Bridger & Danner wrestling (March)

Bridger and Danner did this 3-day wrestling camp with a tournament at the end. They both did well for never wrestling before. Bridger took 2nd in his group and Danner took 1st in his group. It was hard (as a mom) to watch them wrestle though! Even though they had never wrestled before - they wanted to be GREAT . . . especially Bridger. He felt pretty bad when he lost to the other kid, but we finally were able to console him after a little while.

Danner wrestled 2 girls in his group and that was quite interesting!! How are they suppose to react when we always tell them . . . don't hurt girls!

Spring Break '09

These are a few pictures from our Spring Break. We went to San Carlos lake to fish for
a couple of days and as you can see . . . it turned out fun for part of it. It was one of
trips that you do not want to re-live again! Oh well - since it's past . . . I won't relive
the whole story with you.

Bridger's Pinewood Derby '09

Kelci and her turkey from her hunt in April

Updates! ?

I know . . . it has been forever!! I have had problems again with my laptop and I cannot download anything on my desktop computer (it's about had it's day). Thought you might enjoy a few updates.

BR Prom '09 - "Unmask the Night"

FYI

I just thought I would let those that are watching our blog know that I have been trying to post more things to stay up-to-date, but I am also back-posting some things that I thought you might like to see. So, look back further - even if you think you have seen all of them. I change the dates of posting so that I can have them in order for me (kind of like a journal, since I am not good at keeping one!).

Future Blue Ridge Football Player?

Do you think somebody is excited about football season?! Bridger, Talon & Danner went through some drills together out on the front lawn today. Talon was trying to "toughen" Bridger up while Danner was "smokin" Bridger when cutting around him. It was fun to watch them being boys!
Bridger is showing off his scrapes from being tackled and playing sooo hard!
Doesn't that hair look so 80's!!

The toothfairy exists!

The end result:
Danner was happy to find out that the tooth fairy is excited about the first lost tooth and he actually got what "he" thought it was worth! An excited boy!

Bridger's Recital

This was Bridger's very first recital (on Monday night)! He only started piano about a month ago and missed two weeks of that because of pneumonia. He was so excited about doing this recital though . . . he invited his primary teacher. That is so unlike Bridger! We were excited for him especially since he was sooo excited. He did very well and didn't even act nervous. I was surprised to see him so comfortble singing in front of everyone. It is really great seeing him transform into his own unique person!

As you can see - Bro. Brooksby (and his wife) came to support Bridger. That was so nice of them to come and watch!

Grandma decided to make this recital just for all the cousins (she has about 30 piano students and around 10 are her great-grandkids). We really enjoyed it this way, since we don't get to see all the cousins very often. Grandma is amazing that she can keep up with all of those piano lessons and everything else she does! I hope I can have that energy at her age!

1st lost tooth!

The many faces of Danner!

The first picture is Danner smiling with all his teeth, the second is Danner putting on the topical anesthetic, third the "dentist" at work, number four - so happy about his first missing tooth, and fifth - very happy to go to bed (that's a first!) so that the tooth fairy can come! Of course, this was hard for Mom because he is her "baby" and he is going through another stage of "growing up"! Hence, the reason for the whole "scene" of pictures. My mind may not remember all these moments, so I need the camera to help me out.

Danner was so excited about this loose tooth that he was going to have pulled out! We happened to be next to the dentist office (at the orthodontist) when he realized that his tooth was loose. He decided to go "show-off" this loose tooth to the girls at the dentist office and they gave him the topical anesthetic. What a good idea! Danner really didn't understand what the topical was all about and still he was not even worried about Richard pulling it out (numb or not!). I guess that goes along with the fact that he enjoys getting shots!!! (FYI - A few months ago we went to get his last shots and as soon as they were done and we were walking out to leave - Danner said, "That was fun! Can we go back in and do it again?!" ) Where does this kid come from?!

Sick, Bored or Both?

Is this considered talented?

