Fall Fun in Tooele

At the end of September my Grandma had knee surgery, so my mom came for six weeks to help her with her recovery. After the first couple of weeks my Grandma didn't feel good enough to venture out, but she was happy to have us come and visit and help her with a few things.

It turned out that the timing was great for us too, because the kids seemed to have quit a few days off of school while my mom was here . So we visited over fall break and then we spent the last two Fridays with my Grandma and mom.

The kids were happy to give up their days off, because they love Great Grandma's house, and the job my grandma needed help with was getting the leaves cleaned up in her yard. Something the kids also really like to do as long as they get to play in them.

The boys love jumping into the leaves

And throwing them at each other.

Valerie did not really like the leaves at all. She tried to get into helping for a minute, but mostly she just watched the other kids work and play.



Emily loves the leaves just as much, if not more, than the boys. The second time we went out she raked almost the entire front yard by herself, so she could get a nice big pile for jumping without it getting messed up in the process.

I think Emily was a little sad that Valerie did not like playing in the leaves. She even sat in the leaves for a minute with Valerie to show her how fun they could be. Valerie didn't buy it though and got out as fast as she could.

The first Friday my cousin Hannah (who is Emily's age) and the kids cousin Jaxson were also there visiting. Because it was the Friday before Halloween, my mom planned a special treat for the kids to have after the raking was done. They made Monster Eyeball cupcakes.

The weather was still nice so the kids spent most of the time outside. When ever Emily disappears at my grandma's house I know exactly where she has gone. Emily spends a lot of time next door at my uncle's house playing with the animals.



Valerie is obsessed with dogs right now and was happy to go with Emily to visit Sam the dog.

Joe and Josh love the animals, but they also love playing in the yard and orchard and climbing the trees at grandma's house.

For an extra special treat my Uncle Dean was home one of the days we were visiting, and he saddled up a horse and let the kids have a ride.

The boys were both a little nervous about it, but once they got on they thought it was great.

Valerie really likes to look at the horses and she was interested in watching the other kids ride, but she was not excited about getting on the horse.

She did end up getting on for a minute with Emily, but she only stayed on long enough for a picture.

Emily was in heaven. My Uncle let her take the reins this time and ride the horse for real. She was very timid with the horse and acted like she was afraid of hurting it. When my uncle told her to kick the horse in the side to get it to go she barely tapped the horse. Eventually she got the hang of it, and loved every minute of it.

This alone made the day worth it for Emily.

My Grandma is recovering well from her surgery, and my mom has gone back to her house. It was really fun to be able to go out and visit with my Grandma and my mom. It was also nice to have my mom close enough to see a little more often. I am grateful that we had so many chances to visit with them this last month, and it was a great way to play with the kids on their days off of school.