Happy 11 months to Zada!  She really likes the pumpkins outside on the porch, so we visited them for a bit while outside enjoying the mild temperatures.

Tonight we decided to do a test run of a cake smash to see if she would dig in or not.  She totally dug in! 

I think she marveled at the good fortune that had fallen upon her!  And was a bit sad when it was all over (read when mom took away what was left in fears she would never sleep again!) 

Her official cake smash should be amazing!

Mom invited us up to Mike's house in Heber for Sunday dinner today.  They are house sitting for the night, and we thought it would be fun to go up amongst the color!  And it was certainly stunning!  The whole drive up was just exclamation after exclamation.  Something about the fall color really speaks to my soul.  I see brightly colored trees and I just get super excited.

We spent some time outside playing on the swings 

and the slide in the backyard.

Then we admired the color in the yard and beyond. 

I got some beautiful pictures of all the girls. 

Mac always gets such huge smiles out of Zada.

 

Then we went out on their ATV, and all the girls got to drive it! 

We went out to a field next to a parking lot near Soldier Hollow and let them have it! 

I was a little nervous to just be holding Zada, but we didn't go very fast at any point. 

Grandmere was funny with all her gasping and exclaiming when we would lurch or skid a little. 

I even took a turn, and it was super fun! 

Zada loved to be outside with the wind in her hair. 

Then we looked down at the road, and her SHOE was sitting there!  Totally randomly we found it.  We would have gotten back to Mike's, realized we didn't have it, and given it up for lost. 

Leiden was super excited to drive it, and wanted to drive it on the street. 

What a fun activity! 

To end the night, there was a lovely cotton candy sky as the sun went down. 

Zada got a new walking toy!  We thought this might help her feel more confident in walking, and she LOVED it!

She enjoyed just bulldozing over everything,

and had a great time being pushed around on it.

LOOK at those faces of joy.

This afternoon we met Jordan, Alicia, and Faith at Cross E Ranch for some fall fun!  There were live animals to see.  The donkey in the background was braying when and it was almost comical.

The goats were so excited to have even a hint of something to eat.  Faith was really kind and gave each of the girls a quarter to buy a handful of animal food.

Goats are really funny.

They had all these funny little cut out boards and I just died with Zada's face in this one.

We all took turns on the ziplines, which were super fun in their simplicity.

The girls headed to the sack slides next, although Leiden declined.  I think she's feeling the press of 'growing up' more now.  I'm not sure if she was embarrassed and truly not interested, or if she just felt like a mature 14 year old SHOULDN'T be interested!

There was a giant corn maze that the girls figured out in no time flat.  Jon and I took Zada in the simplest one and just walked for a few minutes, and got some GREAT shots!!

The tractor ride took us out to the fields where their beautiful black angus cows graze.  It was super fun!

Zada had great faces for ALL the cutout picture ops!

And so did the other girls!

I'm not sure why they all chose the bat to put their face in, but Zada was interested in all of them.

These two made a very stern and imposing husband with a mischievous wife!

Last but not least, apple cider donuts!  We got a bunch, and lucked out that one was messed up while we were waiting for our payment to go through, so we got an extra on the house!

It was such a lovely fall evening to be out and about.  The rain and its threat kept most people away, so it was not only nice and cool, but uncrowded.  Thank you Jordan and Alicia for getting this idea together to celebrate fall!!