After Bridger had been home for 5 days with a fever only in the evenings and feeling a bit crummy I decided it was time to take him to the Dr. and find out what was going on. They checked him out and told me he had pneumonia!! Yes, I was surprised! I expected more significant symptoms with pneumonia I guess. The Dr.'s gave him an oral antibiotic to take for 5 days and do breathing treatments 4x's a day until well. He ended up being home for about two weeks and enjoyed almost every minute of it since he was missing school! We are sure glad he is well now though!

Butchering

This is what we do at our house after we go hunting! I try to make sure that it doesn't work like it did years ago with the native americans . . . you know - the women taking care of the meat! I try to stay on the wrapping end. Anyway, it is good antelope meat!

Day of Memories

Today is a very sad day, but full of great memories as well -because of my incredible Mother! She passed away 12 years ago today. She instilled in me many things of which I am eternally grateful . . . Thanks Mom!

Sniper!

Talon was envied by many this year when he drew a rifle antelope tag in Arizona! It seems that all hunts are getting harder and harder to get drawn for, but antelope definitely is one of the hardest. Needless to say, Talon was very excited (and so was Richard)! Richard is to the point that he gets more excited for his kids (and wife) to get drawn than himself.

Well, they both went out together on the hunt and had an enjoyable evening together out in the woods . . . getting to visit around the crackling campfire. They hunted one full day and were unsuccessful. The second evening brought better luck and a very nice antelope. We're going to have to give this kid a new nickname . . . maybe dead-eye, long-shot, one-shot, sniper or something like that. Talon shot that buck at 550 yards with a .270 in one shot! That is an awesome shot! Richard was very proud too, of course. The score was 78 5/8"

Our Adventurer

Richard seems to be the one in our family that has the most adventure and excitement in life! He just returned from guiding in Alaska for 3 1/2 weeks. Yes . . . that is long! He left just days before school started, so he missed Danner's first day of Kindergarten (how sad!). We really missed him . . . and I think he really missed us too. He guided three different hunters. He had two hunters on the first hunt that both had very successful hunts and the 3rd hunter was also successful on the second hunt. (The pictures are posted) Richard commented that it was the hardest hunts he had ever done. That must be very hard, because I know how hard he hunts!! He put on over 100 miles hiking the mountains of the Brooks Range (in the arctic circle)! Yes, it can get cold. They had snow on part of the hunt, but he said it wasn't too bad. Richard truly loves being out in nature enjoying the quiet and peace that nature brings. He said it is fun to watch the colors of the terrain going into the hunts and then see how quickly it has changed flying back out. Although, he says the photos do not do the colors justice! This is his 3rd trip to the Brooks Range and 4 other trips to Alaska at other times. It has been Richard's dream to go to Alaska since he was just a boy! Well, he finally got that dream to go to Alaska for the first time in '02 (I believe). He has been 6 more times since and twice in one year! I'm starting to wonder when he is going to ask me to move to Alaska! He took me there two years ago for our anniversary . . . it was very beautiful and very cold (in November)! I will have to post some of those pictures just for fun - cuz it was so pretty.

Talon's Turkey

Talon really lucked out on the evening of this hunt! They spotted the turkey just before dark and . . . you can see the rest of the story. (Notice the full moon in the background. Isn't that cool!)

Kelci - "Tinsel Teeth"

Kelci was so excited to get her braces on the end of March! Yes . . . she is crazy, but I'm sure the excitement will wear off before long. It seems to have opened some communicating barriers though! Her teacher says she sure has been talking alot more at school. We are happy about that, since she was a little too quiet. (Pretty unusual for a teen-ager)

And doesn't she look cute!

Bridger's Pinewood Derby

Aren't they so sweet!? Well, most of the time . . .

This was Bridger's 1st Pinewood Derby Race! Needless to say - he was very excited! He did very well on the race itself. Almost every heat he took 2nd place and a few he took first. It did not place him for District, but (as parents) we are quite okay with that. He won "Best of Show" for his unique car as well.