trips, rodeo, racing and DIRT

Thanks to lack of time, lame internet and computer issues.. I'm once again behind on blogging.. so I'm going to post in 2 separate posts (one for everything that's happened since the last post. WARNING: will be large.. :-) . then one devoted specifically to the construction of our new home.) I'll start with the happenings from the past 2 months:

Last travels of the summer....

Connor and I took a trip to Boise for a wedding I was photographing, and decided to stay the week, It was also at the same time Jeremy went on the annual guys weekend in Alaska for fishing, which I don't have any photos of right now... sorry ) The following week, Connor and I headed to Seattle for a few days to do some "house stuff" and to catch a day of convention. Here are a few pictures from these final summer travels :-)

BOISE ZOO....
Grandma Shelly, Great Uncle Kevin, GGMa and GGpa took Connor and I to the Boise Zoo.. We had a great time :-)

pretend giraffe

real giraffe's

a cool old truck

 Goats!!

 Wooden Tigers :-)

a carousel :-)

a HUGE bunny!!

a BIG slide :-)

GRANDPA'S AIRPLANE:

Grandpa Kevin bought an airplane which he is rebuilding, it will take him about a year before it iwll be ready to fly, but it will really cut down their travel time to Omak (from about 9 to 2.5)... We went to the airport to see what he has been working on (and help him lift the wing on to a stand...)

Connor on the wing, with the "hanger mates" of dad's airplane (he's renting part of  a hanger from a guy who restores planes

Grandpa and Connor...

NICK AND LAURASWEDDING:

 (this is a very small sample of photos from the big day... )

I grew up with Laura and it was such an honor and pleasure to be the one to photograph her big day!

They both love to dance, so of course watching them dance was magical!

FUN IN OMAK:

He loves duke and daisy, and I often find him and Duke sitting together watching the goats or digging in the dirt :-) Oh I wish the grass still looked like that there.. duke and connor have taken to digging.. and it looks TERRIBLE to say the least :-(

 Another popular spot for the dogs and Connor to sit.. Duke likes to watch (terrorize) the goats, while Connor is fascinated with the dirt ....

OMAK STAMPEDE:

We went to the famous Omak stampede, the first night Connor lasted about 4 1/2 minutes.... so I went home and Jeremy stayed with his brother. Then we tried again Saturday night.. and Connor managed to stay awake and in a good mood for the WHOLE thing :-)

Grandma Nancy sharing her ICEE

The guys...

Connor and Mom..

Connor and Dad...

The favorite thing for Connor was the Extreme Motorcycles they had as the entertainment... :-) I got an adorable video, I may post later if I remember..

STAMPEDE WARRIOR RACE:

Nicole and Connor snuck over to Auburn for a few days during the week so Nicole could do a few things for the house,a nd also so we could catch a day of our church convention in Miltown. We came home in time to watch Jeremy run in the Warrior race.. it was hot, but fun and impressive to watch! Jeremy finished 5th place overall!! GO DAD ;-)

 Connor and Dad before the race..

 

At the starting line

 

  
WAHOO Go dad!!

 Jeremy at the base of the stampede hill... This was at the tail end of the race, just before swimming across the river, going up into the arena to do the final obstacles before the finish line..

 Jeremy in the mud pit

Jumping over fire!

 

The stacked New York Life Team... There were pretty much the fastest runners of the whole day on Bradens team :-) GO Team NYL!!

OKANOGAN COUNTY FAIR

Connor and I went to the fair Thursday morning with my old Early Head Start Group, then Friday I got to watch our good friends daughter Gwyn, so we all went to the fair again, Connor and Gwyn had a blast... I had a blast too :-) Gwyn made it very easy.. she's a gem to watch...

 Before we went to the fair we went to the Omak Park and Library, played on the swings, slides and checked out a few books, then had a picnic lunch

lunch in the park...

 Connors favorite animals were the goats... not that that is a surprise since we have some at home (not as cute as any of these though... I've decided to sell the ones we have, and once we have things setup at the new property, I want to get a few (possibly breed) Pygmy goats :-)

Connor rubbing the pygmy's ears :-)

 I have to say my least favorite animals at the fair is the pigs, but seeing all of these little piglets, especially when they were nursing was VERY cool to see!! I wouldn't normally describe a pig as cute, but they are adorable when they
are this size.... :-)

Riding on the carousel... (this is about the time my cameras shutter started sticking (not opening all the way) I often don't notice it until I load the images to my comp. so you may notice this in several photos from here on out.. SORRY )

 Gwyn on the carousel

They didn't ride together when it was actually in motion, but I wanted to get a photo of the together :-) They get along so great!

I LOVE this photo....  I have to say that after the "porta potty incident with Gwyn" and them eating a sticky Shave Ice over the top of my legs.. I could have waxed them they were so sticky!! But I thought it was so cute them sharing their shave ice, so I really didn't care :-)

It lookes like they are having a silent conversation!! He was so relaxed around the animals it was really cool to watch :-) LIttle farm boy!

Friday evening, when Jeremy got off of work, we went to the fair again, these are the pictures from when we went as a family:

Connor and Mom about to go down the REALLY LONG FAST pink slide :-) He LOVED it.. of course it involves adrenaline!!

Connor and Dad on the carousel

peek-a-bo!

 This loooks a little big still.. but he didn't care :-)

 Uncle Braden had a basketball hoop setup at his booth, so daddy made sure Connor had a few slam dunks before we went home!

He shoots, he Scores!!

I'm sure by next year Connor will be asking to do the mutton bus ton at the fair... :-) We had a great time!! what good memories :-)

SHORT BUT SWEET...

My mom came to Omak for a whole week to be with Connor and I while Jeremy worked (and still is) his crazy overtime (6-10's) most of the time we hung out a the house, but we did sneak away to Leavenworth for 2 nights. My best friend and her 2 kiddos were brave enough to come over from Seattle for just the one day, but it was so nice to see them!! My brother Brian also stayed one night, so while the Leavenworth trip was short.. we did a lot and saw a lot, so it was very sweet :-)

 cool kids.. checking out each others shades :-)

 again.. Connor loves goats :-) and this goat seamed to really like COnnor too..

 He liked being up high as king of the rock!!

Great photo of him!

 Connor and Kalia came up with a game of throwing pine-cones.. it was quite fun apparently, they were both just giddy and having a swell time :-)

Look at me throw!!

So we ARE building our house... I will do a post just on the progress soon :-) check back within a few days, there is lots to see!...