On Top Of The World

A few weeks ago Val called Corban and asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said he wanted Uncle Jeff to take him up on the real mountains and hunt an elk. So, Aunt Val made Corbans birthday wish come true!! Heather, the boys and myself flew into Utah last Saturday and on Sunday morning Uncle Jeff, Aunt Val, Dakota, Delaney, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim, Brock, Great Ramma & Rampa "Ranch", Aunt Laurie and Uncle Jonas (that was all, I hope) and us all went up above East Carbon to Bruins where Jeff has his hunting camp.

On the way up, Corban got to see several herds of antelope which made the beginning of the hunt awesome!! We then took the switch backs (lots of them) and a steep, steep climb to get to the top of Bruins. Jeff stopped at a view point so we could look down (way down) to the valley below. It was so beautiful!! Words cannot describe the beauty of God's creation!!

We arrived at "Camp Hilton" where the scenery was just as beautiful. Uncle Jeff has camp set up so nice!! We ate lunch and then Corban wanted to "hunt" so Uncle Jeff had Jonas, Brock and Dakota place a recording of a hurt bunny on the hillside and after about 5 minutes he had successfully called in a pack of coyote. We just sat, watched and listened to the coyotes try to find the bunny. Dakota forgot to put the recording on continue replay so after about 30 minutes the coyotes began to rock out on Val's ipod music!!

Then Uncle Jeff took a few "chosen hunters" which did not include me, Jayce, the Ram-parents, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim or Aunt Laurie (something about us being noisy) out to bugle in some elk. So this is how the story I heard goes.

Uncle Jeff took the "chosen" to a "secret location" and after Jonas carried Corban up and down a hill side, Brock stepping in a fresh cow pie and sliding a bit, Heather & Delaney trying to keep up and be quiet and Dakota and Brock chit, chatting in "whispers", they arrived at a spot and Jeff began his call. It wasn't long that a big elk came in........within 30 yards. Corban was so quiet and just watched as the elk just looked at them. After a few minutes it ran off and the chosen moved to another location. Unlce Jeff worked his magic once again and bugled in lots of big elk!! Corban kept telling Uncle Jonas to go back to the truck and get his pump gun so he could shoot the elk. He was a little upset when he was told they could only watch the elk and not shoot them but he was so excited to see "real elk" in the "real forest" that it was ok.

The chosen said they could hear other elk bugling and running through the trees and some were even hitting horns. Corban was so quiet and amazed and he said that "this was the best day ever!!"

When he got back to camp he told the rest of us the whole story and showed us how each elk looked at him and how they were bugling back at Uncle Jeff!! It was so fun to see the total excitment in his eyes and hear him tell us everything!

We then started our ride back down the switch backs and off the steep, steep mountain to home where we tucked a sleeping Corban into bed where I am sure he was dreaming of "the best day ever" with elk, coyotes, antelope and Uncle Jeff!

Thanks Uncle Jeff for making his birthday wish come true!!!

On top of Bruins looking down on creation!
Corban getting ready to go find the big elk!!!

The hunting began................poor Corban was the elk that Brock & Dakota shot!!

Sweet Baby Jayce, he couldn't go out to call in the elk so he stayed back at camp and cut firewood!

Jonas & I spending quality time together in the mountains!

Fall is Here!!!

I love, love, love fall!!! I love the crisp, cool air in the evenings and mornings, the mild temptures throughout the day. I love the smells of apples and cinnamon and the baking and eating :) the pumpkin cookies and cakes, apple crisp, pumpkin pies.........!! I love the colors of the leafs as they are turning, football season!, Halloween and Thanksgiving! I really do love fall!!!
I put up some decorations around the house last Friday and I had to put most of them up high above the cupboards because Jayce loves to move things around on me!! :) This year I made the Scarecrow hat that is hanging on my front door. Not to bad for someone who is not creative. I also made the pumpkin a few years back (idea from Relief Society) and I just bought the wheat candle holders this year and added the leafs and acorns around them. When I go out to Utah Valerie is going to take me to a fun boutique to do some more fall shopping!! Yeah!!!

Hissssss

Hisssss.........car!

This past weekend Bart and I took Hissssss ......car to a car show. We had to change plans at the last minute and instead of going to the Flight 93 Memorial show (due to rain) we went to the Waynesburg car show instead. It was so nice for Bart and I to do something together and we had a lot of fun. After the car show we went for a ride and got an ice cream and then went to Mingo Park. We even took our top down for the ride home!!!

Peg's Book Club Review

I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks book "The Last Song" and as usual it was such a good book. Nicholas Sparks says it best on the back cover "the many ways that love can break our hearts....and heal them." I can't wait to share this book with Heather and my sisters!!
They are making a movie of it and it should be out in 2010.............girls night out at the movies!!!

Kaelah goes to Washington D.C.

