Fall Hike

We sort of have a tradition to go on a hike each fall to look at the pretty fall colors.  This year we missed the most vibrant fall colors.  They seemed to change a lot faster this fall.  During Fall Break we took a hike up to Naomi Peak, which is the tallest peak in Cache Valley.  That must be why I was feeling light headed almost the whole way up!  Or maybe I'm out of shape.... 

It was a long hike 6.6 miles round trip!

Just starting out

We made it to the top!  Clark is pointing to the Wellsville Mountains that he hiked and skied this past Spring.  Now that is a hike I know I wouldn't survive!  

The View

You actually look down onto the town of Smithfield. Logan is behind the mountain

Tony Grove Lake where the hike starts or ends, whichever way you want to look at it!  

USU had their homecoming this past weekend.  It was cold but we decided to go to the parade to see my cute little sister dance/march.  My nephews Max and Jack enjoyed grabbing candy and seeing "Big Blue" and some other horses and bulls that were in the parade. 

She is the tall skinny one in the front smiling at the camera!

Clark was not around for the parade because he was busy hunting Deer!  Don't worry he grew the ugly mustache again and they found a small 3-point Buck.  I guess it was a successful trip.  

AND I sold my car on Saturday!  Clark's parent's so graciously gave us the Honda Accord that Angie used to drive.  So we definitely got an upgrade!  We sold my car to a young girl who is going to college.  I told her to be careful with that car since it used to belong to my Grandma Allred and it was her baby.  We still haven't told her of the sale.  I think it might break her heart.  But we were glad we found someone to buy it so we didn't have 3 cars to worry about.  I will miss her, she was a good car!  

I have to add this in... what color do you think my car is?  I say Blue and Clark says it's more Green.  He is crazy it is Blue or even Blue/Gray but not Green!  He must be color blind.   

Family Fun

Here are some cute pics of my family from the past few weeks.  

Me & Allison

The girls at my Grandpa's viewing

Adrienne, Allison, Me, Lorie, Melissa, Katie

The three nuggets together again!  It was the end of the day so they are looking a little shabby.  But still cute!  

Merrick loves his "gucks"

My sister in law Angie went through the temple on October 8, 2010.  We were able to go down to the Ogden Temple and be with her on that special day!  

Me, Clark, Angie, Natalie

Part of the Pierson Family

The past 3 weeks have included A LOT of family togetherness.  And I've loved every minute of it.  The weekend after my Grandpa's funeral my family had our Emmett Family Fun Ultra-5K-Run.  I know we are crazy.  Two years ago we had the Ultra Half Marathon Run for the Cure (still not sure what we were curing)  but only the craziest ones actually ran the 13+ miles.  

This time we made it an ultra 5K (5.3 ish miles) so more people could participate.  Because I am not a runner I chose to ride my Beach Cruiser along with my sister Adrienne and cousins Emily, Amanda, and Paige.  We started at my Grandma's house (also where Clark and I are living) and ran/biked/walked to my uncle's store Norda's and back.  I think the people of Logan were wondering what was going on.  We had bright yellow shirts made.  We are legit!  

Some people chose to dress up in hilarious outfits.  My uncle Tom won the award!

My family that participated

Dad, Katie, Me, Clark, Adrienne

We started and finished at my Grandma's house

For more sweet photos of my crazy family and our ultra 5K go here.

JWE

I have a few pictures from my Grandpa's funeral on October 1, 2010.  It was a really great tribute to my Grandpa,  John William Emmett.  He truly was a wonderful man and is a great example to me and Clark.  It was great to hear so many nice things said about him.  He truly was selfless and always put others first.  He was a great example of charity.  I hope I can be like my Grandpa some day.  

When the grand kids were young, the first thing my Grandpa would ask us when we came into their house was "what is the answer to the hard question?".  And we would answer "Grandpa Emmett loves me!"  When I was little I knew my Grandpa loved me.  It wasn't a big gesture, but every time I saw him I knew he would ask me, and I always knew the answer.  That was how my Grandpa was.  He would do small and simple things to let people know of his love for them.  

The grand kids also made snowflakes to put on his casket or down below, since he would want to be surrounded by snow if he could.  We made some pretty sweet snowflakes! 

 This was my favorite flower arrangement.  I love how they used my Grandma's old skis.  

Clark and I

If you notice my Grandpa was buried in the Logan Cemetery overlooking the Aggie's football stadium.  The funny thing is on October 1st is when USU beat BYU!  We were joking that my Grandpa had a little something to do with it.... 

My big family!

My sister's and I with our Grandma Norda.  We LOVE her!

