Boo-y'all!

What a crazy weekend we had and I have to admit, I was very ready to say goodbye to Halloween. On Friday the kids got to dress up in their costumes for school, then Ryder had a hockey game and right after that we went to a family Halloween dance that was put on by the school. It was pretty fun and the kids had a blast. Then the next morning at 7 (ouch!) we had to drive to Pincher Creek for Ryder's hockey game (gotta love hockey). Later that afternoon we drove to grandma and grandpa's so they could see the kids costumes. Then we drove back home and trick-or-treated here. Did you get all that. Yah it was crazy and I'm happy now to put the costumes away and move on with life.

my cute little bumblebee

ryder was a rodeo clown if you couldn't figure it out (don't look too closely at the makeup job!).  I knew someday my favorite pair of overalls that I couldn't bear to get rid of would eventually come in handy.

Sadie changed her mind about what she wanted to be about 37 times. So in true Sadie fashion, she dressed up as a cowgirl (always our last resort costume) for her school party and dance and then changed her mind and whipped up an indian costume for trick-or-treating the next day. And she seriously made the indian costume 100% by herself and it's even sewn and stuff. Yah, the kid's got some serious craftin' skills. 

gracie the jailbird

THE LOOT

So there you have it. I'm pretty sure that the whoever invented Halloween was neither a mother or a dentist. So I guess I'm kind of a Halloween scrooge. I love the fall season, but Halloween kinda stresses me out. I'm not the best thinker of costumes and I'm usually scrambling last minute to find costumes for 4 kids. I used to be able to buy a costume a little big, and the kids could wear it for at least 2 years in a row, but not anymore. The kids are getting smarter and pickier. The aftermath is not fun either. Crazy, hyper, grouchy, sleepy, and stomacheached kids are not my favorite type of kids. And if I have to pick up one more candy wrapper... 

OK I'm done. Bring on CHRISTMAS!!!!!

summer recap

Ok, I was gonna do a separate post for everything we did in the summer, but then I got wicked overwhelmed (not to mention we're almost done with october already), so just a quick recap is all you're gonna get. Oh yah, and a butt-load of pictures.

Summer usually includes a lot of trips to Waterton, which by the way, is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Ok maybe not the planet, but living on the flat prarie, this is about as pretty as anything we ever get to see.

the kiddos at Cameron Lake

I love this picture of my parents. So cute!

This summer Jimmy and I along with some friends of ours, went to the Calgary Stampede. It was so much fun to get out (sans kids) and the grandstand show in the evening was FANTASTIC! Seriously so cool. I think we're definately making this an annual thing.

what's with the baseball cap, cowboy husband of mine??

A highlight of every summer is the Danny Balderson basketball camp, put on none other than my older bro Danny. This year was it's 11th year (i think). I think I've helped out at the camp pretty much every year, with the exception of a few years when my kids were babies. It's always a good time, and my kids LOVE it. It's so fun now that the three olders are able to go.

3 monkeys

the kids had so much fun with their cousins

Probably the biggest highlight of the summer was that my 93 year old grandpa went through the temple for the first time and was able to get sealed to our family. It was soo cool to be there and to have my whole family there.

as you can tell, the sun was shining

my cute little nephew westin

The town celebrations are always a blast, and this year our little family rode our horses in the parades.

I'm fairly certain that there is NOTHING cuter than itty-bitty cowboys. 

Ok, maybe itty-bitty cowGIRLS are cuter!!

While my fam was up, I took some family pictures. With the exception of less than ideal lighting and everyone scrambling to get to church on time, it went well.

these are always the best pictures. complete chaos!!

my brother Jimmy's cuties

all the sibs

Other events of the summer -- waterslide at the stake campground

 Writing on Stone

LOTS of swimming

and many trips to the lake

Phewf!!! That was a long post. I don't blame you if you lost interest after the first few pictures. That was a doozy. But I've blogged my summer (for the most part anyways), and now I'm gonna go do something more productive.

where to start...

I was trying to think of what I should start blogging about, now that I'm a blogger and all. Since I took close to 1500 pictures this summer (that's no joke, in fact I probably took more than that) I thought I'd better blog a bit about the summer.

So summer. We did a lot of alot. Summers are always so busy for us. But I have to say, some of my greatest moments of the summer were the horse rides up on the ridge. And they aren't just leisure horse rides, they are chasing and moving cows horse rides. I have to say that has to be one of my most favorite things to do in the whole world. I always tell jimmy that I don't need fancy vacations, just take me up to the ridge on the horses. Heaven!! I for sure married the right man for that because he is always more than happy to take me (and the kids). It's so nice now that our kids are older and can ride their own horse (well, maysa is almost old enough). They think it is the greatest thing. And jimmy's happy he doesn't have to find hired men to help him. So yah, here are some pics (by some I mean a lot) of our ridge days. 

ryder  went through a water hole on his horse and got butt-deep in the water. what a little tough nut.

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I think Trigger is the best lookin' horse I've ever met (and yes I have addressed the fact that gracie needs new wranglers)

How about that view

this picture pretty much describes jimmy to a tee. On a horse, up at the ridge, talking on his phone.

for some reason jimmy always thinks he needs to take the camera and snap a few of me

my four babies

gracie the horse whisperer

thanks for cutting off my head honey

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