In what is becoming an annual tradition, the kids and I took a beautiful fall afternoon off and headed for the zoo. My amiable subjects posed for new portraits for Daddy's office. Above, Hope -- age 12, 7th grade, clarinet player, babysitter extraordinaire, and Jonas Brothers fan.
Hannah, age 10 (11 in a month), 5th grade, starting to play the flute, rabbit lover, entomologist, geologist, and Jonas Brothers fan.
Noah, age 9, 3rd grader, and lover of all that is NASCAR, Hot Wheels, monster truck, or dinosaur-related. He is not a fan of the Jonas Brothers.
Elizabeth, age 6. 1st grader, and Dad's best horse-chores pal. Loves horses, cats, tormenting cats, loving and hugging cats, and chasing cats. Oh, and the Jonas Brothers.
Ainsley, age 3, preschooler, bossy, determined, and lover of all things Noggin. Is undecided about the Jonas Brothers.

DownUnder Horsemanship

Mark is putting what he learned at Clinton Anderson's clinic to good use, working with Peso daily. Peso is smart and really catching on. Maybe it's the "handy stick." 
While I was photographing Mark, I was standing in Tonks's pen. She had to come and invade my space and see what I was doing. She's a pushy broad. She's getting "down-undered" next.

No, this is not Kansas.

Obviously. 

While in Denver for medical appointments, I drove my parents, Noah and Ainsley up Lookout Mountain above Golden, Colorado, to see the sights. Right when the sun was directly in the west, so I have no good photos.
Dad enjoyed the scenery with me, though.
So did Noah, squinting into the sun. "Hurry up and take the picture, Mom!"  That's Golden in the background.
Hey, Ainsley! Don't you want to come and look at the mountains? Ainsley? Wake up!
"NO! I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY MOUNTAINS!"

Snoozing

We visited Aunt Karen in Denver, who graciously put us up for two nights when I drove my parents to medical appointments. Noah and Ainsley got to ride along this time, but after a long day, all they wanted to do was sleep.
Oops. ONE of them wanted to snooze.
This one? Not so sleepy after all.

Ducks!

This is a placeholder for a vacation update. More later when I get the pictures resized.