Labor Day Weekend

The kids and I were so excited for Labor Day weekend because it meant that 

DAD WOULD BE HOME!!!  

Also, Aunt Sjani, Uncle Ryan, Atti, and Ellie were coming to the ranch for the weekend.  Dad left Fort Collins early in the morning and made it here shortly after noon.  We had a few hours to just be together as a family at home.  Then Ryan and Sjani stopped by for awhile on their way up to the ranch.  The kids were ecstatic to see cousins!

We all went up to the ranch for pizza dinner.  Emma surprised us by losing her other front bottom tooth during dinner.  The kid is the perfect tooth-loser!  She just mentions that it's loose and within minutes the tooth is out!  What a brave little gal we've got. 

Two teeth down. . .many more to go!

Atti had brought his sand toys, and the kids were content to play in the rocks.  Carson threw the ball up on the roof and caught it over and over and over.  We took a couple of four-wheeler rides and just soaked up our time with family.

On Saturday morning we headed right back up and had a BIG breakfast.  The dads, Grandpa, and the big kids went fishing on the Salt.  We were so hopeful that they would actually catch a fish this time (since it was probably our last fishing trip of the year), but no luck.  It's been a fishless summer.  :)

Brave Emma checking out the minnows before taking some for their fishing bait.  She loved holding them!

That afternoon we loaded up and drove to Jackson for an evening with the Bar J Wranglers, our favorite Jackson tradition.  We stopped at the Wade job (Dave's old project) on the way to drop off something, and I think it was kind of weird for Dave to be back. . .he's SO glad to be in Denver with Hansen Construction.

The Bar J was as fun as always.  We explored outside and enjoyed our Dutch oven biscuits.  The worst part of the evening was when Joely slipped away and we couldn't find her.  It was a frantic few minutes of searching through the crowd before we located her outside the back of the dining hall just hanging out by a fence post.  Crazy girl!  Our meals were yummy.  Carson was hilarious and inhaled his dinner. . .the kid knows how to EAT!  I think they all did really well to sit and watch and listen the whole time.

This guy is SO handsome!

Emma gravitates to all things PINK!

Joining the Native Americans for their campfire. . .

Can we sleep in there tonight, Mom?

Look out!

Loving every minute with Daddy

Getting ready for the show to start. . .

Sunday morning came early.  We made it to church on time (barely) and enjoyed our meetings.  Dad gave Carson, Emma, and me Father's blessings with school starting the next week.  Then back up to the ranch we went for lunch and more fun with cousins.  Dave and I left to go to the Stake Center in Thayne for the fastest temple recommend interviews we've ever had (now that's the way to do them!).  We had a yummy casserole dinner that Aunt Sjani made and again enjoyed relaxing, visiting, and playing together.

Monday  morning we had a nice breakfast together, but our plans for the morning seemed in jeopardy because it was super rainy and foggy!  We'd planned on taking pictures in the tractor and down at the ranch house, but it didn't seem like it would work.  I got the kids ready to go (thanks to Aunt Sjani for braiding Emma's hair) and we took pictures up at the cabin despite the rain.

Our reluctant to smile lil' cowgirl

Can  you guess which of our daughters this is?  It took me a second. . .

What a gal!

Showing off the TWO missing front teeth!

Yee-haw!

A rare, full-family shot where everyone is actually looking and sort of smiling.

And another. . .

Aren't I lucky to have him?

The sky finally cleared a little, and we made a run for the ranch house.  We took so many pictures and got a few that I absolutely LOVE!

Carson took Emma for a ride on the four wheeler on his own for the first time.  They laughed and giggled the whole way, and Carson was a great driver!

Joely wanted to be tossed in the air.  She LOVED it and didn't want Dad to stop.

I'm flying!!!

Oh, how we love Freedom!

We went back up to the ranch, ate lunch, and then said goodbye. Dave, Sjani, and Ryan all needed to leave for Colorado.  We were so sad to see them go, but so glad we got to have such a fantastic weekend.