Way Down Yonder in the Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we traveled to Holyoke for a little bit of Family Fall Fun! Emery had a fun time playing with his cousins. The highlight of our stay was a trip to Imperial, Nebraska to a place called Cox's Pond. Like a page out of a storybook, a beautiful fall scene unfolded before us. With pumpkin lined ponds, a hay rack ride that lead us to a slightly spooky corn maze and a huge water trough full of corn...we had a great time! And Grandma Ortner came, too!

Emery in front of a great big SPIDER!

James and Emery in their overalls.

Children of the corn.

Josie being spooked by Papa under the big black cat. (Emery is not sure what is going on.)

Lauren offering Emery a tour of all the pumpkins.

And these are pictures from the hay rack ride and the "rooms" in the corn maze. There was a "Bat-room," a "Witch-en" and instead of a Living Room, a "Dead Room."

We can't wait to come back next year!

Let The Wild Rumpus Start

The day Emery wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another, his Mother and Nana called him "WILD THING!"

This weekend while we were in Holyoke, Annie's mom helped her finish Emery Halloween costume. This year Emery is going to Max from Where the Wild Things Are. When we got the wolf suit finished, he had to try it out. He chased Austin, Lauren and his daddy around Nana and Papa's front yard. He is pretty darn cute, don't you think?

Thanks, Mom, for all your help with the costume. After 10 years of sewing in 4-H you would think I could figure out a Halloween costume. But, it is always so nice to have your expert guidance!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

In honor of your birthday, Emery had a great big juicy burger full of red meat. Does this make you happy?

We hope that you have great day, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you next weekend in Holyoke!

Thanks, Natalie

Annie's sister Natalie has been very busy getting settled into her new job as a professor at Utah State University. She has been doing alot of overtime trying to get things up to speed and needed to get away to relax and recharge. So, she came to visit us in Steamboat. Thank you for making the long drive and for being such a great aunt to Emery. He had so much fun reading with you, playing with the floam, making fall leaves, hiking, soaking in the hot springs and playing PUMPKIN BALL!


Pretty Natalie in the pretty aspen tree.


A photo from our hike. As Father Neal would say "And God said, 'Do you like it? I made it just for you.'"


Hill having a bit to much fun with floam. (Emery took this picture.)

Llamas for Obama

The Routt County Democrats hosted a rally for Obama today that we just could not resist attending. The Llamas have been waiting their whole life for a presidential candidate to run who had a name that rhymed with theirs. Plus we were a little star struck for the hostess of the event was the author of our favorite Hiking the Boat II book, Diane White-Crane.


Feeding "Isiah" the Llama for Obama. (Thanks, Millie, for Emery's groovy peace shirt! It was a big hit at the rally.)


Watching Diane sing some of her llama lyrics.


Blowing bubbles with Aunt Nat during the llama puppet show.


The whole fam with "Jeremiah," the Obama Llama.

Welcome, Addi

Hill's brother Bryson and his wife Kathryn welcomed a beautiful new baby girl into this world today.

Looking a little like her daddy and alot like her mommy, Addilyn Mehana Shimmon Slothower will be loved by many!


We will be traveling to Portland the beginning of November to see the new family and can't wait to meet Addi in person.

Happy Birthday, Auntie Lauren and Cousin James!