BIRTHDAYS AND FALL FUN

Dear Family,

Well it is really fall now with the leaves turning, the garden finished, conference is over for six months and it is a beautiful time of the year.

We have 112 birthdays in the family and two of Cheryl's kids have just had theirs.  Lauren turned 11 and had a big party with friends, Moms complete with autumn decorations and goodies.

Johnny turned 5 and here he is with Madeline  and his UofU football having a special luncheon at Paul's office.  They seem to have several days of birthday celebrations.  Johnny has spent time in our home over his short years and knows every nook and cranny.  He knows where every treat is hidden and discovered Oma's toy and birthday gift stash that was up high and hidden.  He found a castle with knights set and laid claim to it a few months ago.  Mom forgot about it but was reminded that she had promised him this on his birthday and he was tickled to get it.  He is a little character.  He had a party, then a special Family Home Evening where we all told good things about Johnny, then another cake and today the special luncheon.  He went to a movie with Paul and Opa as well and It was all great fun.  Our lives are full of these family events.

We have had our little garden harvest.  This is a shot of the grapes, now two years old.  We should have a bigger crop next year.  Mom picked a lot of grapes at our friends, the Keslers,  and she made many quarts of great grape juice.

We closed Bear Lake this last week with Mike, Rayanne and several of their kids.  It was cold but nothing had frozen.  All the vehicles had dead batteries except for one 4 wheeler.  This was all fixed, the boat cleaned, the Induna rock climber cleaned and started and all put away.  Rayanne did the meals and it was delicious.  Food tastes better at Bear Lake! We got everything stowed, the pipes drained and Mom set off and insect bomb before we left.  Of course Mike, Michael and I did some serous plinking with .22's and little Michael is quite a good shot.  He stalks deer in his neighbors yard in Mapelton and nailed them with his air soft pellet gun.  Mike went to Walton Feed and loaded up on storage supplies and picked up a ton of pellets for their wood burning stove and after all the closing preparations were complete, and we did not forget too much, we drove home.  It is definitely Fall

Love, Dad