Our Birthday Boy

 What he looked like waking up in the hospital.

 What he looked like waking up today.

 A hockey book from his U8 years.

 The game he has wanted.

 He is 9 so it is time to know how to handle a knife.

Ready for some summer fun on the water.

We had a family present opening this morning.  Bridger woke up to a trail of presents that Ginni had put out.  The present opening got delayed when he got his hockey book.  He had to look at every picture.

We have his friends birthday party at 1:00.  It will be at an putt putt golf and arcade center.  After the party we head to Spearfish for basketball camp.  This year Gage is going with us.  It will be nice for Bridger to have a buddy but I don't know about helping a future KW athlete develop skills.

I hope the weather gets better so everyone can start to enjoy summer.

"I think we should go into town tomorrow and pick up a ski boat. Whaddya say? Sound good, guys? Uncle Roman'll blow some coin on a kick-butt drag boat!"

explanations

We took off for Colorado on Saturday am.  We got a little later start than we wanted.  Bridger spent Friday night with Gage and they went to see Men in Black 3.  I thought it was a nice way to start summer for Bridger.  He doesn't really enjoy going to Colorado because all we do is work.  So this time we decided for a birthday treat we would join my friend from Gillette at Elitch's.  She and her boyfriend were going to see her 21 year old son, Shane, who is now living down there.

Bridger looks up to Shane and has wanted to do more with Shane.  Shane was essentially an "only" also.  He had step-brothers from Margie's previous marriage, but they lived in AZ.  I think Shane can relate to how Bridger feels sometimes.  Shane plays guitar and video games and talks to Bridger like Bridger likes to be talked to.   Bridger wanted to invite Shane to his birthday party but since Shane moved this is as close as we could get.  Shane and Bridger plotted to ride the "XLR8TOR" most of the day.  I think Shane was working up his courage.   Shane's girlfriend had said she would do it, but at the last minute she backed out.  It was "cheaper" to have 3 go at once.  Darin being the good sport that he is agreed to go at the last minute.  Darin told me this one was worse than the one he did at the Billings Fair when he was security.  If you go onto Facebook at either one of our pages I think you will find Margie's video of their ride.  I have one also, but, I am at work doing the blog.

Last week Darin did the combat challenge.  It is the fireman competition that requires you carry certain poundage of hose up mulitple flights of stairs (5 stories), than at the top you pull up a bag of hose, again certain amount of weight.  Then once that is done, back down the stairs, use a sledgehammer to move a block that weighs so much.  Then pick up a live hose (water in it), drag it so many yards, turn it on and hit a target, turn it off.  Then drag a 175 dummy so many feet to finally cross the finish line.  Oh yeah, all this in full firefighter gear.  Darin did this in 3:20.  I think.  He was very proud of himself.  I think the fastest time was a minute or so less and about 15-20 years younger than Darin. 

I hadn't seen the picture above until Judi asked for an explanation in an email.  Looks pretty intense doesn't it.  What a moment captured.  Darin is "encouraging" the fireman during the hose dragging.  This is all pretty tough stuff and one way they can challenge each other.  At the 9-11 ceremony in Casper last fall they had the Regional Competition, which the finalists were able to go onto the National Competition.  I do think some Casper firemen made it-as a group.  In some competitions one person does the whole thing and they can compete as a team where one individual does one of the obstacles and hands off to another to do the next phase-like a relay. 

We did do more work at the townhouse.  It is definitely a work in progress. We will go down again in a couple of more weeks.

Bridger and Gage have basketball camp together in Spearfish this week (Thurs-Sat).  We have Bridger's bday party tomorrow at "Old Town".  They will play putt-putt golf, arcade games and climb a rock wall-eat pizza, cake and ice cream.  We leave tomorrow night for Spearfish.  Darin will leave for Grand Junction, CO on Sunday for football camp.  Then Bridger and I will meet him at the townhouse for more "work", June 6th.  Seems go-go-go.  Darin is at school today for an in-service.

Last Day of School

 We went to the movie last night and Bridger wanted to find his star in the Birthday room.

 I had completely forgotten about it, but he found it right away.

Ginni made this birthday cake for Bridger to take to school today.  She made this edible picture to put on.

Bridger wanted to go to the movie last night but wanted me to go so he waited until I was done with football.  We saw the Hunger Games.  It was good,  I think they got the idea from the Running Man.

