Banff and Birthday

Brenda and I had a chance to go with Jim and Sandra up to Canada and about 108 other model T's a couple of weeks ago and we had a blast.  We dropped the kiddos off with my parents in MT and were off for a week without the kids.  

Day one we headed to Banff from Cochorane.  Jim's T had some fuel problems so he had to ride on the trailer for some of the day, but the speedster was running great so Brenda and I continued to Lake Louise and had a 200 mile day.  You  may think to yourself "how fast can a 90 year old car actually go?".  We got the speedster up to 63, but it certainly could have gone faster than that.

The views on this day were amazing

This speedster was driven to the tour all thee way from San Jose CA.  The couple that drove it were very interesting and they have owned the car for 40 years.  This thing had a overhead valve setup and was rumored to go over 100mph.  Not bad for an engine and car that stock had 20hp and would go about 45 downhill with a strong tailwind.

Meanwhile back in Montana, our kids were up to no good.

Here we are at the lake

And here we are with the car in front of the Banff Springs Hotel.  It was pretty cool to drive through Banff and have everyone snapping pictures off you and pointing.

Meanwhile, James and Matthew were out with Grandpa fishing and having some fun.  I think Matthew lasted about 5 minutes and then went to the playground, but James stuck  it through and caught two fish.

Here is another speedster with a overhead valve setup.

We went to this one house that had a bunch of cool stuff in it and then right at the end....I saw this.  Most of you will not appreciate how rare this bike is, but if you ever do see one, immediately commence drooling.

Meanwhile, Matthew and James went to the fair and had a pony ride.

It rained a couple of days on the T Tour, so Brenda and I went in a modern car for the long day.  We jumped in this car only after trying to brave the rain and 45 degree temperatures for 14 miles and had the carburetor freeze up.  All in all, we had a great time and really love riding/driving the speedster.

This weekend I took Saturday off of work since Brenda turned 35.  For her birthday she wanted to go mini golfing and go karting, so off to the links we headed.

James and Matthew had a blast riding ass passengers, but they were kind of afraid at first.

After James got a hole in 1 on the first hole, mom had to play from behind.

On the way home we happened on a car show and saw my favorite classic car...a Dodge Charger General Lee.  For all you wacko liberals please turn your eyes...it still had a confederate flag on it.  That is the only way this car should ever be.

Here are the boys and the Birthday girl.

And last but not least is just the beginnings of the Blackberries.  We are on the verge of the harvest and in about a week we are going to have them coming out of our ears.

Flag day and Family Fun

A couple of weeks ago Brenda and I had a chance to get away while some friends took our kids to the coast camping.  This meant we had about 4 nights child free on our hands and that is all I needed to turn the key on the BMW and head out of town.  We decided we should go to Joseph OR.

The weather was perfect while we were there.  The view of Wallowas was also something to behold.

Brenda and I also got to eat a great little pub and grill.  The view was something else.

I usually do not get to be in any of the pictures, so this is just proof that I was actually here.  May I also say that the BMW does look great as well.

There was a flag day parade a couple of weeks ago and I had the kiddos all to myself in the morning so we headed out and I had to check it out.  The boys had the prime spot right in front of some older people who did not run out and get the candy that was thrown, so James and Matthew go tot take a huge bag that must have weighed about 15lbs home.  They were troopers and had a great time as well.

Go America.

The other day Matthew was messing around int he front yard before I got home and got hit in the head with the swing right before I got home.  It kind of looks like the kid is growing  horn, but it went away in a hour or two.  What a trooper.

This past weekend we had Paula, Kevin and the kids in town along with Jim and Sandi.  It has been sweltering in Spokane for the past 2-3 weeks with temperatures over 90 being the norm and a couple of days it was  well over 100.  Without AC in the house and all those guests it was a bit hot, so we took the opportunity to hit up a few of the local lakes.  A benefit of the hot temps is that the lakes have warmed up far faster then ever before and thee water temps were perfect.

Brenda and Lindsey enjoying all that Coeur d'Alene Lake has to offer.

The fast we don't have a boat did not deter this redneck yacht club from forming.

Matthew and Colin had a good time on the beach as well.  I did manage to get a  sunburn, but was thankful that it was just me and not the kiddos.  I can imagine what it is like to have a toddler with a bad sunburn...but I bet it stinks.

Matthew generally wakes up very happy and in a good mood, but does not always have such good hair.

One of the fun things I really enjoy doing with friends or family when they are in town is heading to downtown Spokane and hitting up the carousel.  A fun time was had by all riding it twice.

The fact that Matthew does not know how to write or read did not deter him from playing "Words with Friends".  Why should it stop him, it does not stop me.

 We had a chance to snap a family pic at Manito Park and it turned out quite nice.  We had a blast with all of the family in town and I was just glad to get a few days off of work.

