the little giffords: fall festival, field trip, football, fairy tales and facebook

We have had a busy couple of days. In truth, that's a ridiculous understatement. I'm not sure how we could've done more in the last 4-5 days than we did. Here's what we've been up to!

We started Wednesday night with the Fall Festival at our church. Sean was at Wyatt's football game and Kellen was working the event (eek - is he that old?), so Elliott and I were on our own for a lot of the evening. And this is the one picture I took of her:

Doesn't it look like she's having a BLAST? Actually, she woke up, Kellen finished his shift, Sean and Wyatt came after the game, and we had a great time with our friends.

Friday, GCDS took a field trip to Big South Fork. We took the BSF Scenic Railway in Stearns to the old Blue Heron mining town, where we got to listen and learn about what life was like there 75-100 years ago.

At the General Store before we boarded the train.

At the Blue Heron mine, below the tipple.

Hike up to the tipple.

The coal processing/railroad loading facility.

On top of the tipple (why is everything always a race?)

Entrance to the mine.

Inside the mine.

On the train on the way back (doesn't Kellen look thrilled? We had an unwanted "friend" that kept trying to get in our pictures - another kid on the trip. Kellen wasn't all that amused.)

Part of the Barthell mining town, which you can see along the train ride.

The train passing through the tunnel - woah.

After our train got back, we also took a short hike out to the Natural Arch.

The arch is gorgeous, and there's no good way to capture how huge a structure it is.

Here's a pic from the backside of the arch (where it's possible to back up a bit to take a pic without falling off a cliff). Gives you a better idea of how enormous it is.

Speaking of cliffs, is it possible for a boy to pass one without jumping off it?

Elliott, of course, was not going to be outdone by her brothers.

On Saturday, we had another Fall party - this one at Sean's mom and dad's house. We had hayrides (not-so-scary to the pumpkin patch, where the kids each got another pumpkin, and a haunted hayride for the older guests), a bonfire, and a really good time with lots and lots of friends and family.

Sunday, Wyatt had his last regular season football game, where he played like the champ he is, scoring one TD and putting up some impressive rushing numbers (he primarily plays running back). We're excited about the playoffs, which start tomorrow.

Elliott and I spent Sunday afternoon with our favorite friends Emma, Ava and Adrienne at the "Princess Wishes" Disney on Ice show (to which we scored FREE tickets - yay!) The girls LOVED it - well, except for the part with the pyrotechnics at the end. I'll be glad when Elliott outgrows her fear of fireworks.

The Princess and I.

The girls were mesmorized. They looked like this pretty much the whole show.

All the princesses together for the finale - with Mickey and Minnie, of course.

We finished off the weekend with what has now become a tradition - our 4th year of trick-or-treat in Forest Brook with some great friends.

The whole crew in front of the Schwalb's home.