Kaelah Doporto

Our great-niece Kaelah is in Washington D.C. for the Jr. National Youth Leadership Conference!!! Kaelah was selected to attend this conference because of her academic and leadership qualities. This is such an honor and we are so proud of her!! Meagan says that Kaelah is such an exceptional student. She studies and reads every night and gets high grades and honors in school! She is an example to those around her and excels in all she does in school, church, sports and home. She was chosen by her teachers and principal to be among others who are as outstanding as she is!! Not only is Kaelah smart but she is also beautiful and loving (even to her sister and baby brother), she is a good little friend and most of all she is a wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece!! So here is a big shout-out-----

"HOORAY for KAELAH!!"

Splash Lagoon

Corban had so much fun riding down the "Big Kahuna" and the "Python"!!! Bart and Garrett had as much fun riding the water slides as well. Corban even got his "Ramma" to go down the Big Kahuna!! He was so cute because he kept telling me "just close your eyes like this so the waterfall won't get in them, then open your eyes because its not scary it's just dark for a little while and then when you come out of the slide we can float around and it won't be scary at all"!! He wanted to stay all day because "its ok if your fingers get wrinkled.... the wrinkles go away! "

Labor"less" Day

We spent the Labor Day holiday in Erie, Pennsylvania with Heather, Garrett and the boys! We went to Lake Erie and watched the sunset on the beach. It was so pretty there. I loved watching the boys play by the water and Jayce crawling in the sand discovering rocks and even tasting the sand to see how it compares to the sand at the Price Museum (it wasn't that good by the look on his face!). We also went to Splash Lagoon where there are lots of different water slides and pools for everyone to play in. When we got to our hotel room there was a birthday cake and balloons waiting for Corban (yes, he celebrated another day!). We had such a good time and can't wait to go there again!

Corban's "REAL" Birthday

Corban finally had his "real" birthday on September 2nd (his hunting birthday party was fake because it wasn't September 2nd yet). He started his day out by having birthday breakfast of blueberry muppins with a candle in it. Then, off to the park to have a birthday picnic and have some fun in the sun. Grandpa and his daddy took their lunch hour and met us at the park to eat and play before going back to work. Dinner was Corban's choice.....hot dogs and homemade macaroni and cheese!! Yum!! After dinner Corban opened up his gifts (it was almost like Christmas all over). He got some really fun toys and couldn't wait to play with them. He was too busy playing with his toys that he couldn't even take phone calls from everyone wishing him a happy birthday. He did have fun and said he is glad he is 4 now!! He had a great birthday and is now ready to hunt with the big boys!!

Grandpa & Corban play a game of tic-tac-toe
Grandpa gives Corban a little push

Corban & Grandpa swinging
Corban can swing higher because he's 4!!

Heather & her "big boy"

Corban takes a rest in the tunnels

Jayce having fun on the swings!!

Heather and Corban open a present of bears & deer

Corban show his Dad how to shoot a bow

Make a wish!

The Atwood Family!

First Day of Preschool

Corban's first day of school

9-01-09

Today my little Buckaroo started preschool. He was pretty excited and I must say he looked adorable. Heather let me go with them so I got to watch him walk into class. I must say it was hard to watch my little girl walk her little boy into class.........they grow so fast. He only has school 2 times a week for just a couple of hours and he knows some of the kids already from last year. Since he won't be to school tomorrow on his birthday he took a birthday treat today. When Heather and I picked him up we both asked him how school was and he told us "good". We asked if he did any papers, did the kids like his birthday treat, did they sing Happy Birthday, were his friends there etc. etc. After the million questions he finally replied "I can't tell you............you don't go to school there"! I guess we have to go to school if we want to find out what he does there!
He is such a smart little guy I just hope the teachers will be able to keep up with him!!!

Uncles, Nephews & Nieces OH MY!

While I was out in Utah I was lucky enough to be able to visit with family from near and far!! I couldn't have planned this trip better if I tried!!

My nephew Brandon was home from his Boston, Mass. mission on a sick leave. He has had trouble with his tonsils while out in the mission field so they sent him home to have them removed. It was such a nice surprise to see him especially since I wasn't able to see him before he left. He is now back in the mission field and I know he is a great missionary. I

just want to say, "thanks Elder Branch for getting sick!" so I could get the chance to see you and get a couple of hugs along the way! I always love to see my little Laney Bird!! I was able to watch her practice for her competition cheer squad. She is the best cheer leader ever!!! I love being with Laney she always makes me laugh and I can't wait to see her again and do some scrap booking!!

I also got to watch my Brock play football. He is so awesome!!! I am just saying, if I saw him running toward me I wouldn't wait to get knocked down by this big guy I would just fall and hope and pray he wouldn't hurt me!!

Me & Uncle Dan

Who would have ever thought I would have not one but two Uncles that rode harleys!! I was so lucky to get to visit with them while out in Utah since Uncle Dan lives in Indiana and my Uncle Bob lives in Nevada. They were doing a ride together and stopped in Wellington to be with my Mom on her birthday. (such good little brothers!) I really do have the best family in the world!!

Me & Uncle Bob

You know, both my "Harley Uncles" are real softies!!!