We are heading down to Steamboat this weekend.  Ginni and Bridger are going to head out tonight and I will go in the morning since I have football.  I also need to go to the hardware store before leaving.  I have school on Tuesday and then B's birthday on Wednesday.

I took the day off to watch Bridger's track day but it got cancelled.  It was 40 degrees and raining,  we did get snow on the mountain.  I ended up sitting with him during lunch and then watching a movie with the entire school.

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend.

"Everything you do or learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc, or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate deresolution."

Ocelots

Here is Bridger's 3rd grade final research project.  It was a joint effort between all three of us.

It is fun to figure out how all this technology works -loading videos, making voice overs and then praying it works. I previewed this before saving.  The voice over DID match the pictures and now it doesn't.  Oh well, so much for fully understanding the technology.  For some reason it has included a non-voice over section, which is pictures only.  After the "credits" roll by you can stop. 

"I tawt, I taw a putty cat"  There is my input for a quote.

Don't miss Darin's blog below that he did Monday.

Birthdays and Fire

Someone showed the kids how to turn on the sprinkler at the birthday party. (I don't know who)

Bridger enjoyed running through the sprinkler.

 There was buried treasures.

 It was pirate theme so they got pirate names.

 We got home and watched the eclipse.  This is the sun.

I did not know where Bridger was and walked out back to see was burning some wood.

We stayed home this weekend and got some work done around the house.  We planted the garden, mowed the lawn and did some painting.  Bridger wanted to roast some marshmallows and so he started a fire.  After showing him some proper technique I introduced him to lighter fluid.  I do not think this was a very good idea.

This is the last week of school.  I started spring football today.  Bridger has track and field day on Thursday.  We are heading to CO for the weekend.

I hope it was a good Monday.

This movie did not have many quotes.

 "80,000 years ago, man's survival in a vast uncharted land depended on the possession of fire.  For those early humans, fire was an object of great mystery, since no one had mastered its creation."

Gardening

 It ended up being a nice day so we worked in the garden.

 Bridger planting corn.

I walk up to watch state track and my 25 year school record still stands.

The forecast was cold and raining but it was a nice day.  We got a lot of work done in the yard and in the garden.  Bridger was excited to help plant seeds.

Bridger had another sleepover last night across the street.  Ginni and I went down to the boat club for dinner.  It was a nice drive, Alcova is filled up for the summer.

I talked with Haf at the track meet.  He is in the green striped shirt in the picture.  He told me the kid that was gunning for my record broke his foot Wednesday so could not run.  It was nice to watch the meet for a while.  It was more exciting though for Ginni and I to watch the Preakness.  Wow, what a race.

I don't think we will get out golfing today.  Linnea didn't have Shawn at home for the weekend and Ginni volunteered us to help at Sammy's birthday party.  Bridger ended up being the only boy invited.  

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure"

Saturday

 Bridger does not have time for pictures when the headset is on.

 Here is our boy with a nice smile.

Another funeral.  One of our quarterbacks from our championship team died in a car accident this week.  #8 on the left.  It is funny that I am always taking pictures and never in them.

Bridger had a birthday sleepover last night.  We dropped Bridger's sleeping bag off and the parents were a little worried about what they got themselves into.  Since I am so sensitive I let them know that we were having a date night while they delt with 8 young boys.  They took the boys to a movie and Bridger was a little upset because the parents made all of the kids sit in front.  I asked where did the parents sit and he said all the way in the back where I like to sit.  I thought it was pretty smart of them.

I am not sure what we have planned for the weekend.  Yardwork today and maybe get out golfing tomorrow if the weather warms up.

Happy Armed Forces Day.

"We're all very different people. We're not Watusi. We're not Spartans. We're Americans, with a capital 'A', huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts! Here's proof: his nose is cold! But there's no animal that's more faithful, that's more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw "Old Yeller?" Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end? "


 Bridger set up his dart board - basketball game. 

 Bridger was excited to sleep in his loft.

 Ginni helped set up the mattress.

 Even with the night lights Bridger wanted to sleep with us instead.

 Bridger was 2 for 2 last night in his game, they were both triples.  (On third with black socks.)

Here he is coming home.

