November

November was the month of SNOW...it was great. Starting off with snow here, freezing temperatures, and a snow day!

Cassidy and Grandma Kit took advantage of the snow and cold weather and decorated gingerbread men.....Cass was really into the sprinkles!

After Ziggy and Tucker really not getting along, they had to just "sort it out" when the freezing temps hit as I could only keep one water hole unfrozen....It worked out ok though. I think the horses were too worried about staying warm and not wasting energy on fighting.

Cassidy and I had a great time on my snow day but I decided we need a better "hill" for sledding.

All she was missing was a little crop when she would yell "faster Mamma, faster"

Then we headed East for Thanksgiving and found more snow...and a good hill!

Cassidy got to spend some quality time with her cousin Sammy while the boys were off playing

Cassidy watching the boys being towed behind the four wheeler. I think Dad was having just as much fun driving as the kids were being pulled

After Thanksgiving we usually do the Christmas Kickoff giving wagon rides but this year the snow and ice were too bad for the girls to have any traction so we got to hang around the farm having fun building snowmen and of course sledding.

WE LIKE SNOW!!

Halloween Fun

Our sweet fairy princess definitely got into the spirt of Halloween this year. We had a great time and had two great towns to trick-or-treat through. One on Thursday with Chad and our neighbors, who also watch Cassidy for us, and then all 3 of us got to go on Saturday.

Cassidy did realize there were limits to her fairy powers though when she tried tuning me into a princes. It just didn't work!

October

October started off very hard with us saying goodbye to our dear girl Remi. Chad got Remi in college and she has been a wonderful part of our life every since. We decided to let Remi go to a place where she could run again and be happy chasing birds and balls. We'll miss her tremendously and saying goodbye was very difficult. I know we will feel there
is something missing in our home for a long time.

Cassidy and I spent lots of time picking apples for the horses and her friends liked the job too! They were very helpful...

We went over to Mom and Dad for deer hunting and to meet Cassidy's new pony that Dad had got her. I was a little skeptical, although why I doubted a $75 auction pony in the dark with Pendleton whiskey involved I don't know. I shouldn't have though as it turned out "Ziggy" is a great match for Cassidy. When Dad and I first brought Ziggy up to the house her first comment was "oh look at her little ears" followed by "she's got a little saddle". I asked her who she thought that saddle was for she said "Cassidy?" and then grinned from ear to ear as she took her first ride. I think I have a riding buddy!

Hunting was productive, I got my buck opening morning and Chad was successful the next day. Yay for meat in the freezer!

Of course there were wagon rides involved...

and quality time with Uncle Bryce

The next weekend we got a wonderful visit from Auntie Carmen, her fiance Stewart and their pup Artemis. It was a typical PNW weekend, cold and wet, but we had a good time on the beach, taking Ziggy for rides, and touring the island. I think I still have hopes of convincing Carmen this would be a good area to settle! We had a great time and I can't wait to see her again...hopefully sooner than a year.

We passed!

4 years ago we started to re-build a house....

and now we have a home....and passed our final inspection officially!

Gymnastics

This summer we were able to do an 8 week gymnastics course with Cassidy. Our little monkey thought it was right up her alley and had a great time. The class was once a week and she would get super excited when we woke her up saying it was gymnastics day. She calls it "nastickicks", and LOVES it! Here are some pics of her "best moves" from the day Chad and I were both able to go
The initial obstacle course

Circle time

Bar work, she can get her toes up on the bar all by herself...just ask her!

Cassidy's favorite was the at least 30 foot long trampoline where she got to "jump, jump, jump!"

Working on her balance

the rope swing and dropping into the foam pit

And at the end they got stamps!

It was great fun and Cassidy will be starting the fall class soon!

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

This summer's visit from Grandpa Doug and Grandma Margie came at a perfect time for lots of sunshine and crab! Cassidy welcomed them with tea, and papa Doug was a good customer while Grandma got cut off (don't ask Cass for any sugar in your tea...)

Day 1 crabbing was a little windy and a lot rough but we were able to bring a few crabs in the boat, despite not being able to get out to "our" spot. Cassidy was able to take a nap with Grandma, we think she got rocked to sleep!

Day 2 on the water was much calmer and beautiful with lots of crabs!

the "monster" crab

Cassidy was able to get her pool time in...and enjoyed showing off all her tricks!

And Grandma Margie, Cassidy, Cadee, Echo and I were able to take a very nice tricycle ride on the trestle across the bay. Cassidy did great on the ~mile ride and still had gas in the tank to take on both Cadee and Echo towards the end.

It was another great visit and we can't wait to see them again, on either side of the mountains