James is Four!!!!!

James is now 4 years old and it only seems like yesterday when we moved up to Spokane and had not kids, and now we are in the thick of it and loving this amazing boy.

Noel came over on Tuesday to have fun and hang out with James.  James is always singing his ABC's and acting like a crazy kid.  

This weekend my parents came down to hang out with the birthday boy and we also had a chance to have Jim and Jan over for dinner.  For his birthday, we gave James a toy weed whacker to tie him over until we could get to the weekend and give him all of his gift with the grandparents and friends all around.  

After Dinner we gave him his helmet and gloves.

This picture was taken at thee exact second that he saw his helmet and then I asked him if he thought there was a dirt bike to go with the helmet.  The expression on his face and the delight is his eyes could only be rivaled by the delight I had in seeing him so happy.  That look is priceless and I wish I could live that moment over. 

Once he saw the bike he jumped right on.  It was a very proud moment for me.

Of course the bike is not all just for James.  Jim K got out on it and when coming in hot and trying to do a "Steve MaQueen" conducted the first wipe out on the bike.  I did get it on video and then shortly after, I conducted the second wipe out on the bike.

My dad even got a chance to get out on the bike and give it a test ride

Brenda out riding around.

James did get a "dirt bike"  ice cream cake, but we ate it on Wednesday, so today it was a simple ice cream sandwich with four candles.

It was not all motorcycles this weekend.  James did take dad on a ride around the block and he is so fast on the bike now that he makes it around the block in about 5 minutes.

Matthew is such a little monkey

Of course Matthew also likes to get on the bike.

All in all it was a great weekend and we truly are blessed to have a boy such as James.  James is a fun loving kid who has enriched our lives and we pray will become a great man of God.

Jim Klosterman wiping out.

James is riding the bike without any real help from me.  I don't even have  my hands on the handlebars but he refuses to let me get off the back.  I have jumped off the back and let him ride but he got scarred and stopped the bike.

Easter 2015

The spring has certainly hit in the northwest and although we are very tempted to put the garden in, we have not yet done so since the conventional wisdom of waiting until the snow is off of Mica Peak, has not occurred with any regularity yet.

Matthew is such a ham sometimes and is always talking about helping out and getting a screwdriver so when he is given the opportunity to do anything with tools he is right there.  If he is anything like me he is going to end up breaking a lot of stuff so there will be a lot of fixing in his future.

This year for Easter it was perfect weather and we once again hosted a Easter egg hunt at the house.  The dads all got to be involved as well by hiding all of the eggs while the moms kept the kiddos at bay in the front yard.  Once I gave to go ahead, the race was on.  Everyone got a chance to get some eggs and I encouraged the older kids to keep the easy ones for the littler kids.  I thought that was a shot in the dark, but it actually worked and the hunt was very civilized.  I gave the ground rules at the beginning and did so without smiling, so I am sure that helped.

James is such a cool kid and it is great to see kids learn and do things for the first time.  It never ceases to amaze me the things that these kids come up with.

Matthew showing off his first egg of the day.

Here is Brenda going over the 12 resurrection eggs that were mixed in with all the other ones.  She  was in all of her teacher glory. 

One of the very few pictures where you will actually see me in the background.  I am convinced that one of the main jobs of a dad is to take the pictures and therfore is rarely in any of them.

Matthew got a twofer here

 Easter Sunday after church we had a chance to take a few picture via the 5 burst shot time delay feature on the camera.  Out of five shots, I am bound to get a least one where everyone's eyes are open.

Matthew and James being best of buds and holding hands on the swing.

We got some chicks on Saturday and the boys loved touching them and petting them.  Matthew had this automatic reaction when he touches something soft.  His thumb in his mouth is so predictable. 

James was initially frightened to death of the chicks, but he got used to them and loved touching them.

Adorable.  James thought it was a good idea that we played with them in the grass and told the chicks "hey baby chicks, it is ok if you want to poop in the grass"

Check out this guy with a chick in his pocket.  He loved having it  in there, but the chicks grow very fast and this is not possible with them anymore.

Hanging out

Matthew with the thumb thing again.

We hauled a bike we got for free out of the barn the other day, but the bike is a 18" wheeled bike and meant for bigger kids.  James normally rides a 12" bike so this one is big.  I told James he has to be able to ride this bike if he ever want to ride a motorcycle and that was all thee motivation he needed.  He cannot even touch the ground on while sitting on the center bar, but with a little direction he can get started now on his own and riding around like a champ.  He is such a natural at biking and almost never wrecks.

The kids love to have cereal for breakfast and Life is a favorite.  James loves looking at the cereal box and plays "eye spy" with the same picture every day.  I love hanging out with him and eating cereal in the mornings... it is the simple things in life that really make it fun.