Melissa, Adrienne, Grandma, Katie, Me, Allison

I know I've said this a million times but I really do feel blessed to have such a wonderful family extended and immediate.  We all get along and love each other, and that is just the way my Grandpa and Grandma wanted it!  It must be true what they say...  "A family that skis together, stays together".  

Happy Birthday Adrienne & Adam

Today is the day for Birthdays!  It is my sister Adrienne's birthday, my brother in law Adam's birthday, and my cousin Sam's birthday.  So Happy Birthday to all those with October 2nd Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Adrienne!  Hope you have a GREAT day

Thanks for being a GREAT big sister.

And Happy Birthday to Adam!

Hope you have a fun birthday here in Utah!  We are glad Melissa finally brought you with her to Utah.  

Papa John

I don't even know what to say except that I will miss my Grandpa Emmett so much.  It won't be the same without him sitting in his favorite blue chair or sitting at the computer reading blogs or updating all of his many photos.  It is weird how it still doesn't feel real, even though I was able to be with him when he passed away.  I still think I will walk upstairs and hear his voice talking with my cute Grandma.  They were like two peas in a pod.  They were perfect for each other and loved each other unconditionally.  My Grandma said so many times that he was nothing but nice to her, and he never said an unkind thing to her.  We always joke in my family that my Grandpa wanted to marry my Grandma because she had a job as a teacher and he needed her to put him through medical school.  But I know they were in love and that the job and money didn't really matter.  
My Grandpa is responsible for so many wonderful things in my family and in the community.  My love of skiing definitely came from my Grandpa who took the time to teach all of  his children to ski.  Some of my best memories with my family are on the ski slopes.  He was honored in the Herald Journal this morning.  I loved reading about all of the things he did in Logan and Cache Valley.  I really think that I got my desire to better my community from my Grandpa.  My major is all about children, families, and community.  All of those things were important to my Grandpa and they are very important to me as well.  So many people loved my Grandpa and my Grandma as well.  They were and are amazing people.  I hope I can be like them some day.  

This is one of my favorite pictures of my Grandpa and Grandma.  They are so sweet.  

This picture is classic Grandpa and Grandma.  They are actually at one of Clark's soccer games up at USU.  They would go to everything that their grandchildren were involved with.  They supported us in everything we did.  One of the last things my Grandpa said to Clark was last Tuesday and Clark was leaving to play soccer.  My Grandpa was still able to talk then and he said "Make sure you kick it straight".  That was such a classic thing for my Grandpa to say that I didn't think much about it.  But later Clark and I were talking and we decided that will be our motto... "kick it straight" because we believe he was also meaning that in life we need to remember to stay on the straight and narrow and always do what is right.  We need to always "kick it straight".  Thank you Grandpa for your words of wisdom!  

ch ch ch changes

The leaves are starting to change.  I'm sad because I feel like I haven't even been outside to enjoy them and I hope I don't miss the whole thing.  In the past Clark and I have gone on a hike to the wind caves to enjoy the fall colors up Logan Canyon.  We really like that hike because when you get to the top you can see a lot of the canyon and all the trees.  It is really pretty.   

These are pictures that Clark took up Logan Canyon at Temple Peak this past weekend with his dad.  They went for a 4-wheeler ride to see the changing leaves.  

Clark also went to Yellowstone over the weekend with his Dad to look for wildlife!  They go up every year and look for different animals and the fall colors.  This year they actually got to see a wolf, which is the one thing they really wanted to see!  

You can't tell, but the wolf is in this picture up above the dark spot on the ground.

The cutest little baby black bear eating berries.  

Scary Grizzly Bear 

These are just a few of the many pictures he took.  He and his Dad are becoming quite the photographers!  

Another change that has happened in our lives is that we finally moved out of the apartments!  We are no longer apartment managers!  I can say that I do not miss it at all.  It was a good job and we are grateful that we had a place to live for free and a job, but all the crap that came with it was annoying.  I will also miss the owner.  She was awesome!  

The reason we moved is because my dear Grandpa Emmett aka "Papa John" has cancer, and we have moved in with my Grandma and Grandpa to help out around the house, and try to help ease my Grandma's burdens.  We are glad we can be here to help out.  For those who read my blog and leave comments probably have seen many comments from "Papa John".  He was always reading his grandchildren and children's blogs.  You could always count on a nice comment from Grandpa.  He can no longer sit at the computer and read blogs like he used to love to do.  I miss seeing his comments on my blog.  

I guess we all have to go through changes, even the leaves on the trees have to change.  We don't always like the change, but change it is inevitable.  I'm happy for some of the changes in our life right now, but other changes make me sad.  Eventually it will be better and I know that for a fact.  We just have to have faith and endure till the end.