery could fit into her lifejacket and could endure the wind enough to actually enjoy herself. Emily is the best little fishergirl a daddy could ask for. She is not allowed a hook yet though or one of us would end up with it in our faces. She has hooked her own hand before and that ended the chance for her to acutally catch a fish. She fishes with a big plastic blue fish. We usually like to head to the reservoir for a little swim on the beach, a picnic lunch, and and hour or so of fishing. If not the lake, we take it to the river near our home.

Welcome to Jarbridge Nevada, just a couple of hours drive through the Owyee Canyon and the Humbolt National forest. A one way dirt street where the townsfolk drive 4-wheelers and occupy their time watering the road down to limit the dust then hit the town hall for their weekly square dancing. Truly a time warp where the last stagecoach robbery in the United States happened.

The Outdoor Inn is their restaurant where they serve homemade icecream. The town hall has public restrooms with showeres for those who may not have one in thier home. This is a picture of a classic house with mining facilities. And the last picture is thier school. Adam went to the old gas station with the one old pump to get a soda and found himself in someones living rooom with a cooler full of old soda. Wow!!

The town was all hustle and bustle that day because they were having an event that Iam sure has never happend their before, a wedding. They shut the park down and everything. People were racing back and forth from the town hall ( a big barn) and the park ( a small area with a wooden swing set) with floweres and the townsfolk were wearing their best jeans and boots.

Sarah's growing up

Sarah has been so excited to lose a tooth and go to kindergarten all in the same week. She is not our little preschooler anymore but a young girl eager to experience more of the world under her parents wings.

Death Penalty

Yes or no?

I propose a joint Isaac and Avery week

While I know very little about these two, I know that they are cute and always look happy. Happy birthday to you too!