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

A Closing Generation

August 20, 2009 we left Great Falls and spent the night in Idaho Falls at my Aunt LaDene's house. We woke up early to head to Preston, Idaho for my grandma Chatterton's funeral on

August 21, 2009

12:00 noon

She was 93 years old and will be sorely missed.

Her funeral was lovely and I was amazed at the memories of her and what a unique wonderful woman everyone remembered her to be.

She was such a character and I am so grateful that she was my grandma.

She had this uncanny ability to know all her children, their children and their children's children

She knew what everyone was up to and truly made each one of them feel so important.

"grandma Dean" with Mara.

There were 16 pallbearers-- All of her grandsons.

And 9 honorary pallbearers, her sons and son-in-laws

All still living. In fact of all of her 9 children and their spouses and her 43 grandchildren, and her 124 great grandchildren and 24 great-great grandchildren, only one of them has preceded her in death. That is amazing! She had many other trials, and I am truly in awe at what life circumstances she dealt with and lived through.

Charlie, Ian, Mike, Matthew, Brandon

Max, Camden, Caleb, Spencer

All of my family was able to be there. Behind us is the farm where my mother grew up.

The cemetery sits at the bottom of the hill that leads up to my grandparents farm.

As kids we used to play in the cemetery-does that explain any of my personality. It was a beautiful day, and I know it is just where my grandma would like to rest.

Trying to explain to Mara...

It saddens me that she will not know this amazing woman who is so strong.

At the funeral, my cousin commented on how even though he was a Thomson, all his sisters were "Chatterton" women. Chatterton women are tough. It is obvious by the strong women that come from my mom and her sisters. We all carry traits from the strong grandmother that we have.

I am so sad Mara will not know her laugh and her quick whit and her ability to work work work.

But I am certain that Mara will be like her, it's just the way it is.

Mara and Emma are already strong willed and determined little souls and I know that comes from generations of strong women who preceded us.

In loving memory.

I will miss how she really cared

I will miss how she could throw together a huge meal at the drop of a hat. Her pantry was always full and her creativity at meal time was amazing.

I will miss how butter tasted at her house

I will miss the "cub river diet" which included a jar of mayo, a cube of butter and a "salt lick"

I will miss green apples with salt and soda

I will miss her yelling at us to "shut the door...there are flies"

I will miss her warning us to not jump off the porch-we did it anyway!

I will miss how she could out shop all the girls at the girls party.

I will miss how she was the last to go to sleep and the first to wake.

I will miss her!

My grandparents grave marker.

My cousin Darin from Seattle. It took Emma a while to warm up to him, but eventually she let him hold her.

After we ate at the church...Thanks to the relief society for the huge amounts of food it took to feed all our clan. Emma sure enjoyed the cake as you can see.

We went to Idaho Falls to stay the night and swim at the hotel. We left early Saturday morning to drive the rest of the 5 hours home.

It was so much traveling in the car, but we listened to "Dragon Rider" on CD and the kids made anklets out of embroidery floss the whole time.

Just outside Butte, Ryan all of a sudden yells...That guys naked.

Sure enough on the south bound side of the road was a man completely naked...not even shoes standing on the side of the road. Thankfully he had his back turned to us.

We laughed and laughed...Who does that? I am pretty sure my grandma would have gotten quite a chuckle out of that one also.

Needless to say that was every ones high for the day! and low.

(Ryan wanted me to mention in lue of the last post,

that he was not the naked man on the side of the road.)

A perfect day?!

I've had a rough go the past couple of months, so this post, or rather the reason for this post is long over due and sorely needed.

Today was in my book a perfect day. Perfect in the sense that all that needed to be accomplished was, and new tricks were learned and taught, quality time was spent, and peace settled on the house for just a moment...and boy how I savored that moment.

Here's the highlights.

I learned that Noah can help Caleb with his spelling...Noah feels smart and Caleb thinks it's cool to hang out with Noah and let him be his teacher...great knowledge that allows me to get Sam going on piano and help Max with his reading...Wha La. Harmony

Max is catching on to not having to sound out every word now, and actually has frequent words memorized...finally! Reading is no longer painful with him.

Caleb, Noah and Sam all got their piano lessons in. School was done by noon.

Had a great time with Mara in Claire's...her first trip...she was in awe at all the girly stuff...purses, headbands, sunglasses, bows, necklaces, princess stuff, jewels, she loved it all. (I lost her for a brief moment in JC Penny, but that was not part of the perfect day.)

Caleb cracked me up. We went into Bed Bath and Beyond and tried out their massager chairs...It was a great date he's been waiting for for a long time. He is so fun to hang out with. We searched the mall for a perfect hat (at a cheap price) and found one in the girls section...we won't tell him. It was a black stocking cap with a brim that he thinks is awesome. When we first got to the mall, he said,"a mall, I haven't been to one in like three years." probably true, but what seven year old keeps track? Had a great conversation with him on the way home and think he is so amazing.

Had a great talk with Noah and learned that he thinks this family is strange and wonderful. When asked if it was more strange or more wonderful he replied..."it's just that strange because Sam and Dad run around Naked and Caleb and Max run around in their underwear, and wonderful because of everything else." Funny thing is Dad doesn't run around naked, and Noah always streaks from the shower upstairs to his bedroom downstairs. when I pointed that out he said no "I run with a hand in front and one covering the back....Oh, good! glad your covered.

Actually got a great scripture reading session in and learned a lot of great things. Got a little bit of homework done, and spent time out in our jungle of a garden. Pumpkins and gourds, cucumbers and watermelon, canteloupe and green beans! all growing and doing well.

Just a moment of contentment.

Tomorrow I head to Idaho for my grandma's funeral. I can't help but wonder if such a perfect day came as one of God's tender mercies for me. I will miss my grandma sorely. What spunk she had. My mom is so much like her and I am so much like my mother. I love the generations and truly know that we are so much like our ancestors. I can't wait to greet her again and thank her for who I am and know that her hardwork is so much a part of me now. I love you Grandma Chatterton!