This past weekend we took our annual Family Fly Fishing trip.  This is the 8th time we have taken this trip with Adriane's family, the first one was right after we were married (we took two a couple of years for those of you doing the math).  Each time they have gotten better and better, I am so thankful for the times on the stream or at the cabin reading a good book or sitting around the table after dinner drinking good wine and just hanging out together, I am thankful for this inherited family.  I am also thankful for my little family shown here.  I can't believe that we are about to grow one more in size. Graham enjoyed his time by the river immensely, even though more rock throwing and less fishing happened, it was still all great for him. Mom caught a fish at one point and Graham touched it, but he quickly returned to throwing rocks into the water, his style of fishing, knock 'em on the head. And yes, that is his brand new fishing rod and tackle box he has with him.

So Graham got a hold of my iPhone while coming home from Portland a last week.  He took over 55 pictures, I will post a few here.  He has a good eye for a 2 year old, but I am his proud father. I was surprised while flipping through to find the one of the airplane wing. A nice touch.

Jami and baby Emory are doing great - they had a photo shoot from Beth Jansen a few days ago, and this is the first of many we will see once she is finished editing them all.  Check out her blog for more info - Beth Jansen

This past friday night we took a trip to Orr Family Farms in Moore, Oklahoma - we went because we wanted to take Graham to a pumpkin patch. The fun thing about this place is that it has more than just a pumpkin patch to enjoy, they have train rides, hay rides, a small barn with animals to feed and annoy, ah, pet, a carousal and big jumping things that they call pillows. It is a really fun place that was perfect for the fall weather. If you need a fun family get away in OKC, check it out. Graham highly recommends the train ride around the secret pond. Here are documented pictures from the evening.

Last week we went out with my bro-in-law for his birthday, went to Red Rock, a place that sits next to lake Hefner. It was a fun night celebrating him. So thankful that he is in our family. Graham loves him very much as well. Love you Justin.

Several posts back I mentioned loving recipes and wanting to get my baking skills back up and running.  This past weekend, I was inspired by another page in Gourmet Magazine, so I went for it and baked us some Buttermilk Fantails. Here are some pics showing the process and the final product. I don't think the rising of the dough happened as much as it should have, I need to learn some more about the art of making bread, but overall these little suckers were good.

Friday's are my day's off so they are our family days. For this fun family Friday we loaded up the car and headed to the State Fair. It just started the day before, so we were early birds (although we missed the dollar day which was on the first day). We went last year and we pretty much did the exact same things this year, except Graham enjoyed it even more, his favorite things...the animals. Our favorite thing...food (essentially the same thing except the timing is off). Adriane had her standard Indian Taco, and instead of being adventurous, I went with Earls, a local BBQ joint that had a booth there. I just wasn't in the mood for risky food.

Something happens each year we go over to the barns, where all the pig, sheep, cow and horse shows are taking place. Instantly as we walk in, I am smacked in the face with a wheel barrel of memories from my childhood. The smell has to be the strongest ignitor of all the memories - to some it may be an awful odor of who knows what coming out of who knows where but to me it is a very familiar and welcoming smell, taking me back to my very young years where I showed pigs and spent many fall months hanging out in the barns of various fair grounds in  various towns in Oklahoma. Days were filled with washing pigs, bedding down their pins and then waiting and waiting, but within the waiting there was alot of the fun going on, running around with the other 4-H or FFA'ers, living off of candy bars and nachos bought at the concession stands, experiencing the latest crush on that cute girl from the other school and just enjoying being covered in dirt and it not really mattering. Even though I didn't always do that great showing my pigs (except one year my Chester won grand prize at the Grady County Fair and then first place in the Oklahoma County Fair) I always enjoyed the lazy days spent in the barns, with the animals, and with my friends. As we were walking through the barns I kept feeling  that nostalgia, and loved that I was able to share that with Adriane and my son.

Everything I just typed I was thinking about in this picture, we were watching kids show off their sheep, and they were doing a great job. Maybe one day Graham will get to experience some of that life - I hope, it is a good one.

Our little buddy, in the house and at the OKC Arts Festival.  It was a Fun Family Friday. [nggallery id=1]