Little Chief

 Learning how to slash a tire.  Just to stabilize the car of course.

 Looking cool in his bunkers.

 Bridger got to be one of the patients.  He did that to the window before we started.

 Getting pulled out of the car and on to a backboard.  The holes in the car are from him.  He likes tools that do damage.  A Truckie maybe?

 Now the fun.  How many 8 year olds get to play with the jaws of life?

 Bridger is cutting the B post so we can take the roof off.

 Another view of him being a firefighter.

Checking out the ride that he helped make it a convertable.

I had an extrication training today and Bridger wanted to go with me.  I found some bunker gear that fit and decided to let him participate.  The guys at the department love Bridger and took him under their wing.  Just part of the brotherhood and being a Chief Officer.  I think the guys were just as excited to show Bridger how to demolish a car as Bridger was to do so.

We had a busy Saturday.  Bridger and I were teaching teenagers the dangers that come with careless driving in the morning while Ginni was running errands.  Then off to a basketball game, followed by a birthday party.  Now Bridger and Ginni are at the movie and I have been working on my boat lift plans.

I hope everyone one is enjoying their weekend.

"You're 3rd generation fire fighter.  You're still my little chief, right?"


Happy Birthday Mamma Unit

 A March photo from a few years ago.

 March Madness Broadus style.

 March in 2003.

 A couple of months later.

 March in 07.

 This was not a fun March.  Taking care of a sick little guy.

 March is spring training.  Now this is a Royals fan coloring the tongue blue.

 March skiing in Montana.

Not March, just the Fam.

Happy Birthday Ginni, Mommy.  We hope you have a great day.  It is Wednesday, Bridger's favorite day of the week.  It is breakfast burrito day at Taco Johns, pizza day at school and his favorite, his mommy gets to spend the afternoons with him.  We love you.

"You say it's your Birthday, It's my Birthday too."

Big Daddy

 Here is my other birthday present.  The first one was getting to spend the day with my family.

 It even has Big Daddy on it.  Bridger was not quite awake for this picture.

Remembering Bridger's Great Grandpa Myers.

Ginni tried to soften the blow of winter ski season being over by getting me a new water ski.  She did a good job of hiding it.  She had it sent to her work rather than our house.  It is a big ski.

We spent the day together.  We had lunch at the country club.  We got a window table overlooking the golf course.  It made us wish we would have taken our clubs.  Bridger mentioned several times that he wanted to golf but we did not have time with other plans.

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes.

"Hi, Julian! How ya doin'? I'm Scuba Sam, Scuba Steve's father."

Big Daddy b-day

 My baby daddy turns 44 today.  Life started way back in '68 with a big brother.

 If I would look harder I might have found something similar in our photos to match the one above, but I like the one below.  Big Daddy's first Father's Day.

 Big Daddy has had some memorable birthdays along the way.  Not always conventional either.  Rice cakes with frosting and a bottle of Schnapp's on his 19th.  We got to golf on his birthday in '93.  Golfing on our birthdays is sort of hit and miss depending on where we were living and whether it was a warm Spring.  We always get to share March Madness though!

 Big Daddy is such a character, but he met his match in me.  Who else would throw a surprise birthday party at McDonalds for their husband.  I still remember his frustration when Vance and I pulled a fast one on him and said we had to go to McDonalds when taking him out. 

 Hunting and fishing seem sometimes like past times of long ago.  It gets harder and harder in the lives we have now.  I know he has many memories of hunting and fishing in those younger days.

 Yep, Bridger caught a bigger one than the one above!  Good job Bridger.  We won't talk about fishing out of a fish hatchery.  It was still a fun, special moment for them to share.

 The character within has allowed Big Daddy to do many things in his life.  It still keeps him going today!!

 Firefighter and Coach seem to be the things that fuel his passions present day.  He does each of them very well.

 We started out having a blast and  we still are today. 

I LOVE YOU BOTH SO, SO MUCH, TOO!!

BIG DADDY you are a wonderful son, husband, father, brother, nephew, uncle, teacher, fireman, coach, sportsman and general all around great person.  Bridger will do well in learning from you. I hope you have a perfect, darling, adorable, precious day!!! 

