The Winsteads

One of the few times we actually have taken a photo when we have had guests over for dinner. This family has been very dear to us for a good long while, as Colonel Winstead (far right) has been Mark's boss, the Group Commander for our base. Mark served as his Executive Officer for the past year and some odd months, going through the refiners fire of OPRs and extensive other things (of which I have no idea what to call them). Col. Winstead was the epitome of a good, patient boss. He taught Mark so many things about what it takes to being truly a good leader; he was very wise and calm, even when everything was crazy in the office and in the wing. This man and his family are absolutely wonderful. He retired when his time was up at this base, and he and his wife have gone on to traveling and warmer weather. Their children are just as sweet and kind, and their son is so devout a Catholic that he hopes to become a Priest and serve within the Vatican City itself. And sweet Sarah, who has an innate gift with children, wishes to become a teacher. Dodie (isn't that a cute name??) has been a mentor for myself and a friend as we have been serving as key spouses the last year and a half. We miss her and her entire family dearly!

4

August 6, 2013, Mont turned 4 years old 

Boundary Waters + Soudan Mine

My fuji camera barely saw the light of day at the Boundary waters, so here is a compilation of pictures from both phone and camera:

Gearing up for our canoe trip - canoed for about 3 hours on the waters (not sure what the life jacket is doing in the air):

Oatmeal Cream Pie break (for the kids) while watching a bald eagle:

Lakes sort of... gross me out. HA! I love being near and on them. But in? I have to leave that to the kids. Fish... alive and dead.. that brown thing by the duck? What is that?? Lake.

Soudan Mine was incredible. Mark and I were as excited (maybe even more so) than the kids. It was unreal! Something I never thought I'd get to experience outside of the movie theatre or novel:

Mont making the "ch-chh-ch" noises of the mining carts we rode in: 

Emmy was a lot more nervous than Mont, and wanted to be held almost the entire time. It was pitch black at one point when they turned off the mining lights just so we could feel the utter blackness and depth of where we were. It was insane! 

Mont and Max checking for sparkles on their hands after rubbing some rocks:

At a wolf refuge. Emmy, ever the animal loving Snow White:

Mont aka Mickey Rooney meets Iron Will: 

Our sleeping arrangements. Mark with Mont on the bottom (with access to the fan), Emmy and I above. It was tight, hot, and full of mosquitoes. While we loved the trip. We really didn't love the itching.

Back to North Dakota... home sweet home.

...and the in-betweens

((iphone pics))

Fuchsia (name of a flower, not only just a color! who knew?)

Emmy found these little 'dancing' mushrooms (they watched a lot of Fantasia this Spring)

Giant Poppies in my parents yard:

Fresh, beautiful carrots at Tacoma Boys:

LeMay Car Museum (boy heaven!)

Car art for the Fourth of July:

instagram pics from Washington

Pao's Donuts (said like Po - easy for the kids to remember and they still ask for them - months later!). Best donuts I've ever had! (in Tacoma)

Lots of umbrella weather even with lots of sunny days. This one never made it to IG.. I delete most selfies. Figure if I'm not on my own blog at least, I'm not anywhere! haha

Cutest park after Pao's donuts, and Emmy found a great photo op:

This kid sheer will power and running legs were enough to get this kit off the ground with no wind AND in the drizzling rain. Such motivation!

On one of the many warm and sunny days, Emmy thought she'd take a rest. Such a diva sometimes:

On the ferry boat ride to Vashon Island from Ruston:

Fourth of July:

after racing go-carts, we got a token for the batting cages (my favorite!) so my little Mont man got to watch and he now wants to play pro-baseball. Because, well, I do. HA

My little Norman Rockwell boy:

Emmy got in on the fun with Mont:

northwest summer trip

Hello again! After several months, I get to document a few pictures from our trip to visit my parents in Washington state, back in July - seems like half a lifetime ago now! Looking at these pictures, the kids look so much younger to me. Emmy still had pudgy wrists. Oh, I miss those wrists. Here are a few moments I actually got my real camera out for:

Interrupting Emmy's painting in my mother's studio:

Loads and loads of bubbles, kites, umbrellas, etc. Emmy was the champion bubble blower all summer this year. She never stopped willingly and always asked for more.. every hour on the hour it seemed at times. What an easy girl to please:

Trying for a family picture...

Snoqualmie Falls, Snoqualmie Pass, WA:

Give this kid a pile of rocks to toss and he is one happy camper:

Another try...

The wrist!

At the LeMay Car Museum.. only a few pictures on my fuji camera.. rest were quickies on my phone. When Mark asks Mont what his (Mark's) favorite car is, Mont still says, "The Delorean" (with a little kid voice and missed L-sound of course).

For a kid who doesn't sleep well at nights, this is where he chooses to lie down:

My dad was really excited to show my mom and I this new flower in his yard. I was over the moon excited for it, saying, "Dad! It looks like you created a hybrid!!" Mom was the buzz kill and said, "oh. I saw those last year." ha! Well.. I still think he created this new beautiful poppy hybrid. I couldn't get enough of his flowers this summer!

bones

I don't even know where to begin writing this post. This morning I had one of my first experiences where I just wanted to cover Mont's mouth and run from where I stood. 

At Target this morning, there was a store worker doing inventory who asked if I was finding everything okay. 

"Yes, just browsing. Thank you." 

Mont chimes in after about 90% of these exchanges and brings up something completely unrelated, but that holds great interest to his own self. 

"I have a GUN in my car!" 

My eyes go wide and I try my best smile when the store employee looks at me and gives an uncomfortable laugh. 

I explain, "A toy gun! Man, he's going to get me in some trouble!"

Mont doesn't stop there. 

"There's BONES in there, too!!"

My face turns beet red, and the guy looks really nervous now. I can tell he's trying to decide if he should laugh or run. My voice is shaky and a little higher pitched as I try to explain this one:

"Sorry!! He has a toy pirate gun from the pirate ride at Disneyland, and there's a skull and crossbones on it!" 

I don't even remember watching his reaction, because I was probably looking around at who else just heard what Mont divulged. It was terrible... TERRIBLE. "There's bones in there TOO?!" Kid!!

Should have just clamped my hand over Mont's mouth and run for it, letting the guy think what he would, but my sense of humor and sense of self-assurity is not quite at that level; maybe another 15 years, give or take a lifetime. 

Drink up me 'earties. Drrrrink up.

group shot, and a guest

one of like group shots we got the whole time; this is the last night, pulled from Mamie's phone! Thanks Mames! 

See that lady at the end of the table? We have no idea who she is.. but she will now always be remembered!!

Thank goodness for that red hat Marty was wearing the whole trip - he's almost as tall as my dad, so we were able to spot him from half mile away! We had a great time on this trip, and so glad it worked out that we could be there, but we really missed Aimee and Michael. Even with as much fun as we had, I can't help but wonder how much more fun we could have had, had they been there too. 'Til next time!!