Pequest Trout Hatchery

Jake enjoyed a field trip to the Pequest Trout Hatchery. Sort of. A lot of sitting listening to lecture and then the much-anticipated Fishing in a Well-Stocked Pond....in the pouring rain. The safety goggles were hilarious and all the adults had to wear them too. I'll let you imagine mine.

Jake caught a nice big trout and it's filleted and sitting in my freezer. Mom says she'll cook it up when she's here for the weekend.

dad's exciting day

Well since Mont hasn't written about it I will.

We have had a wonderful monsoon day in San Diego. Thunder, lightening and RAIN! Unfortuantely I spent most of my day inside with no windows this being my day for prayer & quilting at church. We had fog this morning here so Gigi washed - we figured the sun would burn off the fog soon. Instead it rained!! I had not even seen the rain clouds through the fog. Crazy day. Her clothes got a fresh fresh extra rinse or 3.

But Mont of course was driving around town. He happened to be inspecting near our old house & was waiting to turn on to Home Ave in the midst of thunder & lightening when he suddenly felt a slam into the top of his car at the same time he heard instantaneous thunder and saw the flash. His car has a new spot on the top.

We had a lovely evening with rainbow and sunset along with sprinkles. To you all who live in different weather you are probably saying ho hum - but we haven't had such excitement here in ages. Plus it has finally cooled things off a bit - though it is still pretty humid.

FLASH: BEAVERS SEEN IN BOISE?

Okay, you incommunicado Beavers, we're guessing you have secretly infiltrated Boise today. We will be closely watching ABC for confirmation, and we hope you will favor us with a postgame report of the experience. Stan has become a drooling Bronco PR machine. We are hoping for another Beaver surprise here, as we don't like BSU's dirty play approach.
Uncle Grump

LOUDEST COROLLA IN TOWN

I'm sick and tired of being run into the ditch down by the border with only a polite little "eeeeeeeeeeee" in protest, so I went to Pep Boys and now have a dual tone red and chrome Italian horn squeezed behind the grille. I can't wait for some Mexican woman to run a stop sign in front of me.
Mont/Dad/Zad/Grampa/Uncle Grump/Franki, . . ., er, never mind

FLATLANDERS

We had a very relaxing 2 weeks in AZ. I told a visiting church friend that I would go golfing with him if he set it up. As you can see from my smooth golfing technique I am not now nor have I ever been a golfer. It was an enjoyable outing in perfect weather, though.

We BBQ'd steaks one night and had quite a bit of cutoff fat and decided to leave it out by the bottom of the deck steps "as a treat for the critters". Later alone Evie asked me if It wasn't such a good idea with the coyotes (genus and species "eatibus anythingus") and bears around (we had all seen a large coyote boldly trotting down the front yard). It was already dark and I wasn't going out there to retrieve the scraps. Later there were LOUD coyote cries very close by. I cranked the downstairs windows nearly shut and set my .38 on my nightstand fully loaded with high power hollow point rounds. My bedtime prayers were humble, contrite and fervent. I was a very thankful camper in the morning after an uneventful night.

Sports Acro Trio

the other day at practice... our newest skill!

Big Acro News!

Part 2 - Housesitting in "Shangrila"

Our BR is the upstairs window shown - as you can see, the view is lovely, however, it faces east & since the house hasn't a curtain in ANY window ANYwhere, we had to block it with a blanket, sigh! - However we still get to enjoy the view from the OTHER (huge) window up there!

Part 1 Housesitting in "Shangrila"!

Beauty surrounds us! Top to bottom. 1)Bridge crossing to Gazebo. 2)Trees & meadow where Mike "gets" to play with the riding mower :-) 3) Enroute driving views include L Mt Rainer & R Mt St Helens, not visible here, Mt Hood 4) "Buddy, Baby & The Girls" amuse us faithfully!

