Snowing Again

 After a miserably cold night of football, we woke to this...

It was coming down pretty heavy for awhile.

The two year old loves all the big low windows and sliding glass doors in this house.  He can see out easily and was so excited about the snow.

This is one of the many windows outside the playroom.  It was originally a porch/sun room, so it's nothing but floor to ceiling windows.  This afternoon he was playing down there and spotted a bird in the trees.  This little guy is enthralled with birds.  He stood up and squatted so he could see through the bush and watched the bird for several minutes until he flew off.  Could there be a better homeschool classroom?  This is even better than the zoo :)  I'm going to put a little bird feeder down in those bushes so we'll attract even more birds.

Today's snow is about the third that has put down much.  These last pictures are from last week - at the old house.  It snowed about the same amount today, and like last week, was pretty much melted off by noon.

It's really pretty early for so much snow.  We usually have snow that seems to come more frequently around the end of October, sometimes later.  It has been really wet and cold here most of September already.  We're in the high mountains of Wyoming, so we can see snow nearly every month of the year (the only month I don't recall seeing snow myself is August, though it definitely could happen and probably has).  But this seems unusual for our "high desert" environment.  It's been very wet - more like Spring.  I even overheard a couple of "old-timers" talking at the thrift store today about how mixed up the weather is.  They were talking about the grass growing as if it's Spring.  I wonder what this means for our winter...  Good thing my Dad got our snow blower running (I bought a huge old Toro from someone locally online for $35, but it didn't run.  Now it does, and I'm thinking I got a steal!  Thanks Dad!)

Frozen Football Fun

 We have an awesome youth football program here in town.  The man in the background in the grey sweatshirt is our high school football coach, and he and several other men volunteer their time to coach our kids. It really takes a lot of time, and normally we enjoy watching fun games like the one above (my 9 year old is #71 in the white jersey).

But last night was a little less fun.  We got to the field, and I sat in the car as long as possible before digging out my lawn chair, umbrella, and winter coat.

 It rained really hard through the whole evening.  The wind was blowing and the temperature was in the 30's.

Normally they probably would have cancelled, but last night was the "jamboree" - which is actually a really fun format.

Each team played each of the other 3 teams - four plays on offense, each starting on the 20 yard line.  (That in itself was a merciful act - they were supposed to play seven plays each, but due to the weather they cut back - thankfully!)  They kept track of how much progress each team made from the 20 and totaled the points.  So for instance, my son's white team started out on offense against the black team.  They lined up on the 20 for four plays (and they happened to make it to the end zone on three of those plays).  Then they traded places with the black team, and the black team had four chances from the 20.

 After they had exchanged 8 total plays with the black team, they went to the other end of the field and tested their skills against the orange team.  Then back to the first end to play against the green team.

When that was all done, they tested the skill of the defense.  The white team lined up on the five yard line, defending the end zone.  Each of the other three teams had one play to try to get into the end zone.  None of them made it.  In the end, we were all frozen - especially the kids, who were completely soaked.  My son's team WON!  Thankfully Bugga had offered to keep my two youngest, so they were spared the horrible weather.  My legs were shaking so bad by the time it was over that it was hard to walk. We went home and made hot cocoa :) and had our crockpot pulled pork sandwiches (which my nine year old calls "coffee pork" because it's just a pork roast cooked all day in coffee, then shredded and mixed with barbecue sauce).  

Hopefully the next game will be warmer.  They're actually done (they've been playing 9-man football) but the older kids get to continue if they want to in 11-man.  So practice for 11-man will begin next Monday, and they play an the Big Piney team here on Thursday, and for the first time will get to play full field (they've been playing 1/2 field).  Then we get to travel to Jackson Hole to play their team the Saturday a week after that.  It's going to be a busy couple of weeks.  This is homecoming week for our high school team, so at Friday's game all the younger players are going to be introduced by name and get to run out on the field with the high school team, dressed in their full game gear.  Then the following weekend, we get to go to the University of Wyoming's homecoming game.  The youth league bought tickets for all the players and parents could purchase discounted tickets.  The weekend after that is the Jackson game.  I think we're pushing it as far as weather goes.  We woke up to snow this morning, but I'll put those pictures in a different post.

A Trio of Goofy Boys

I love my life!  Look at these little goofballs!  This is what you get when you turn the camera on your phone so that the boys can see themselves. :)

 This is what you get when your nine year old plays with his erector set. HA. Not exactly what they included the tires for...

