Fall Flights 2025.

I live about 2 minutes from the  World Center for Birds of Prey, so naturally I would be a program donor.  As part of this, I have the opportunity to get early access to their annual fall flights program.  Each and every time I attend, I learn something new.  My mom joined me again this year.  It was an absolutely perfect day.

I spend the first five minutes kind of terrified, as they fly the birds literally right over your head.  To the point that I can feel the air force from their wings.  

It is super interesting to learn about the prey birds and the work that the peregrine fund is doing.

I have a friend that worked at the center in the late 90's.  I sent her pictures that day.  She told me that she loved her work there and was part of the first condor release in the Grand Canyon.  

If you ever get an opportunity to visit the center or attend the fall flights, it is well worth it.

Hoco 2025.

Sidney had a super fun Hoco this year.  Frank surprised her with this fun sign and flowers asking her to the dance.  To be clear, she and Frank are just friends, which made it all the more fun!

Sidney and her friends proceeded to lose their voices at the Hoco football game.

My mom came over to take some pre-dance pictures with Sidney.  She looked so gorgeous, I was not sure I wanted her to leave the house.

Kendall and I met up with Sid and her friends at MK Nature Center for some pre-event pictures.

I think the next stop for them was dinner at IHOP and on to the dance.

Those Faces.

 How can you resist these cute faces?  This is an example of the click bait that I send Kendall to coax her into a visit.

Bibles and Babes.

Sidney and a couple of her friends have started a bible study.  They call it Bibles and Babes.  They have had two meetings, about one per month.  They do something different at each of the meetings.  They have had a lot of interest and plan to keep them going.  I love watching them prepare for these.  They spend time in prayer before other's arrive.  They plan food and activities and do any shopping needed.  It has been awesome!

Kendall's 'Working' Tandem.

Be still my heart.  Kendall decided to go back for her second skydive.  The instructor, Chris, offered to do a 'working' tandem with her to see how she would like it.  He spent some time instructing her on what to do.  Ultimately, she had to read the altimeter and pull the shoot when it was time.  Of course, he would be there the whole time and guide her every step of the way.

This is Kendall realizing what she had gotten herself into.

Oshea and Chris reassuring her that 'she's got this'!

Her interview before boarding the plane.  She was definitely more nervous this time around.

At one point, I thought she might back out, but she went for it.  Afterwards, she informed me that she did a lot of deep breathing on the way up.

Once they headed for the runway, dad and I took the little yellow school bus to the drop zone.

We could see them the minute they left the plane.  We cheered loudly when we saw the chute deploy.  Then they took their sweet time landing, enjoying the view.

It was pretty awesome.  She jumped with the owner and the other instructor.  They waited for her to touch down and congratulated her.

The whole team at Skydown is awesome.  They are so professional and very encouraging.

Chris recapping the moment Kendall pulled the chute.

She was super excited.  All her nervousness faded once she left the plane.

Levi's First Trail Ride.

Levi has been doing so good since his training.  His confidence has grown so much.  He seems even more laid back than before.  One night after I had been working with him at the ranch, she asked to pony him down the trail at the ranch.  He did absolutely awesome.

He did so good that the next night, Sidney asked me if we could haul them out to one of the trails in the foothills.  We both agreed that we would do it without expectation and just see how it went.  We got there and saddled them up.  He was super chill.

We started off with Pigeon up front.  Pigeon naturally walks very fast, and I had to keep holding him back.  

We decided to see how Levi did out front.  He was amazing.  He seemed so confident and so relaxed.  He set a nice pace that Pigeon was happy to follow.

We rode for quite awhile and decided to turn back, so that we could end on a good note.  Levi side-eyed the holes, but other than that, he was very relaxed.

I think he may be a trail horse at heart.

I just had to stick this picture here.  I upgraded our grain buckets and cleaned our shed.  It looks so good.  It is funny how organizing and cleaning brings me such joy.

Patriot Women.

Well, I did a thing.  I joined a women's shooting club.  It has been quite fun.  We meet once a month and do some pretty cool things.  Sometimes we shoot.

Sometimes we learn new things.

I have been enjoying the comradery.  It is a great group of women.