Montgomery cousins; Uncle Rex's Mem serv. 6/1910

Although the circmstances were less then desirable, these "reunions" are a wonderful compensation! We only wish the others of you had been able to attend AND that we could've have spent more 1-1 time with each present.
Rear L-R Michelbacher's: Christopher w 11 mo old Madelein (Mama Clara had to work), (proud Grandpa & Grandma) Bert & Deana. Don Montgomery (wife Shelly was present but missed the pic), Larry(son)& Terry Hollifeld,David Blodgett,Carl Montgomery, Shane Wilson, & one of David's sons.
Middle L-R: Mike & Marilyn (Counsell) McCardle, Myron & Ellen (Montgomery) Heuttig, Memory Blodgett (David's wife), Linda Montgomery (Carl's wife), Sharon Wilson (Shane's wife)
Front seated L-R: Irene (Blodgett) Wilson, Carol (Blodgett) Hollifield.

2010 cattle branding at Happy Valley Ranch!

Hi Y'all!
When were stopped by the ranch, enroute to Idaho Falls, Dale connected us to

www.youtube.com/cattle branding in La Grande Oregon

A friend of theirs did a good & accurate job videoing it then set it to appropriate music. Watching it made me "homesick" to again experience this FUN family day where the newest calves are branded & potential "bulls" are turned into "steers"! (EEwww - ck out what the puppy is chewing on!;-) Look closely & you'll find Dale, George, Meghan, Scott & even 5 yr old Kendra involved in one way or another! From memory, I'm sure the missing from the video "womenfolk" Charlene, Karen etc, were in the kitchen cooking up a fit meal for those hungry "cowhands"! Branding day is ALways looked forward to! mc

I don't know about YOU, but...

I am recommiting myself to Blogging here FIRST & FB 2nd!! In my opinion, we are not connecting very well as a family when we primarily use FB... Few see or mention having seen my FB posts & I guiltily miss seeing many of yours as well, sigh. When "all is "said & done" & "the chips are down", after our relationships with the Lord, Family comes first.. Mom needs to see us here. - She is lonely & this is her much needed "letter". Please rejoin & let the LOL's flow here once again! mc

A DIFFERENT KIND OF 4th

See last year's 4th blog post for a picture. We did all the same stuff, took the car down to Shelter Island early with chairs in the back and power-walked home (38 minutes). We all went to Mom's church, Evie in red, Mom in white, and me in blue (unplanned). As the day progressed through hot dogs and baked beans, PGA golf and naps, we began to seriously doubt our fireworks plan, as a heavy gray low ceiling persisted. Evie is battling the end of a nasty cold and vertigo spell, I am wrapping up my own persistent nasty cold, and we made the call to go pick up the car. On the way out we passed a furious football game in progress on the grass median by a troop of broadly smiling Chinese young men. That's my American 4th of July picture for this year.
Mont/Dad/Zad/Grampa/Uncle Grump/Franki, . . ., er, never mind

Funny Acro Skill Attempt

last video lol! this is just a level 4 skill that emma and i changed a bit. its pretty entertaining :P

Trampoline Flips and Tricks by Kelsey Monique and Emma

a slightly more exciting video... our trampoline is horrible just so u know y we're doing really easy skills

Trampoline Jumps by Kelsey Monique and Emma

another random video......

Emma Being Flexible :P

Emma's new video showing how flexible she is..........

FAMILY INPUT NEEDED

I've got an idea for Evie to earn some side income and I need your COMMENTS.
Picture this; on the Monster Jam Truck Tour,

REV EV - THE GRAVE ROBBER

Competing against the enormously famous Grave Digger '52 Chevy panel truck, she would be driving a pearly-white '59 Plymouth wagon with a radiant cross and Scripture reference on the sides, sponsored by Off Road Warehouse, a Christian San Diego-based business.

Lemme hear your thoughts.

Mont/Dad/Zad/OFFIL/Grampa/Uncle Grump/Franki, . . ., er, never mind

On the move again, hello Florida

12763 Oxford Crossing, Jacksonville. I'd include a picture but we're going to build so it will be a bit. In the end we'll have a great place to visit. Pool in back yard, great area, 2 hours from Orlando.

Nathan

New Youtube :)

umm... so im not sure if this is the vid or just a pic, but anyway, Monique, Emma, and I now have a youtube where we have been putting new videos of gymnastics and stuff like that up... here is the link to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/acrogurls2463

so check it out :)