My Parents Got a Call!

My parents got their mission call today! They leave November 2, 2009 to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma. They will serve atFort Leonard Wood Army base in Missouri. Hummm!Missouri???
I can't believe they have to leave so soon! Only one month....and counting!

Egyptian Pharoh's

For history we learned about egyptian pharohs and the kids each made a crown. They are so funny what they come up with I love it! Very creative!

Ryan's last birthday in his 30's!

Ryan turned 39 and I would just like to say that I love him more and more each year!

I am truly blessed to have him in my life! He is such a stablizing strength to me. He is a truly honest hard working man who loves his family and is such a great example to his children, especially his boys. He teaches them through example and good works.Happy Birthday Ryan! and many more!
May you have the deepest wishes of your heart!

Love those little kids all gathered around, like monkeys on the counter!

What do you think happened to Max?

Max was so proud of himself that he learned how to ride a two-wheeler, and with some prodding from Caleb decided that he was good enough to ride down the hill by our house standing up. Needless to say, his face kissed the pavement and the result is as above. He healed quickly though, and all is well in Montana again.

Dance, Dance, Dance Starts for MARA.

Tomorrow Mara starts dance. I am so excited. She is so excited and her teeny tiny tap shoes are so adorable. She picked out her leotard at Target, and I thought for sure she would pick the sparkly pink one, but she surprised me and opted for the black one with diamonds around the collar. I can't wait. She will be in class with her really good friend Caydee. I absolutely cannot wait for her recital. I know it's probably pretty lame of me to be so excited, but I seriously have waited 12 years for this. I never thought, with all those boys coming is quick succession that I would ever have a girl in dance class. And now, here she goes...wish us luck.

Applesauce UP!

We were lucky enough to find someone who wasn't using all their apples this year, and we got to do applesauce on Monday.The kids loved helping...at least the younger ones did. I don't know just how much help they are, they like to do things that are a little hard for them to figure out, but I was grateful for any help I could get. Of course, the older kids didn't think it was as fun as the little kids did, but they helped as well...
14 quarts of applesauce now sit in my storage room, and I am hoping for some more. 14 quarts divided by 6 kids who can eat a jar a day doesn't equal very much, but it is definately a start.

Fudge Anyone?

Last Saturday at the Farmer's Market there was two cute girls who were selling Dutch Fudge. They had a huge chunk of it on a cutting board with little pieces that they had cut off for people to sample. They held out the board to my chocolate loving Sam and he polietly took the sample and ranted and raved about how good it was. I took a piece and then the lady held the board down for Max to take a sample. He promptly reached for the huge chunk and snatched it right up looking at me and Sam like we were idiots! I lurched on him and quickly said "No Max, not that one." I reacted so quickly that it shocked him, but not quick enough that it didn't touch his lips. He was totally mortified and tears started to well up in his eyes. I knew he was about to stomp off flamin' mad so I quickly had to rectify the situation. I looked at the two girls and they were giggling and thought Max was quite cute, so I quickly said, "it's okay, we just are supposed to take the small pieces." How was he supposed to know that the whole chunk wasn't for the taking, after all who really was the dummy? Not Max.
I love the innocence of children. And a big thanks to the two dutch girls for being understanding and not mad!

ARKOUDI IN THE MTNS

OK - I apologize to anyone who may be tired of reading my blogs about hiking, fishing, and backpacking. Scroll down a little and you get to Melanie's blogs about birthdays, etc. And hey, at least I'm not showing off pictures of me dressed in hunter orange or camo kneeling down next to a "trophy" buck or bull, holding up the head showing off its rack. I'm just showing off pictures of some amazingly beautiful locations that we have been to this summer.

About two weeks ago I had the chance to take Sam and Noah and my good friend Brett Harrison (who traveled all the way from Las Vegas) back to Heart Lake.

This is a view of our camp from the other side of the lake. And yes that orangish tent is the one that almost cost me my eternal happiness - well worth the two days of the silent treatment.

Noah and Sam fishing. They were as determined to catch a fish as any two first time fishermen.

One of the nice cutthroats that Brett caught.


Bad picture but a beautiful fish.

Sam's turn.