Almost a monacle...

And this is what you get when your 2 year old drinks a bunch of Blueberry Pomegranate Gatorade.

We're headed to Bugga's to watch the Rams and 49ers.  We don't really care for either team, but we need to hang out awhile so Dad can get some sleep, since he went to work at 6:30 last night and didn't get home until after noon today.  We're going to have dinner at the local pizza buffet - which the four year old calls the "blue pizza house" (it's a log cabin with a blue metal roof).  Then we'll go watch the game.  The nine year old said he would wear his practice jersey so he could cheer for the 49ers. The four year old heard that and came dressed for the party :)

Frankfurter Cheese Sandwiches

Back when I was a kid, I did a section on cooking in 4H and the recipe for "Frankfurter Cheese Sandwiches" was in the 4H kids' cooking book.  I've used it ever since, and now it's one of my boys' favorite meals.  It's pretty much the only way I eat hot dogs (other than a grilled recipe where you split the dog lengthways, shove in a wedge of cheese, and wrap in bacon.  It's a real healthy recipe.)

Well, living between two houses has its drawbacks.  Thankfully we're almost done with that!  Turns out all the butter I have is at the old house, but I was making dinner at the new house.  So ... I used mayonnaise.

These ended up being the prettiest, most evenly cooked sandwiches I've ever made.  I think I'll use mayo from now on.  I also always cook in a cast iron skillet.  I'll never go back to cheap teflon again. (Pardon the styrofoam plate. We're still moving in, and we were just doing a quick dinner with me and the boys.)

***S*N*O*W***

 It is hard to get a picture of it snowing, so you'll just have to trust me that it was really coming down hard for awhile.  Then it turned to rain and I missed getting a picture before it did.  Anyway, we got our first real snow in town yesterday.

It was cold and wet all day and still is today. It is snowing off and on today too, but melting right away.

 Our nine year old was supposed to have a football game last evening, but thankfully it was postponed.  I wasn't really looking forward to sitting out in the rain/snow.

 The peaks were sure pretty last night.  Couldn't see them this morning. We left before it was light.

It was snowing this morning too... big fluffy white flakes.

Sounds like we're expecting rain/snow through tomorrow, then warmer weather over the weekend.  Several of the mountain passes are closed this morning. 'Tis the season...

Awesome Sunrise

 Isn't it amazing how much the colors of a sunrise can change over just a few minutes?  These pictures were all taken within 15 minutes of each other.

My morning actually got off to a rough start.  I was up early and showered and headed to town alone - my husband has the day off and so I thought I would head to town early and get some work done while I had some quiet time to myself.  We're coming up on the end of the month quickly and I need to finish moving and cleaning the old house.

I left the big Excursion for my husband to drive since all the car seats are in it.  I took his car.  All a great plan ... except that the keys to the old house (and the garage door opener) were all in the Excursion... which I didn't realize until I pulled into the driveway :(

So I had to go back out to the new house (5 miles) to get the key.  So I ended up with only a few minutes of time to work on the house before the daycare kids started coming.  On the bright side, I wouldn't have seen this awesome sunrise if I hadn't had to go back out to the new house.  So I guess it was worth it after all :)

Puzzle Time

 The four year old is starting to get used to our crazy life this month.  He was really unsettled by the move to the new place, especially since we have had to come back to the old house every day for daycare.  My kids weren't used to getting up so early and have been really off schedule.

On top of that, he started preschool this month.  He goes to a specialized preschool where all his therapists are to help with his autism.  We've been trying to help him adjust and work on some of the things they work on with him too.  Puzzles are a big part of his therapy sessions - both physical puzzles, and digital ones on an ipad.

Yesterday I helped him with a Spiderman puzzle (which ironically matched the Spiderman shirt).  When he came home from preschool, Spiderman on his shirt had sunglasses - a sticker someone had put on his shirt. I didn't get a picture of it, but it was really cute!

 Like I said, we've been really running ragged.  The two year old is SO off schedule.  He napped right after we got to town yesterday, and didn't wake up until after lunch, when it was time to drop off the four year old for preschool.  I didn't give him a nap in the afternoon because he had slept all morning.  Then he fell asleep on the way home and stayed that way most of the evening, only waking long enough to eat a little dinner, then heading right to bed.  Thankfully we are down to three more days of this and then we can settle in to a more normal routine.

