The Guddat Gang

This is Jon. I could get used to spending this much time with my wife! I take two weeks off at the end of August and beginning of September. Much of that is spent at the rodeo and fairground with my trio of ladies, with week two spent chilling out at home. I get to see the girls off to school for the first few days of the school year, and during the school day get to spend time with Brittany. We went on a favorite hike the other day and today went to Lake Cle Elum. When you go to the lake during the middle of the day during the work week, you pretty much have the place all to yourself. Great view. If you go to a lake and don't at least dip your feet in the water, the terrorists win. Go to the beach, put down a blanket, bring some picnic food, soak up the sun, read a book and chill. Yep, that's what we did. Me and my girl. We got home in time to pick up the girls from school. Delaney has been really wanting to walk home alone and we really are cool with that. Why do we still go ...

I have this week off and the girls were at school today, so Brittany and I decided to head out for a hike to an old favorite, Umptanum Falls, which happens to be the first hike she and I went on when we were in our first week or two of dating. It had been a while since we've been here and the falls weren't raging simply because it was late summer, but still a great hike. Umptanum Creek toward the beginning of the hike. Brittany trying to find the spider that was supposedly crawling all over her. The falls. Me and B. We walked around to the other side of the canyon to get a different view.

The first day of school is always a big day, but this year is even more special since both girls are now at Kittitas Elementary. Delaney is in 2nd grade with Mrs. Taylor. Adelyn is in kindergarten with Mrs. Overland (Delaney had Mrs. O for kindergarten, too). The girls before Tuesday evening's back to school open house. I think this is a good one. My favorite trio. Me and my cuties. Wednesday morning, first day of school! Probably the first time this year the girls will be up early and on time in the morning. Blurry photo, but cute kid. Same as above. Mrs. O had a western theme to the first day of school. Adelyn came with her new cowgirl hat and matching pink boots. Delaney with Mrs. Taylor. "Addy, how was your first day of school?" This was her answer. Proud little 2nd grader! On our way home from the first day of school. Brittany and Delaney are in mid-sentence here.

The annual Labor Day Kittitas County Fair and Ellensburg Rodeo was last week and like usual, it was awesome. With us here is Tuf Cooper. Tuf is the defending world champion calf roper and he was signing autographs at Old Mill Country Store in Ellensburg. He's a great guy. Very gracious, talked to each person waiting for an autograph and posed for whatever picture was requested. Whenever I call him for interviews, he gives me whatever time I need. His dad is seven-time world champion calf roper, Roy "Super Looper" Cooper. He has two older brothers, Clint and Clif, who also rope and last year all three brothers were at the National Finals Rodeo together, which I think is pretty cool. His sister, Shada, is a barrel racer and is married to Trevor Brazile, who is a 16-time world champion. His uncle, Stran, is a former world champion as well. The genes in that family must be unbelievable. Me and my statistician, 13th year at the Ellensburg Rodeo... This is Steven Dent. He's...