State Fair.

Our State Fair is a (not so) great State Fair!

Sigh...  Between a 7 year old acting up, the redneck crowds from Hell, and the overall "snake oil" theme, our visit to the Fair this year was rather disappointing.  Artemis and her Mom joined us and usually that means Skyler is pretty well behaved, not this time!

This pig had her tongue out!

Artemis checking out the haunted house.

Skyler doing the same.

Something spooked her and she grabbed on to Skyler for protection.  :)

BIG turkey!!!

Mid meltdown, he found the hydraulic supply for one of the rides and was fascinated.  We left shortly after this, what a waste of time and money!

"Mmm, grapes!"

Skyler found the ripe Catawba Grapes in the yard Thursday evening.  He ate them seed and all!

Picking the low hanging grapes.

Ready...

"Are you sure it's OK to eat these?"

"Really sure?!"  Yes, son, they're fine.

JRP, the final stretch!

We walked along the last portion of the Jordan River Parkway Sunday morning.  We have now traveled the entire length of the trail!

Pretty sweet water jet cut signage!

Other side.

Pasture.  Think what this is worth money wise!

Concrete surface.  Spare no expense!

7 year old on a post.

Phragmites lined canal.

LOTS of cattails!

Quilting with Mommy.

Skyler asked for a new quilt for his bed recently.  He and Mommy went to JoAnn's and picked out the fabric sometime last month.  After lots of cutting and sewing, it was time to tie the quilt last weekend.

A lovely Saturday afternoon.  Someone is enjoying a snack.

Where's Skyler?

Skyler was actually tying the quilt for a while.  He eventually gave up and Mommy was on her own.  :(

Reading.

Enjoying his new book on the couch.

It's kind of amazing to see how well he can read!

Oil change.

Mommy changed the oil in her car!!

I've been changing oil in her cars for 16 years.  She wanted to learn how the other day so I showed her how.  :)

Congrats on 46 years!

Mom and Dad have been married 46 years as of yesterday!!!  That's not an easy feat these days!  Thank you for sticking together all this time, we love you.

September 9, 1972. 

On their 40th anniversary, my Mom re-created the menu and table from their wedding!

Including the original cake topper!!  👏

Before and after.

I've been doing some Fall maintenance around the house in preparation for winter.

Back stairs stripped and ready for finish.

All done!  Skyler got home from school as I was just finishing up.

Celebrating peace out at school.

The kids are celebrating peace, and Maria Montessori this month (among lots of other subjects) at school.  Since Fridays are for arts and crafts, last Friday they drew their self portraits and their names to reflect on peace.

He colored the dove and attached it to his name.

His self portrait.  Note the red missing tooth, and his National Geographic "Genius" t-shirt he had on (Thank you Klara).  There may have been a slight spelling error on the shirt.  :)

The class's works of art.

Backyard campout.

Skyler and Mommy went "camping" in the backyard last Saturday.  It was a little cool (48 degrees!), and there wasn't a lot of great sleeping, but he had a great time and wants to do it again.

All setup and ready for nighttime.

Lit by his LED lantern, it was time for stories.

Goodnight!

Reflections of Summer.

I drained the pool over the weekend.  It's getting to be the best time of the year, Fall!

It took over 2 hours to pump the 1,500 gallons out and into various parts of the yard!

I'll miss the great reflections from the water.

A train ride up to Huntsman to see Grandma.

We rode the TRAX train up to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to visit Grandma in the hospital Saturday morning.  Skyler had a great time and declared it to be "the best day"!

Front seat!

Standing.

Kneeling.

His point of view as we pass under I-215

Lunch in the cafe on the top floor of Huntsman.  He had a grilled cheese with fries, and a piece of carrot cake.

We busted Grandma out of her room and made it down a floor to the patio.  Skyler got to play on the labyrinth. 

Spelling under the (loaded) peach tree.

Skyler has to practice his spelling words during the week as part of his homework.  He chose the drooping peach tree to sit under and work with Mommy the other night.

Practicing writing his spelling words.  Anyone want some peaches?

Pickles!

Skyler and his class made pickles in class their first week of school!  They got to sample their wares last week during movement class with Ms. Nichole.

Discussing the results of fermented vs. refrigerator pickles in class.  They were inside last week because a kid in another class tried to escape from the garden!  They're supposed to be back outside this week.

Fermented on the left, refrigerator on the right.  Skyler said he preferred the refrigerator pickles to the fermented ones.

Hard work in class.

Skyler continues to love going to school.  He's now in second grade and has to help some of the younger kids (the Montessori method).  That part doesn't make him the happiest, but he is enjoying the challenge of his daily contracts.

Practicing his spelling words.

Snack time.

Pogo at the park!

We headed over to Midvale City Park Sunday morning to check it out.  It's a pretty sweet park complete with a splash pad!  The park is rather old and reminds me of the parks in Nebraska.  :)

He was a little timid and started out on the tennis court.

Now he got brave and decided to pogo through the splash pad.

Pretty good!

Katydid!

I found him stuck out back the other day.  Skyler got to use his "Wild Kratts" skills and take a look up close.

Closeup.  He appears to be surrendering!

Pretty good!

We let him be in the front yard.  He was gone an hour later.