 We're expecting snow.  We got home last night and the wind started blowing a storm in.  I don't know what the wind speed was, but it was pretty bad.  Thankfully we only have two small windows on the side of the house that the wind blows from.

I loved the shadows in this picture. The field was a bright gold color.  The shadow in the middle is our house and the one to the right is a barn.  The shadows make it look like we have houses right next to others, but that's not the case.

It was already starting to put down some snow in the mountains last night.  We're supposed to get hit today... and we have another football game tonight.

Autumn is in Full Swing Here

 Well, it's my favorite time of year. I'm a sucker for beautiful leaves and crisp cool air.

 The nine year old did a little (very little) raking Friday and had enough of a pile to keep all the kids entertained for nearly an hour.

So much fun!

We have snow in the mountains, and more each day.  The clouds and sunshine made such a pretty pattern on the mountains yesterday.

 This morning when I came in to town for the last week of daycare (woohoo!) it was a bit nippy.  At the house it didn't feel cool at all (inside - lol) and I mistakenly dressed the four year old in shorts.  The nine year old saw me do that and wore them too - and now they're both cold. I did manage to find a pair of jeans for the four year old before he had to go to preschool.  They play outside every day, rain or shine.  The nine year old has football practice this afternoon and I bet he didn't bring a long-sleeved shirt to go under his uniform.  He wore one for the game Saturday and wished he hadn't because he was too warm once they got going.  I'm betting he is going to wish he had one today!

 The trees across the street from our old house are so pretty! Ours are pretty bare looking already.

At any rate, it's time for some nice warm comfort food.  I *had* to make steak last night ... no, really ... because one of the kids turned the temperature on the refrigerator at the old house completely off.  So everything in the fridge had to be thrown out, and my freezer stuff was mostly defrosted.  I felt pretty safe with the steak because it was still icy, but thawing.  So you see, we had to have steak for dinner - ha.  Anyway, I roasted up some little potatoes I had bought at the farmer's market last week, along with a little bacon and some onions.  It sure hit the spot!  Now that I'm talking about "crisp" air, I will have to make an apple crisp... or the apple cake with caramel sauce my mom used to make... yum.

All this talk of dessert reminds me.  I was trying to explain to my nine year old what a Twinkie is (yeah - he didn't know!).  After I described it he said, "Oh, so it's like strawberry shortcake without the strawberries" - and it was like *lightbulb* - What a great idea!!!  Now all I have to do is find some strawberries in September...

EARTHQUAKE!

Saturday morning we had a small earthquake.  It was centered on the other side of the mountain range - but not far as the crow flies.  It was only a 4.9 but we felt it ... or at least I did.  It was between 7:15-7:20 am Saturday.  I was in the upstairs bathroom, which has an angled roof and I heard a loud pop and the room shook.  I think I noticed it because the room is pretty small and enclosed with the low ceiling.

I didn't immediately think "earthquake" though because we have just moved into the new house, and they previously had some issues with the foundation.  The previous renters had to move out so repairs could be done.  (The original problems were caused by a former renter who fell asleep while smoking).  Worried that we were having issues with the foundation and would have to move, all I could think was "NO! I don't want to have to move all this stuff again!"  HA.

When I got to town where I had internet service, I learned that it really had been an earthquake.  Someone posted this graphic on Facebook, and it pretty much sums up the damage.  I thought it was cute.

An Overtime Football Game, and NFL Punt Pass and Kick Competition

 Saturday morning we had another football game.  Our son's white team played the orange team. It was an exciting game.

We were a bit worried when on the opening play, the orange team ran in for a touchdown.  But on the next play, our team did the same.  It was quite a high-scoring game.

It was also the first game my husband was able to make it to.  We had quite the cheering section. Papa and Bugga were there too, and our two younger boys.  Grandpa headed out to see my little niece the day before.  We had a great visit while he was here and he was a huge help in the move.  The boys all miss him now, and the four year old is convinced he is in the bathroom ... or sleeping downstairs... or at the other house ;)

Anyway, the game went into overtime and the other team got the ball first.  Our line held them though, and then when it was their turn they managed to score.  They were very excited.

We ran out for a quick lunch then back to the field for the NFL Punt Pass and Kick competition.

 I don't think he won any of the categories because it's just his first year in football, but he did remarkably well considering we didn't practice for it or anything.  We are supposed to find out results later.

**Edited: Found out today he was 5th out of 12 competitors, so not too bad.  Passing killed him.  He was 3rd in kicking and punting!