THIS IS TUFF

For those of you who know Tuff, you know how interesting my life is as the mother of such a boy. He is one of the most stubborn and determined spirits I know. There are days when I am completely exhausted by the time I lay my head down at night from parenting him. He goes against the grain most of the time, simply to go against the grain. We used to think that Savannah was the queen of stubborn, until Tuff slipped in and took over the crown. His best buddy is Uncle Kirby (that should tell you all something). He is always a source of entertainment for our family. (And anyone who sits near us in church on Sundays). And just about the time when I find myself wondering how I will survive the next 11 years with him at home, he will crawl up on my bed with me and tell me that when he grows up he is going to build a house right next to mine so I can babysit his kids. That is when I realize 11 more years just isn't enough.

Look who got their first elk! Didn't even let a broken foot and crutches stop him! Jake was determined not to have his hunt ruined because of his "stupid broken foot". Thanks to a willing dad, Jake was able to hunt like a normal guy. I thought for sure that after the first day of hunting on crutches Jake would shoot the first thing he saw the next day. But nope, he was patient even after "crutching" for a mile.

Field Trip

JJ has been so excited for her field trip to the pumpkin patch in Snowflake today. She had a hard time falling asleep last night because she was all jazzed up about going. Can you see all the stuff she packed? How many bags does it take to walk through a corn field maze and pick a pumpkin? I know the reason she was so excited was because big sis went with her. Thanks Savannah, for making it such a special day for Little LuLu.

Sadie Hawkins 2008

Savannah, Jorden and Skippy took Steven, Cade and Tromaine to Sadie Hawkins this year. Unfortunately for their dates, Savannah's Uncle Mark was in town and at our house when they all came over before going to the dance. Not only did they receive the inquisition from her dad but were raked over the coals by Uncle Mark. I wonder if Savannah will ever get another date?

Jimmy Got an Elk!

Jim has been so excited ever since he found out that he drew this elk tag. As the hunt got closer he started getting frustrated because he wasn't able to put as much time into preparing for the hunt as he had planned. Even during the actual hunt he had to choose between helping the kids with their 4H animals or hunting on opening day. He obviously made the right choice and stayed in town with the kids at the fair and that sacrifice paid off when on the very last day of the hunt he bagged this monster! Good job honey!

UNDEFEATED!!

Colt's 8th grade football team went undefeated this year. In fact, only two teams scored on them! This grade has played recess football everyday since Kindergarten and all that practice paid off. They are a bunch of talented boys! I can't wait to watch them in high school! (Colt is 2nd from the left. Not the best picture taken from a friend's cell phone.) GO REDSKINS!

Can You Say Yuhummie?

My sister Terri had extra peaches and gave me some. This is what I did with them!

SEPTEMBER 2008

This is what we did in September. In between work, school, football, volleyball, dance class, family reunion, broken foot, surgery, hunting and church work we found the time to get the 4-H animals all shined up and pretty for the county fair. Colt and Jake had both a hog and a steer. Savannah had a steer. It turned out really well but we are all glad it is over for now. January comes too soon!

We also put up vegetables from the garden. They look so pretty!

HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS?

A couple of Sundays Ago we were all headed out the door to church, late as usual, when JJ came into my room crying because she couldn't get the comb out of her hair. She was so upset and certain that it would never come out. I felt so bad for her! So we sent the rest of the family off to church and JJ and I stayed until we had used enought no-more-tangles spray to successfully unwrap her hair from around the comb. I remember doing the same thing when I was close to her age, only I had used one of my dad's small-toothed combs and it took me A LOT longer to get it out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

For my 39th birthday (did I type that out loud?) Jim and I took Jake to Pinetop to the doctor for a follow up exam from surgery. I am posting a picture of his nasty stitches. After the doctor appointment we headed over to Heber and caught the last half of Colt's football game. GO REDSKINS! Jim made me a yummy dutch-oven-pineapple-upside-down-cake. Isn't it almost too beautiful to eat? Yeah right! It became a lovely fork cake shortly after!

JAKE'S CAST

JAKE FINALLY got a cast on his foot exactly four weeks after breaking it. He thinks it looks "ghetto" because the foot part is red and the leg part is white. He asked for two colors but thought they would alternate. Oh well. I think it looks sweet! It sure makes me feel like I don't have to worry so much about his unprotected broken bones.