Bridger had a really good game again last night.  He had two great hits.  He played well in the field also.  He has another game on Thursday.  Other than that we are trying to make it through the last two weeks of school.  I hope everyone is having a good week.

"A few of us were leaving, you can take their place. We'll bat first.
  I'm the one with the wicked curve ball."

Happy Late Mother's Day

 Bridger's card he made at school.

 The presentation of the card.

 The best part, a Momma thank you hug.

 Watching a movie in Bridger's room.

The key box I installed for the house.  I put the directions on how to open the box on the kitchen counter for anyone wanting to visit.

We made a quick trip to Steamboat.  We got some painting done and all of the flooring hauled into the house.  We also got most of the old carpet out to take to the dump.  We spent our first night in the house on Saturday. 

Bridger came home on Friday with his card to give Ginni on Sunday.  He was fretting about trying to keep it hidden.  On Sunday morning he got up and went to the truck to get it.  He came back a short while later crying because he had thought it was lost.  I went up with him and it had fallen behind the seat.  He was so excited to give it to his Mommy.

Happy Late Mother's Day to all of the mothers.

"Are you the Keymaster?
Not that I know of."

Mommy Weekend

 Our boy in a tux.

 Track day from a couple of years ago.

Another picture from the FF funeral, I am in the front engine captain's seat.

We are heading to the Boat tonight after work.  We are planning on getting some flooring put down and walls painted.  I am not sure what we will do for Sunday.  We might get dressed up and have a Mother's Day dinner at the Rawlins truck stop on the way home.

We have two weeks of school left.  Bridger's track and field day is the second to last day.  My principal gave me the day off so I can go watch.  He said he owes me time because I will go help with lunch supervision when they are short handed.  Bridger was a little upset last year when we could not attend.

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all of the Mothers in blogger land.

"We act normal, mom! I want to *be* normal! The only normal one is Jack-Jack, and he's not even toilet trained!"

Baseball

 Bridger getting ready to take the field.

Playing short stop.

Bridger had a good game last night.  His team won 10 - 0.  Bridger started everything in the first inning.  He got put in the number 4 spot and did not disappoint.  He hit a double and got two RBI's.  He had a lot of fun last night.  He has another game tonight that I will miss due to fire department.

Not much else happening here.  I hope everyone is doing well.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past"

 Getting ready to tee off.

 Instructions on the tee box.

 Helping watch the ball.

Getting some coaching for the next shot.

We had a really nice weekend with Jampa and Jammi, thanks for coming over.  After Bridger's baseball practice yesterday we went golfing.  Bridger played really well and had a blast riding around with Jampa.  

Bridger has his first baseball game tomorrow.  He is still a bit sore, I don't think it is from him pushing it a little bit this weekend.  We will enjoy today with no activities.

I hope everyone has a nice week.

"And if Mr. Ouimet wins tomorrow, it's because he's the best, because of who he is. Not who his father was, not how much money he's got, because of who he bloody is! And I'll thank you to remember that."

The Casper Open

 The volley.

 The fan club.  We had to reserve the sky box.

 The determination.

The end result, First!

We gave Bridger the choice to play in the tennis tournament today.  He said he felt good and wanted to play.  After the fourth match he was in a lot of pain and took himself out.  His coach did not have him play his last game because he had already secured his spot.  He enjoyed having a fan club watching him, thanks Jampa and Jammi.

Not much else this weekend.  Jampa help with some yard work (thank you) and Jammi went book shopping with Bridger.  He was quite excited with his Indiana Jones book he came home with.  Not sure what is planned for tomorrow, it all depends on the weather.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

"Well, Jones, at least you haven't forgotten how to show a lady a good time." 

Light Duty

 Going up on the alpine slide.

 Enjoying a swim and trying not to think of Jaws.

Dad and Son enjoying the view of Rushmore and some ice cream.

I did not have any new photos so I found some older ones.  We are on light duty for the next week as Bridger suffered an injury.  We are not sure what happened but it appeared that he had a hernia.  Ginni took him into the surgeon on Thursday and he thinks it can heal on its own.  We have to take him back in a week.  He did have a tennis tournament tomorrow that he will now miss along with a couple of baseball.  It will be hard to keep him slowed down and with Jammi and Jampa visiting.

TGIF.

Better football through chemistry. [as he receives a numbing injection in his knee]