But what was the highlight of the trip happened just before dark on our last night there. As I mentioned, Noah fished religiously for two days with no luck. Everytime someone else caught a fish he would run over to see and then walking away he would say "OK, now it's my turn to catch a fish." Well after I caught the one in the picture above I saw Noah a ways down the lake out about knee deep in water casting and reeling in. I then had an impression to go and fish with him so I made the short walk to where he was. I saw that he wasn't able to cast very far so I offered to cast for him and he could reel it in. So we spent the next 30 minutes with me casting and then quickly handing it to Noah to reel in. We watched about 4 or 5 fish follow the spinner in to shore but wouldn't take it. Finally, as it is starting to get dark, Noah says to me "Dad, can I cast now?" So I hand him the pole and he starts to cast and reel again. On the third cast he starts reeling it in and then stops. I asked him if he was snagged and he says "No, I have something." Well his small little reel doesnt' have the right drag for the fish he's caught so the fish starts taking out line and he can't reel it in. So I grab the line and both of us start to pull in the fish. About the time we get the fish to shore I'm yelling for Sam to bring the camera. Noah and I pull the fish out of the water and all Noah can do is smile and ask if he can hold the fish. Meanwhile Sam is running to take a picture but about halfway to us the fish flips, spits the hook and lands in the water. So, sorry, no picture. But it didn't matter to Noah - he was just happy to have finally caught his first fish - a very nice and very big 20" cutthroat trout.

The end of the trip with Noah showing how big the fish was (only slightly exaggerated).



Our next day trip happened on Labor Day just below Gibson Reservoir - this time with the whole family. There wasn't much to the short hike but kids always love to get their backpacks, camelbacks, and pocketknives out.

But the highlight of this trip was the two Bighorn Sheep that I saw while everyone else was off picking chokecherries. Emma and I were sitting on some rocks next to the river when I hear a huge crash. I looked up and saw this ram swimming in the fast moving river. He came out and I took this picture of him at about 20 yards. I then looked across the river and saw the second one do the same thing - jump into the river and swim across. When Melanie and the kids came back they were pretty disappointed that they didn't get to see the sheep. Fortunately, when we were walking back to the trailhead we came up on three rams at a salt lick in a meadow so everyone got to see something new.

If any of you come to visit please, please, please make us take you up to Gibson Reservoir along the Sun River. By far it has been the most beautiful place I have been to in Montana.

RJA

Another Birthday, Another Year!

I was lucky enough to have my parents with me this year for my birthday! It was lots of fun.

On the menu...Zucchini casserole, of course, and Black Forest Torte Cake, Yummy!

Emma loved it!

Mara just stuck with her plain Vanilla Ice Cream., but that's okay, more cake for me.

had to add this picture of Sam and Ryan.

1st because Ryan is hot hOT HOT! and

2nd because is anyone having an 80's blast from the past looking at Sam's Hair?

Loved my birthday this year, decided to change my attitude about my birthday and just accept the fact that I am getting a little older all the time, and I guess that's okay!

Noah's Double Digits!

Happy Birthday Noah! Love your Face!

Every year, Noah comes up with the most inventive cakes, that stretch my imagination to the core. They never turn out as good as they look in my head, but we have lots of fun trying.
This year, He wanted a pyramid cake. We started with a spice cake and made three layers and then used panouch frosting. It tasted really good, even though it was a nightmare trying to frost.
For finishing touches, Noah added lego skeleton guys that he wrapped up in tissue paper to make them look like mummy's. It was fun to make and good to eat even though it could have looked better.


After dinner, we had a mummy wrapping contest. We split into two teams and used toilet paper to make a person into a mummy. Noah's team won, they wrapped up Max.

Blowing out the candles!
Two whole hands...and where did the time go?

Love Noah for his quirky ways and his eagerness to learn and his love of Emma.

Love how he reads, reads, reads. Love how he always comes and tells me good-night. Love how he can be serious and funny all at the same time. Love that he is so easy going. Love what a good young man he is turning into.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELANIE!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife. You are wonderful and so patient with me - I love you so much!

To all of Melanie's friends - please send Melanie an email, comment here or on Facebook, or call her and wish her a Happy Birthday. She would love to hear from you.

RJA