The corn chopping harvested ended on Wednesday! We started chopping on the 15th of September so it is a much celebrated event after six weeks of harvesting. This year was a real challenge and test of endurance. You come to expect breakdowns in harvest, but this year was plagued with problems. Employees and equipment alike. So it's a big sigh of relief to put it all behind us and take pride in surviving the most intense weeks of our life.
Here are some of the highlights.
Getting the work done.
The kids are always puffing out their chests and showing us how big they are getting. Like we need any reminders. ;) Luckily for us, the corn is still taller.
There were more ladybugs than ever this year. Hudson affectionately calls them "Lanie bugs" and was always catching them for Lanie (strangely enough, he's the only one that can pull that nickname off for her.)
We had to rotate rides with Dad. It's the most coveted privilege of harvest.
Of course, this doesn't hurt either party involved.
The food wagon was party central while the crews were chopping close by. It just so happened that it was during harvest break and the weather was beautiful (some of the better luck of the year.)
We had to keep adding on to the monstrous pit in Monteview. It's our biggest ever (by a long shot) at 480' x 80' holding 17,000 tons.
I juggled all three kids in the truck with me for a {long} day. By the end we were hoarse from singing and all so silly. Thank goodness we never had to get on a road because I had plenty of assistant drivers helping out on my lap.
Getting snowed out.
And all the snuggling that ensued.
A simple reminder that God keeps his promises.
Chasing a nice bull and a few cows and calves around the fields in Monteview. Definitely the closest thing Brent got to hunting all fall.
A few of the guys were absolutely wonderful and a real pleasure to be around. Take Jeff for example.
After spending that long in your truck, eating on the go and only getting out to shut your doors or hook up the rope to be pulled, you can see why he considered it his current residence.
Sergio and Javier:
My best sidekicks.
Hudson has been looking forward to rounding up all harvest long. Although he enjoys being a farm boy, he's most at home in the saddle. It's fun to watch him ride and see the confidence he's developed on a horse. He's not afraid to make Mobile do what he wants and he's certainly not afraid to talk to the "ol' boy." He loped alongside Brent chasing cows and traversed the hillsides.
Rest of us just tag along for the fun. 
The kids are always puffing out their chests and showing us how big they are getting. Like we need any reminders. ;) Luckily for us, the corn is still taller.
There were more ladybugs than ever this year. Hudson affectionately calls them "Lanie bugs" and was always catching them for Lanie (strangely enough, he's the only one that can pull that nickname off for her.)
We had to rotate rides with Dad. It's the most coveted privilege of harvest.
Of course, this doesn't hurt either party involved.
The food wagon was party central while the crews were chopping close by. It just so happened that it was during harvest break and the weather was beautiful (some of the better luck of the year.)
We had to keep adding on to the monstrous pit in Monteview. It's our biggest ever (by a long shot) at 480' x 80' holding 17,000 tons.
I juggled all three kids in the truck with me for a {long} day. By the end we were hoarse from singing and all so silly. Thank goodness we never had to get on a road because I had plenty of assistant drivers helping out on my lap.
Getting snowed out.
And all the snuggling that ensued.
A simple reminder that God keeps his promises.
Chasing a nice bull and a few cows and calves around the fields in Monteview. Definitely the closest thing Brent got to hunting all fall.
After spending that long in your truck, eating on the go and only getting out to shut your doors or hook up the rope to be pulled, you can see why he considered it his current residence.
My best sidekicks.
Make using a food processor.
And since they each made two little pies, they wanted to share them with some of our favorite people.
And who says you can't feed them with your baby bottle. Haven't you ever heard of bottle fed calves?
Our service in the Spanish Branch came to an abrupt end when we were called back to our home ward. I was very reluctant to leave as I grew to those those sweet sisters. Our YW program was so fun and we had a few investigators coming quite regularly. It was exciting to be involved so personally with the missionary work. While I would have preferred to serve there longer, the Lord had a different plan for us. 
The kids and I loaded up the camper and headed to Monteview to be crew support for a big job out there. We drove truck and fed the guys. Our week was cut short and we came home due to snow. It's put some kinks in our plan as school resumes tomorrow since we still have an awful lot to harvest. 
Although I would have rather stayed out and got the job finished, we did have time to catch up on laundry, clean house, make more food, and harvest the remainder of our garden.