This was brought to you today for your enjoyment by Big Daddy's wife-"less Big Mommy".  No quotes-it ain't my thing.  I hope today everyone takes a moment to pause and think of Darin from a happy moment you shared together.  IF or when you talk to him ask him about his Big Daddy present.  I think this year he will especially like his Big Daddy present.

FRIDAY!!!

 An older picture of Bridger and his artwork. 

 Bridger being silly this morning.

Bridger wants a flat brim hat.  He tried to flatten this one.   He thinks it is cool to wear his hat crooked.  He did not get that from me.  I actually will not let the kids wear their hats other than straight when they are on duty at the fire department.

We do not have much planned for this weekend.  Bridger has basketball on Saturday.  I am not sure if we will make it up to the hill or not.  It would be nice to get one more ski in since they are closing early.

Have a great Friday everyone.

"Did you order the Code Red?*
  *You're Gaul darn right I did!"

More Photos

 Another family picture from Jackson.

 The Momma and Papa unit.

 Our boy.

 Remembering Rob today.

A view from our townhouse.  That is part of stagecoach reservoir.   We are completely surrounded by aspens.

I saw on the morning news ski report that Hogadon only has two runs still open.  In the paper it said that they were closing Sunday due to the weather.  We usually get to ski until the middle of April.  We are kinda bummed out.  I guess it is time to get out the golf clubs.

Bridger keeps asking me to play xbox with him and I keep saying I am busy.  Ginni told me that he was a little upset because I did not play with him.  I left early from fire last night so I could play a little with him.  He was so excited.  I completely sucked.  We were playing a shooting game and I did not hit a single thing.  He looked at me and said, "It's ok Daddy,  you are just learning."

Another unseasonably warm day here.

"There is a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, the last hope of all those who have been left behind. Many survivors claim to have felt his gripping hands beneath them; pushing them up to the surface"

Spring is Here

 A family photo from Jackson

 Being silly on the mountain.

 His shot was just wide.  I keep telling him he needs to follow his shot.

I am doing a great job of coaching.

We have had a nice start to spring.  We woke up with snow yesterday and then it is 60 today.  It is predicted to be in the 70's tomorrow.  I am afraid that the ski hill might have to close early.

Bridger has started basketball now.  He seems to be enjoying it.  I have not got to see him yet since his practices are on Wednesdays and he has not had a game yet.  All in all everything is well in Wyoming.

Happy hump day.

We will stay with the same actor from last blog.

"Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange."

Hockey and History

 Bridger had a great tournament.  He should of had a lot more assists but he would make great passes like this and the other players would mess it up.

 Bridger getting his award.  I think the lady is saying you are awesome.

 Bridger and me.

 On the way home we stopped for a history lesson.

 Bridger and Mommy walking the interpretive trail.

Bridger standing in front of Custer's grave stone. (The black one)

Bridger had a great tournament, his team on the other hand did not.  They did win the last game for 5th place out of 6.  Bridger scored a few goals but never got a hat trick.  One his goals was when he was on defense and took it up the ice and rocketed a hard wrist shot.  I don't think the goalie even saw it.  He did get in the penalty box once for checking.  He was going for the puck and another kid basically skated into him and fell down.  He came off the ice very upset but it wasn't the penalty he was upset about.  He made a great pass but his teammate messed up.  The other team intercepted it in front of our net and scored.  He was upset because the other coach told him they scored because of him.  He is able to see openings and passing lanes and has great on ice awareness. 

One of the mothers thought he was upset because of the penalty also and tried to comfort him in the locker room.  She was rubbing his back and then kissed him on the forehead.  He was mortified.  Not only kissed by another mother but in front of all the other players.  We joked about it later.

We decided to stop by the Little Bighorn battlefield on the way home for a history lesson.  Bridger was full of questions.  His first question was why didn't the cavalry use machine guns.  I explained they did not have them yet.  He then asked why not hand grenades.   When I gave the same answer he explained how easy they were to make with gun powder.

We had a nice weekend.  Now back to the grind.

"There are thousands of Indians down there. And when they get done with you, there won't be nothing left but a greasy stain. This ain't the Washite River, General, and them ain't helpless women and children waiting for you. They're Cheyenne brave, and Sioux. You go down there, General, if you've got the nerve."