Pumpkins and Leaves!

Just a sampling of what is to come . . . the trees are still FULL of leaves!

Grandpa and Grandma Anderson came to visit this past weekend. Perfect time to carve pumpkins when Grandpa is in town to help!

Fall Break

This year for fall break we had the opportunity (thanks to Grandma Joyce and Gil) to go to Yellowstone! It was a Gierisch reunion! The kids would have been completely happy staying at the cabin for a week! We stayed the first night in Burley with Grandma and then headed to Yellowstone.


Joycie's turn to have HER picture taken!! I think this is the only picture I got of "adults."


The highlight of every "camp" experience (cabin is my kind of camping!) is the fire!!



Can't find the boys?

Landon is Rett's idol!

On our drive through Yellowstone this is what we came across on the side of the road! There was also elk, but I really wished we could have seen bears for the full experience!

The last stop on our Yellowstone trail -- Old Faithful! What a great trip! This may become tradition!

We Did It!

Yeah - yeah, we did it!! Rett has finally decided he is ready to be a "big boy" and not wear any more diapers!! What a happy day! The last potty training I will ever do! WOO- HOO!! It did take buying a couple of different pair of underwear before we found the right character who would help get the job done. Thanks CARS!

Tyler's Wedding

Twice in one year! I got to go to Seattle a couple of weeks ago to see my little brother get married in the Seattle temple! We had so much fun! All of the kids on my Dad's side of our family were able to be there. Dale was so good to me and stayed home to take care of the kids.


Daelyn hadn't been to Seattle for several years, so we got to go and do all the sightseeing. We ate plenty of fish and chips and spent time at Pikes Place and the waterfront. This trip was so good for both Daelyn and I to escape life a few days!


Dad took us around to see the "old houses" where Daelyn and I spent our summers growing up. It was so fun to bring back all of those memories. We even got to go inside one of the houses -- the house in Kent where we spent our "teenage years."



I finally got to meet Heidi - my new sister-in-law! It was great day!



This is all of us (excluding Tyler and Heidi who were long gone on their honeymoon!)! We were just heading out for our last bite of fish and chips on Alki beach, then off to the airport to head home!

First Day of School!!

Our traditional "first day of school" photo! Who is more excited -- the kids or me?!?! Clothes laid out the night before, up and ready an hour before school starts -- how do I make this happen all year?

Final Days of Summer

A few weeks ago we decided last minute we were going to Idaho to visit Dale's mom and step-dad. The day came for us to go and as luck always goes -- Rett got sick and had diarrhea that morning. ARGH!! But -- as the day went on he seemed to be doing better, so we packed up and left. When we got to Grandma's he had one sore little bum that stayed sore for a couple of days. We still had a great trip and were happy to stick around the house and relax!


I think one of the highlights of the trip was irrigation! The kids had so much fun playing in the water -- we didn't need a pool!

Cole was in heaven!! He could go out and ride whenever he wanted to! It is too nice to have 2 acres of land around to get dirty on!

A trip to Idaho is never complete without the famous photo on the tractor while visiting the farm.

Summer comes to an end and the kids are VERY excited to school to start on Wednesday. We have been counting the days!! Dale is off to Seattle for three weeks. We he returns, life at home will be very different from our summer schedule!!