Our little wild man turned 10 this summer, Kathleen made a gluten free cake that we could all enjoy!

hiking at Garden of the Gods park with my cousins and their kids.
Grandma turned 79 with six of her favorite grandkids :)

Jake started football. and loves it. Me, the "never doing organized sports, ever, Mom" I'm enjoying his love of the sport.

Kathleen got to nanny for her cousin in California. Her tales of explaining our family size of six kids in the "land of one child" are hysterical. Thankfully, she still prefers a big family with it's necessary financial restraints. :) And her cousin is darling and very girl-ish so they both had a great time.

Lindsay bought a colt a couple years ago, finished him all herself, showed in her last year of 4H, between college years since her 4h age was still 18 this past summer (try not to hear the sniffles from me, as my first baby is all raised) and just sold him for a very nice profit two weeks ago. Boe will be missed but is loved by his new family and Lindsay's business of horse training is doing excellent.

My youngest and his "friend" that he has grown up with, this was her first horse ride.
Lindsay getting ready to for her last 4H gymkhana ride on Misty the wild horse. She won overall Grand Champion and got another belt buckle in her last year. Not a bad showing for her 10 years of 4H. Lots of great friends and good times in 4H over the years, and Anna is right behind her with her horse riding.

Anna running poles. I think I held my breath the entire time, that horse is fast!

Johnny and Jake getting ready for chicken showmanship. OK, chickens, piece of cake right?? No. The judges are uber anal about chicken conformation, parts, and all sorts of odd chicken minutia. And since Johnny and I both have this odd love affair with chickens, he keeps on coming back with different breeds every year. This year was the year of the Bantam Black Rosecomb. As well as several duck breeds and a couple more chicken breeds. Next year? Turkeys. and maybe goats. :) We will see.

Don't mess with the brothers...just sayin'

Jake and his chicken.

Anna and Chisholm, baby Anna named for....

Grandma Anna, who is still doing horses at 79 years young!

Anna looks so tiny out there, but she is pretty darned tough

Julia, exchange student from Germany, trying her hand at milking! Darling, funny girl staying at a horse farm down the road.

Jake, #33, playing football.
our summer trip to mountains was chilly, boys fishing

Big John and Jake, John still loves getting up before the dawn to fish....and I'm so NOT a morning person! Trust me, there are no Starbucks where these boys go.

but I am always awed by God's beauty when I do actually get up (fast) with them.

and usually it IS worth it :)

Hiking at dawn far beyond most roads...Hello Moose!

and whoa...bull moose, scared me for sure! They are very agressive many times.

vacationing with the younger four, and missing the olders...sure is odd and lonely, which comes with kids growing up I suppose.

Bonfire with family from CA and grandma, good times :)
And that is all for now!
God Bless us everyone. :)